50 Top Highlight Trends to Add Warmth and Texture to Dark Brown Hair

Highlights are your best friend if you have dark brown hair and want to change things without a full-color overhaul. They can add warmth, texture, and just the right pop to bring your look to life. Whether drawn to soft, natural tones or a more daring look, these top highlight trends for dark brown hair offer the perfect options to make your color pop.

1. Caramel Balayage

Caramel balayage is a hair-color technique that uses warm caramel tones to add natural-looking brightness and depth. This technique usually blends caramel highlights with a darker base, resulting in a sun-kissed effect that adds warmth, depth, and dimension. Because balayage involves a freehand application, it creates a more seamless, blended look than traditional highlights. It grows more naturally, making it a popular choice for a low-maintenance yet stylish look.

2. Honey Caramel Balayage

Honey caramel balayage is all about bringing warmth and brightness to your hair. Picture soft, honey-gold tones mixed with rich caramel shades, creating a perfect blend that resembles sunlight hitting your strands. The beauty of this look? It’s effortlessly low-maintenance, growing out gracefully while keeping that fresh, just-done vibe. Honey caramel balayage adds a touch of luxury and warmth to any base color, making it flattering for almost every skin tone.

3. Ash Brown Highlights

Ash brown highlights are the perfect way to add a fantastic, subtle dimension to your hair. They blend beautifully with darker shades, giving you that effortless, lived-in look with a touch of contrast. Think soft, smoky tones that keep your style fresh and modern without feeling too bold. Ash brown highlights add depth to brunettes, giving hair a slightly more relaxed tone that looks chic and sophisticated. Plus, they’re low-maintenance and grow out seamlessly, so you get a gorgeous look without constant trips to the salon.

4. Face-Framing Caramel Highlights

Face-framing caramel highlights bring instant warmth and brightness to your look. These highlights are strategically placed around your face to enhance your features, giving you a soft, sun-kissed glow. The caramel tones work beautifully on brunettes and dark blondes, adding a natural radiance that complements your skin tone. It’s the perfect choice to lighten up without going all-in—just enough to make your hair pop and your face shine, all while adding subtle dimension and depth to your overall style.

5. Chestnut Streaks

Chestnut streaks are all about adding rich, earthy warmth to your hair. They’re the perfect way to break up darker shades with a subtle, natural glow. The chestnut tones bring in just the right amount of reddish-brown, creating dimension and a hint of brightness without overwhelming your natural color. If you want to enrich your hair’s depth and give it a renewed, vibrant look, chestnut streaks are an excellent option—they’re classic, flattering, and suited for any time of year.

6. Golden Sun-Kissed Tips

Golden sun-kissed tips are the ultimate way to bring a warm, beachy vibe to your hair. They add a natural-looking glow like you’ve spent the perfect time in the sun. This style keeps the color lighter toward the ends, making your hair look effortlessly brightened and beautifully blended. It’s a low-maintenance choice that lets you keep your roots natural while the golden tips bring out a radiant, summery feel all year round. If you’re after that carefree, sunlit effect, golden sun-kissed tips are the way to go.

7. Soft Butterscotch Babylights

Soft butterscotch babylights are all about adding a subtle, creamy warmth to your hair that’s both sweet and sophisticated. These ultra-fine highlights blend seamlessly with your base color, giving your hair a gentle glow without a dramatic contrast. The butterscotch tone brings a soft, caramel warmth that lights up your face and adds dimension, perfect for a smooth, natural look. It’s a great option if you want a little brightness without a significant change—just that hint of sun-kissed warmth that keeps your hair fresh and full of life.

8. Toffee Balayage

Toffee balayage brings a rich, warm glow to your hair, blending deep brown and caramel tones for that perfect toffee-inspired look. It’s a subtle yet striking way to add depth and dimension that create a natural look for your hair’s sunlit effect without looking too bold. The toffee tones melt seamlessly into the base color, creating a soft, low-maintenance style that grows out beautifully. Toffee balayage is the way to go if you’re looking for a warm, luxe color upgrade that adds a hint of brightness.

9. Smoky Ash Ombre

Smoky ash ombre is the perfect way to add a relaxed, edgy vibe to your look. It blends deep, dark roots into soft, ashy ends, creating a seamless gradient with that smoky, almost silver-toned finish. The result is sophisticated yet bold, with a low-maintenance grow-out that keeps it looking fresh. If you’re after a modern, chic style with a hint of drama, smoky ash ombre delivers that cool-toned contrast while staying effortlessly refined.

10. Espresso Brown with Caramel Highlights

Espresso brown with caramel highlights is the ultimate blend of rich and warm tones. The deep espresso base adds depth and sophistication, while the caramel highlights bring warmth and brightness. The combination creates beautiful contrast and dimension, making your hair look fuller and more vibrant. It’s a perfect choice if you want a natural, sun-kissed effect that feels elegant and effortless, adding just the right amount of glow to dark hair without overpowering it.

11. Warm Cinnamon Balayage

Warm cinnamon balayage brings a cozy, spiced glow to your hair. The rich cinnamon tones blend seamlessly with darker shades, adding depth and a hint of warmth that feels perfect for any season. It’s vibrant but natural, giving your hair that just-right pop of color without going overboard. If you want to add warmth and dimension softly and effortlessly, warm cinnamon balayage is a beautiful choice that keeps things fresh and full of life.

12. Hazelnut Balayage

Hazelnut balayage brings a warm, nutty richness to your hair that’s subtle yet full of dimension. The hazelnut tones blend naturally with darker bases, adding soft highlights that mimic a sun-kissed glow. It’s a natural and sophisticated look, with just enough warmth to brighten your overall color without a stark contrast. If you’re after a soft, easygoing style with a touch of elegance, hazelnut balayage is the perfect way to add warmth and depth.

13. Copper-Brown Highlights

Copper-brown highlights add a warm, fiery glow that brings life and vibrancy to darker hair. The copper tones weave through the brown base, creating a rich, multi-dimensional effect that catches the light beautifully. These highlights are perfect for adding warmth and depth, giving your hair a natural yet striking brightness. If you want a look that’s both bold and refined, copper-brown highlights offer that ideal blend of warmth and intensity.

14. Maple Highlights

With their rich, reddish-brown tones, Maple highlights bring your hair a cozy, autumn-inspired warmth. These highlights add a natural glow and depth, creating a soft, dimensional look that feels vibrant and earthy. Perfect for enhancing dark hair, maple highlights give you that sun-kissed warmth with a hint of red, making your hair look fuller and more alive. If you’re after a subtle pop of color that’s timeless and flattering, maple highlights are a beautiful choice that adds just the right amount of richness.

15. Soft Mocha Balayage

Soft mocha balayage is all about adding a rich, creamy warmth to your hair in the most natural way. The mocha tones blend seamlessly with darker shades, creating a subtle, sunlit effect that gives your hair depth and dimension without feeling bold. This style adds that “just right” touch of lightness and richness, perfect for a low-key, lived-in look. If you’re looking for a soft, warm, and effortlessly chic color, soft mocha balayage delivers that effortless, understated glow.

16. Honey and Toffee Balayage

Honey and toffee balayage is the perfect blend of warmth and depth. The honey tones add a sunlit brightness, while the rich toffee brings warmth and richness that beautifully enhances darker hair. Together, they create a multidimensional, natural glow that feels effortless and luxurious. This color is ideal for adding a warm and luminous soft radiance, giving your hair that fresh, sun-kissed look without a high-maintenance routine.

17. Deep Amber Highlights

Deep amber highlights infuse your hair with a rich, reddish-gold glow that’s rich and eye-catching. The amber tones add the correct depth and radiance, creating a vibrant contrast against darker shades. These highlights bring warmth and intensity to your look, perfect for adding dimension and a touch of boldness without overpowering your natural color. Deep amber highlights give you that beautiful, autumn-inspired richness if you want something warm, dynamic, and full of life.

18. Ash Blonde Babylights

Ash-blonde babylights add a soft, extraordinary brightness to your hair, creating a subtle, sun-kissed effect that feels effortlessly natural. The fine, ash-toned highlights blend seamlessly with the base color, enhancing dimension without heavy contrast. These baby lights are perfect for a fresh, modern look with a hint of coolness, giving your hair a refined, smoky vibe. If you want a light, airy style that looks like you spent time in the sun, ash-blonde baby lights offer that perfect touch of soft radiance.

19. Espresso and Caramel Balayage 

Espresso and caramel balayage are the perfect blend of richness and warmth. The deep espresso base gives your hair depth and intensity, while the caramel balayage adds a soft, sunlit glow that brightens the overall look. The caramel tones melt naturally into the dark base, creating a multidimensional effect that’s subtle yet striking. This combination brings warmth and lightness to dark hair, perfect for a low-maintenance style with plenty of contrast and dimension.

20. Bold Copper Strands

Bold copper strands bring vibrant warmth and intensity to your hair. The rich, fiery copper tones stand out beautifully against darker shades, adding depth and a touch of daring. These bold highlights catch the light with a warm glow, giving your hair an eye-catching, dynamic look that feels full of life. If you want to make a statement, bold copper strands add a unique edge while keeping your style warm and radiant.

21. Muted Gold Highlights

Muted gold highlights add a soft, understated glow that brings warmth and natural brightness to your hair. These highlights have a gentle, golden tone without being too bold or brassy, blending seamlessly with your base color for a refined, sun-kissed effect. Perfect for a low-key look, muted gold highlights add just enough dimension to give your hair a fuller, softly illuminated look as if you’ve been naturally sun-kissed. They’re perfect for adding a warm, elegant touch that feels effortless and radiant.

22. Mocha and Cream Balayage

Mocha and cream balayage is the ultimate blend of richness and softness. The deep mocha tones add depth and warmth, while the creamy highlights bring in a touch of lightness, creating a beautifully balanced, multidimensional look. The result is a smooth, natural transition between dark and light, giving your hair a warm, sunlit glow. This style is perfect if you’re looking for something elegant and low-maintenance that adds subtle brightness while keeping your hair rich and full of depth. That ideal “coffee and cream” effect looks effortlessly chic.

23. Rich Chocolate Highlights

Rich chocolate highlights add a lush, warm depth to your hair that feels natural and luxurious. These deep, chocolatey tones blend seamlessly with darker shades, creating a soft, dimensional effect that catches the light beautifully. They enhance your hair’s natural color, giving it a fuller, more vibrant look without overpowering it. If you want a hint of warmth and richness, rich chocolate highlights give you that timeless, elegant glow that always looks polished and effortless.

24. Toasted Marshmallow Tips

Toasted marshmallow tips bring a soft, creamy brightness to the tips of your hair, crafting a stunning contrast with darker roots. The color gradually shifts from rich, warm tones at the base to a light, toasted blonde at the tips, mimicking the look of a perfectly toasted marshmallow. It’s a playful yet sophisticated way to add dimension and lightness, giving your hair a warm, sunlit, beach-inspired look. Toasted marshmallow tips are ideal if you’re looking for an easy-care style with a natural, radiant glow.

25. Caramel Streaks and Lowlights

Caramel streaks and lowlights add the perfect mix of warmth and depth to your hair. The caramel streaks bring in soft, sunlit brightness, while the lowlights enhance the darker tones, giving your hair a rich, multidimensional contrast. Together, they create a natural, lived-in look that feels vibrant without being overwhelming. This style is ideal if you want that warmth and radiance while keeping your hair full and dynamic. The perfect balance of light and shade makes your hair look effortlessly polished and dimensional.

26. Auburn Highlights

Auburn highlights bring a gorgeous, warm glow to your hair with rich, reddish-brown tones. These highlights add depth and a subtle pop of color that catches the light beautifully, enhancing your natural shade with a vibrant twist. Perfect for brunettes looking to add warmth or redheads wanting a little extra dimension, auburn highlights give your hair that cozy, autumn-inspired feel. It’s a great way to make your color feel fresh, dynamic, and full of life.

27. Golden Honey Highlights

Golden honey highlights bring a rich, sun-kissed warmth to your hair, giving it a soft, luminous glow. These tones blend beautifully with brunettes and darker blondes, creating a natural brightness that looks straight from the sun. The honey tones add a touch of golden depth, making your hair look fuller, warmer, and effortlessly vibrant. If you’re after a radiant yet understated look, golden honey highlights are perfect for a soft, sunny lift without overwhelming your natural color.

28. Creamy Beige Balayage

Creamy beige balayage is all about soft, natural warmth with a hint of sophistication. The creamy beige tones blend seamlessly with your base color, creating a subtle, sunlit effect that feels fresh and effortless. This balayage adds dimension without being too bold, giving your hair a soft, muted glow that’s elegant and low-key. It’s perfect if you want a polished, low-maintenance style that looks like natural highlights, adding just the right amount of brightness and depth for an effortlessly chic vibe.

29. Spiced Chestnut Highlights

With their deep reddish-brown tones, spiced chestnut highlights add a cozy, rich warmth to your hair. These highlights bring out a natural glow that feels earthy and vibrant, enhancing your base color with a hint of spice. Spiced chestnut highlights create beautiful depth and dimension, perfect for fall or any time you want that warm, inviting look. They’re great for adding warmth and subtle, eye-catching, yet refined drama.

30. Champagne Ends

Champagne ends bring a soft, luminous glow to the tips of your hair, creating a subtle, luxurious contrast with darker roots. The champagne tone adds a hint of warmth and shine, giving your hair a light, bubbly, elegant, and effortless finish. Perfect for adding a bit of brightness without going fully blonde, champagne ends give you that soft, sunlit look that feels fresh and refined—like the perfect touch of sparkle at the ends.

31. Cool Beige Babylights

Cool beige baby lights add a soft, subtle brightness to your hair with delicate, cool-toned highlights that blend seamlessly for a natural, sun-kissed look. The cool beige tones bring just enough light to give dimension without any brassy warmth, making your color feel fresh and modern. Perfect for adding depth to darker hair or enhancing natural tones, cool beige baby lights give you that soft, airy glow as if you’ve spent a little time in the sun. It’s an effortlessly chic choice that keeps your look polished and refined.

32. Rooted Honey Balayage

Rooted honey balayage is about warmth and depth with a naturally blended feel. This style transitions seamlessly into warm honey tones through the mid-lengths and ends, creating a soft, sun-kissed glow. The rooted look keeps the maintenance low, allowing your natural color to grow beautifully, while the honey balayage adds brightness and radiant golden warmth. It’s perfect for anyone who wants a dimensional, lived-in style that looks effortlessly fresh and luminous all year round.

33. Mahogany Highlights

Mahogany highlights add a rich, warm depth to your hair with deep red and brown tones that bring a touch of boldness. These highlights blend seamlessly into darker shades, adding a beautiful, multidimensional glow that catches the light in all the right ways. Perfect for enhancing natural brunettes, mahogany highlights give your hair a vibrant, sophisticated edge, making it look fuller and more dynamic. It’s an ideal choice if you’re after warmth and richness with a hint of red that feels natural yet striking.

34. Mocha Espresso Blend

A mocha espresso blend combines deep, rich browns with your hair, creating a warm and luxurious look. The espresso tones add intensity and depth, while the softer mocha hues give warm, creamy, natural, and inviting warmth. Together, they create a multidimensional effect that looks effortlessly full and vibrant. This blend is ideal if you want a low-maintenance color yet sophisticated, adding subtle contrast that keeps your hair looking dynamic and polished.

35. Platinum Brown Highlights

Platinum brown highlights add a cool, metallic edge to darker hair, bringing a modern, sleek, soft contrast. The platinum tones mix with rich brown to create a balanced look that’s eye-catching but not overpowering, giving your hair a subtle brightness without going full blonde. These highlights add a refined, dimensional effect that catches the light beautifully, perfect for anyone looking to add a bit of cool-toned elegance to their style.

36. Warm Sandy Brown

Warm sandy brown is that perfect mix of earthy and sun-kissed tones, giving your hair a natural, beachy warmth. This color feels soft and effortless, adding a subtle brightness without leaning too light or dark. The warm sandy tones bring depth and radiance, making your hair look fuller and beautifully dimensional. It’s a flattering shade that gives you that “just back from the beach” vibe, perfect for a low-key, natural look that still feels fresh and glowing.

37. Milk Chocolate Balayage 

Milk chocolate balayage brings a rich, creamy warmth to your hair, blending soft brown tones that look natural and luxurious. The milk chocolate hues add a subtle brightness, creating depth and dimension without overpowering your base color. This balayage gives you that effortless, sunlit glow that’s low-maintenance and easy to wear year-round. It’s perfect for anyone looking to add warmth and richness with a touch of softness, giving your hair a polished, full-bodied look that’s smooth and inviting.

38. Toffee and Chestnut Blending

Toffee and chestnut blending combines warm, rich tones for a vibrant and natural look. The chestnut adds a deep, earthy warmth, while the toffee tones provide a touch of brightness, creating a multidimensional effect that feels sun-kissed and radiant. They create a smooth, seamless blend that makes your hair look fuller and more dynamic. This color combination is perfect if you want warmth and richness without a harsh contrast, giving your hair that effortless, lived-in glow that looks beautiful year-round.

39. Golden Honey Ombre

Golden honey ombre is all about soft, gradual warmth that brightens your hair from roots to ends. The color melts into warm, golden honey tones, creating a natural, sunlit glow that’s low-maintenance yet eye-catching. This ombre adds brightness, perfect for achieving that soft, beachy effect. If you’re looking for a radiant and effortless look, golden honey ombre gives you that sun-kissed warmth that’s easy to wear and beautifully dimensional.

40. Light Brown Sunlit Highlights

Light brown, sunlit highlights add a natural, cozy glow to your hair as if you’ve soaked up just the right amount of sun. These highlights meld effortlessly with your base color, bringing a soft, delicate brightness that makes your hair look thicker and more lively. They provide a hint of lightness, creating a fresh, sun-kissed effect without overpowering. Perfect for those wanting an understated, natural look, light brown sunlit highlights bring effortless warmth and dimension to your style.

41. Bold Gold Face-Framing Highlights

Vibrant gold face-framing highlights bring a luminous burst of brightness, beautifully accentuating your face. The warm, golden shades contrast with darker hair, adding immediate warmth and depth to your look. These highlights illuminate your complexion and add structure, making your features pop while keeping the overall style balanced. Perfect for anyone wanting to add a glow and definition to their look. Drama without a full-color change, bold gold face-framing highlights bring a fresh, vibrant, trendy, flattering light.

42. Bronze Shimmer Balayage

Bronze shimmer balayage brings a soft, metallic warmth to your hair, blending rich bronze tones with your natural color for a glowing look. The bronze hues add a beautiful, sunlit effect, with just enough shimmer to catch the light and give your hair a multidimensional finish. It’s warm and radiant without overpowering, giving you that “just right” balance of depth and brightness. If you want to add a hint of natural and refined glow, bronze shimmer balayage gives you that effortless, light-catching effect.

43. Subtle Copper Tips

Subtle copper tips add a soft touch of warmth and color to the ends of your hair, giving it a fresh, glowing finish. The copper tones are rich yet understated, blending naturally with your base color for a vibrant look without being bold. It’s like a hint of sunset at the tips, adding depth and dimension that’s incredibly flattering when it catches the light. If you want extra warmth and personality without a complete color change, subtle copper tips give your hair that effortless, sun-kissed effect.

44. Blended Beige and Ash

Blended beige and ash tones bring a soft, natural dimension to your hair with a balance of warm and cool hues. The beige adds a gentle warmth, while the ash adds an excellent, smoky contrast, creating a perfectly neutral look that feels fresh and sophisticated. This color combination is subtle yet dynamic, giving your hair a sun-kissed, beachy vibe without leaning too warm or cool. If you want a refined, low-key style with beautiful depth, blended beige, and ash tones deliver that effortlessly chic, natural glow.

45. Iced Coffee Highlights

Iced coffee highlights bring an excellent, rich blend of light and dark tones to your hair, mimicking the smooth look of a perfect iced coffee. These highlights add depth and dimension with a mix of creamy beige and soft espresso shades that complement each other beautifully. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a natural, low-maintenance way to add subtle brightness without too much warmth. Iced coffee highlights give your hair that fresh, modern look with just the right amount of cool-toned contrast.

46. Burnished Chestnut Lowlights

Burnished chestnut lowlights bring a rich, earthy warmth to your hair, adding depth and dimension with a hint of natural red-brown tones. These lowlights blend beautifully with darker shades, creating a subtle contrast that gives your hair a fuller, more dynamic look. The burnished chestnut color adds a soft glow, like autumn leaves catching the light, giving your hair that cozy, polished vibe. Burnished chestnut lowlights enhance natural brunettes and add a warm, timeless elegance to any style.

47. Dusty Rose Ends

Dusty rose ends add a soft, romantic touch to your hair with their muted, pinkish tones. The gentle rose hue blends seamlessly into your natural color, creating a subtle and unique look. It’s just the right amount of color to give your hair a fresh, playful vibe without feeling too bold. Ideal for adding a bit of personality and warmth, dusty rose ends give you that dreamy, almost ethereal effect that’s appealing and playful.

48. Golden Wheat Highlights

Golden wheat highlights bring a soft, natural warmth to your hair, creating a sunlit, fresh-from-the-beach effect. The warm, golden tones are subtle and blend seamlessly, adding a light, wheat-colored brightness that flatters any base shade. These highlights catch the light beautifully, giving your hair a multidimensional glow without looking too bold or brassy. Perfect for those who want a soft, low-key radiance, golden wheat highlights make your hair look naturally sun-kissed and effortlessly vibrant.

49. Espresso Lowlights with Blonde Accents

Espresso lowlights with blonde accents create a gorgeous balance of depth and brightness in your hair. The deep, rich espresso tones add dimension and make the hair look fuller, while the soft blonde accents bring just the right amount of lightness to keep it dynamic and fresh. The contrast between dark and light gives your hair a natural, multidimensional look that feels warm and sophisticated. It’s perfect if you want a polished style with subtle pops of brightness without losing that rich, dark base.

50. Ashy Brown Babylights

Ashy brown baby lights add a soft, natural glow to your hair with cool, subtle highlights that blend seamlessly. These fine, delicate strands of ashy brown brighten your hair just enough to create depth and a gentle, sun-kissed effect without being overly bold. The cool tones make it feel fresh and modern, enhancing your natural shade in a way that looks effortless and low-maintenance. Perfect if you want a touch of brightness that feels refined, ashy brown lights give your hair that soft, airy vibe.