Brown hair can look stunning with the right highlights, but one wrong move and you’re dealing with brassy, orange tones that nobody wants. Many brunettes struggle with finding that perfect balance between brightening their locks and maintaining a natural look.
Let’s explore common highlighting mistakes that lead to brassiness and discover gorgeous styles that blend seamlessly with your brown hair.
1. Skipping the Toner Step
Rushing through your highlighting process without toner is like baking a cake and forgetting the frosting. Toner neutralizes those unwanted orange tones that naturally emerge when lightening brown hair.
Without it, brassiness is almost guaranteed.
2. Going Too Light Too Fast
Hair rebels when forced to jump too many shades lighter in one session. Your brunette strands need gradual lightening to avoid that tell-tale orange stage.
Patience prevents that McDonald’s-golden arch effect nobody’s asking for.
3. DIY Disaster with Box Dye
Box dyes aren’t customized for your specific hair type or starting color. What works for your friend might turn your chestnut locks into a brassy nightmare.
Pro colorists mix formulas specifically for your hair’s needs.
4. Wrong Developer Strength
Using too strong a developer creates that copper penny effect fast. Dark brown hair often needs only 20 volume developer, not the 30 or 40 you might grab.
Gentle processing preserves your hair’s natural undertones while still lifting color.
5. Ignoring Your Natural Undertones
Brown hair isn’t just brown – it has undertones of red, gold, or ash. Fighting against these natural bases instead of working with them leads straight to Brassy Town.
Smart highlighting embraces what nature gave you.
6. Overprocessing Already Highlighted Hair
Re-highlighting the same strands repeatedly weakens hair and intensifies brassiness. Those already-lightened sections can’t handle another round of bleach without rebelling with orange tones.
Focus new highlights on virgin hair instead.
7. Skimping on Purple Shampoo
Purple shampoo isn’t just for blondes! Brunettes with highlights need this brass-fighting superhero too. Those violet pigments neutralize yellow-orange tones that develop over time.
Use it weekly to maintain cool-toned highlights.
8. Subtle Caramel Babylights
Barely-there strands of warm caramel woven throughout dark brown create dimension without drama. These ultra-fine highlights mimic what the sun naturally does to your hair.
The result looks effortlessly sun-kissed rather than salon-manufactured.
9. Chocolate Ribbon Balayage
Hand-painted ribbons in varying chocolate shades create movement without stark contrast. The graduated application means no harsh lines or obvious grow-out.
This low-maintenance style might only need refreshing twice yearly.
10. Cinnamon Spice Money Piece
A face-framing highlight in warm cinnamon tones brightens your complexion instantly. The spicy hue complements brown hair’s natural warmth while staying firmly in the brunette family.
It’s subtle yet impactful – like good makeup.
11. Mushroom Brown Dimension
Cool-toned ashy brown highlights create sophisticated depth without warmth. This trendy mushroom shade has slight violet undertones that actively counteract brassiness.
It’s perfect for those who always battle unwanted warmth in their highlights.
12. Tortoiseshell Ecaille
Inspired by tortoiseshell patterns, this technique blends honey, amber, and chestnut tones. The multi-dimensional color creates rich, expensive-looking hair without a single brassy strand.
It’s especially flattering on olive and warm skin tones.
13. Shadow Root Sombré
Keeping roots deliberately darker creates a soft, gradual transition to lighter ends. This grown-out look is intentionally low-maintenance and prevents that harsh line when roots appear.
The gentle gradient means no obvious brassiness between sections.
14. Toffee Lowlights and Highlights
Adding both lighter and darker strands creates natural-looking dimension. The toffee tones complement the brown base perfectly without venturing into brassy territory.
This technique mimics how hair naturally varies in color throughout.
15. Twilighting Technique
Combining babylights with face-framing balayage creates this subtly illuminated effect. The two techniques work together to brighten your face while maintaining depth throughout.
It mimics how hair naturally lightens from sun exposure.
16. Rooted Caramel Ombré
Keeping roots natural while transitioning to caramel ends creates a low-maintenance look. The gradual shift from dark to light means grow-out appears intentional rather than neglected.
The warm caramel tone complements brown hair’s natural warmth.
17. Tiger Eye Balayage
Inspired by the tiger eye stone’s golden-brown stripes, this technique uses similar warm tones. The multi-dimensional highlights mimic the gemstone’s natural banding pattern.
It’s especially flattering on brunettes with golden or olive skin.
18. Cool Mocha Weave
Fine, cool-toned mocha highlights woven throughout create subtle dimension without warmth. These ashy brown strands blend seamlessly with your natural color.
The result is sophisticated movement that never reads as brassy or orange-toned.