How To Get Caramel Highlights at Home and Keep Them Glossy

Cinnamon swirl, pumpkin spice, dark chocolate—many of today’s trendiest hair colors sound more like something you’d order at a café than ask for in the salon. If you want to elevate your look with a delicious color shift, caramel highlights are the perfect choice to add dimension and warmth. This rich hue is incredibly flattering for a wide range of complexions, from fair and cool to deep and warm. Plus, with a little know-how, the luxe look is totally achievable at home.

Below you will find everything you need to select your perfect hue, apply your color like a professional, and care for your dimensional strands.

What Are Caramel Highlights?

There are a few iterations of caramel hair color, but the classic look features a neutral-toned, medium-brown base enlivened by bright caramel highlights, often most concentrated around the face. It’s often achieved through the balayage technique, creating a softer, more lived-in look than traditional foil highlights. This technique allows for a seamless grow-out phase that looks effortlessly chic.

Caramel hair color is versatile, however, and there are plenty of ways to customize the look to match your personal aesthetic:

• If you favor a warmer look, you could try light brown hair with auburn and caramel highlights, as the auburn will add a hint of red that complements the golden tones beautifully.
• For a more dramatic spin on the trend, caramel highlights on brown hair are a gorgeous choice, as the bright caramel will pop against your deeper brunette base.

Ultimately, how you rock this decadent caramel hair trend is up to you. If you need advice on choosing the best approach for your mane, consider consulting with an expert via the L’Oréal Paris Hair Color Concierge.

Who Looks Best With Caramel Highlights?

Determining who looks best with this look depends on your natural starting base, your skin undertones, and the level of contrast you want to achieve. This gorgeous look works beautifully across diverse hair textures and lengths, making it a universal favorite for low-maintenance style.

Best skin tones for caramel highlights

What skin tone do caramel highlights look good on is a common question for anyone trying this trend. The truth is that caramel hair tint options look beautiful on every skin tone because caramel contains a balanced blend of both warm golden and neutral undertones:

• Golden caramel ribbons enhance the natural radiance of your complexion if you have a warm skin tone.
• A soft beige or sandy caramel provides a soft contrast without washing you out if you have a cool skin tone.
• Deep skin tones look stunning with dark caramel brown hair, which adds instant warmth and brightness to the face.

Best base hair colors for caramel highlights

The versatility of this color allows it to pair beautifully with multiple different starting bases:

• The most traditional pairing is caramel highlights on brown hair because the underlying warmth in brunette strands naturally complements the golden notes of caramel.
• If you have a deeper starting base, placing caramel foils on dark brown hair creates a high-contrast, striking look that lifts your overall style.
• For those with lighter bases, combining caramel hair color with blonde highlights, or blending blonde highlights with caramel ribbons, creates a multi-tonal, sun-kissed effect that mimics a beach vacation.

Choosing the right caramel tone

To achieve the most flattering finish, select a specific color kit that matches your desired depth and tone. You can browse several excellent choices depending on your personal style preference:

• The L'Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Caramel Glow delivers high-intensity, shimmering color with an edgy, multidimensional finish. To use it, mix the colorant and developer, apply the mixture to your sectioned strands, let it process, and rinse thoroughly before applying the included power shimmer conditioner to lock in shine.

How To Take Care of Caramel Highlights

After coloring your hair—whether you choose subtle caramel hair streaks or opt for a more dramatic transformation—you will need to update your haircare routine. Implementing a dedicated routine preserves the depth of your color and prevents premature fading.

Use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner

Color-treated hair requires special care to look and feel its best. Even if you really love your current haircare system, it could dull your new caramel-colored hair and blonde highlights faster than you had hoped. To help keep your caramel highlights looking fresh, use a color-safe system:

• The L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Repair+ Shampoo with Bond + Amino Acid Complex is formulated to strengthen hair bonds weakened by coloring or bleaching. You massage it gently into wet hair to create a thick lather, then rinse thoroughly to cleanse without stripping your delicate color.
• Pair your shampoo with the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Repair+ Conditioner with Bond + Amino Acid Complex, which is a color-safe, sulfate-free conditioner that deeply smooths, detangles, and fortifies processed hair. You distribute this creamy conditioner evenly from mid-lengths to ends, let it sit for 3 minutes, and rinse well.

• If your strands feel compromised from the lightening process, you can prime them with the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair+ Pre-Shampoo Concentrate with Bond + Amino Acid Complex. This product is an intensive, rinse-out pre-shampoo treatment formulated to provide maximum repair for severely damaged or weak hair. You apply it to damp hair before your regular shampoo, leave it on for five minutes, and rinse it out completely.
• When you want to rotate your routine for targeted structural protection, the L'Oréal Paris Feria Strength Repair Ultra Care Conditioner is a high-performance deep-conditioning treatment designed to repair and reinforce color-treated hair. You smooth this rich formula through wet hair after cleansing to seal the cuticle and enhance softness.
• Alternatively, the L'Oréal Paris Superior Preference Shine Protect Ultra Care Conditioner is a specialized conditioner that seals hair fibers to prevent premature fading and boost natural light reflection. You use it weekly in place of your standard conditioner, focusing on your highlighted tips for an ultra-glossy finish.

To achieve maximum radiance, incorporate a glossing routine into your weekly schedule:

• Start the process with the L'Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic + Gloss Shine Boosting Shampoo, a daily shine-enhancing shampoo that transforms dull, lackluster hair into intensely glossy strands. Work it into your wet scalp until it lathers, then rinse.
• Next, apply the L'Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic + Gloss Shine Boosting Conditioner, which smooths the hair fiber and locks in hydration using a specialized glycolic gloss complex. Leave it on your hair for a few minutes before rinsing.
• Finish the routine with the L'Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic + Gloss High Shine Leave‑in Serum, a lightweight leave-in that adds an extra layer of lamination shine and frizz protection. Smooth a few drops through your damp or dry lengths to trap moisture and reflect light perfectly.

Take precautions when heat styling

We can’t blame you for wanting a bouncy blowout or sleek, straight strands, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to use heat tools all the time. They can be damaging, especially for those with color-treated hair. Opt for heatless hairstyles whenever possible to avoid unnecessary stress on your strands.

When you do decide to blow dry, straighten, or curl your hair, use a heat protectant to shield your strands from damage:

• The L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Repair+ Oil-in-Serum is a high-shine leave-in oil-in-serum that softens hair, boosts radiant shine, and protects color-treated hair against temperatures up to 450°F. You apply a small amount to damp hair before styling to seal down flyaways and protect fragile fibers.
• If you prefer a multi-benefit spray format, the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture 21-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner is a versatile, color-caring leave-in spray that delivers 21 essential benefits to prime, protect, and perfect dry hair. Mist it evenly throughout clean, towel-dried hair and comb through before air-drying or styling.

Use purple shampoo as needed

Caramel highlights are meant to be warm, but too much warmth can make them appear orange rather than golden. If your brown hair with caramel highlights begins to take on a brassy tinge, use a color-correcting purple routine:

• Use the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Purple Toning Shampoo, which is a color-correcting purple shampoo formulated with deep violet pigments to neutralize stubborn brassy, yellow, and orange tones. You substitute this for your regular shampoo once or twice per week, massaging it into wet hair, letting it sit for up to two minutes, and rinsing well.
• We suggest using it alongside the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Purple Conditioner, which is a purple toning conditioner that deeply hydrates color-treated strands while eliminating unwanted warmth and brassiness. Distribute it evenly through your damp hair after using the purple shampoo, leave it on for up to five minutes, and rinse thoroughly. Just take care not to use the duo too often, or you could risk muddying your beautiful caramel tones.

Best Hairstyles for Caramel Latte Hair

You can rock caramel highlights with any hairstyle, but to make those ribbons of color really pop, there are several specific looks that showcase your dimension beautifully.

Soft waves

Loose waves give your hair volume and texture, and the movement can help your golden highlights shine. To build the perfect foundation for this texture, follow a volumizing regimen:

• Wash your hair with the L'Oréal Paris Elvive Collagen Peptide + Lifter Volumizing Shampoo, a clear, volumizing shampoo formulated to lift thin, flat hair from root to tip. Massage it into your scalp to cleanse away impurities without leaving a heavy residue, then rinse.
• Follow with the L'Oréal Paris Elvive Collagen Peptide + Lifter Volumizing Conditioner, a creamy, lightweight conditioner with an innovative texture that maximizes body while providing critical hydration. Apply it from mid-lengths to ends, then rinse after 1 minute.
• Before styling your waves, disperse a palm-sized amount of the L'Oréal Paris Elvive Collagen Peptide + Lifter Big Lift Volumizing Mousse. This product is an extra-strong hold hair styling mousse engineered to instantly boost limp, fine, or flat textures from the root. Work it through damp hair for touchable, crunch-free structural hold.
• If scoring waves requires heat styling, prime your strands with a heat protectant like the L'Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Heat Slayer Leave-In. This product is a pre-iron spray leave-in treatment engineered to protect long hair from severe heat damage up to 450°F. Shake the bottle well, spray it evenly onto damp lengths, and blow-dry or iron safely.

Beachy braids

Beachy braids lend a summery feel to your caramel highlights and help showcase the various tones of your dimensional color. To keep your braided textures well-defined and free from dryness, incorporate a specialized cream.

Try the L'Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Curls Leave-In Conditioner, a paraben-free leave-in curl treatment that features a creamy blend of hyaluronic acid and fine castor oil to lock in long-lasting moisture. Smooth a generous amount through your damp lengths before braiding to shape and structuralize your strands without any greasy finish.

Sleek and straight

Ultra-straight hair is a great pick for when you want your highlights to be the focus of your look. To prepare your strands for flat-ironing, use a humidity-resistant system:

• Clean them with the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Iron Sleek Smoothing Shampoo, a sulfate-free formula designed specifically for heat-styled hair to provide essential humidity resistance. Apply to wet hair, lather, and rinse completely.
• Follow up with the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Iron Sleek Smoothing Conditioner, which is a color-safe conditioner that works in synergy with a smoothing routine to form a weightless protective shield around the hair shaft. Distribute it through your lengths, let it work for two minutes, and rinse well.
• Before using your flat iron, apply the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Iron Sleek Coat Anti-Frizz Hair Treatment. This product is a powerful heat-activated smoothing treatment that wraps strands in a seamless frizz-defying coat. Spray it generously onto clean, damp hair before blow-drying to lock out outside dampness.
• Once your straight style is complete, mist your finished look with a flexible-hold hairspray like L'Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Classic Hairspray. This legendary hairspray provides an extra-strong, long-lasting hold with a clean, satin-soft finish that disappears at the stroke of a brush. Spray it from twelve inches away to set your straight look in place.

Messy bun

Lean into the lived-in feel of your caramel balayage highlights with a classic messy bun. If you need pointers on how to make your bun artfully disheveled rather than overly messy, check out our comprehensive guide on how to do a messy bun on every hair type and texture.

To ensure your casual style looks polished, use the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Iron Sleek Coat Anti Frizz Hair Treatment to create a controlled base before gathering your hair up, allowing you to achieve a beautiful, messy look instead of a frizzy bun.

Frequently Asked Questions About Caramel Highlights

Understanding the basics of this coloring technique helps you keep your new style looking fresh and vibrant for weeks.

What color are caramel highlights?

These highlights are a rich blend of warm golden, bronze, and honey undertones that sit perfectly between dark blonde and light brown. Because they mimic the gooey, sun-warmed color of actual caramel, they add immediate warmth and brightness to dark bases without requiring an aggressive bleaching process.

What skin tone do caramel highlights look best on?

They look best on a wide range of complexions due to their versatile, multi-tonal nature. Warm and olive skin tones look exceptionally radiant with golden or honey caramel tones, as they enhance their natural undertones. Cool and fair complexions can wear this trend beautifully by opting for cooler, soft beige caramel variations that add depth without creating an overwhelming contrast.

Are caramel highlights high maintenance?

This look is generally considered low-maintenance, especially when applied with a balayage or root-smudged technique. Because the color blends seamlessly into a brown base, you will not have to contend with a harsh line of demarcation as your natural hair grows out. Using color-safe products at home extends the longevity of your color even further.

What hair color makes you look younger over fifty?

Soft, warm tones like caramel or honey brown are highly recommended for creating a youthful look over fifty. Dark, solid colors can sometimes cast shadows on the face and accentuate fine lines, whereas warm highlights soften your features and mimic the natural dimension of youthful hair. Incorporating warm ribbons around your face creates a good, face-framing effect.

How often should you touch up caramel highlights?

You will typically need a touch-up every 8 to 12 weeks, depending on your application method and how quickly your hair grows. Traditional foil highlights that start at the root require more frequent maintenance to manage regrowth lines. A soft balayage application lets you go much longer between salon visits or at-home touch-ups, since the roots remain blended.

Next Up: 15 Caramel Brown Hair Ideas That Everyone Can Pull Off

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris