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49 Best Brown Hair With Highlights Ideas to Copy ASAP

If you've been craving a color upgrade, find your next look here.

By Rebecca Norris
sandra bullock attends the 77th golden globes awards press room at the beverly hilton hotel on january 05, 2020 in beverly hills, california
David Crotty//Getty Images

Many people would have you believe that blondes have more fun, but those people clearly haven't seen how stunning dark brown hair with highlights can be. When you mix classic brunette shades with ribbons of sandy blonde, coppery brown, or hints of red, you have yourself a mane masterpiece that simply can't be beat. It's also an incredibly versatile look: Depending on how many highlights you add to your brown base, your end result could look more blonde, red, or black.

If you're not quite sold on the whole brunette color thing, keep clicking: We scoured the web for celebrities who have flawlessly rocked the look. Ahead, you'll discover dozens of ways to tailor brunette hair for your skin tone and color preference. Craving a pop of bright color? You'll love Mariska Hargitay's sun-kissed ombré. Prefer a more sultry style? Jenna Dewan's ash-brown highlights will make you want to call your colorist. And if you're thinking about playing with reds, get ready to swoon over Emma Watson's copper accents.

So, what are you waiting for? By the end of this article, you could very well find your new beauty statement.

1

Warm Amber

mandy moore brown hair with highlights
Frazer Harrison//Getty Images

Rich and shiny, Mandy Moore's lob brings images of amber to mind. And with dark brown ends that light, her updos will only look even more dimensional.

2

Mocha Brown

jessica biel brown hair with highlights
Rachel Luna//Getty Images

Jessica Biel's highlights might be understated, but they're incredibly effective: Look closely, and you'll notice that her mocha brown mane has warmer, light-catching ends.

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3

Caramel Babylights

oprah winfrey brown hair with highlights
NBC //Getty Images

You don't need to get highlights all over your head to create eye-catching color. Here, Oprah shows off how a few lighter face-framing strands can transform your whole look.

4

Subtle Chestnut Highlights

ashley graham brown hair with highlights
Jamie McCarthy//Getty Images

Ashley Graham's color is so subtle that you might think it's just light playing tricks on your eyes. To copy her natural-looking shine, ask your stylist for balayage highlights one to two shades lighter than your base color.

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5

Rich Balayage

anne hathaway brown hair with highlights
George Pimentel//Getty Images

Here, Anne Hathaway flaunts a rich brown hair color that's the product of expertly-painted balayage highlights.

6

Toffee Fade

chrissy teigen brown hair with highlights
Steve Granitz//Getty Images

Chrissy Teigen's warm hair color is swoon-worthy. We love the natural-looking fade from deep-brown roots to caramel-blonde ends.

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7

Cocoa Caramel Swirl

chrissy metz brown hair with highlights
Rachel Luna//Getty Images

If you prefer a multi-dimensional hair color over chunky-looking highlights, check out Chrissy Metz's 'do. The This Is Us actress's brown hair is the perfect option for anyone hoping for a lower-maintenance look.

8

Black-to-Brown

lucy liu brown hair with highlights
Todd Williamson//Getty Images

Lucy Liu's ultra-dark brown hair verges on the edge of black. By adding warm brown highlights into the mix, she shows how stunning it can look to add a little dimension to sultry strands.

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9

Subtle Ombré

sandra bullock brown hair with highlights
Steve Granitz//Getty Images

Dig high contrast but can't get on board with high-maintenance hair colors? Sandra Bullock's subtle ombré will inspire you to make a hair appointment ASAP.

10

Sun-Kissed Ombré

mariska hargitay brown hair with highlights
Roy Rochlin //Getty Images

Mariska Hargitay always looks naturally stunning. And her sun-kissed brown hair is no exception. The trick to copping the SVU star's look is to ask your stylist for balayage babylights.

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11

Espresso Brown

priyanka chopra brown hair with highlights
Steve Granitz//Getty Images

A subtle touch of warmth will transform any dark hair into a rich espresso hue. Just look at Priyanka Chopra's swoon-worthy 'do.

12

Chestnut Fade

melissa mccarthy brown hair with highlights
NBC//Getty Images

Go red without fully ditching your brunette roots by copying Melissa McCarthy's chestnut fade. To keep the color looking its best, be sure to use a color-protector like NatureLab Tokyo's Shine Oil Mist.

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13

Sunny Highlights

jennifer garner brown hair with highlights
Steve Granitz//Getty Images

Accentuate the warm tones in your complexion by adding a few blonde highlights into the mix. Be sure to add a purple shampoo to your routine to keep your brown hair from turning brassy over time.

14

Rich Babylights

selena gomez brown hair with highlights
Steve Granitz//Getty Images

We love how Selena Gomez confines the highlights in her brown hair to her ends and ends alone. By requesting babylights a few shades lighter than your base color, you'll be able to copy the singer's style.

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15

Dark Chestnut

winona ryder brown hair with highlights
Rachel Luna //Getty Images

Sometimes creating a head-turning hair color is as simple as employing a few chestnut highlights to mimic the look of sun reflecting off of stands. Case in point: Winona Ryder's dark brown waves.

16

Cappuccino Blend

rose byrne brown hair with highlights
Daniel Zuchnik//Getty Images

For those of you who prefer slightly chunkier highlights, Rose Byrne's brown hair is here to inspire. With dark roots and warm blonde highlights throughout, we're getting delicious cappuccino vibes.

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17

Copper Accents

emma watson brown hair with highlights
Dia Dipasupil//Getty Images

Can't decide between brown and red hair? You don't have to if you copy Emma Watson's gorgeous copper-lit locks.

18

Red Velvet

issa rae brown hair with highlights
Michael Loccisano//Getty Images

Issa Rae's red-tinted mane makes us heart-eyed. To really play-up this look, keep curls ultra-hydrated and defined with a styling cream like Hair Flair's DEFINE Defining Cream.

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19

Brown Cinnamon

ashley benson brown hair with highlights
Pascal Le Segretain//Getty Images

Upon first glance, Ashley Benson's brown hair might look like a single shade, but look closer and you'll notice subtle cinnamon highlights that give it a spicy finish we can't stop staring at.

20

Warm Chestnut

marisa tomei brown hair with highlights
Bruce Glikas//Getty Images

Speaking of cinnamon, chestnut highlights are another way to incorporate red tones into your dark brown hair. Maris Tomei shows us how it's done.

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sandra bullock attends the 77th golden globes awards press room at the beverly hilton hotel on january 05, 2020 in beverly hills, california
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