40 Modern Brown Balayage Ideas To Inspire You In 2023

Hair colour trends come and go, but only a few are timeless. And if you ask us, a rich brown balayage is a style that will never feel outdated. Balayage is a freehand colouring technique that creates natural-looking highlights that don’t starkly contrast your natural hair colour. A brown balayage combines blonde, caramel, chocolate, light brown, coffee and mahogany tones, which are hand-painted to create a subtle style all over.

If you’ve been contemplating trying out balayage on brown hair, allow us to convince you that this trend works on just about everyone. But how do you make this classic look feel fresh this season? We’ve pulled together some of our favourite brown balayage looks from the runways to Instagram, to help you feel inspired.

Balayage on Dark Brown Hair

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Bronde is one of our favourite ways to wear blonde balayage on brown hair. Beloved by stars like Chrissy Teigen, Gisele and J-Lo, the multidimensional blend of blonde and brunette tones are what hair dreams are made of.

Rich Brunette Tones

Editor’s tip: Booked in to get balayage? Make sure you switch your usual wash and care to a colour protection range to keep your colour looking fresh. Enriched with camellia oil, the TRESemmé Revitalise Colour Shampoo gently cleanses and moisturises dyed hair, while also keeping your colour vibrant and shiny for up to 12 weeks.

Ash Brown Balayage

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If warm tones aren’t for you (or if your skin tone leans towards the cool end of the spectrum), an ash brown balayage may be the one for you. Grey or silver tones will bring out the cooler undertones in your brown hair.

Cool Brown Balayage

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Cooler shades can look just as flattering as warm ones. If you’re not sure which to go for, we recommend talking to your colourist to see what tones they think would work best for you, based on your skin tone and eye colour.

Subtle Balayage

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If you’re someone who’s never coloured their hair before or you’re just conscious of taking on anything too high-maintenance, try an understated barely-there balayage.

Brown Balayage on Curly Hair

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A balayage will enhance the natural texture of your curls, which is why it’s a great idea for anyone with curly hair – whether your curls are loose and bouncy, tight ringlets or anywhere in between.

Face-Framing Pieces

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Adding lightness to sections of hair around the face opens up your face and can totally transform a look. Coloured and treated hair often become more prone to breakage and dryness, so make sure you take care of your strands with the right shampoo. Dove Nutritive Solutions Intensive Repair Shampoo helps repair your hair while protecting it from future damage.

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A well-executed balayage can look especially stunning on straight hair, as it functions as a blank canvas to show off all the lovely details of the hair colouring technique.

Dark Brown Balayage with Framing Highlights

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Worried that brown balayage won’t work on Asian hair? Don’t fear: the key to rocking this trend is to keep your brown tones within the caramel colour spectrum.

Because these soft hues are still within the warm colour range, it flatters medium, yellow-based or tanned skin tones without looking harsh or brassy.

Balayage on Short Hair

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A balayage helps add dimension to the hair, no matter its length. So, whether your short hair is curly, straight or has a slight wave, a balayage will work for you.

Balayage on Pixie Cut

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Looking for a way to update your signature pixie cut? A brown balayage could be what you need, as it adds subtle dimension and leaves you with a sunlit back-from-the-beach look.

Reverse Balayage

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Unlike a traditional balayage that’s all about adding lighter tones to the hair, a reverse balayage involves adding depth and dimension with darker shades on lighter hair tones.

Brown to Pink Balayage

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Thinking of going pink A balayage that seamlessly transitions from brown to pink may be the easiest way to sport the statement hue for brunette hair.

Caramel Balayage on Dark Brown Hair

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Don’t be fooled into thinking brown balayage is boring because it is anything but. Case in point: this look that combines soft caramels with brunette balayage. Keep your hair soft and shiny with a little pamper like SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque, a real balm for coloured and treated hair.

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If a caramel shade is still too bold for you, opt for a darker dessert-inspired shade instead: milk chocolate. The colour pairs beautifully with dark ebony hair.

Auburn Balayage on Brown Hair

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Want something a little more daring? Nothing can beat a few well-placed red highlights, paired with hints of brown and ultra-dark roots.

This look screams drama and it will give your mane a whole new lease of life, leaving a lasting impression on all who gaze upon it! Bold beauty lovers, this is one for you.

Blonde Balayage on Brown Hair

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Rose gold tones look just as pretty on short curly hair. We love this look that also features a curly fringe – one of our favourite trends this season.

Balayage on Dark Brown Hair

Brown balayage on natural hair. Credit: indigitalimages.com

This is a great example of how to work soft brown balayage on natural hair. Just remember to keep your roots and face-framing tresses dark, and work the richness and warmth of your chosen hues close to your face, as this will help to compliment Afro-Caribbean skin tones.

Brown Balayage on Very Long Hair

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Why not try working warm brown hues to highlight the layers and textures of a choppy long bob? Taken from the runway, this fab ‘do nails two hair trends at once: beautiful brown balayage and a practical mid-length lob. Sign us up!

Brown Balayage Lob

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The shimmering silver tones in this dark brown to grey balayage are giving us major ice queen vibes. Maintaining darker roots makes it easier for those with naturally darker hair to wear lighter, more ashy tones without looking washed out.

Glossy Dark Brown Balayage

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If you feel like your brunette is looking a little flat, choose subtle warm tones a couple of shades lighter than your base colour. This will help to enhance your current colour and give it a new lease of life.

Editor’s tip: Coloured hair tends to be on the drier side so to keep your lengths looking shiny and healthy, we recommend trying a serum.

Brunette Balayage on Long Hair

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Because balayage is focused on the ends of the hair, it’s the perfect look for those with flowing long locks. Adding interest to the ends stops the hair from looking weighed down and limp and adds shape to the overall look.

Copper Brunette Balayage

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A quick way to make naturally dark hair look interesting? By going just a shade or two lighter than your current hue to get this stunning result.

Cinnamon Swirl Brunette Balayage

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Keep things on the dark side and go for a look that embraces your natural shade. If you’ve got very dark hair, caramel, chocolate and cocoa balayage highlights will look stunning when applied from the mid-lengths down to the ends of your hair.