Caramel highlights are an excellent way to add warmth, dimension, and depth to brunette hair. Whether you prefer a subtle, sun-kissed effect or a more noticeable look, there are numerous options available, making caramel highlights a versatile choice. These can range from subtle face-framing highlights to bold balayage styles, suitable for various hair types and lengths.
Key Considerations for Brunette Hairstyles with Caramel Highlights
Hair Type
The placement and effect of caramel highlights can vary based on hair type and texture. For fine hair, subtle highlights can enhance dimension, while thicker hair can handle bolder highlights for a vibrant contrast.
- Straight Hair: Highlights can create a gorgeous sleek and polished effect on straight hair
- Wavy Hair: blended highlights look very effective on wavey hair and beautifully enhance the movement and dimension of waves.
- Curly Hair: Caramel tones add depth and dimension to curly hair, and enhance natural texture
Hair Tone
Caramel shades can range from golden to coppery, choosing the right hue is important and can compliment cool or warm brunette bases.
- Warm Brunettes: Honey, golden or bronze work well with warm undertones
- Cool Brunettes: opt for neutral caramel or ash-toned caramel highlights.
Hair Health
Healthy hair absorbs and retains colour more effectively. Before getting highlights, it’s a good idea to consider a deep conditioning treatment or a trim to prevent dryness and split ends. At Rush, one of our expert stylists will gladly provide a consultation. This includes a professional assessment to determine the best approach for your hair type to achieve optimal results.
Maintenance Level
When choosing which style of highlights you would like, it’s important to consider a style based on your upkeep preferences. For example, caramel highlights can come in different levels of upkeep, such as;
Lower Maintenance Options: Balayage techniques offer lower maintenance options because they allow for natural regrowth and high-contrast highlights, which typically require fewer touch-ups.
Higher Maintenance Options: Bolder contrast highlights, in comparison, may require some more frequent salon trips to maintain vibrancy and reduce visible regrowth, which is often more prominent.
Top 30 Hairstyles for Brunette Hair with Caramel Highlight
1. Coppery Caramel with Thick Lowlights
Description: A warm coppery caramel hue blended with thick lowlights adds depth, as seen on celebrities like Eva Mendes.
Best for: Medium to thicker hair types with a natural wave or curly hair
Styling Tips: Use volumising mousse to define waves, which will enhance the highlights beautifully
2. Light Chocolate and Caramel Strands
Description: Delicate caramel strands on a light chocolate base for a soft natural effect, as seen on celebrities such as Miranda Kerr.
Best for: Fine to medium hair types, works well on both straight and wavy.
Styling Tips: Apply a shine serum to enhance the polished glossy effect.
3. Caramel Balayage with Money Pieces
Description: Hand-painted caramel balayage with face-framing highlights for a trendy high-contrast look. Seen on celebrities such as Beyonce and Hailey Bieber.
Best for: Suitable for all hair types; it is especially effective on longer hair.
Styling Tips: Styling into loose, relaxed waves for maximum effect.
4. Caramelised Walnut Brown Colour
Description: A warm walnut brown base features subtle caramel ribbons, creating a timeless and sophisticated appearance. Seen on celebrities such as Jessica Alba and Jennifer Lopez.
Best for: Medium to thicker hair types.
Styling tips: Regular use of colour-safe shampoos to maintain the look.
5. Golden Caramel Balayage
Description: Sun-kissed golden caramel balayage that gives a radiant, natural effect. Seen on celebrities such as Gigi Hadid.
Best for: Medium to long or straight hair.
Styling tips: Use a toning shampoo to maintain the golden hue.
6. Caramel Blonde Highlighting
Description: A blend of caramel and blonde highlights that provide a soft and luminous effect. Seen on celebrities such as Blake lively.
Best for: Medium to long and wavey hair.
Styling tips: Use a toning shampoo to maintain the golden-blonde hue to ensure vibrancy.
7. Partial Highlights
Description: Delicate caramel highlights that are typically placed around the crown for a subtle yet impactful enhancement. Seen on celebrities such as Kendall Jenner and Olivia Munn.
Best for: Works on pretty much all hair lengths and textures! A great option if your hair is on the finer/shorter side.
Styling Tips: Perfect for those looking for a low-maintenance option as partial highlights require less trips to the salon.
8. Metallic Caramel-Brown
Description: A modern take on caramel brown, it features a metallic sheen for a gorgeous light-reflective finish.
Best For: Medium to thick, and is effective in both straight and wavy hair.
Styling Tips: Consider a hair glossing treatment to enhance the metallic effect.
9. Caramelised Reddish Brown Hair
Description: A gorgeous blend of caramel and auburn hue for a striking yet natural look. Seen on celebrities such as Emma Stone and Isla Fisher.
Best for: Fair to medium skin tones but works with most hair types/length.
Styling tips: Use a colour-safe mask to keep the red tones looking vibrant.
10. Warm Babylights
Description: Ultra-fine caramel baby lights create a soft sun-kissed effect. Seen on celebrities such as Margot Robbie.
Best for: A great option for finer hair types.
Styling tips: Avoid excessive hair washing to maintain the delicate lightness.
11. Caramel and Chocolate Blend
Description: A seamless fusion of rich chocolate and caramel tones which offers lots of depth and warmth. Seen on celebrities such as Mila Kunis and Priyanka Chopra.
Best for: Thicker hair types with natural waves.
Styling tips: Use a styling cream to enhance with loose, tousled curls to enhance dimension.
12. Dark Caramel Balayage
Description: Deep caramel tones hand-painted onto a dark brunette base for natural grow-outs seen on Celebrities: such as Vanessa Hudgens and Zendaya.
Best for: Darker haired brunettes seeking low-maintenance highlights.
Styling Tip: Use a nourishing oil to enhance shine.
13. High-Contrast Highlights
Description: Bold caramel streaks for a dramatic contrast against dark brunette hair seen on Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Dua Lipa.
Best for: Thick, straight hair with a high-impact styling.
Styling Tip: Style with a sleek blowout to emphasise contrast.
14. Black Chocolate with Caramel Balayage
Description: A rich black-chocolate base with subtle caramel ribbons for soft warmth. Seen Celebrities such as Rihanna, Salma Hayek.
Best for: Long, layered hair
Styling Tip: Opt for balayage touch-ups every 3–4 months.
15. Caramel Brushlights
Description: Delicate, hand-painted caramel streaks mimicking natural sun exposure seen on Celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston.
Best for: Medium-length hair.
Styling Tip: Use a lightweight wave spray for movement.
16. Caramel Ombre Highlights
Description: A smooth transition from dark brunette roots to caramel-toned ends. Seen on celebrities such as Selena Gomez.
Best for: All hair types, particularly long layers.
Styling Tip: Keep ends moisturised with deep-conditioning treatments.
17. Caramel Streaks
Description: Defined caramel streaks throughout the hair for a striped, dimensional effect seen on celebrities such as Cindy Crawford.
Best for: Medium to thick hair.
Styling Tip: Blow-dry with a round brush for lots of volume to enhance.
18. Chocolate Pecan and Caramel
Description: A gorgeous blend of deep chocolate brown, caramel, and pecan hues with lots of depth and richness seen on celebrities such as Kate Beckinsale and Meghan Markle.
Best for: Medium to long wavy or curly hair.
Styling Tip: Apply a shine serum for a glossy effect.
19. Caramel-Copper Balayage
Description: A mix of caramel and copper tones, giving the hair a fiery, autumnal glow seen on celebrities such as Megan Fox.
Best for: Warm skin tones and wavy hair.
Styling Tip: Use a red-enhancing shampoo to maintain vibrancy.
20. Caramel Face-Framing
Description: Strategic caramel highlights around the face for a brightening effect seen on celebrities such as Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid.
Best for: All hair types and lengths.
Styling Tip: Style with soft waves for a seamless blend.
21. Contrasting Caramel Money Pieces
Description: Bold face-framing caramel highlights for a high-impact look. seen on celebrities such as Beyoncé and Kylie Jenner.
Best for: Dark brunettes looking for bold contrast.
Styling Tip: Keep the contrast vibrant with toning treatments.
22. Light Caramel and Blonde Balayage
Description: A blended mix of caramel and blonde hues for a naturally sunlit effect. Seen on celebrities such as Sofia Richie.
Best for: Medium to long hair.
Styling Tip: Protect against brassiness with a purple shampoo.
23. Caramel Highlights with Lowlights
Description: A combination of caramel highlights and darker lowlights for a multi-dimensional finish seen on celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Garner.
Best for: Medium-thickness hair.
Styling Tip: Style with voluminous curls to show off the contrast.
24. Toasted Caramel Shade
Description: A soft, neutral caramel tone with a touch of warmth seen on celebrities such as Keira Knightly.
Best for: Tends to work on most hair types.
Styling Tip: Apply a leave-in conditioner to keep hair hydrated and looking healthy.
25. Caramelised Golden Brown Mane
Description: A luxurious golden-brown base with caramel undertones for rich depth. Seen on celebrities such as Emilia Clarke.
Best for: Thicker, long hair.
Styling Tip: Consider a hair glossing treatment to ramp up the shine and the luxury vibe.
26. Brunette Afro Caramel Money Pieces
Description: Defined caramel highlights on curly/Afro-textured hair for a bold contrast seen on celebrities such as Tracee Ellis Ross and Yara Shahidi.
Best for: Coily and curly hair full of texture.
Styling Tip: Use a styling curl cream for definition.
27. Front Caramel Ribbon Highlights
Description: Soft caramel ribbons at the front of the hair to enhance facial features. Seen on celebrities such as Kaia Gerber.
Best for: Medium to long hair.
Styling Tip: Blow-dry with a paddle brush for a sleek finish.
28. Partial Caramel Front Highlights
Description: Subtle caramel highlights are placed only at the front for a natural effect. Seen on celebrities such as Olivia Palermo.
Best for: Medium-length straight or wavy hair.
Styling Tip: Pair with soft waves for effortless blending.
29. Golden Copper Balayage
Description: A golden-copper hue blended seamlessly for a radiant effect. Seen on celebrities such as Jessica Chastain.
Best for: Works well on fair, medium and olive skin tones.
Styling Tip: Enhance the glow with colour-boosting treatments.
30. Dimensional Chocolate Copper
Description: A deep chocolate base with subtle copper caramel hints for richness. Seen on celebrities such as Penélope Cruz.
Best for: Medium to thick wavy hair.
Styling Tip: Maintain with weekly hydration masks to enhance the results.
Tips for Maintaining Caramel Highlights
Caramel highlights can bring warmth, depth, and dimension to brunette hair, but proper maintenance is crucial to keep them looking fresh and vibrant. Without the right care, highlights may fade, become brassy, or lose their glossy finish. Whether you’ve chosen a subtle balayage or bold, high-contrast highlights, following an appropriate haircare routine will help preserve the health and vibrancy longer.
Here are our top tips for maintaining caramel highlights and keeping your hair healthy.
Use Colour-Safe Products
Using the right products is key to prolonging the vibrancy of caramel highlights.
Choose a sulphate-free shampoo: Harsh ingredients in regular shampoos can strip hair of moisture and cause colour fade. Opt for a sulphate-free, colour-protecting shampoo to gently cleanse while preserving your highlights.
Use deep-conditioning treatments: Lightened hair tends to be drier, so using a weekly deep-conditioning mask will keep strands soft and hydrated.
Try a toning product: Caramel tones can become brassy over time. A purple or blue shampoo (used sparingly) can help neutralise unwanted orange or yellow undertones and keep the caramel shade looking fresh.
Avoid Excessive Heat Styling
Frequent heat styling can cause caramel highlights to lose their vibrancy and become dry or brittle.
Always use a heat protectant: Before using a curling iron, flat iron, or blow dryer, apply a heat protectant spray or serum to prevent damage and colour fading.
Lower the heat setting: Use medium to low heat when styling to avoid burning or dulling the caramel tones.
Embrace heat-free styling options: Try braiding your hair overnight or natural waves, or use rollers to create curls without heat.
Regular Trims and Touch-Ups
Keeping your hair in top condition is essential for maintaining the structure and brightness of your highlights.
Schedule regular trims: Trim your hair every 6–8 weeks to remove split ends and keep your hair looking healthy.
Book colour touch-ups: If you have traditional highlights, a refresh every 6–8 weeks will maintain their vibrancy. For a balayage, every 3–4 months is usually enough between touch-up session sessions.
Use gloss treatments: A gloss treatment at the salon can restore shine and enhance hues, keeping it fresh between appointments.
Book Your Caramel Highlight Appointment at Rush
Ready to refresh your look with stunning caramel highlights? Our expert colourists and stylists at Rush are here to help you achieve the perfect blend of warmth and dimension for your brunette hair. Book your caramel highlights today at your nearest Rush Salon
FAQ’s
What’s the difference between caramel balayage and highlights?
Caramel balayage is a hand-painted technique that creates a natural, blended effect, while highlights typically involve foils to achieve more defined streaks. Balayage requires less maintenance as it grows out seamlessly.
There are lots of options! Caramel, honey, toffee, and bronze highlights all complement brunette hair beautifully. The best choice depends on your skin tone and natural hair colour.
Caramel brown hair flatters warm, neutral, and olive skin tones although it is an extremely versatile shade. If you have a cool complexion, ashy caramel shades can balance your look beautifully.
Yes! Caramel highlights on black hair create a stunning contrast. A professional colourist can use balayage or foil highlights to achieve a seamless blend.
Traditional highlights may need a touch-up every 6–8 weeks, while balayage or ombré can last 3–4 months before requiring maintenance.
Are Caramel Highlights low maintenance?
The maintenance level depends on the technique used. Balayage caramel highlights are lower maintenance, as they blend naturally with the roots and grow out seamlessly. Traditional foil highlights, especially those placed close to the roots, require more frequent touch-ups (every 6–8 weeks) to maintain their vibrancy.