Dark brown hair is the perfect base for highlights—it gives depth, contrast, and a natural richness that makes lighter tones pop. The key to getting it right is choosing the right highlight shade for your undertone. Warm brunettes glow with caramel and honey tones, while cooler brunettes look best with ashy blondes or soft mocha highlights.
Placement matters just as much as color. Face-framing highlights brighten your complexion, while balayage creates a natural, sun-kissed effect with low maintenance. For a bolder look, chunky highlights add dimension and drama.
Whether you want something subtle or high-contrast, highlights can completely transform dark brown hair without a drastic change. Keep scrolling for the best highlight ideas to bring your brunette hair to life!
#1 Lustré Hair Color
Lustré hair color features a deep brunette base with warm caramel highlights that add luminous dimension. The highlights are placed to enhance movement, especially on long, wavy layers. This color works beautifully for those with medium to thick hair, as the multi-tonal effect gives depth and a natural sun-kissed glow. A gloss treatment can help maintain the shine and keep the color looking fresh between salon visits.
#2 Caracastle Hair Color
Caracastle hair color features a deep brown base with rich caramel balayage highlights, creating a bold yet blended contrast. The balayage technique ensures a natural grow-out, making this a low-maintenance but high-impact choice for brunettes. This look is best styled with loose curls to enhance the color movement. Using a sulfate-free shampoo helps maintain the vibrancy of the caramel tones.
#3 MapleGlow Hair Color
MapleGlow hair color features a warm maple brown base with soft golden highlights, giving the hair a luminous, healthy shine. The mix of warm brown and golden hues creates a soft, dimensional effect that works beautifully on long hair with layers. The natural glow of this shade makes it flattering on all skin tones. A smoothing serum can enhance the gloss and keep the highlights looking fresh.
#4 Auburné Hair Color
Auburné hair color infuses deep brunette with warm auburn highlights, creating a rich, fiery glow. This shade is perfect for brunettes who want to add a touch of red without committing to a full copper look. The warm undertones complement medium to olive skin tones beautifully. A color-depositing shampoo can enhance and maintain the auburn vibrancy over time.
#5 EspressoFrost Hair Color
EspressoFrost hair color combines a deep espresso base with icy beige highlights, giving a cool-toned, modern contrast. This shade is perfect for brunettes who want a dimensional look without golden warmth. The cool highlights add brightness while maintaining a sophisticated, natural effect. A purple shampoo can help neutralize any unwanted brassiness in the lighter pieces.
#6 Hazellight Hair Color
Hazellight hair color features a soft brunette balayage with hazelnut and golden blonde highlights, adding a natural brightness. This shade works well for brunettes looking to introduce lighter tones without dramatic contrast. The hand-painted highlights blend seamlessly, making it a low-maintenance choice. Using a deep-conditioning mask can keep the lightened strands healthy and hydrated.
#7 Brulé Brun Hair Color
Brulé Brun is a delicious blend of deep chocolate brown with warm caramel swirls, creating a soft, multi-dimensional effect. The color works beautifully with soft waves, enhancing movement and depth. This shade is ideal for brunettes who want warmth without overpowering their natural base. A color-safe shampoo helps maintain the contrast between dark and light tones without fading.
#8 NoiréLume Hair Color
NoiréLume hair color creates a stunning blend of dark brunette with honey-toned highlights, adding warmth and depth without overpowering the base. This color is ideal for brunettes looking for a natural yet dimensional effect. The soft golden strands illuminate the hair, making it perfect for medium to long lengths with layers. A shine serum can enhance the natural glow of the highlights.
#9 Cinnabrun Hair Color
Cinnabrun hair color is a deep brunette shade infused with warm cinnamon highlights, adding a subtle reddish undertone. The soft coppery pieces give the hair a spicy richness, making it a flattering choice for olive and warm skin tones. This color is ideal for those looking to experiment with warmth without going fully red. A color-protecting conditioner can help maintain the vibrancy of the cinnamon tones.
#10 Glowmelt Hair Color
Glowmelt hair color blends warm brunette tones with golden blonde highlights, giving the appearance of naturally sunlit strands. The face-framing highlights brighten the complexion, making this a flattering choice for medium to long hair. Soft waves enhance the golden tones, creating a luminous, effortless look. Regular toning treatments help maintain the golden hue without unwanted brassiness.
#11 EspressoLush Hair Color
EspressoLush is a luxurious mix of deep brunette with soft espresso lowlights and caramel ribbons, creating a seamless and natural effect. This color is perfect for brunettes looking for subtle depth without a stark contrast. The warm caramel pieces brighten the face, making it ideal for those with medium to long layered cuts. A hydrating gloss can keep the caramel strands looking fresh and vibrant.
#12 TawnyBlend Hair Color
TawnyBlend hair color is a seamless mix of dark brunette with tawny beige highlights, creating a natural, sun-kissed effect. The muted highlights blend effortlessly with the base color, making this a fantastic choice for brunettes who want a soft, dimensional color without going too light. Ideal for medium to long hair, this shade looks best on wavy or straight styles to enhance the contrast. A neutral-toning shampoo helps keep the tawny highlights balanced and fresh.
#13 ChocoLume Hair Color
ChocoLume hair color blends a deep brunette base with soft milk chocolate highlights, creating a smooth, multi-tonal effect. The highlights are placed in a way that adds subtle brightness without harsh contrast, making this a great choice for brunettes who prefer a natural, low-maintenance look. This color works beautifully on medium to long hair with soft waves or curls for added dimension. A shine-enhancing serum can help maintain the creamy, reflective finish.
#14 GildedBrun Hair Color
GildedBrun hair color is a rich dark brunette shade enhanced with golden caramel highlights for a radiant, sunlit effect. The golden tones add warmth and dimension, making this a great choice for brunettes looking for a vibrant yet natural hair color. This shade works well for all hair textures, but it looks especially striking on long, layered cuts. Using a color-safe, hydrating conditioner helps maintain the golden hues and prevents brassiness.
#15 Smoulder Hair Color
Smoulder hair color is a rich chocolate brown infused with subtle mahogany highlights, giving it a deep, fiery undertone. This color is perfect for those who want a sultry, dimensional look without committing to bright red hues. The mahogany undertones catch the light beautifully, especially on wavy or curled styles. A sulfate-free shampoo is recommended to maintain the vibrancy of the red-based tones.
#16 CaféLuxe Hair Color
CaféLuxe hair color is a luxurious mix of deep espresso brown with soft caramel highlights, creating a seamless, blended look. The highlights add warmth without overpowering the dark base, making it a sophisticated choice for brunettes who want a refined color update. This shade works well on thick hair, as the layers of color add depth and movement. A gloss treatment can enhance shine and keep the color rich and vibrant.
#17 Bronzette Hair Color
Bronzette hair color is all about a dark brown base infused with bronze highlights that reflect light beautifully. This shade is great for those who want a metallic warmth without going too light. The bronzed tones create a sleek, polished effect, especially when styled with soft waves. A shine-enhancing serum or glossing treatment will help maintain the reflective quality of this color.
#18 MochaGlow Hair Color
MochaGlow hair color is a blend of dark mocha brown with honey-beige highlights for a smooth, creamy finish. The subtle contrast adds dimension without being overly dramatic, making it perfect for brunettes who want a refined, natural look. This shade works especially well for medium to olive skin tones, enhancing warmth in the complexion. A moisturizing hair mask helps maintain the silkiness and shine of this color.
#19 Sunkissé Hair Color
Sunkissé hair color features dark brown roots melting into golden balayage highlights, giving the illusion of naturally sun-lightened hair. This technique adds brightness around the face, making it a flattering choice for brunettes who want a soft, dimensional glow. Ideal for medium to long hair, this low-maintenance color grows out beautifully with minimal upkeep. A toning treatment can help keep the golden hues fresh and brass-free.
#20 Emberlux Hair Color
Emberlux hair color is a rich, warm brunette shade infused with copper and auburn highlights for a glowing, ember-like effect. This blend is perfect for brunettes who want to enhance their natural depth with warm, autumn-inspired hues. The placement of the highlights adds contrast, especially when styled in loose waves. This color works well for medium to olive skin tones, complementing warmth in the complexion.
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