Brown hair is incredibly versatile, and adding highlights can take it to a whole new level—if they’re done right. The right shade and placement can bring out dimension, brighten your features, and make your whole style feel more current. But not all highlights are created equal, and some can end up looking flat, brassy, or just a little off.
In this list, you’ll find 12 highlight ideas that stylists actually stand behind—options that work with your natural color, not against it. You’ll also see 6 approaches that tend to fall short, whether because they don’t wear well over time or simply clash with most undertones. If you’ve been thinking about switching things up, this is a solid place to start.
Caramel Highlights
Caramel highlights are a timeless favorite among brunettes. They add warmth and depth, creating a sun-kissed effect that’s perfect for any season. These highlights blend seamlessly with brown hair, offering a natural yet noticeable change. The warm tones complement various skin tones, enhancing facial features and providing a youthful glow.
Stylists often recommend caramel highlights for their versatility. Whether you have short, medium, or long hair, this style adapts beautifully, offering a touch of elegance. The easy maintenance and ability to grow out gracefully make them a top choice for those seeking a fresh look without drastic change.
Caramel highlights continue to be a go-to for many, thanks to their ability to enhance natural beauty effortlessly. They’re perfect for anyone looking to brighten their brown locks without committing to a full color change.
Ash Brown Highlights
For those seeking a cool twist on the classic brown, ash brown highlights offer a modern edge. These highlights introduce a subtle, smoky color that contrasts beautifully with darker hair. Their understated elegance makes them a favorite for those who prefer a refined look. The cool tones soften facial features, creating a sophisticated appearance.
Ash brown highlights work exceptionally well for those with naturally dark hair, as they provide depth without overwhelming the base color. These highlights are particularly popular in urban settings, where fashion-forward individuals seek to make a statement.
Despite their chic appearance, they require some upkeep to maintain their vibrant hue. Regular toning might be necessary to keep brassiness at bay and ensure the highlights stay fresh and appealing.
Honey Blonde Highlights
Honey blonde highlights offer a sweet and vibrant touch to brown hair. These highlights bring a youthful, sun-kissed glow to any hairstyle. The warm golden tones blend effortlessly with brown shades, creating a harmonious look that brightens the overall appearance.
These highlights are perfect for those looking to add a touch of brightness without going full blonde. Honey blonde highlights are versatile, working well with wavy, curly, or straight hair. Their ability to add dimension and texture makes them a popular choice for those wanting a lively and cheerful look.
With minimal maintenance, these highlights grow out gracefully, making them ideal for busy individuals who still want to look stylish. They’re a splendid option for injecting some fun and light into your hair, reminiscent of sunny days spent outdoors.
Chestnut Highlights
Chestnut highlights are an exquisite choice for adding richness and depth to brown hair. These highlights feature a reddish-brown hue that complements the natural darkness of brown locks. The subtle yet striking contrast adds volume and movement to the hair.
The warm undertones of chestnut highlights are particularly flattering for those with warm skin tones, enhancing natural features. They offer a sophisticated, polished look that’s both timeless and elegant. Stylists often recommend chestnut highlights to mature women looking for a refined change.
Low-maintenance and versatile, these highlights suit various hair types and lengths, providing an effortless way to elevate one’s style. Chestnut highlights are the epitome of understated elegance, perfect for anyone seeking a classic yet contemporary look.
Copper Highlights
Copper highlights are the perfect choice for brunettes seeking an edgy and bold transformation. These fiery highlights infuse brown hair with a burst of energy and vibrancy. The reddish-orange tones create a striking contrast, drawing attention and enhancing the hair’s natural texture.
Ideal for those who love to stand out, copper highlights work brilliantly with curly hair, adding depth and dimension. The lively hues complement warm skin tones, making them a popular choice for daring individuals.
Regular touch-ups are essential to maintain their vividness, but the captivating results are worth the effort. Copper highlights are a statement-making option for anyone looking to inject some drama into their brown hair, perfect for those who aren’t afraid to embrace bold style.
Ash Blonde Highlights
Ash blonde highlights are ideal for those seeking a subtle yet sophisticated change. These cool-toned highlights blend seamlessly with brown hair, offering a chic and contemporary look. The combination of brown and ash blonde creates a soft contrast that enhances facial features without overpowering them.
These highlights are particularly suited for those with cooler skin tones, adding a touch of elegance and refinement. They are a favorite among urban fashion enthusiasts, known for their understated glamour.
Regular maintenance is necessary to preserve their cool tone, but the sophisticated allure makes it worthwhile. Ash blonde highlights are perfect for anyone desiring a polished and modern look, enhancing the natural beauty of brown hair without drastic alteration.
Golden Highlights
Golden highlights offer a luminous touch to brown hair, reminiscent of a sun-drenched day. These highlights add a warm, glowing effect that brightens the overall appearance, making them a beloved choice for many brunettes. The golden hues create a vibrant contrast with brown tones, enhancing depth and dimension.
Ideal for those seeking a radiant, youthful look, golden highlights are versatile and easily adapt to various hair lengths and types. They’re perfect for those who want to embrace a sunny, cheerful vibe.
With minimal maintenance, these highlights grow out naturally, making them an excellent choice for busy individuals seeking a fresh and lively look. Golden highlights are perfect for adding a touch of sunshine to your hair, ensuring a radiant and captivating appearance.
Burgundy Highlights
Burgundy highlights are a bold and daring choice for brunettes seeking an adventurous change. The deep red-purple tones create a striking contrast with brown hair, adding depth and drama to any style. These highlights are perfect for those who love to make a statement.
Ideal for cooler months, burgundy highlights add warmth and richness, enhancing facial features and providing a captivating look. They’re particularly flattering on those with cooler skin tones, creating an alluring and mysterious aura.
Regular maintenance is required to keep the color vibrant, but the dramatic effect is worth the effort. Burgundy highlights are the ultimate choice for anyone looking to embrace a bold and unique style, offering a touch of sophistication and intrigue.
Mocha Highlights
Mocha highlights add a rich and luxurious touch to brown hair. These highlights introduce a soft, coffee-inspired hue that blends harmoniously with natural brown tones. The subtle contrast enhances the hair’s natural shine, providing a polished and sophisticated look.
Ideal for those seeking a subtle change, mocha highlights offer a refined elegance without overpowering the base color. They’re a favorite among those with warm or neutral skin tones, enhancing natural beauty with a hint of luxury.
Low-maintenance and versatile, these highlights suit various hair types and lengths. Mocha highlights are perfect for anyone looking to add a touch of refinement to their style, offering an understated yet impactful transformation.
Platinum Blonde Highlights
Platinum blonde highlights are an adventurous choice for brunettes craving a dramatic transformation. These highlights introduce an eye-catching contrast, offering a modern and edgy look. The cool, icy tones stand out against brown hair, creating a striking visual effect.
Perfect for those with a daring sense of style, platinum highlights demand attention and make a bold statement. They’re particularly suited for those with cool skin tones, enhancing facial features with a refreshing twist.
Regular maintenance is essential to prevent brassiness and maintain their vibrant hue. Platinum blonde highlights are ideal for anyone seeking a bold and dynamic change, adding a touch of avant-garde flair to your hair.
Rose Gold Highlights
Rose gold highlights offer a trendy and whimsical touch to brown hair. These highlights combine soft pink and gold tones, creating a delicate and feminine look. The subtle shimmer adds a playful twist, making them a favorite among fashion-forward individuals.
Perfect for those with a youthful spirit, rose gold highlights enhance brown hair with a modern and chic vibe. They’re particularly flattering on those with warm or neutral skin tones, adding a soft glow and enhancing natural features.
While they require regular upkeep to maintain their unique hue, the playful and stylish effect is worth the effort. Rose gold highlights are perfect for anyone looking to add a touch of whimsy to their style, offering a fresh and trendy transformation.
Silver Highlights
Silver highlights are a refined choice for brunettes seeking an elegant and contemporary look. These cool-toned highlights introduce a sleek and modern touch, blending seamlessly with brown hair. The subtle shimmer adds depth and sophistication to any style.
Perfect for those who prefer a minimalistic and polished appearance, silver highlights enhance facial features without overpowering them. They’re particularly suited for those with cool skin tones, adding a touch of elegance and refinement.
Regular maintenance is necessary to keep their cool tone crisp and vibrant. Silver highlights are ideal for anyone desiring a chic and contemporary transformation, offering a touch of sophistication and modernity to your hair.
Red Highlights
Red highlights offer a vibrant and bold touch to brown hair. These striking highlights introduce fiery red tones, creating a dramatic contrast that catches the eye. Perfect for those who love to make a statement, red highlights add a burst of energy and excitement to any style.
Ideal for adventurous individuals, these highlights enhance facial features and provide a spirited look. They’re particularly flattering on those with warm skin tones, adding warmth and vibrancy to the overall appearance.
Regular upkeep is essential to maintain their vivid hue, but the bold and captivating effect is worth the effort. Red highlights are perfect for anyone looking to add a touch of boldness and flair to their hair, offering a dynamic and lively transformation.
Bleach Blonde Highlights
Bleach blonde highlights are a daring choice for brunettes seeking a bold change. These highlights introduce a dramatic contrast, offering a striking and edgy look. The light, bright tones stand out against brown hair, creating a captivating visual effect.
Perfect for those with a fearless sense of style, bleach blonde highlights demand attention and make a bold statement. They’re particularly suited for those with cool skin tones, enhancing facial features with a fresh twist.
Regular maintenance is crucial to prevent brassiness and maintain their vibrant hue. Bleach blonde highlights are ideal for anyone seeking a bold and dynamic transformation, adding a touch of avant-garde flair to their hair.
Purple Highlights
Purple highlights offer a creative and unique touch to brown hair. These bold highlights introduce vibrant purple tones, creating a quirky and playful contrast. Perfect for those who love to experiment with color, purple highlights add a touch of fun and whimsy to any style.
Ideal for artistic individuals, these highlights enhance facial features and provide a distinctive look. They’re particularly flattering on those with cool skin tones, adding a vibrant and lively touch to the overall appearance.
Regular maintenance is essential to keep their vivid hue fresh and exciting. Purple highlights are perfect for anyone looking to add a pop of color and creativity to their hair, offering a fun and lively transformation.
Teal Highlights
Teal highlights offer a bold and exotic touch to brown hair. These striking highlights introduce rich teal tones, creating a captivating contrast that stands out. Perfect for those who love to break away from convention, teal highlights add a touch of intrigue and creativity to any style.
Ideal for adventurous individuals, these highlights enhance facial features and provide a distinctive look. They’re particularly flattering on those with cool skin tones, adding a lively and unique touch to the overall appearance.
Regular maintenance is essential to keep their vibrant hue fresh and exciting. Teal highlights are perfect for anyone looking to add a pop of color and creativity to their hair, offering a distinctive and artistic transformation.
Green Highlights
Green highlights are a bold and adventurous choice for brunettes seeking a unique transformation. These vibrant highlights introduce rich green tones, creating a striking contrast with brown hair. Perfect for those with a daring sense of style, green highlights add a spirited and lively touch to any look.
Ideal for creative individuals, these highlights enhance facial features and provide a distinctive appearance. They’re particularly flattering on those with warm skin tones, adding a vibrant and fresh touch to the overall look.
Regular upkeep is necessary to maintain their vivid hue, but the dramatic and captivating effect is worth the effort. Green highlights are perfect for anyone looking to add a touch of boldness and flair to their hair, offering a dynamic and lively transformation.
Pink Highlights
Pink highlights offer a fun and playful touch to brown hair. These vibrant highlights introduce soft pink tones, creating a whimsical and lively contrast. Perfect for those with a youthful spirit, pink highlights add a touch of color and excitement to any style.
Ideal for creative individuals, these highlights enhance facial features and provide a distinctive look. They’re particularly flattering on those with warm or neutral skin tones, adding a cheerful and lively touch to the overall appearance.
Regular maintenance is essential to keep their vivid hue fresh and exciting. Pink highlights are perfect for anyone looking to add a pop of color and creativity to their hair, offering a fun and lively transformation.