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Light brown hair with highlights is having a major moment — and no, you don’t need to book a six-month retreat in Bali to refresh your look ✨. A good cut and smart color placement can do wonders (plus, no passport required).
From face-brightening ribbons to just-stepped-off-the-beach blends, these styles prove one thing: dimension isn’t just for your cheekbones.
Think of this post as your cheat sheet for salon inspo — minus the confusing lingo and unrealistic lighting filters.
Ready to scroll and screenshot? Your future hair appointment might just be a few swipes away.
1. Voluminous Walnut Brown Waves with Champagne Highlights
This long, voluminous style features flowing waves that blend walnut brown with champagne-toned highlights. The contrast between the deep base and bright ribbons adds motion and shine, while the soft layering around the face keeps the style modern and flattering. Ideal for creating dimension in thicker hair.
2. Lived-In Light Mocha Balayage
A seamless blend of light mocha tones and soft golden balayage gives this look a natural, sun-kissed finish. The loose waves accentuate the depth of color, making it an effortless style for medium to long hair lengths. Perfect for those seeking an easy-maintenance color that still feels elevated.
3. Smoky Ash Brown Curls with Face-Framing Highlights
This style pairs ash brown tones with brighter beige highlights focused around the face. The structured curls enhance the depth and contrast, making the lighter sections pop. A great choice for adding brightness without overwhelming the natural base.
4. Long Rooted Brunette with Sandy Beige Highlights
With a dark brunette root that melts into sandy beige mid-lengths and ends, this hairstyle brings subtle elegance. The relaxed texture and center part help frame the face naturally, while the color placement creates an elongated effect. Best for those who want length with minimal upkeep.
5. Dimensional Beige Blonde Waves
A multi-tonal masterpiece combining beige blonde, pale gold, and soft ash accents, this look uses face-framing brightness and beachy waves for impact. The high contrast at the front gradually softens into darker roots, enhancing the cascading shape and movement.
6. Glossy Ash Brown Layers with Light Gold Highlights
Sleek yet voluminous, this layered style is crafted from a cool ash brown base elevated by fine golden highlights. The feathered layers bring bounce and lift, making this an ideal option for those who prefer a polished, salon-fresh appearance every day.
7. Rooted Blonde with Cool Creamy Ends
This medium-length cut features a neutral root melt into creamy, nearly platinum ends. Soft, undone waves add movement, while the ashy blonde tones bring brightness without brass. A modern approach to transitioning into lighter hair while maintaining depth at the root.
8. Caramel Swirl Waves on Soft Brunette
A warm brunette base intertwined with caramel and sandy blonde accents brings out a playful texture in this mid-length cut. The curls are intentionally tousled to showcase every ribbon of color, offering warmth and volume in equal measure.
9. Straight Ash Brown with Blonde Face Frame
This sleek, straight style is structured around high-contrast blonde money pieces set against a cool ash brown base. The straight finish emphasizes the precision of the color placement, while the long layers keep the look sharp and contemporary.
10. Rich Cocoa Brown with Feathered Balayage
A deeper cocoa brown base comes to life with subtle, feathered balayage in honey and soft beige tones. Layered and voluminous, this cut is ideal for enhancing natural fullness while adding brightness in a controlled, low-maintenance way.
11. Rooted Brunette with Icy Blonde Ends
This wavy mid-length cut plays with contrast by keeping a rich brunette base and blending it seamlessly into icy blonde ends. The cool-toned highlights create brightness without overpowering the darker root, making this a balanced and contemporary look.
12. Espresso Brown Waves with Ash Gold Highlights
Featuring long, loose curls and a deep espresso brown base, this style is softened by streaks of ash gold. Light placement around the face and throughout the mid-lengths adds glow and structure, offering a refined take on classic highlighted hair.
13. Soft Mocha Melt with Beige Blonde Ribbons
A mid-to-long layered look enhanced by mocha roots fading into warm beige and blush-toned blonde highlights. The waves amplify the contrast and bring out each tone, offering a delicate shimmer that catches the light from every angle.
14. Cool Dimensional Blonde on Deep Brown Base
A cool blonde finish layered over a deep brunette base gives this style a neutral edge. The deliberate placement of light pieces across the lengths adds a sculpted quality, while the subtle root melt ensures a smooth grow-out.
15. Beachy Caramel Highlights on Deep Brunette
This long, textured wave features soft caramel highlights that run through a natural brunette base. The alternating light and medium tones create movement and an effortless finish that suits both thick and fine hair types.
16. Mid-Length Toffee Brown with Glossy Curls
A warm toffee base lifted with carefully placed golden highlights gives this mid-length style depth and richness. Soft waves shape the cut and showcase the color, delivering a polished, salon-fresh look with natural warmth.
17. Layered Ash Brown with Soft Honey Sweep
Face-framing layers add motion to this ash brown base, brightened by honey-toned highlights swept throughout the top and front. The shaping gives the style a light, airy effect while the coloring remains natural and soft.
18. Rich Beige Brown Waves with Face Highlights
A smooth transition from rich beige brown roots to delicate face-framing highlights gives this long style dimension. The waves create texture and amplify the lighter tones, giving the overall finish a multi-layered look that photographs beautifully.
19. Voluminous Chestnut Curls with Cinnamon Accents
These full-bodied curls sit atop a chestnut base laced with cinnamon highlights. The warm undertones complement deeper skin tones beautifully and give the hair an extra boost of brightness and bounce.
20. Cool-Toned Brown Balayage with Soft Curls
A muted brown foundation serves as the base for this long, softly curled balayage look. Delicate light brown highlights are painted to contour the cut and illuminate the overall shape without looking high-contrast.
21. Honey Bronze Layers with Curled Ends
This voluminous style starts with a warm honey bronze base and blends in soft golden highlights through long, cascading layers. The curled ends create a soft, rounded finish that adds movement and depth without sharp transitions.
22. Dark Mocha with Whispered Caramel Highlights
A deep mocha base is subtly broken up by ultra-fine caramel highlights that add a whisper of warmth. Soft, polished waves bring out the shine, giving the cut a refined finish while maintaining natural depth.
23. Ashy Brunette with Feathered Champagne Highlights
Layers are softly cut to frame the shape, while champagne blonde ribbons weave through an ashy brunette base. The overall look is smooth and tailored, designed to enhance thickness and flow while staying low-key and chic.
24. Cocoa Melt with Golden Ends
This long wavy cut features a rich cocoa brown base that melts seamlessly into warm golden ends. The gradual transition creates a sun-kissed effect while preserving depth at the crown, giving the color a rich yet dimensional feel.
25. Cool Blonde Highlights on Rooted Neutral Brown
Long layers receive a cool-toned lift from smoky blonde highlights painted from mid-shaft to ends. The shadow root keeps maintenance minimal while the face-framing brightness enhances the haircut’s shape.
