Dark hair is absolutely gorgeous, but it can be challenging when you’re in the mood for a color change. Highlights are the perfect solution if you want to switch things up—and they don’t always have to be subtle and natural-looking.
When you want something bold, heavy highlights on dark hair can give you dramatic results. If you’re looking for ideas, here’s a selection of stunning, intense looks to inspire your next salon visit.
1. Sandy Balayage On Dark Hair
Chunky streaks won’t clash with your dark brown hair if they match the undertone of your base color: pick warm-toned highlights if your hair is a warm chestnut or cinnamon brown, and go for cooler tones if your tresses are dark espresso or ash brown.
2. Dark Hair With Ashy Babylights
These tiny but powerful highlights can deliver impressive results! Foil babylights create a natural-look, seamlessly blending with your base and adding depth and dimension.
3. Blonde Highlights On Dark Hair
If your goal is to significantly lighten your hair and you don’t want one-tone color, precise blonde highlights look gorgeous and striking on dark hair.
4. Dark Hair With Face-Framing Highlights
Light money pieces on dark hair really pack a punch, framing and brightening the face and creating a cool retro look.
5. Dark Brown Hair With Natural Highlights
Add a fun pop of color with honey or caramel highlights. These hues look the most natural on dark hair, creating a fresh and warm look that complements the skin tone.
6. Blonde Balayage On Brown Hair
Keeping blonde highlights near the face and ends is a low-maintenance route to lighter hair, but don’t forget to schedule toning touch-ups to prevent any brassiness.
7. Heavy Blonde Highlights On Dark Hair
When the base color and the highlights complement one another, even the most dramatic difference in lightness will look harmonious. When requesting your chunky blonde highlights, ask for ashy or beige shades with a cool undertone.
8. Face-Framing Caramel Highlights On Dark Hair
One of the simplest hair color ideas for brunettes is adding highlights around the face. This simple tweak offers a significant payoff with minimal maintenance required.
9. Dark Hair With Ash Brown Highlights
This multi-dimensional, lived-in look is a dream! Maintain the cool tones of ash brown hair by using purple shampoo once a week and choosing gentle cleansing methods.
10. Caramel Brunette Higlights
A gorgeus warm color in your hair will highlight the warmth in your complexion. These caramel highlights might be subtle, but they’ve been generously applied, creating a warmer and lighter look.
11. Almond Highlights On Dark Brown Hair
Neutral-toned highlights are versatile and will enhance different skin tones. To decide the exact hue you want, it’s always a good idea to consult with your colorist to find the perfect match.
12. Deep Mushroom Brunette Balayage
Combining fine and chunky highlights creates a fun, relaxed look that feels lived-in. And the best thing? It’s also low-maintenance and looks amazing as it grows out.
13. Heavy Caramel Highlights On Dark Hair
Refresh your dark brown hair with caramel highlights. This trendy, high-contrast pop of color is easy to achieve and can be maintained with minimal effort.
14. Dark Brown Hair With Cool-Toned Balayage
This gorgeous cool-toned balayage is both seamless and in-your-face. The blonde highlights are placed just right, brightening the features and making the style come alive.
15. Golden Face-Framing Brunette Balayage
Bronze highlights and brighter golden money pieces will create a brighter look with a face-framing effect that will make you glow.
16. Bright Blonde Foilayage On Dark Hair
You might be surprised, but balayage isn’t actually a look—it’s a highlighting technique. To achieve significantly lighter hair, a combination of balayage and foils, called foilayage, will give you both the seamlessness and the lightening.
17. Caramel Highlights On Dark Brown Hair
For vibrant and glossy color, make the switch to a color-safe shampoo and conditioner and remember to handle your hair with care. Your haircare routine will do a lot to help you maintain color intensity and shine.
18. Natural Highlights On Dark Brown Hair
The maintenance level of brown hair with blonde highlights is low, especially with techniques like balayage. With the dark roots seamlessly blending as your hair grows out, upkeep becomes easy.
19. Seamless Highlights On Dark Hair
These gentle highlights seem to sparkle in the light, giving the chestnut brown hair movement and making it it looking glossy.
20. Heavy Beige Highlights On Dark Brown Hair
The beautiful beige blonde highlights are the perfect choice for this skin tone: they create the perfect face frame, brightening the features and making the eyes sparkle.