49 Best Brown Hair With Highlights Ideas to Copy ASAP
If you've been craving a color upgrade, find your next look here.
Many people would have you believe that blondes have more fun, but those people clearly haven't seen how stunning dark brown hair with highlights can be. When you mix classic brunette shades with ribbons of sandy blonde, coppery brown, or hints of red, you have yourself a mane masterpiece that simply can't be beat. It's also an incredibly versatile look: Depending on how many highlights you add to your brown base, your end result could look more blonde, red, or black.
If you're not quite sold on the whole brunette color thing, keep clicking: We scoured the web for celebrities who have flawlessly rocked the look. Ahead, you'll discover dozens of ways to tailor brunette hair for your skin tone and color preference. Craving a pop of bright color? You'll love Mariska Hargitay's sun-kissed ombré. Prefer a more sultry style? Jenna Dewan's ash-brown highlights will make you want to call your colorist. And if you're thinking about playing with reds, get ready to swoon over Emma Watson's copper accents.
So, what are you waiting for? By the end of this article, you could very well find your new beauty statement.
Warm Amber
Rich and shiny, Mandy Moore's lob brings images of amber to mind. And with dark brown ends that light, her updos will only look even more dimensional.
Mocha Brown
Jessica Biel's highlights might be understated, but they're incredibly effective: Look closely, and you'll notice that her mocha brown mane has warmer, light-catching ends.
Caramel Babylights
You don't need to get highlights all over your head to create eye-catching color. Here, Oprah shows off how a few lighter face-framing strands can transform your whole look.
Subtle Chestnut Highlights
Ashley Graham's color is so subtle that you might think it's just light playing tricks on your eyes. To copy her natural-looking shine, ask your stylist for balayage highlights one to two shades lighter than your base color.
Rich Balayage
Here, Anne Hathaway flaunts a rich brown hair color that's the product of expertly-painted balayage highlights.
Toffee Fade
Chrissy Teigen's warm hair color is swoon-worthy. We love the natural-looking fade from deep-brown roots to caramel-blonde ends.
Cocoa Caramel Swirl
If you prefer a multi-dimensional hair color over chunky-looking highlights, check out Chrissy Metz's 'do. The This Is Us actress's brown hair is the perfect option for anyone hoping for a lower-maintenance look.
Black-to-Brown
Lucy Liu's ultra-dark brown hair verges on the edge of black. By adding warm brown highlights into the mix, she shows how stunning it can look to add a little dimension to sultry strands.
Subtle Ombré
Dig high contrast but can't get on board with high-maintenance hair colors? Sandra Bullock's subtle ombré will inspire you to make a hair appointment ASAP.
Sun-Kissed Ombré
Mariska Hargitay always looks naturally stunning. And her sun-kissed brown hair is no exception. The trick to copping the SVU star's look is to ask your stylist for balayage babylights.
Espresso Brown
A subtle touch of warmth will transform any dark hair into a rich espresso hue. Just look at Priyanka Chopra's swoon-worthy 'do.
Chestnut Fade
Go red without fully ditching your brunette roots by copying Melissa McCarthy's chestnut fade. To keep the color looking its best, be sure to use a color-protector like NatureLab Tokyo's Shine Oil Mist.
Sunny Highlights
Accentuate the warm tones in your complexion by adding a few blonde highlights into the mix. Be sure to add a purple shampoo to your routine to keep your brown hair from turning brassy over time.
Rich Babylights
We love how Selena Gomez confines the highlights in her brown hair to her ends and ends alone. By requesting babylights a few shades lighter than your base color, you'll be able to copy the singer's style.
Dark Chestnut
Sometimes creating a head-turning hair color is as simple as employing a few chestnut highlights to mimic the look of sun reflecting off of stands. Case in point: Winona Ryder's dark brown waves.
Cappuccino Blend
For those of you who prefer slightly chunkier highlights, Rose Byrne's brown hair is here to inspire. With dark roots and warm blonde highlights throughout, we're getting delicious cappuccino vibes.
Copper Accents
Can't decide between brown and red hair? You don't have to if you copy Emma Watson's gorgeous copper-lit locks.
Red Velvet
Issa Rae's red-tinted mane makes us heart-eyed. To really play-up this look, keep curls ultra-hydrated and defined with a styling cream like Hair Flair's DEFINE Defining Cream.
Brown Cinnamon
Upon first glance, Ashley Benson's brown hair might look like a single shade, but look closer and you'll notice subtle cinnamon highlights that give it a spicy finish we can't stop staring at.
Warm Chestnut
Speaking of cinnamon, chestnut highlights are another way to incorporate red tones into your dark brown hair. Maris Tomei shows us how it's done.
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