How To Get Dark Brown Hair With Blonde Highlights

If you want to brighten up your brunette mane, opting for sunny blonde highlights is arguably the easiest way to do just that. But before you commit, there are a few things to consider—while blonde highlights on brown hair feel effortless, the look can take quite a bit of work to achieve and maintain, particularly if your base color is on the darker side. Before you break out the bleach, we’re sharing everything you need to know about dark brown hair with highlights, including how to choose the right shade of blonde, different highlighting approaches to consider, and what you’ll need to do post-coloring session to keep your blonde streaks bright. Keep reading for the full scoop.

What To Know About Getting Dark Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights

If you’ve ever colored your hair before, you know that it can take a bit of patience and precision—and that’s especially true when it comes to blonde highlights on dark brown hair. If you’re starting with naturally dark hair, you’ll need to bleach the strands you want to lighten (which can take more than one session, depending on how dark your base color is). You’ll also need to select the right shade of blonde for your hair. Those with warmer dark brown hair (think: chocolate brown or chestnut brown) typically fare best with warm-toned honey or caramel highlights. If you have cooler brown hair, you’ll want to opt for an ashier blonde color to avoid clashing with your natural hue.

There are also a few different types of highlights to choose from. Traditional highlights are great for those seeking a bold look, while balayage is better suited for those who’d prefer to keep maintenance to a minimum. Babylights are another option worth considering and can be a great option for a more subtle transformation. Whichever approach you choose, you’ll need to adjust your post-coloring routine accordingly to help keep your highlighted hair looking and feeling its best. We’ll dive more into that shortly, but first, let’s dig into the highlighting process a bit more.

What happens if I put blonde dye on brown hair?

Applying blonde hair dye to brown hair is, in most cases, futile. Dyes are designed to deposit color, not lift it. So, if your base hue is darker than your chosen highlight color, your highlights are unlikely to show up well (or at all). Generally, you’ll want to bleach your hair first to lighten it to the appropriate level. After bleaching, you may notice your lightened strands look more orange than blonde. Brown hair has underlying red and orange pigments, which can become more noticeable when you lighten your hair. Applying a toner after bleaching your hair can help neutralize those unwanted brassy tones. Once your hair is lightened and toned, you can apply your blonde hair dye to the lightened strands to achieve your desired look.

How To Get Dark Brown Hair With Blonde Highlights

If bleaching, toning, and coloring your hair sounds like too much work, consider picking up a highlighting kit—most come with everything you need to achieve natural-looking highlights for brown hair. One of our favorites for an easy at-home transformation is the L’Oréal Paris Colorista At-Home Hair Bleach & Lightener kit. It comes with a developer crème, bleaching powder, lightening crème, and a three-pronged highlighting brush for a seamless, even application. The kit also includes an anti-brass toning conditioner that you can use to help neutralize unwanted warm tones.

For more lived-in looking highlights for dark brown hair, snag the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference At-Home Highlighting Kit in Medium to Dark Brown. It comes with everything you need to create blended balayage highlights (including an expert touch applicator) and is designed specifically for those with darker brown hair.

DIY tips for blonde highlights on brown hair

With the right products and techniques, you can achieve beautiful blonde highlights at home. Follow these easy tips for a natural, sun-kissed look:

1. Choose your highlighting kit carefully: Select the kit that best aligns with your needs and preferences. Traditional highlights typically result in a bolder, more obvious highlighted look, while balayage highlights are ideal for those seeking a more laid-back feel. You can also choose to create foil highlights for a precise effect or pick up a highlighting cap to create all-over uniform highlights.
2. Do a strand test: Always test your dye on a few (hidden) strands of hair before coloring your whole head to gauge how your hair will respond to the dye.
3. Section your hair: Before getting started on your highlights, divide your hair into at least four sections. This enables you to focus on one section at a time, which can help ensure an even, precise application. It also makes the process easier, as the clipped-back hair won’t get in the way while you lighten your hair.
4. Be mindful of your application: Avoid applying bleach to any hair that’s already been lightened. Doing so can lead to uneven results or damage.
5. Set a timer: Follow the kit instructions for processing time, usually 20-40 minutes. Keep an eye on the color—check every 10 minutes to prevent over-lightening and potentially damaging your strands.
6. Tone your hair: After rinsing, use a toning shampoo or conditioner to neutralize any brassy or yellow tones for a cooler, more natural blonde finish.

Blonde Highlights with Brown Hair: 5 Looks We Love

Of course, there’s more than one option when it comes to dark brown hair with blonde highlights. Whether you plan to DIY your lightened hair or head to the salon, consider the below for inspo.

Dark brown hair with ash-blonde highlights

If your dark brown hair has cooler undertones, ash blonde highlights provide a stunning contrast. The cool, silvery tones of ash blonde blend seamlessly with cooler brown shades, creating a sophisticated and modern look. This option is best for those with fair to medium skin tones and who prefer a more subtle, icy blonde result. It requires regular toning to keep brassiness at bay, making it ideal for those willing to commit to regular salon visits or home maintenance.

Dark brown hair with platinum highlights

For a bold, high-contrast look, platinum blonde highlights make a striking statement against dark brown hair. This combination works well for those with neutral to cool undertones and creates a bold, dramatic effect that catches the eye. Platinum highlights do require frequent maintenance to keep the blonde bright and prevent yellowing, so it’s best for those who are ready for a higher-maintenance style.

Dark brown hair with caramel balayage

One of the most flattering ways to rock highlights on dark brown hair is by forgoing the beachy blonde highlights in favor of a decadent warm caramel balayage. You’ll get the dimension and brightness you crave, but without all of the upkeep required of traditional blonde highlights. The rich, warm shade is especially flattering for those with medium or deep skin tones.

Dark brown hair with creamy blonde babylights

If you love the idea of blonde highlights but want something softer than platinum, creamy blonde is a great middle ground. This beige blonde tone complements both cool and neutral brown hair, providing a balanced, natural-looking contrast. It's perfect for those with fair to medium skin tones who want a refined look with minimal upkeep. The subtle highlight placement ensures you won’t need frequent touch-ups, making this option ideal for those with a busy lifestyle.

Dark brown hair with strawberry blonde highlights

For a unique twist on the classic blonde, strawberry blonde highlights add a touch of warmth and vibrancy. These reddish blonde highlights are perfect for those with warm brown hair, as the red undertones blend effortlessly with the brown. Strawberry blonde is flattering on a variety of skin tones, particularly those with warm or neutral undertones, and it gives a fresh, lively appearance. You’ll need to commit to regular maintenance to keep the vibrant color intact, but the results are worth the effort for those looking for something fun and different.

How To Take Care Of Dark Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights

Once you’ve colored your hair, it’s a good idea to make a few changes to your regular hair care routine to help care for your strands. Here’s how.

1. Use products formulated for color-treated hair

To help keep your color looking vibrant, switch out your old shampoo and conditioner for a system that’s formulated for color-treated hair. We recommend the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Strengthening Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Strengthening Conditioner. The citric acid-powered duo works in tandem to help cleanse, hydrate, and strengthen color-treated hair for smooth, silky-looking strands. For added repair, pre-treat your strands with the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Strengthening Pre-Shampoo Treatment.

2. Add in a hair mask a couple of times a week

Once or twice a week, swap out your usual conditioner for a deep conditioning mask, such as the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Power Restore Treatment, which melts into the hair fiber to promote stronger, healthier-looking hair. You can use it in the shower to help hydrate and condition your mane or apply it to damp or dry strands as a strengthening leave-in treatment—the choice is yours. Or, if your blonde highlights are beginning to look brassy, use a toning mask to help eliminate unwanted warmth. The L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Anti-Brass Purple Toning Mask is an excellent pick—the violet-tinted formula neutralizes stubborn brass in as little as five minutes and leaves the hair feeling deeply nourished.

3. Always use a heat protectant when styling

Excessive heat styling can lead to damage, which is why it’s always important to use a heat protectant before busting out your blow dryer, curling iron, or flat iron. If your hair is damaged from the highlighting process, try the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair Hair Oil-in-Serum—it strengthens, softens, and adds shine without weighing down your locks. The L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture 21-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner is another excellent pick. Spritz it onto your damp mane before styling to help shield it from temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, tame frizz, and give your tresses a glossy-looking finish.

4. Let your hair air-dry from time to time

You don’t have to use heat tools to get a gorgeous-looking hairstyle! Give your mane a break from the blow-dryer every once in a while by air-drying your hair. For beachy waves, work the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BOOST IT Volume Inject Mousse through damp hair, then scrunch and let dry. You’ll be left with bounce and volume sans a crunchy finish. If you favor sleek looks, use the L’Oréal Paris Elnett Anti-Frizz Slick-Back Hair Styling Cream to create a neat low pony or on-trend wet hair look.

5. Commit to regular touch-ups

Maintaining dark brown hair with blonde highlights requires regular touch-ups. Refreshing your highlights is key to ensuring they stay bright and vibrant. Depending on your highlighting technique, touch-up timelines vary. For traditional highlights, you’ll typically want to schedule a touch-up every six to eight weeks, depending on how quickly your hair grows. If you opt for balayage, the grow-out will be less noticeable, so you can stretch the time between appointments. Still, it’s best to schedule a touch-up at least every 12 weeks to keep your blonde streaks looking their best.

Next Up: Partial vs. Full Highlights: How To Tell Which Is Right for You

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris