40+ Gorgeous Brown Hair and Highlights Ideas

If you’ve been rocking the classic single tone brunette look until now but want to change things up a bit, adding some highlights might be just what you need. Highlights are the perfect way to add dimension and depth to your hair without changing your hair color completely.

The great thing about brown hair is that it pairs beautifully with so many different highlight shades. You can go subtle and sun-kissed with some warm golden tones or create more contrast with cooler ashy highlights. If you’re looking for something more bold, you can always add highlights in pink, blue, and red, or opt for a little wilder look with chunky highlights.

Whatever your style, we’ve gathered up the hottest brown hair highlight ideas trending for this season. Get ready to screenshot your favorites and take them straight to your colorist!

Chunky Blonde Highlights

Woman with brown hair and soft blonde highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @livebytheswordsalon

This stunning style features a luxurious mix of rich brown hair and blonde highlights that make a beautiful contrast. The highlights are placed evenly and concentrated around the face, illuminating the complexion and adding a youthful, vibrant glow to the overall look. It’s a style perfect for someone seeking a noticeable transformation.

Blonde Highlights on a Dark Brown Base

Woman with dark brown hair mixed with light blonde and brown highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @baby.your.hair

This hairstyle features beautiful ashy blonde highlights woven through dark brown hair. The combination of colors provides a rich, dimensional look that enhances the hair’s natural waves and texture. It’s a versatile style that suits all skin tones and hair textures.

Brown Hair With Dark Caramel & Light Brown Highlights

Woman with brown hair mixed with dark caramel and light brown highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @live_love_dohair

In this gorgeous style, multi-tonal highlights in dark caramel and light brown hues blend seamlessly into the brown base, creating a rich, dimensional look. The mix of highlights is applied with a balayage technique, ensuring a natural transition and enhancing the hair’s volume and depth.

Light Brown Hair With Blonde Highlights

Woman with light brown hair and blonde highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @hair_bydonna

Light brown hair is enhanced with blonde highlights that provide a bright, sun-kissed look. This style is perfect for adding dimension and enhancing the natural waves of the hair, making it a great choice for a casual yet polished appearance.

Golden Blonde & Caramel Highlights in Brown Hair

Woman with dark brown hair and caramel and blonde highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @angelsdominicanbeautysalon_

Here, warm caramel tones blend beautifully with dark brown hair, sprinkled with golden blonde highlights that brighten the overall look. This style is perfect for adding vibrancy to darker shades, offering a luxurious, multi-dimensional appearance that glows in natural light.

Medium Brown Hair & Caramel Highlights

Woman with brown hair and caramel highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @studiosavvysalon

Featuring a warm brown base, this hairstyle is elevated with rich caramel highlights that add a creamy, luscious texture to the hair. The highlights are expertly applied to enhance the natural flow and curls of the hair, making it an excellent choice for adding dimension and warmth.

Classic Blonde Highlights in Dark Brown Hair

Woman with dark brown hair and blonde highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @ritahazan

This elegant hairstyle features fine blonde highlights that stand out against a dark brown base. The highlights are strategically placed to frame the face and lighten up the overall appearance, making it a great choice for those looking for a more subtle and natural look.

Chunky Blonde Highlights & Espresso Brown Hair

Woman with brown hair and blonde highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @hairsalonfifteen

This style showcases beautiful, soft brown hair interwoven with thin and chunky, creamy blonde highlights. The highlights are placed thicker in the middle and thinner around the face, providing a sun-kissed glow that brightens the face. This look is versatile, ideal for enhancing natural waves and adding movement to the hair. It’s a classic choice that remains ever popular.

Dark Brown Hair With Caramel Highlights

Woman with dark brown hair and caramel highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @hairbycameronskye

Here, caramel highlights blend seamlessly into dark brown hair, adding a glossy, sun-kissed finish to the style. The highlights enhance the texture and volume of the hair, making the look ideal for those who desire a subtle yet noticeable enhancement to their natural color.

Bright Red Highlights

Woman with wavy brown hair and vibrant red highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @stylesbyblackbear

A stunning example of vivid contrast, this hairstyle showcases deep red highlights set against a brown base. The red highlights are expertly woven throughout, giving the appearance of flickering flames amidst a dark backdrop. This look is perfect for adding warmth and drama to your style.

Light Brown Highlights in Chocolate Brown Hair

Woman with wavy brown hair and light brown highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @thecocosalon_vimannagar

This hairstyle features soft light brown highlights that subtly blend into the model’s chocolate brown base. The result is a refined and natural-looking gradient that adds texture and volume, ideal for enhancing the hair’s natural movement.

Chocolate Brown Hair With Subtle Light Brown and Blonde Highlights

Woman with chocolate brown hair and light brown highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @blondingbybecca

This luxurious style showcases chocolate brown hair enriched with subtle light brown and blonde highlights that create a shimmering, multi-tonal effect. The highlights are expertly applied to emphasize the natural flow and waves of the hair, bringing a lively dimension to the overall look.

Light Caramel Highlights on a Classic Brown Base

Woman with straight brown hair and caramel highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @blondingbarber

This look is a classic example of elegance meeting style. The sleek, straight brown hair is enhanced with subtle caramel highlights that provide a hint of sophistication and a touch of warmth, making it a versatile style suitable for all hair lengths and textures.

Brown Hair With Pink Highlights

Woman with dark brown hair and multi-toned pink highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @ha1r.by.tay

Bold and beautifully unique, this look features light pink highlights that stand out against the model’s dark brown hair. The pink shades range from soft blush to vibrant rose, providing a playful yet chic aesthetic. This style is perfect for those looking to make a statement and embrace color in a sophisticated manner.

Light Brown Highlights on a Dark Base

Woman with dark brown hair highlighted with light brown and golden blonde tones.
Image Credit: Instagram @thecocosalon_vimannagar

Here, subtle light brown highlights are woven into dark brown hair, creating a soft, natural look that enhances the hair’s natural volume. This style is perfect for those seeking a refreshed, youthful appearance.

Subtle Blue Highlights

Woman with brown hair and blue highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @thebasesalon_sg

This edgy yet sophisticated look showcases deep brown hair with subtle, barely-there blue highlights. The blue streaks add a romantic touch, contrasting beautifully against the dark base, making it a perfect choice for those wanting to stand out with a bold, modern twist to their hairstyle.

Brown Hair & Purple Balayage

Woman with brown hair and striking purple highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @hairbybridgerenee

This captivating hairstyle combines a classic brown base with a bold purple balayage. The vivid purple highlights are especially prominent through the lengths and ends, adding a playful yet elegant touch. This look is perfect for someone looking to make a bold statement with their hair, blending classic and contemporary styles.

Golden Blonde Highlights on a Medium Brown Base

Woman with medium brown hair and golden blonde highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @mancinisalon

This hairstyle features medium brown hair lusciously highlighted with golden blonde streaks that catch the light beautifully. It’s another example of the classic highlighting technique that adds warmth and depth, and creates a vibrant yet natural look.

Brown Hair With Multi-Toned Copper Highlights

Woman with brown hair featuring vibrant copper highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @elie_jj

This hair style features a rich, dark brown base brought to life with luscious multi-toned copper highlights that catch the light beautifully. The highlights add a warm, metallic shine that enhances the hair’s natural texture and movement, making it perfect for those who desire a subtle yet impactful change to their appearance.

Blonde & Brown Highlights and Lowlights

Woman with brown hair highlighted with both lighter and darker shades.
Image Credit: Instagram @blown_away_studio

This sophisticated style features a combination of blonde highlights and darker lowlights which add incredible depth and complexity to the brown hair. The lighter highlights brighten the overall appearance, while the darker lowlights create a fuller, richer look. It’s perfect for adding visual interest and a custom color blend.

Classic Auburn Highlights in Dark Brown Hair

Woman with brown hair and subtle auburn highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @sorellahairsalonnyc

This look features a deep brown base with subtle auburn highlights that provide a gentle, yet effective contrast. The highlights add warmth and richness to the hair, ideal for someone looking to subtly enhance their natural color while maintaining a professional appearance.

Light Brown and Blonde Highlights on a Dark Brown Base

Woman with short brown hair enhanced with light brown and blonde highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @styled_by_carolynn

This chic short brown hairstyle is elevated with light brown and blonde highlights that enhance the texture and volume of the hair. It’s a versatile and natural look that suits a variety of face shapes and hair textures.

Honey Highlights on Medium Brown Hair

Woman with long brown hair and honey highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @glamstreetint

This stunning look features a luxurious blend of honey highlights in a balayage technique that perfectly complement the model’s natural brown hair. The highlights cascade through her long, wavy hair gracefully, adding depth and dimension. Ideal for those seeking a natural, sun-kissed glow, this style enhances the complexion and brings a vibrant, youthful feel.

Ash Blonde Highlights on Medium Brown Hair

Woman with medium brown hair and blonde highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @illusionrealbeautysalon

Medium brown hair is beautifully contrasted with ashy blonde, almost white highlights, which illuminate the overall color and add a dynamic touch. The highlights are placed to maximize the reflection of light, creating a fresh, energetic, and youthful look.

Red Highlights in Auburn Brown Hair

Woman with auburn brown hair and red highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @rainbowabstractions

Here we have auburn brown hair enriched with vibrant red highlights that create a fiery contrast. The highlights are strategically placed to add depth and dimension, enhancing the natural waves of the hair. The overall effect is both bold and subtle, perfect for someone looking to add a splash of color without overwhelming their natural hue.

White Highlights in Dark Brown Hair

Woman with dark brown hair featuring bold white highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @lizziewiththegoodhair

This chic look features striking white highlights that weave through dark brown hair, providing an edgy contrast that’s perfect for those looking to stand out. The highlights are placed to enhance the waves and texture of the hair, reflecting light and adding an extra dimension to the rich base color.

Dark Brown Hair With Red & Blonde Highlights

Woman with curly brown hair highlighted with red and blonde.
Image Credit: Instagram @ibrahims_hair_artist

This hairstyle artfully mixes warm red and blonde highlights with a dark brown base, creating a dynamic and multi-dimensional look. The red highlights add a rich, fiery contrast, while the blonde softens and blends beautifully, enhancing the overall warmth of the style. It’s ideal for those seeking a vibrant, eye-catching appearance that still feels balanced and harmonious.

Caramel Highlights on a Chocolate Brown Base

Woman with chocolate brown hair enriched with subtle caramel highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @self.care.hair

This hairstyle features luscious chocolate brown hair with caramel highlights that create a warm, elegant look. The caramel streaks melt seamlessly into the darker base, enhancing the hair’s natural depth and movement. Perfect for adding a bit of lightness and dimension, it’s a classic choice that remains ever-popular.

Blonde & Red Highlights on a Brown Base

Woman with brown hair, blonde and red highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @halleratkayla

This dynamic style combines brown hair with blonde and red highlights, creating a striking and vibrant look. The blonde highlights and tips brighten the overall color palette, while the red streaks add a bold, adventurous touch. This style is perfect for those looking to make a statement with their hair while keeping it playful and fun.

Classic Highlights in Medium Brown Hair

Woman with medium brown hair and lighter highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @paintedbyapixie

A perfect example of classic highlighting, this style combines lighter brown highlights with a medium brown base, creating a beautiful contrast that is both striking and natural. The full highlights add softness to the overall look, making it perfect for those who prefer a more subtle style.

Subtle Blonde Highlights

Woman with dark brown hair and gentle, subtle highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @karla.cutcolorclip

This look features very subtle light brown highlights that blend seamlessly with the natural dark brown base. The highlights are just a few shades lighter, providing a gentle lift without too much contrast. This style is perfect for someone looking for a natural enhancement to their existing color, offering a hint of depth and refined elegance.

Blonde Highlights in Chocolate Brown Hair

Woman with chocolate brown hair and blonde highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @coloredbycaitlin

Rich chocolate brown hair is beautifully highlighted with streaks of blonde that provide a striking contrast and add depth to the flowing curls. This look is dynamic yet balanced and suits a variety of skin tones and hair textures.

Dark Brown Hair & Purple Highlights

Woman with dark brown hair featuring vibrant purple highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @caroliiine_k

Here, bold purple highlights add a pop of color to dark brown hair, creating a trendy and vibrant style. This look is ideal for those wanting to express their personality through a unique and eye-catching hairstyle.

Subtle Blonde Highlights on a Reddish Brown Base

Woman with reddish brown hair and subtle blonde highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @sorellahairsalonnyc

Reddish-brown hair is enriched with subtle blonde highlights that provide a vibrant, dimensional vibe. The highlights accentuate the natural curls and add a playful contrast to the deeper base color, perfect for those seeking a bold yet wearable style.

Blonde Money Piece on Medium Brown Hair

Woman with brown hair and frontal blonde highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @nivalferreira1

This hairstyle brings focus to the face with blonde highlights prominently featured in the front strands, blending into the natural brown hair. It’s an ideal style for those looking to brighten their facial features while maintaining a natural look in the rest of their hair.

Strawberry Blonde Highlights & Brown Combo

Woman with brown hair and soft strawberry blonde highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @veronicas_vivid_beauty

This style exudes a soft, romantic vibe with its lovely strawberry blonde highlights that perfectly complement the light brown base. The highlights add a gentle luminosity, creating a fresh and youthful look that’s perfect for all seasons. It’s a fantastic choice for those looking to brighten their appearance without going fully blonde.

Bright Auburn Balayage

Woman with dark brown hair and auburn highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @deborahlynnhairartistry

The auburn balayage highlights on this dark brown base add a warm, rich glow that’s perfect for those who want a subtle and natural look. These highlights bring a touch of autumnal color, enhancing the hair’s natural vibrancy and providing a flattering contrast against the darker tones.

Auburn & Caramel Highlights on a Warm Brown Base

Woman with brown hair highlighted with auburn and caramel.
Image Credit: Instagram @fearlessbeautique

Here, the warm brown base is enhanced with rich auburn and light caramel highlights, adding a luxurious and multi-dimensional look. The highlights are distributed in a way that mimics natural lightening, making it a great option for adding texture and visual interest.

Classic Light Blonde Highlights on a Brown Base

Woman with brown hair and light blonde highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @paintedhairbypooneh

This hairstyle blends light blonde highlights with a rich brown base, achieving an elegant, natural look. The highlights are artfully placed to mimic the natural lightening effect of the sun, adding a breezy, laid-back vibe to the overall style.

Honey & Auburn Highlights in Chestnut Brown Hair

Woman with chestnut brown hair highlighted with honey and auburn tones.
Image Credit: Instagram @amandacarvalhoofficial

The soft, honey and auburn highlights in this chestnut brown hair create a subtle, sun-kissed copper effect that’s perfect for those looking for a more advanced style. The highlights are finely distributed, adding a warm glow that enhances the hair’s earthy tones.

Red Brown Hair With Copper, Mahogany, and Caramel Highlights

Woman with long wavy hair featuring red and brown highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @makeoverbymeg

This stunning hairstyle showcases a vibrant mix of red and brown tones. The base color is a rich, deep reddish brown that melts into a variety of red highlights, from coppery hues to subtle mahogany and caramel accents. This color combination is especially flattering for warm skin tones and brings a fresh, youthful vibe to the overall appearance.

Brown Hair With Golden Highlights

Woman with brown hair and golden highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @cuttingedgesalon

This hairstyle showcases a luxurious blend of golden highlights with a deep brown base. The golden streaks add a radiant, sun-kissed effect, enhancing the hair’s natural waves and texture. It’s an elegant choice for anyone looking to brighten up their style with a touch of glamour.

Pink Highlights on Rose Gold Brown Hair

Woman with rose gold brown hair and pink highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @hairbymariaisavel

This unique hairstyle showcases a rose gold brown base with delicate pink highlights that offer a super trendy vibe. The pink highlights are strategically placed, almost in a balayage style, to enhance the overall look.

Ginger Highlights on a Reddish Brown Base

Woman with brown hair and striking ginger highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @hairbykimberlyh

A lovely meld of a reddish brown base mixed with ginger highlights creates a dynamic and autumnal feel in this hairstyle. The ginger highlights weave through the dark base in thick, balayage strokes, offering a fiery contrast that’s especially striking in sunlight. It’s ideal for those looking to add some warmth to their look.

Dark Brown Hair With Honey Highlights

Woman with dark brown hair and honey blonde highlights.
Image Credit: Instagram @cheris_salon_and_spa

This hairstyle features dark brown hair that’s beautifully highlighted with honey blonde streaks, giving a warm, radiant glow. The highlights are strategically placed around the face and through the lengths to brighten the overall appearance and add a luxurious depth.