55 Looks to add Caramel Highlights to Brown Hair

Caramel highlights are warm-toned, golden highlights that can range from blonde to amber and even darker, chestnutty tones, depending on your tastes. Just like caramel syrup, this brightening hue is the perfect colour to try when you want to transition your hair from dark to light or vice versa.

This honeyed-brown can be achieved all over, with highlights, ombré or even caramel balayage, which is one of the most sought-out looks around, mostly because it is universally flattering.

Do want to try this look for yourself, but are feeling a little indecisive about which hue to go for? We’ve rounded up our fave examples of caramel highlights on light and dark brown hair. There’s bound to be a look here you’ll want to try now or save for your lookbook.

Look at those caramel waves. Credit: Instagram.com/diogoguerrahairstylist

With these dazzling highlights, your dark locks will be given an instant, summery refresh. Lock in that extra glow with Dove Daily Moisture Shampoo, created to protect your hair from daily tear while keeping it healthy and shiny.

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Dark chocolate hair with tawny highlights

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Editor’s tip: Remember to use a wash and care system specifically formulated for dyed hair. We’re currently fawning over the TRESemmé Colour Revitalise Shampoo and Conditioner, as it helps keep coloured hair healthy-looking, all while helping maintain your hue’s vibrancy.

Woman with short bob with caramel accents

Woman with dark brown hair with golden blonde highlights around face-framing

Woman with dark brown hair with grown out caramel highlights

Are we dreaming? Utter perfection. Credit: Instagram.com/razzohaircare

In this example, caramel teams perfectly with long, Rapunzel-worthy hair. Protect your mane from colour touch ups with SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo, created to revitalise and nourish your hear, while protecting them from daily stressors.

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Chrissy Teigen with loose glamorous long wavy dark brown hair with subtle caramel highlights

Chrissy Teigen is the queen of caramel hair. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

In this example, Chrissy Teigen has subtly brightened up her dark brown hair with caramel babylights. We suspect she’s had them palm painted, as they look beautifully seamless.

Josie Redmond with side-swept golden caramel blonde hair, wearing black low cut top on the red carpet

Move over, Goldilocks! Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

This is what happens when you take a classic caramel up a few notches! Keeping her base caramel, Josie Redmond moves her natural light brown hair closer to blonde with the addition of dazzling golden tones.

Look at that hair! Credit: Instagram.com/hairstylebyrosa

In this example, this beauty’s light brown base is brightened up with some golden caramel tones. This colour is perfect for those who want to later transition to full blonde.

Caramel Blonde Ombré on Light Brown Hair

Karrueche Tran on the red carpet with long wavy dark brown and honey caramel hair, wearing leopard print with nude jacket on the red carpet

Honey caramel will become your new obsession. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

Want glowing skin? Take a cue from Karruenche Tran and keep your roots dark, then introduce a gorgeous blend of light and dark blonde caramel tones through your mid-lengths and ends.

Jennifer Lopez on the red carpet with long, sleek dark to light caramel hair, wearing glittery outfit on the red carpet

Jennifer Lopez is another caramel hair devotee to watch. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

The boldest way to upgrade natural brown hair is with a caramel colour melt, like Jennifer Lopez’. This method makes your base colour looks like it is ‘melting’ into the other tones in your hair.

Taylor Hill on the red carpet with long sleek dark brown hair with shiny caramel highlights, wearing a black satin top

Chocolate brown hair with caramel highlights

Gisele Bundchen with long chestnut brown hair with caramel highlights in it, wearing satin dress on the red carpet

This colour has got the supermodel seal of approval. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

Gisele Bündchen’s strategically placed caramel highlights run down the sides of her supermodel waves, perfectly framing her face and drawing attention to her facial features. If you want the same effect, you know what to do…

Paris Jackson on the red carpet with tawny caramel hair swept to the side and styled into retro curls, wearing orange top

This tawny shade is perfect for year-round wear. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

What’s not to love about Paris Jackson’s toffee brown hair with caramel highlights? Teaming the shade with glamorous, side-swept curls give this caramel hair colour extra retro charm.

Behati Prinsloo with her ashy caramel blonde hair styled into a romantic updo, wearing leopard print on the red carpet

This will become your favourite date night hairstyle. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

Iconic ’90s supermodels like Cindy Crawford and Laetitia Casta made caramel highlights part of their signature look, so it’s no surprise that modern-day models are doing the same.

Take Behati Prinsloo for example, she gives her dark brown hair a ’90s makeover with these soft, sun-kissed caramel highlights.

Caramel gloss vibes, 24/7. Credit: Instagram.com/celina_wasmer_intercoiffure

If you’re a natural brunette wanting to test out the caramel waters, getting a semi-permanent glossing treatment is the way forward. This will temporarily add a gorgeous glaze to your hair and cause less damage overall.

Cleo Wade with long naturally curly bob with caramel and blonde highlights in it, wearing a patterned top on the red carpet

Jessica Biel with ash brown hair with sandy caramel hair, wearing white top on the red carpet

Jessica Alba with long dark brown hair with grown out caramel highlights

Jasmine Tookes with shoulder-length dark hair with caramel highlights in it on the red carpet

Caramel highlights can work for all skin tones. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

This skin-flattering colour combo is destined for those of you with really dark brown hair. The gold-fleck caramel streaks in it give Jasmine Tookes’ medium-length mane an endless summery feel.

Caramel hair: Woman with tousled dark brown hair with caramel highlights, wearing white Bardot top outside

Because who doesn’t want hair like a beach babe? Credit: Instagram.com/camilamonrrone

On the topic of summer, this beauty proves that caramel hair is the secret to beach babe-worthy hair. Whether you’re hitting the beach or not, you’ll need a good sea salt spray to mimic these tousled waves.

Woman with medium-length dark brown hair with caramel highlights, styled into loose curls wearing yellow top and posing outside

Goldrush. Credit: Instagram.com/chrisgreenehair

This warmed-up golden mane is more about bringing a stylish dimension to chocolate tresses. By copying this highlight pattern, you won’t need to worry about the colour being too high maintenance.

Showing off your caramel highlights will be easy. Credit: Instagram.com/sincerelyjules

As if we need another reason to love this colour combo. Whether it’s a half-up, half-down updo or a ponytail with hair slides, your caramel hair colour will make any hairstyle look interesting.

Babylights are a finer, more delicate form of highlights. Credit: Instagram.com/hairartistrybm

Looking for a simple way to give your mane an uplifting change? Then hand-painted caramel babylights are a great way to switch up your hair while maintaining your base colour. These fine caramel highlights add warmth and depth to darker tones and look natural.

Face-framing highlights will always look good. Credit: Instagram.com/__the_colour_code__

The placement of highlights can have more of an effect than you might think. If you have a long face, add highlights around your hairline to frame and accentuate your facial features, just like this lovely lady.

Her dark brown hair with caramel highlights is given a fresh update with the addition of blonder pieces at the front.

Warm-up your complexion with fiery red tones. Credit: Instagram.com/prissyhippiebeautyshop

Wondering if a caramel hair colour will suit your skin tone? Getting ribbons of warm caramel highlights done throughout your mane is an ideal way for those with mid-tan complexions to try this flattering shade.

Woman with fresh brown highlights and balayage

Get the most natural results with a blend of balayage and highlights. Credit: Instagram.com/trichologybyma

Balayage hair is just like traditional highlights, except they start further down from the roots and are less uniform than classic highlights. Instead, your stylist will place the colour from approximately a quarter or mid-way down the hair shaft, depending on your desired finish.

This colour technique helps to achieve brown hair with caramel highlights in a more low-maintenance way, as regrowth is less of an issue.

Beyonce with long straight caramel brown hair with blonde highlights, wearing rose gold dress on the red carpet

This caramel brown hair colour is brightened up with some highlights. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

New to colouring your hair or just prefer a more understated style? With caramel brown hair at the tips, this soft and subtle colour shows that sometimes you don’t need to go wild with the colour to make a big difference.

model with curly brown hair with very subtle blonde highlights at the tips

This curly-haired look is giving us serious hair envy! Credit: Instagram.com/emmachenartistry

How fantastic does this light dip-dye look on curly hair? Pretty amazing we think. This warm brown hue has only slightly been lightened at the very tips, giving a natural sun-kissed effect that seriously freshens up this curly ‘do.

Make your straight hair shine. Credit: Instagram.com/remakemxl/

Looking for a way to add a little more pizzazz to straight hair? Caramel highlights will do just the trick, taking your colour from flat to fab without you even needing to style it.

Caramel highlights don’t just work with brunettes, they pair wonderfully with red hair too. Credit: Instagram.com/loco1805

The shier sister of ombré, colour melting is a softer take on the graduated colour look. Cutting out any harsh lines so that one colour flows seamlessly into the other, gives the hair a “melted” effect.

Add vibrancy to ultra-dark strands with multi-dimensional highlights. Credit: Instagram.com/beautyfied_by_josier

This rich hue is great for the brunette who loves their colour but wants to give it a new lease of life. As you can see here, curling your hair will help to bring out the different tones running through the lengths.

Falling leaves and autumnal hair hues. Credit: Instagram.com/pk_hair

Thinking of going a bit darker as we head into A/W? This blend of rust and golden caramel highlights creates an earthy, autumnal feel that’s perfect for transitioning through the seasons in style.

If you crave volume, this colour can help you achieve it. Credit: Instagram.com/salsalhair

You’ve got the blunt cut bob everyone’s talking about, but now what? If you still want a way to fake volume, try getting piece-y caramel highlights done throughout your hair, like this.