Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food and Recipes
  • Culture and Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • Home
  • Gardening Ideas
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      Here are the haircuts you'll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More
    • 50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. Read More
  • Food and Recipes

    Food and Recipes

    See All Food and Recipes
    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    It’s not all in the senses, but they sure can help.
    • Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Dinner
    • Kitchen Assistant
    • Casserole
    • Holiday and Occasion Food
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Healthy and Light
    • Side Dishes
    • Party Food and Drink
    • Appetizers
    • Meat
    • Breakfast
    • BBQ
    • Drinks
    • What's Cooking
  • Culture and Lifestyle

    Culture and Lifestyle

    See All Culture and Lifestyle
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with these unique nicknames.
    • Quotes and Sayings
    • Biscuits and Jam Podcast
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Healthy Living
    • Coastal Living
  • Style

    Style

    See All Style
    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look. While others are hitting the squats and going into the salon for a pixie cut, why not start slow and steady with a cozy winter manicure in a color that feels new to you? It takes only a little courage to step outside your usual OPI Lincoln Park After Dark or Essie Bordeaux, which is all you need to kick 2022 off on a fanciful foot.  From new wintry takes on classic dark nail colors to unique pops of color that'll have you feeling the opposite of boring, these are the best nail colors to try this January and tick off all the way into spring. 
    • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Fashion
    • Short Hairstyles
    • Nails
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Skincare
    • Long Hairstyles
  • Holidays & Occasions

    Holidays & Occasions

    See All Holidays & Occasions
    • Thanksgiving
    • Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Mother's Day
    • Hanukkah
    • New Year's
    • Easter
    • Mardi Gras
    • 4th of July
    • Weddings
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles. We're turning away from big-box stores and toward vintage items—first, out of necessity due to supply-chain issues, and now, for design reasons—to add charm and character to every room in the house, including the kitchen. Here, interior designers from around the South share their predictions for what's trending in kitchen design for 2022 and beyond.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Kitchen Design
    • Before & After Photos
    • Bathroom Design
    • Curb Appeal
    • Bedroom Design
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Color Palettes & Paint
    • House Plans & Builders
    • Inspired Communities
  • Gardening Ideas

    Gardening Ideas

    See All Gardening Ideas
    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    Plus a few strategies for keeping them out-of-doors
    • Container Gardening
    • Gardening Flowers
    • Fruit, Vegetable & Herb Gardens
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Guides A-Z
    • Indoor Plants
    • Fall Plants
    • Landscaping Ideas
    • The Grumpy Gardener
  • News

    News

    See All News
    • Celebrities
    • Local News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Style
  3. Hair
  4. 40 Brown Hairstyles with Blonde Highlights That Are Too Pretty To Pass Up

40 Brown Hairstyles with Blonde Highlights That Are Too Pretty To Pass Up

Kaitlyn Yarborough, Assistant Editor and Writer for Southern Living
By Kaitlyn Yarborough Updated August 02, 2021
Skip gallery slides
FB
Tortoiseshell Melt
Credit: @aaashleee

Just because you're naturally a blonde or brunette doesn't mean that you can't ever dip your toes — er, strands — into the opposite side of the hair color spectrum. That's what we call getting the best of both worlds. For brunettes, it's incredibly easy to lighten up your overall look and embrace a more multi-dimensional mane by adding a few strokes of golden blonde here, a couple drizzles of honey there.

There's almost never a bad time to add some fresh, bright blonde onto a brunette base, no matter the season or reason. Whether you're drawn to wonderfully blended looks like tortoiseshell brown, subtle tweaks like a caramel blonde color melt, or unexpected shades like smoky ash bronde, there is a gorgeous new hue just waiting to be taken to the salon. Here are 40 brown hair ideas with blonde highlights to find inspiration. 

Start Slideshow

1 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Blended Balayage

Tortoiseshell Dimension
Credit: @suetyrrellstylist

Get the most bang for your hair color buck by focusing largely on the ends and incorporating a whole scheme of colors, from chocolate brown to caramel to honey blonde.

1 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Chocolate Brown Hair with Beige Blonde Highlights

Chocolate Brown Hair with Beige Blonde Natural Highlights
Credit: Instagram/@styledbycarolyn

The goal of this look is to make everything mold together seamlessly for a rich finished color. The pure chocolate brown is matched with a neutral beige blonde for a unified palette.

2 of 40

3 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Short Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights

Short Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Credit: Pinterest/@kccarhart

This cool-toned brown bob got some cool-toned blonde to match, making it a perfect sandy color.

3 of 40

Advertisement

4 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Tortoiseshell Brown Hair with Honey Blonde Highlights

Tortoiseshell Brown Hair with Honey Blonde Highlights
Credit: Pinterest

Tortoiseshell hair—the blend of chocolate brown, chestnut, caramel, and honey—is one of the trendiest hair colors for brunettes ever. Adding a little extra honey blonde in the look makes for an even more statement-making style. 

4 of 40

5 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Platinum Blonde Money Piece

Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Credit: @kimmy.ann.hair

If you're interested in giving dark brown hair a zing of very light blonde, less is more. Enhance the face-framing pieces around your face with platinum blonde, and blend the color around the face. Solid brown, instantly refreshed! 

5 of 40

6 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Dark Brown Hair with Caramel Blonde Highlights

Dark Brown Hair with Caramel Blonde Highlights
Credit: Pinterest

These roots are super dark, making it easy to go bold and striking with caramel blonde balayage around the face and towards the ends.

6 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Ash Brown Hair with Golden Blonde Ombré

Ash Brown Hair with Golden Blonde Ombré
Credit: Pinterest/@hairbyamberjoy

We never thought such a pretty waterfall of color was possible before setting our eyes on this wavy mane. Starting with a medium cool brown and ending with the perfect golden butter blonde achieves a flawless look.

7 of 40

8 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Sparkling Mocha

Sparkling Mocha
Credit: @wavesofhairbyjayme

For the subtlest kick of color that still feels like a statement, request blended baby balayage throughout in a warm golden shade.

8 of 40

9 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Toffee Blonde Babylights

Toffee Babylights
Credit: @natalieannehair

Give your complexion an almost metallic-like golden glow with complementary caramel babylights on warm brown hair.

9 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Ashy Brown Hair with Icy Blonde Highlights

Ashy Brown Hair with Icy Blonde Highlights
Credit: Pinterest/New Way Look

The cool blue-gray tones in this ashy brown hair look even more eye-catching with fine icy blonde highlights throughout the layers. 

10 of 40

11 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Dark Brown Hair with Face-Framing Blonde

Dark Brown Hair with Heavy Face Framing Blonde
Credit: Pinterest/Total Beauty

This ashy dark-as-coal brown takes well to bold face-framing touches of golden blonde.

11 of 40

12 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Warm Bronze

Bronze Melt
Credit: @jamiewilhelm.hair

If you're stuck between wanting more blonde and more red in your hair tone, choose a tawny toffee blonde and go heavy on the balayage. 

12 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Iced Mocha

Iced Mocha
Credit: @danielmbeauty

For a super low-maintenance approach, ask to focus around the face on those flattering "money pieces," with subtle and sporadic balayage throughout to tie it all together. 

13 of 40

14 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Ashy Brown Hair with Honey Blonde Highlights

Ashy Brown Hair with Honey Blonde Highlights
Credit: Pinterest/Mane Interest

Ashy brown means that your locks lean towards cool tones, such as blue, rather than warm tones, such as red and gold, like chestnut browns do. This ashy light brown works with these cool honey highlights to create a cohesively cool style.

14 of 40

15 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Brown Hair with Platinum Babylights

Brown Hair with Thin Platinum Highlights
Credit: Pinterest/@hairbykatlin

Adding super subtle platinum highlights gives a subtle, yet intense touch of dimension to dark chocolate brown hair. Tread lightly, as highlights this much lighter than the base color can go too far if done too heavily.

15 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Tortoiseshell Melt

Tortoiseshell Melt
Credit: @aaashleee

We won't ever get over how absolutely dreamy this multi-dimensional color is, especially when going from dark brown all the way to golden honey. 

16 of 40

17 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Warm Blonde Ombré

Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Credit: @carissaroberthair

Choose golden, honey, and caramel tones to create a color melt from chocolate brown roots. It's guaranteed to light up the whole look.

17 of 40

18 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Ash Brown Lob with Cool Blonde Balayage

Blunt Ashy Brown Lob with Cool Blonde Balayage
Credit: Pinterest

It's easy to underestimate the cool factor behind ashy tones, but don't be afraid to be a little late to the party. This extremely dark ashy brown shade works well in tandem with cool blondes, like this icy shade.

18 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Sandy Brown Crop with Blonde Highlights

Sandy Brown Crop with Blonde Highlights
Credit: Pinterest/The Right Hairstyles

We love a crop with long side-swept bangs, and this style has the perfect balance of light brown base that's amplified with highlights and lowlights.

19 of 40

20 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Blonde-Tinged Curls

Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Credit: @natalieannehair

Brown curls can get an easy update with subtle blonde balayage that focuses on the ends. It makes ringlets and spirals glow a little extra. 

20 of 40

21 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Ice Blonde Balayage

Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Credit: @hairby_chrissy

Darker cool-toned brunettes can keep with the flow of things by adding balayage in other cool tones like ice blonde. Keep the roots dark, and blend down seamlessly. 

21 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Heavy Golden Blonde Balayage Highlights

Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Credit: @kaatyamayhair

If you're naturally brunette (but want to be blonde), this is a great option to keep things low-maintenance. Ask for robust hair color from midway down to the ends in the blonde of your choice, but keep the roots blended and dark to minimize grow-out lines.

22 of 40

23 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Dark Brown Hair with Heavy Blonde Balayage

Dark Brown Hair with Heavy Blonde Balayage
Credit: Pinterest/The Goddess

This dark brown mane makes a statement with platinum ombré ends, which will still grow out flatteringly and make touch-ups not as frequent.

23 of 40

24 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Chestnut Brown Hair with Face-Framing Blonde

Chestnut Brown Hair with Face Framing Blonde Highlights
Credit: Pinterest

This mahogany-toned brown hair gets a little boost from face-framing golden highlights that match the warm tones of the hair. 

24 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Curly Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights

Curly Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Credit: Pinterest

Nothing revives some dark brown ringlets like golden blonde highlights. Curls are often approached with a free-hand technique, such as balayage, to give dimension without completely transforming your hair color.

25 of 40

26 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Chestnut Brown Hair with Soft Blonde Ombré

Chestnut Brown Hair with Soft Blonde Ombre
Credit: Pinterest

The sun-kissed lower half of this hairstyle makes it look silky smooth and buttery soft. The butterscotch tone of the blonde works with the warmer brown shade perfectly.

26 of 40

27 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Dark Brown Lob with Buttery Blonde Balayage

Dark Brown Lob with Buttery Blonde Balayage
Credit: Pinterest

This most thoughtful style uses very determined touches of lighter blonde to really play up the dark chocolate brown color of this lob-length cut.

27 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Bronde Stacked Bob

Bronde Stacked Bob
Credit: Pinterest/The Right Hairstyles

Where does the brown start and blonde end? That's the point! This perfectly blended stacked bob is our answer for defining the term: bronde.

28 of 40

29 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Baby Caramel Melt

Baby Caramel Melt
Credit: @gabyyymm

It's almost like you're transitioning to full blonde—but without any of the upkeep or harsh grow-out. Keep a shadow root in your natural color and finish with a delicate melt of caramel blonde color.

29 of 40

30 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Light Brown Hair with Amber Blonde Highlights

Light Brown Hair with Buttery Blonde Highlights
Credit: Pinterest/Mane Interest

We can't imagine a better pairing than this sweet cola brown and buttery honey blonde. They come together for a pretty cream soda finish.

30 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Dark Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights

Dark Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Credit: Instagram/@hairluvbytiffany

This look injects some life into dark chocolate brown locks using thin, very subtle blonde highlights. The touches of blonde catch light in a way flat brown hair lacks.

31 of 40

32 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Chocolate Brown Hair with Caramel Blonde Balayage

Chocolate Brown Hair with Caramel Blonde Balayage
Credit: Pinterest/Mane Interest

These sweet-as-sugar, caramel-tinted honey blonde highlights are enough to make us book an appointment at our salon right now. 

32 of 40

33 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Light Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights

Light Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Credit: Instagram/@JackMartinSalon

This light brown lob gets an icy touch with platinum blonde highlighting that looks more uniform and full coverage. 

33 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

34 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Medium Brown Hair with Buttery Blonde Highlights

Medium Brown Hair with Buttery Blonde Highlights
Credit: Pinterest

This tousled mane of hair makes the most of its natural thickness by placing perfect golden highlights starting at the crown and working down in artful balayage strokes.

34 of 40

35 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Cool Blonde Balayage

Cool Blonde Balayage

If your hair is already blessed with a cool brown base, invest in a few key pieces of icy blonde around the face to lighten things up with little-to-no maintenance needed.

35 of 40

36 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Sandy Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights

Sandy Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Credit: Pinterest

It's hard to go wrong with sandy brown hair, unless you're leaving it flat in color. Inject some personality into the beige tone with blonde highlights that match the neutrality of the sandiness.

36 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

37 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Brown Hair with Copper Blonde Highlights

Brown Hair with Copper Blonde Highlights
Credit: Pinterest

This cinnamon brown hair benefits from some copper and blonde highlighting, especially around the face and on any layers. 

37 of 40

38 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Medium Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights

Medium Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Credit: Pinterest

If you have neutral brown hair, honey-beige highlights are the way to stick with your tone and lighten things up with balayage done with a heavy hand.

38 of 40

39 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Light Brown Hair with Natural Honey Highlights

Light Brown Hair with Natural Honey Highlights
Credit: Pinterest

This cohesive look only goes a shade or two lighter than the base color with highlights that mix into the natural brown.

39 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

40 of 40

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Layered Brown Hair with Strawberry Blonde Balayage

Layered Brown Hair with Strawberry Blonde Balayage
Credit: Pinterest

This chunkier balayage starts closer to the dark brown roots, making quite the cherry-cola statement—perfect for the lady who loves a pop of red!

40 of 40

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Kaitlyn Yarborough

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 40 Blended Balayage
    2 of 40 Chocolate Brown Hair with Beige Blonde Highlights
    3 of 40 Short Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
    4 of 40 Tortoiseshell Brown Hair with Honey Blonde Highlights
    5 of 40 Platinum Blonde Money Piece
    6 of 40 Dark Brown Hair with Caramel Blonde Highlights
    7 of 40 Ash Brown Hair with Golden Blonde Ombré
    8 of 40 Sparkling Mocha
    9 of 40 Toffee Blonde Babylights
    10 of 40 Ashy Brown Hair with Icy Blonde Highlights
    11 of 40 Dark Brown Hair with Face-Framing Blonde
    12 of 40 Warm Bronze
    13 of 40 Iced Mocha
    14 of 40 Ashy Brown Hair with Honey Blonde Highlights
    15 of 40 Brown Hair with Platinum Babylights
    16 of 40 Tortoiseshell Melt
    17 of 40 Warm Blonde Ombré
    18 of 40 Ash Brown Lob with Cool Blonde Balayage
    19 of 40 Sandy Brown Crop with Blonde Highlights
    20 of 40 Blonde-Tinged Curls
    21 of 40 Ice Blonde Balayage
    22 of 40 Heavy Golden Blonde Balayage Highlights
    23 of 40 Dark Brown Hair with Heavy Blonde Balayage
    24 of 40 Chestnut Brown Hair with Face-Framing Blonde
    25 of 40 Curly Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
    26 of 40 Chestnut Brown Hair with Soft Blonde Ombré
    27 of 40 Dark Brown Lob with Buttery Blonde Balayage
    28 of 40 Bronde Stacked Bob
    29 of 40 Baby Caramel Melt
    30 of 40 Light Brown Hair with Amber Blonde Highlights
    31 of 40 Dark Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
    32 of 40 Chocolate Brown Hair with Caramel Blonde Balayage
    33 of 40 Light Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
    34 of 40 Medium Brown Hair with Buttery Blonde Highlights
    35 of 40 Cool Blonde Balayage
    36 of 40 Sandy Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
    37 of 40 Brown Hair with Copper Blonde Highlights
    38 of 40 Medium Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
    39 of 40 Light Brown Hair with Natural Honey Highlights
    40 of 40 Layered Brown Hair with Strawberry Blonde Balayage

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Southern Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    40 Brown Hairstyles with Blonde Highlights That Are Too Pretty To Pass Up
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.