61 Caramel Highlights on Light and Dark Brown Hair

Caramel highlights are sticking around.

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, ombre or even caramel balayage, which is one of the most sought-out looks around, mostly because it is universally flattering. And, with celebs like Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Alba and Beyoncé as fans, it’s

Want to try this look for yourself, but feeling a little indecisive about which hue to go for? Ahead, see 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 2021.

Soft Caramel Balayage

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.

Short and Sweet Caramel Accents

Credit: Instagram,com/suetyrrellstylist

By strategically placing a few caramel tones around the face, you can instantly refresh your brown hair and brighten up your complexion. Credit: @suetyrrellstylist

Caramel Money Pieces

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.

Soft Highlights

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

Light Brown Caramel 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. Credit: @hairstylebyrosa

Caramel Blonde Ombre on Light Brown 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. Credit: @hairstylebyrosa

Caramel Blonde Ombre on Light Brown Hair

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.

Psst…Copying this tousled hairstyle will allow you to show off your new hue, in the best way possible.

Caramel Melt

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.

True Caramel Brown

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…

Toffee Tones on Dark Hair

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.

’90s Hair

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.

Gorgeous Caramel on Brown Hair

Sofia Vergara’s shade might be the one for you. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

Sofia Vergara’s milk chocolate curls seriously stand out because of the addition of subtle honey caramel tones. To steal her look, make sure you have a curling wand at hand.

Honey and Caramel Waves

Credit: Instagram.com/thecolorconnoisseur

Can’t decide between going light or dark? This bronde colour is the ultimate compromise. We also can’t get over those beachy waves! Credit: @thecolorconnoisseur

Caramel Gloss

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.

Bob With Chunky Pieces

These curls look so playful! Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

To warm up your curls, , ask your stylist to work with your natural brown, incorporating light and dark caramel brown shades to add brightness and dimension.

Sweet Blonde Coils

Caramel highlights grow out beautifully. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

The best thing about caramel highlights? They grow out gracefully, and Jessica Alba’s lived-in mane is a serious case in point.

Caramel Streaks on Dark Brown Hair

Credit: Instagram.com/daniellelouisette

After an eye-catching look? This cool and contrasting mix of dark hair and caramel tones are exactly what you need to achieve your hair goals. Credit: @daniellelouisette

Copper and Caramel Tones

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. Credit: @camilamonrrone

Sexy Caramel Balayage

This is how you take your winter hue to sunnier heights. Credit: Instagram.com/brittsully

We like this hair colour like we like our coffee: simple, dark and sweetened up some caramel syrup. Who else is pinning this look? Credit: @brittsully

Goldrush

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. Credit: @chrisgreenehair

Blended Caramel Macchiato

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. Credit: @sincerelyjules

Cute Babylights

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. Credit: @hairartistrybm

Face-Framing Highlights

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. Credit: @__the_colour_code__

Editor’s tip: Keep your hair in its best condition by using a deep conditioning hair mask at least once a week. Tackling dryness as well as helping your colour stay bright and fresh, we suggest using the Love Beauty And Planet Blooming Strength & Shine 2 Minute Magic Masque

With Amazonian Muru Muru Butter and rose absolute, this miracle masque will help moisturise your coloured hair and also leave it with a healthy-looking gleam.

Warm Caramel Ribbons

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. Credit: @prissyhippiebeautyshop

Fresh 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. Credit: @trichologybyma

Subtle Undertones

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.

Hidden Caramel Tips on Brunette Curls

This curly-haired look is given 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. Credit: @emmachenartistry

Pecan Pie

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. Credit: @remakemxl

Editor’s tip: Give your coloured tresses a major dose of TLC with the TRESemmé Colour Shineplex Serum, which is designed to provide frizz control and leave your mane feeling soft and looking super shiny.

Red to Caramel Colour Melt

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

The shier sister of ombre, 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, it gives the hair a “melted” effect. Credit: @loco1805

Light Ash

Go ashy with lighter caramel blonde tones. Credit: Instagram.com/julianoasmar

Ashy tones are still massively in right now and this lighter ash caramel variation is all you need to work the two trends together. Credit: @julianoasmar

Deep Highlights

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

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. Credit: @beautyfied_by_josie

Autumn Blends

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. Credit: @pk_hair

Piecey Caramel Highlights

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. Credit: @salsalhair

Caramel Swirl

Credit: Instagram.com/jessicascotthair_salon

Who doesn’t want their hair to look good enough to eat? This multi-dimensional hue magically blurs the line between brunette and caramel! Credit: @jessicascotthair_salon