Sometimes all thats needed is a subtle adjustment to freshen up your look.
If added dimension or depth is the goal, a well-placed highlight can make all the difference.
Get ready to book your next hair color appointment!
@ninezeroone/ Instagram
Meet the Experts
Stephanie Brownis a NYC-based celebrity hair colorist atIGK Salons.
That said, your stylist can work with you to achieve lighter and brighter highlights over time.
If you ask your colorist for the balayage technique, you’ll find the maintenance is low.
@justinandersoncolor
Keep in mind that the lighter you go, the more maintenance your hair will require.
How Much Does It Cost?
“It’s a great way to add dimension without going blonde,” she says.
@stephaniebcolor
Ash Brown Highlights
Prefer to keep things cool?
Ask your colorist to focus on face-framing strands, which will help brighten your complexion.
Dark Auburn Balayage
Envious of your redhead friends?
Jun Sato / Getty Images
To simply add dimension to your dark base, pair it with equally darkbut ever so slightly lighterespresso highlights.
This combo is sure to leave people guessing if it’s your natural hue.
“I find that most of my clients that want ashy actually want this tone.”
@stephaniebcolor
We’re just slightly obsessed with this chestnut money piece.
The reddish-brown shade provides the perfect amount of contrast against Zendaya’s dark brown, curly locks.
Sandy Balayage
Take cues from the beach and ask your colorist for sandy balayage.
@stephaniebcolor
Golden Highlights
We’re digging this wavy brunette lob that’s dispersed throughout with hazy golden highlights.
Beachy Bronde Hair
Ramirez’s specialty?
We like how her textured layers show off the highlights and add a bit more dimension.
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Just ask your colorist to keep your highlights to a minimum, rather than a full head.
“When its just a few subtle pieces its very pretty.”
This is what golden ends on dark brown hair attempts to mimic.
@stephaniebcolor
We particularly love this combo on textured, naturally curly hair as it creates even more dimension throughout.
Complete the look with natural, curly texture.
The reddish-brown shade looks beautiful when painted seamlessly throughout the hair with chestnut balayage highlights.
@stephaniebcolor
She calls this color “brown beige and ice gold.”
What starts as a dark brunette at the roots slowly transitions to a cool ash blonde at the ends.
“ensure there is a smooth transition from dark to light.”
Samir Hussein / Getty Images
The transition from dark to a light, warm chestnut looks particularly stunning against deep skin tones.
Chocolate Chunks
Chunky looks are in!
“This is balayage or ombred pieces of a warm brown to richen up brunettes,” Brown explains.
@stephaniebcolor
“Its really beautiful.
Just take large sections and balayage with color, like three levels lighter with 30 volume.”
Ask your colorist to focus them at the front of your face.
@johnnyramirez
Subtle Brown Highlights
@alysas_style
Alysa Pace is a hairstylist and colorist atBomane Salonin Beverly Hills.
She created this dark brunette color with subtle light brown highlights.
The color and cut are perfectly ’70s-esque.
Jason LaVeris / Getty Images
Rooted Bronde Highlights
What happens when you’re torn between staying brunette or going blonde?
We’d like to think this rooted bronde highlighted look is the result.
Ribbons of yellow-blonde highlights give this style abeachyand California-girl vibe.
@stephengarrison
The subtle contrast is perfect for those who want to test the waters of highlights for dark brown hair.
Cool Brown Balayage
@nikkilee901
Nikki Lee is a colorist and co-owner of Nine Zero One Salon.
Her Instagram feed is full ofperfectly-highlighted hair, but we especially love this mid-length masterpiece.
@johnnyramirez
The varying shades of brown will give your dark brown hair new life.
Rooted Ice Blonde
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Ready to go blonde?
This rooted ice blonde color is sure to create some serious, envy-worthy contrast.
Steve Granitz / Getty Images
If you want a bright blonde look that’s low maintenance, ask your colorist for a shadow root.
Caramel Face-Frame
We also like this style from Lee.
Instead of highlights interspersed without, the blonde highlights are concentrated at the ends and the front.
@stephaniebcolor
“Just pop in some subtle pieces around the hairline.
It gets you used to feeling lighter without being lighter all over.”
Reddish Blonde Highlights
@colorbymattrez
Matt Rez is a colorist at MECHE Beverly Hills.
@stephengarrison
He specializes in balayage, which is a coloring technique that creates gradual-looking color.
We love this super-dimensional dark brunette color with varying shades of blonde.
Ashy in tone, you won’t have to worry about any orange tones popping through.
Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images
Golden Face Frame
Find yourself ogling over golden blonde hair colors on Pinterest?
It’s the perfect example of how highlights should grow out…subtly and naturally.
Dirty Brunette
Dirty blonde, step asideyour brunette counterpart is coming through.
@johnnyramirez
Dirty brunette is an ashy balayage ombre.
you’ve got the option to’t go wrong with this seamless transition of brown shades!
Subtle Brown Babylights
Olivia Munn’s barely-there babylights provide just enough shine when the light hits.
@stephaniebcolor
Opt for a coppery brown color as she does here for a hint of glam.
A color like this is the perfect transition from season to season.
Caramel Highlights
Dakota Johnson’s caramel highlights perfectly complement her skin tone and eye color.
Amy Graves / Getty Images
Her wispy fringe is just a bonus.
Reverse Balayage
Richy Kandasamy
We’re loving the reverse balayage action going on here.
It’s almost a single process color, save for the ever-so-subtle strands of light brown peeking through underneath.
@anhcotran
Here, her glossy locks are blown out to show some auburn undertones.
@stephaniebcolor
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@alysas_style
@stephaniebcolor
@alysas_style
@stephaniebcolor
@nikkilee901
@stephaniebcolor
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@nikkilee901
@stephaniebcolor
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@colorbymattrez
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@mizzchoi
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@kristin_ess
@stephaniebcolor
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Richy Kandasamy
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