Hairstyles

18 Stunning Medium Brown Hair with Highlights Ideas

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18 Stunning Medium Brown Hair with Highlights Ideas

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Ready to break up with boring brown hair? You're in the right place. ✂️

Medium brown doesn't mean middle-of-the-road. With the right highlights, it’s anything but ordinary.

We’re talking smooth ribbons of caramel, whispers of ash, and just enough contrast to make people wonder who your stylist is.

These styles bring shine, shape, and just the right amount of "wow, your hair looks amazing" without screaming for attention.

From subtle blends to rich, dimensional waves—these looks are proof that medium brown is having a moment.

Scroll on. Your next hair inspiration might just be a screenshot away.

1. Soft Chocolate Brown Waves with Subtle Balayage

1. Soft Chocolate Brown Waves with Subtle Balayage (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

This style features loose, voluminous waves over a chocolate brown base with delicate hand-painted highlights. The color softly catches the light, adding natural dimension while maintaining a smooth, seamless look. Ideal for enhancing medium brown tones without bold contrast.

2. Rich Mocha Layers with Face-Framing Accents

2. Rich Mocha Layers with Face-Framing Accents (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

Cascading layers in a rich mocha brown tone are complemented by lighter face-framing strands. The blend of hues creates depth and a soft contour effect that flatters the face, offering a polished yet effortless finish.

3. Medium Brunette with Smooth Flicked Ends

3. Medium Brunette with Smooth Flicked Ends (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

This shoulder-length cut showcases a sleek finish with curled ends and soft layering. A blend of medium brown and cooler light accents adds depth while keeping the look subtle and sophisticated.

4. Deep Espresso with Glossy Ribbons

4. Deep Espresso with Glossy Ribbons (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

A dark espresso brown base is brought to life with glossy, medium brown highlights woven throughout. The wide waves and luminous finish give this style richness and movement without losing its refined structure.

5. Dimensional Ashy Brown Layers

5. Dimensional Ashy Brown Layers (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

Layers flow with a natural movement in this cool-toned brown look, featuring ashy highlights that blend seamlessly into the medium base. This color choice brings out softness in the waves, giving a breezy yet polished feel.

6. Mocha Brown with Caramel Veiling

6. Mocha Brown with Caramel Veiling (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

Thick, voluminous curls are defined by a mocha base enriched with soft caramel veils. The placement of color adds brightness and dimension through the mid-lengths and ends without overpowering the style.

7. Lived-In Brunette with Light Brown Money Piece

7. Lived-In Brunette with Light Brown Money Piece (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

A relaxed brunette look with softly defined waves and a lighter money piece around the face. The contrast is gentle, adding a touch of light without high upkeep—perfect for a natural, fresh update.

8. Glossed Medium Brown with Warm Ribbons

8. Glossed Medium Brown with Warm Ribbons (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

A silky medium brown base is complemented by warm brown ribbons that move with the waves. The subtle highlight placement lifts the color while the overall tone stays rich and cohesive.

9. Soft Walnut Brown with Taupe Highlights

9. Soft Walnut Brown with Taupe Highlights (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

This long wavy hairstyle features a walnut brown foundation and fine, cool taupe accents. The highlights give a gentle pop of light, creating a dimensional but natural effect across the lengths.

10. Brunette with Ash-Toned Balayage

10. Brunette with Ash-Toned Balayage (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

A modern, cool-toned balayage that blends ash brown seamlessly into a medium brunette base. The painted highlights provide definition and lift, making the waves appear more dynamic and textured.

11. Textured Medium Brown with Golden Brown Slices

11. Textured Medium Brown with Golden Brown Slices (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

Long, airy waves flow through this medium brown base, enhanced with subtle golden brown slices. The layered cut adds softness and shape, while the highlights create a natural lift and definition throughout the lengths.

12. Chestnut Balayage on Glossed Curls

12. Chestnut Balayage on Glossed Curls (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

A deep chestnut foundation is accented with balayage in warm brown tones. The waves add bounce, and the color placement around the crown and face enhances brightness without losing the richness of the base.

13. Silky Ash Brown with Soft Curtain Layers

13. Silky Ash Brown with Soft Curtain Layers (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

This sleek shoulder-length style features ash brown coloring with thin, cool-toned streaks. Soft curtain layers blend seamlessly into the cut, giving it a fluid look with natural movement.

14. Sunlit Brunette Waves with High-Contrast Highlights

14. Sunlit Brunette Waves with High-Contrast Highlights (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

A medium brunette base is brought to life with high-contrast sun-kissed highlights. The lighter strands are concentrated around the face and mid-lengths, providing a soft brightness that enhances the loose wave styling.

15. Cocoa Brown Volume with Sandy Beige Dimension

15. Cocoa Brown Volume with Sandy Beige Dimension (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

This voluminous style features a cocoa brown base with sandy beige accents for added depth. The lighter pieces are placed strategically to emphasize the body and movement of the layers.

16. Ashy Mocha Melt with Rooted Blend

16. Ashy Mocha Melt with Rooted Blend (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

A deep mocha base transitions into cooler, ashy tones with a rooted balayage blend. The gradual shift in tone creates a soft fade effect, while the loose waves give it a laid-back and wearable finish.

17. Medium Brown with Cool Wheat Babylights

17. Medium Brown with Cool Wheat Babylights (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

Fine wheat-colored babylights are layered over a medium brown canvas to add brightness without disrupting the base. The waves emphasize the dimension in this understated yet elegant color story.

18. Satin Brunette with Bold Creamy Highlights

18. Satin Brunette with Bold Creamy Highlights (Medium Brown Hair with Highlights)Credit

A glossy medium brunette color provides the foundation for bold creamy highlights. These soft, wide ribbons of light beige are strategically placed to create a multidimensional effect and a sense of movement.

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