A balayage is a gorgeous way to get brown highlights. It’s definitely trending all over Pinterest and Instagram right now! Below, I’ve gathered pictures of the best ways you can pull off this dimensional and natural-looking highlight.
👉 Key Things to Know First
- What is it, exactly? A brown balayage is when highlights are added to brunette hair using the French hand-painting coloring technique.
- The best balayage highlights for brown hair consist of various warm shades of light brown and blonde. This creates a dimensional and natural-looking color.
- Getting a balayage brown hair color is more expensive than traditional foil highlights because it requires more time to paint the highlights.
- You won’t have to pay as much for frequent touch-ups because this coloring technique is better at blending in the highlights with your natural hair. This means as your hair grows out, the natural color isn’t as distinguishable.
Before your next hair color appointment, get inspired by these photos of the best brown balayage hair colors!
#1: Curled Light Brown Balayage
One of the best ways to wear a light brown balayage is with curls. Whether you use a curling iron or flat iron to achieve your waves, adding curls into a balayage will make the dimension of your hue pop.
#2: Light Brown Balayage with Blonde Highlights
Go for a light brown balayage with blonde highlights. Balayage is great for a soft, diffused, low-maintenance look. But be aware your hair can pull warmer with open-air applications like balayage. Did you know you can replicate/mimic a balayage using a technique called foilyage? Ask your stylist about this method.
#3: Blended Caramel and Brown Balayage
If you’re looking to brighten up your brunette side, try a caramel balayage. The tones will help you soften your facial features. You must consider curling your style so you can show off the color combo. Your stylist will know the perfect placement. So make sure to tell them how you generally style your hair.
#4: Brown Balayage Long Pixie
Consider a brown balayage if you would like to add dimension to your long pixie. Avoid over-highlighting to conserve depth and dimension. Give your pixie a voluminous boost with Kevin Murphy’s Doo Over Powder Hairspray. It gives the best bouncy hold that will brush out the next day.
#5: Long Reddish-Brown Balayage Hair
A reddish-brown color looks great with a balayage technique on long hair. My best advice is to ask your stylist to keep the root darker than the rest. This will help avoid a hot root. Warm colors on the root can often appear lighter because the scalp produces more heat. This style will give you dark to light dimensions. Try to wave your hair for added texture.
#6: Sun-Kissed Bronde Balayage
Sun-kissed bronde balayage is the perfect color for you if you have brown hair and you want some dimension. The bronde will give you a low-maintenance, beautiful color that won’t damage your hair and won’t leave a harsh line when it grows out.
#7: Loose Brown Curls
For effortless waves on brown balayage hair, I advise using a curling iron with a larger barrel. My favorite one is a 1.25″ barrel curling iron by Bioionic. Curl your hair away from your face (or you can alternate directions if you like a more tousled look). But, don’t forget to leave the ends out (about the last 3 inches of hair in each section). This gives a beachier, more natural wave than if the ends were also curled. I like to use This Is A Dry Texturizer Spray by Davines for a dry workable hold before I brush them out.
#8: Long Sandy Brunette Tones
Try long sandy brunette tones if you’re craving a more beige blonde! To prevent your hair from toning too light, your hairstylist should use more of a level eight blue toner. Sandy blondes are stunning with women with warmer skin complexions.
#9: Mushroom Brown AirTouch Balayage
Go to the cool side with mushroom brown Airtouch balayage. It’s a highlighting technique that keeps your hair looking natural and blended. The key to mushroom brown is adding lots of cool tones. Always add a few warm tones to maintain its shine so the tone does not get too muddy and dull.
#10: Soft Black and Brown Balayage
Go for a knockout combination and pair your soft black hair with a brown balayage. Brown Balayage is a great choice for black hair because it’s gentler to achieve, causing less damage than blonde, while still giving you beautiful dimension. Keeping your black roots will make this look extra low-maintenance for the perfect lived-in look. I suggest booking a toner every 6-8 weeks to keep your color balanced.
#11: Bright Bronzed Balayage Sombre
If you want the highlight glow without the damage, try going for a bronzed-toned blonde. A sun-kissed, sombre tone will play off the natural undertones in your hair and give you a big impact on your hairstyle while maintaining the health of your hair. Less can be more with perfectly placed highlights.
#12: Light Hazelnut Brown Balayage
Brown hair pairs perfectly with a light hazelnut balayage. If you’re looking for change but want to keep a low-maintenance look, a creamy blonde blend is perfect for your brunette locks. Hazelnut tones bring a subtle pop of warmth but stay cool with a violet balance, making it a great choice for all skin tones.
#13: Long Brown Balayage Hair for Long Faces
If you’re a woman with a long face, consider brown balayage on your long hair. Brown balayage will help soften your brown hair color by adding natural sun-kissed strands. If you want to keep your tresses low-maintenance, avoid over-highlighting to keep a more natural balance. To give balance to your face shape try to cut soft moving layers and prevent your hair from hanging.
#14: Warm Brown Balayage with Dark Roots
Bring some spice to your life with warm brown balayage. Gorgeous flowing strands of sparking caramel tones make your hair look luscious and luxurious. Balayage is low-maintenance but make sure you make time for regular toning and haircuts to keep your hair looking fresh.
#15: Dimensional Light and Dark Brown Bob
Make your hair soft and sultry with a dimensional light and dark brown bob. Balayage on light brown hair is the perfect combination to lighten your hair with a natural look. A hand-painted balayage is low maintenance and will make your strands glow when the sun hits.
#16: Dimensional Auburn Brown
Try a dimensional auburn brown if you’re looking to change your hair color. This auburn balayage on brown hair is the perfect color combination for any season. This photo shows how auburn has a combination of copper, caramel, and gold tones. Which looks great on any skin tone you may have.
#17: V-Cut Brown Hair with Caramel Brown Balayage
Spice up your boring locks with a V-cut, especially if you have brown hair paired with a caramel brown balayage. Brown hair with highlights will look multi-dimensional and bring lightness to your strands. Balayage for brunettes looks super natural like it was kissed by the sun.
#18: Ashy Brown with Ash Silver Highlights
Ashy brown paired with ash silver highlights is a unique style if you want dark and light throughout your hair. Great for neutral skin, ashy tones can be achieved by hair highlighting and balayage color techniques.
#19: Natural-Looking Brown
Show off your raw beauty with natural-looking brown locks. A natural balayage can work wonders on your ordinary brown tresses. Warm or cool subtle highlights will give your hair multi-dimensional color and shine. Create a new image for yourself with stunning new tresses.
#20: Brown Lived-In Balayage on a Long Bob
If you have a long bob hairstyle, go for a rich brown lived-in balayage. This is one of the best balayage brown hair ideas, with undertones of a beige gold to compliment pink and warm skin tones. Subtle yet bold color with a contrasting money piece having the same tones as the dark brown, will give this color a low-maintenance grow-out.
#21: Short Bob with Blonde Balayage on Brown Hair
Add some depth and movement to your brown hair with a short bob paired with a blonde balayage Brown balayage highlights are low maintenance and will give your strands a pop of seamless color. Balayage blends perfectly into your natural hair color to spice up your dull locks.
Related: Best blonde balayage on dark hair ideas.
#22: Dark Brown to Cool Light Brown Color Melt
Opt for a dark brown base color that melts into a cool light brown. Your stylist can best let you know if you should have warmer or cooler tones based on your complexion for a personalized stunning color. It’s a low-maintenance color that will bring you into the salon every 4-6 months. Consider doing a gloss in between appointments to seal your cuticle for shine and add back in a beautiful tone. Don’t forget to get great products to protect your investment.
#23: Deep Brown Base Melted to Light Chocolate Brown
A deep brunette base color melted into a light chocolate brown can be amazing if you have longer hair. If you’re looking for brown hair balayage ideas, sticking to warm tones can look stunning. Staying within ranges of browns can be gentler on your hair than trying to go super light from a darker base. This is also great if you want a low-maintenance color with glossing in between 4-6 month touch-ups.
#24: Dark Brunette to Warm Brown Ombre
Consider doing a dark brunette to warm brown ombré for your next style. Doing a warmer brown balayage is the best choice if you have dark brunette hair and want to go lighter. In the process of making dark hair lighter, it lifts through warmer tones first. This means, that if you have dark hair and want warmer tones then you won’t be causing as much damage to your hair as if you wanted cooler tones. Remember healthy hair, is happy hair.
#25: Ashy Brown with Blonde Money Piece
Take a look at an ashy brown base color with a blonde money piece if you’re wanting a flattering new look. Naturally dark brown hair color looks beautiful with a bold light gold/beige money piece to complement your skin complexion. A cool dark brown color will make your blonde pop with a high contrast look. Factor in how your face shape can determine how high up you want the bold money piece to be placed in your hair. Just remember, highlights bring out your features, and lowlights shadow your features.
#26: Light Balayage Highlights on Dark Hair
Transform your dull locks with shimmering light balayage highlights if you have dark hair. Get your hair kissed by the sun with a natural brown hair balayage that is surprisingly low-maintenance. Subtle highlights glisten in the sun and will make your hair look luxurious.
#27: Short Curly Brown Hair with Balayage
Show off your beautiful ringlets if you have short brown hair paired with a balayage. Balayage highlights on brown hair blend so seamlessly and give your strands a sparkly glow. Balayage is a great technique for curly locks because any harsh lines are magically hidden into the curly tendrils making your hair look natural and sun-kissed.
#28: Chocolate Rose Brunette
The chocolate rose brunette is a rich, warm color. If you have warm brown, hazel, or green eyes this hair color will show off your eyes. If you can handle the maintenance of the red, rose tone this is a great choice. Don’t forget to ask your colorist what the maintenance entails for your specific hair texture and lifestyle.
#29: Long Mushroom Brown Hair with Waves
Long mushroom brown hair with waves is the perfect look for you if you have a warmer skin tone. This mix of ashy blonde-brown is beautifully paired with a dark brown tint. This specific color can be adjusted into many different shades to create a subtle yet noticeable contrast within your hair.
#30: Soft Brunette Balayage on Long Hair
Consider doing a soft brunette balayage on long hair if you want some dimension without a lot of maintenance. I recommend doing a balayage that is a few shades lighter than your natural color. By doing this, your hair will remain healthier with a shiny glow. Sometimes if you go too light, the ends can start to look dry, dull, and lifeless. Maintaining the health of your hair is so important if you want to keep your locks long.
#31: Champagne Beige Brown
A balayage is perfect if you want a hair color that is low-maintenance and beautifully blended. The base color goes well with the champagne beige brown. Everyone will love the gradient and seamless look!
#32: Curly Chocolate Balayage
Consider a curly chocolate balayage if you’re wanting to spice up your look! Some pops of color intertwined with your natural curls will leave people obsessed. Finish your hair with some curl cream and defuse your hair to show off your new look.
#33: Golden Blonde-Brown Balayage
A golden blonde-brown balayage is a stunning, warm, natural-looking hair color you will love. This hair color would look stunning on a woman with a warm skin complexion. Keeping the base dark will allow for a seamless grow-out!
#34: Brown Balayage with Face-Framing Layers
A brown balayage with face-framing layers allows for easy upkeep with attention and brightness drawn to the face. Balayage is a great way to have color without a lot of maintenance. Brown balayage with face-framing layers allows for a very luscious natural-looking style. Layers can be cut to work with any face shape and balayage is very versatile for all lengths, face shapes, and can be customized to work with almost any client.
#35: Red Brown Balayage with Curled Ends
Rock a red-brown balayage hair color with curls and achieve that “awesome, trendy girl” vibe! This hair color is one of the easiest ways to pull off edgy locks. It demands lower maintenance compared to a solid red color. Though it may offer a rebellious-looking finish, it still looks chic on long, wavy tresses.
#36: Yummy Chocolate Brown Balayage
A chocolate brown balayage is an effortless low-maintenance hair hue for women who wants to see subtle dimensions in their pre-existing dark hair. It can also create the illusion of having shape and definition to your overall appearance.
#37: Bright Brown with Platinum Blonde Highlights
Brown hair with platinum blonde highlights is a beautiful way to brighten up darker hair. Keeping a natural base while adding in money piece highlights toward your face helps create a low-maintenance look that only needs to be retouched every 10-12 weeks.
#38: Bronzed Balayage for Brown Hair
Bronzed balayage for brown hair is natural and subtle but gives stunning results. If your brunette hair feels dull and needs some spice, ask your hairstylist for a bronze-toned glaze over your balayage for your next appointment. Bronze tones range from golden hues to caramel swirls, full of warmth that adds much richness and shine to your hair color.
#39: Blended Balayage with Brown and Blonde Tones
A blended balayage with brown and blonde tones is absolutely stunning and very versatile and can be customized to fit your skin tone. A shadow root allows for better growth maintenance, while the highlights and lowlights create dimension.
#40: Stunning Brown and Burgundy Balayage
This brown and burgundy balayage style does a great job with a fuller mane. The depth from the roots to the mid-lengths complements the density of thicker hair. It looks soft yet dramatic when styled with subtle volume.
#41: Seamless Sun-Kissed Brown Balayage
A natural sun-kissed balayage brown color is perfect for ladies who don’t want to settle with classic brown or blonde hair. The golden/neutral tones create a dirty blonde effect and are a great accent to a natural color with a seamless lightening effect. Balayage hair painting allows for long-lasting results and a seamless blend and can be customized for each woman. The long layered cut helps assist your color with its movement. Most women nowadays want a low-maintenance color to last for months.
#42: Beautiful Rose Gold and Chestnut Balayage
A cool tone of rose gold and chestnut balayage looks stunning on long hair with loose waves. This balayage look is beautiful, however, pastel colors always fade fast. It’s unavoidable. The positive side to that is it’s a commitment-free hair color as it fades to a beautiful pastel cool blonde.
#43: Eye-Catching Brown Copper Balayage
A copper is an eye-catching way to get a balayage on your brown hair. It takes away the dull, boring element from black hair. It offers a softer blend of tones, and it gives you a youthful finish. The best thing about this copper balayage trend is it demands minimal upkeep. Thanks to the balayage, it enables a more natural grow out.
#44: Softer Auburn and Medium Brown Balayage
An auburn and medium brown balayage create a lot of dimensions. For natural brunettes, this color combination is low-maintenance. The streaks of brown are sure to add shine to a dark mane. To give it a softer finish, add subtle waves to your hair.
#45: Trendy Honey Blonde Balayage on Brown Locks
A honey blonde balayage on brown locks allows you to enjoy trendy, brighter tones. This entire hair color can be achieved with a mix of babylights, traditional highlights, and open-air balayage. Finish it off with a glaze and a root tap to provide a smoother transition. To prolong your color, use salon-grade products. A good home care routine is also encouraged.
#46: Blonde and Dark Brown Balayage on Natural Brunette Hair
This blonde and dark brown balayage is a total gem! Pair it with soft waves to give your tresses a nice upgrade. It’s ideal for dark brown hair with a thin density that requires more texture and dimension. The depth of the natural brunette hair is guaranteed to enhance the shine of the added blonde hue. Face shape can be adjusted with the painted sections. Maintenance for this balayage is 10-12 weeks with proper at-home color care products.
#47: Delicious Toffee and Espresso Balayage Ombre
A toffee and espresso balayage with a lighter shade on your ends provides a soft, flawless color melt effect. The dark brown roots have the depth that makes the bronde tones accentuate your hair. Turning your hair from dark to light requires using purple shampoo to fight brassy tones. A weekly hydrating mask and conditioning treatments for aftercare are necessary, as well. These are the secrets to keeping the brown ombre hue vibrant.
#48: Rich Light and Dark Chocolate Brown Balayage
A light and dark chocolate balayage make for rich hair color. This is how to fire up a typical darker mane. The result looks soft but does a great job of giving your hair a few lighter pieces for a subtle dimension. This very dark brown balayage turns out to make a stunning pairing with a textured cut and beachy waves.
#49: Popular Mushroom Brown Balayage
Dark hair with a mushroom brown balayage is very popular right now. This mushroom grey will give you a modern stunning look and not age you in the slightest. Ask your stylist for a full head backcomb bleaching, then tone with the color. For shades like this one, use purple, grey ash shampoo like Olaplex.
#50: Yummy Honey Balayage for Brown Hair
Paint your hair with honey brown balayage if you’re looking for the least damaging coloring technique. It’s low-maintenance and keeps the warm tones in the honey brown hue, too. To add more dimension, style your hair with waves.
#51: Cooler Milk Chocolate Balayage
Ever heard of a milk chocolate balayage? It’s a brunette hair color with a cooler tone. The hints of caramel hue add creaminess to the mane. Adding volume and texture won’t hurt the appearance. In fact, balayage and beach waves go well together.
#52: Cool-Toned Ash Brown Balayage
An ash brown balayage color looks best when it transitions from ash brown in the middle then to silver at the bottom. This color is a cool tone with a shadow brown balayage. 90% of women want a brown shadow look for winter, then go lighter for summer.
#53: Chocolate Brown and Honey Caramel Balayage on Short Hair
A caramel balayage for your brown hair has high contrast and depth when you add honey caramel highlights. A chocolate brown balayage on short hair gives so much more healthy reflection, having gold pigments in your color mixture.
Related: Best ways to pair brown hair with caramel balayage.
#54: Trendsetting Mocha and Light Brown Balayage
A mocha light brown balayage is the perfect hair trend if you are trying a balayage for the first time. Light brown hair with balayage creates movement and depth. It has a combination of tones that works great with wavy, long hair.
#55: Gorgeous Mahogany and Caramel Brown Balayage
A mahogany and caramel brown balayage is a low-maintenance color for natural brunettes. It’s a union of toffee brown hair with brunette balayage pieces, faded well from the roots. The subtle reddish and brassy tones result in a vibrant finish. To protect the tones, wash your hair with a shampoo that has turmeric and saffron. That’s how you make its shinier finish stay for a while.
#56: Balayage Butterscotch Brown
A dark brown to light brown balayage looks great when it’s enhanced with butterscotch hues. It has nice subtle pops of brightness that helps to pull all the warm-colored tones together. A balayage for dark brown hair is great for having a nice rich color, but still has a nice soft dimension with a little pop of brightness!
#57: Flattering Golden Brown Balayage
A golden brown balayage features warm and rich tones that look great on straight, wavy, and curly styles. It flatters olive skin complexions the best. If you’re searching for vibrant hair color, this balayage on brown hair is one to consider.
#58: Coffee and Cinnamon Brown Balayage
A coffee and cinnamon brown balayage create a subtle brightness. It has rich tones that make your hair appear healthier and full of life. This is perfect for both thin and thick tresses.
#59: Low-Maintenance Sandy Brown Balayage
A sandy brown balayage has a warm, sun-kissed tone. It’s perfect for giving dark tresses dimension and a long-lasting shine. It’s low-maintenance, trendy, and stylish. There’s no reason not to love this hair trend!
#60: Lucious Dark Brown Balayage
A great color choice for any season is a dark brown balayage. Commonly referred to as “rich girl hair,” this deep hue appears high-class but is actually very easy to maintain. As your color starts to fade, call your stylist and schedule a toner or gloss. This service will revive your color and boost softness and shine.
#61: Deep Brown Balayage on Shoulder-Length Hair
A deep brown balayage on shoulder-length hair looks stunning on olive complections with brown or hazel eyes. Bronze sun-kissed balayage blends beautifully with natural hazelnut and chocolate brunette tones. Be sure to use a sulfate-free color-enhancing shampoo and conditioner to keep your color vibrant.
#62: Easy Brunette Balayage
A brunette balayage is a fun way for women with dark hair to add some flair to their color without being high-maintenance. If you’re unsure what tone of brunette would look best on you, your hairstylist will be able to help.