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If you have dark brown hair and are itching for a change, these dark brown balayage hair color ideas are here to inspire your next salon visit.
What is balayage?
Balayage is a hair coloring technique in which color is hand-painted onto sections of hair to create a natural gradient effect and a blend of shades. Like traditional highlights but better since it is much more natural-looking.
Read on to discover your perfect blend of rich, chocolatey hues and subtle, sun-kissed highlights that will give your locks stunning dimension and a fresh new look!
Table of Contents
1. Dark Pecan Brown with Golden Blonde Balayage
Warm golden streaks enhance the dark pecan brown base, offering beautiful dimension. It’s a natural transition that brings warmth to the complexion. Low maintenance, yet effortlessly delivers that sun-kissed flair.
2. Mahogany Brown with Honey Balayage
Deep mahogany melts into honey blonde highlights, providing a rich contrast. This combo adds volume visually, perfect for hair that tends to fall flat. The honey tones catch the light, adding dimension and movement.
3. Dark Brown Hair with Light Brunette Balayage
Light brunette accents thread through dark brown hair for a subtle gradient. It’s perfect for you if you want to give a gentle nod to dimension without going completely light.
4. Espresso Brown with Honey Blonde Balayage
Honey blonde balayage pops against the espresso brown base. It frames the face and accentuates your features with its contrasting tones. This style offers a great way to experiment with lighter shades while keeping roots dark for easier upkeep.
5. Face-Framing Blonde Balayage on Dark Brown Hair
Blonde highlights around the face illuminate and define your features. It’s an instant brightener for the face, drawing attention to your eyes and smile. The strategic placement means touch-ups are less frequent, keeping your hair healthier for longer.
6. Chocolate Brown with Bronze Balayage Highlights
Ribbons of bronze shine through chocolate brown hair, catching the light with every turn. A great choice for a revitalized look that retains natural depth. Bonus: Bronze tones can give the illusion of thicker strands.
7. Dark Brown with Beige Blonde Balayage
You can’t go wrong with this stunning combination of dark brown and beige blonde balayage. The rich, warm tones of the dark brown create depth and dimension, while the soft, creamy, beige blonde adds a touch of lightness and brightness to the look.
8. Dark Brown with Honey Blonde Balayage
For a more golden and sun-kissed look, consider adding honey-blonde balayage to your dark brown hair. The warm, caramel tones of the honey blonde complement the deep, chocolatey brown base, giving you a gorgeous blend of colors. This is an excellent choice for women with warm undertones in their skin.
9. Deep Brown with Mocha Balayage Highlights
If you’re looking for a subtle yet stunning hair color, deep brown with mocha balayage highlights is the perfect choice. The dark base creates a dramatic backdrop for the soft, warm mocha highlights to shine through. Very understated!
10. Dark Pecan Brown with Wheat Balayage Highlights
The deep, rich tones of the pecan brown provide a beautiful base for the light, creamy wheat highlights to stand out. This balayage is perfect for women with warm undertones in their skin and can be customized to add more or less caramel, depending on your preference.
11. Brown Black Hair with Honey Brown Balayage
Looking for a way to add warmth and depth to your brown-black hair? Balayage streaks of honey offer a vibrant contrast. Its subtle, hand-painted highlights will give your locks a sun-kissed glow without being too drastic of a change.
12. Face-Framing Blonde Balayage on Dark Brown Hair
Blonde balayage around the face acts like a highlighter, accentuating your features. This style works wonders in illuminating your complexion. The placement also means less root maintenance, which is always a win.
13. Dark Truffle Brown with Champagne Balayage
Champagne tones add a touch of luxury to the dark truffle base. The champagne highlights add a touch of warmth and dimension to your dark brown hair, creating a beautiful contrast. It’s an elegant choice that adds softness and shine.
14. Chocolate Brown with Golden Blonde Balayage Highlights
Golden blonde highlights intertwine with chocolate brown for a rich, dimensional look. You’ll love how the golden blonde highlights complement your dark brown hair, giving it a warm and sun-kissed glow.
15. Dark Chocolate with Chestnut Balayage
Chestnut hues weaved into dark chocolate hair create a lush, multi-dimensional look. It’s perfect for adding depth and complexity to your hair. These subtle balayage highlights are also great for a low-maintenance color option that doesn’t sacrifice style.
16. Dark Chocolate with Rose Gold Balayage
Rose gold tones add a feminine touch to the dark chocolate shade, offering a unique color blend. A perfect unconventional shade combo that will bring some warmth to your look without being too bold.
17. Dark Brown with Golden Brown Balayage
This hair color is like a summer breeze for your hair, infusing light golden brown shades into darker tones. This warm and inviting look is perfect for women with olive or warm skin tones.
18. Brown Black Hair with Chocolate Balayage
Chocolate balayage softens the intensity of brown black hair with its creamy tones. It’s a sophisticated choice that adds a luxurious twist. The chocolate tones are excellent for adding depth and richness. Love!
19. Dark Brown Hair with Light Blonde Balayage
If you have long dark brown hair, adding light blonde balayage can give your locks a stunning brightening boost. The gradient effect is natural, creating a sun-kissed finish that melds the two contrasting shades in a striking way.
20. Chocolate Brown with Caramel Balayage Highlights
Caramel highlights mingle with chocolate brown for a delectably smooth transition. The caramel tones give your hair a glossy, healthy-looking sheen. This combination is also a smart way to add movement and dimension to your hair, making it appear more voluminous.
21. Dark Brown with Honey Balayage Highlights
A stacked bob gets a glow-up with golden honey highlights, adding texture and depth. This style is ideal for a modern, edgy look. This look is perfect for adding some texture and interest to short hair.
22. Cappuccino Brown with Copper Balayage
Copper streaks through cappuccino brown bring out a vibrant, warm shade. This color scheme gives your hair a rich, dimensional look, perfect for any season. The copper highlights can really make your facial features pop.
23. Dark Brown with Face-Framing Caramel Balayage
Caramel balayage around the face softens the deep base, brightening up your look. This style is a chic way to add lightness around the face without a complete color overhaul.
24. Dark Mahogany with Cinnamon Spice Balayage
Cinnamon spice balayage warms up dark mahogany brown, giving it an autumnal flair. This combination is like a cozy sweater for your hair, perfect for adding a subtle touch of color. The warm tones can also make your hair look healthier and more vibrant.
25. Dark Brown with Mahogany Brown Balayage
Mahogany brown balayage on dark hair adds a subtle hint of refined color. It’s an excellent choice for enhancing natural brown hues without going too bold. This understated technique can also help disguise greys if you’re looking for coverage that’s not too over the top.
26. Deep Brown with Chocolate Balayage
Chocolate balayage gives deep brown hair dimension, seamlessly blended for a natural look. This style keeps things spicy without overpowering your natural hue.
27. Dark Chocolate with Caramel Balayage
Caramel balayage swirled into dark chocolate locks is a match made in heaven, adding delicious depth. It makes those waves pop, showcasing every curl and twist. This combo is the pick-me-up your hair needs!
28. Dark Chestnut with Red Balayage Highlights
Looking for bold balayage highlights? Vibrant red streaks through dark chestnut hair make a stunning statement, bringing a fiery edge to your look. This color play is perfect for expressing your personality and adding warmth to your style.
29. Dark Chocolate Brown with Copper Balayage
Copper balayage melts into deep chocolate brown hair like a penny in the sun, casting a warm glow. This color choice is a perfect shade for autumn.
30. Cinnamon Brown with Auburn Balayage
Auburn balayage over cinnamon brown creates a spicy, vibrant cascade of color. The reddish-brown highlights create a stunning contrast against the dark base, making it a rich, eye-catching look.
31. Dark Brown with Toffee Balayage
Toffee balayage ribbons through short dark brown hair, providing a glossy, sun-kissed finish. This sweet touch is perfect for softening dark shades and adding movement. It’s a great choice for an understated look.
32. Rich Deep Coffee Brown with Caramel Swirl Balayage
This look is all about soft, smooth caramel tones flowing through deep, rich coffee-brown hair. The caramel streaks swirl delicately, adding movement and shine to the style. The rich base color boosts the contrast, giving the caramel strands extra vibrancy.
33. Dark Chocolate Brown with Caramel Balayage
This combination of dark chocolate brown paired with caramel highlights creates an indulgent and luxurious look. The warm caramel tones bring out a natural glow in the hair, making it look thicker and more voluminous. The chocolate brown base remains understated yet rich, giving it that perfect balance.
34. Espresso Brown with Chestnut Balayage
This style features a stunning contrast between a deep espresso brown and rich chestnut balayage. The chestnut tones add warmth and subtle radiance, creating an inviting and sophisticated look. A tip for maintaining this look is to use a color-protecting shampoo to ensure the chestnut shades remain vibrant and a texture spray to enhance the waves.
35. Espresso Brown with Ash Brown Balayage
A deep espresso brown shade is paired with cool-toned ash brown balayage that lightens the look without adding too much warmth, giving it a more understated and elegant vibe. The two shades seamlessly blend, offering dimension without being too bold.
36. Mahogany Brown with Butterscotch Ribbons
Mahogany brown and butterscotch highlights make for a rich, vibrant combination that brings warmth and shine to the hair. The butterscotch tones are delicately placed, adding depth and movement without overpowering the luscious mahogany base. Use a styling or texturizing cream to style loose waves, which will showcase the contrasting shades.
37. Dark Chocolate Brown with Toffee Balayage Highlights
This long layered hairstyle on thick hair has a delicious blend of dark chocolate brown and toffee-colored balayage highlights. The toffee streaks add warmth and lightness, perfectly offsetting the richness of the dark base. To maintain this gorgeous style, consider using a color-preserving shampoo and conditioner.
38. Deep Chocolate Brown with Auburn Accents
Deep chocolate brown hair is given a stunning boost with subtle auburn accents in this short hair look. The auburn tones add a soft glow and warmth, making the hair look fuller and more dimensional. The dark brown base shade provides a striking contrast, while the auburn accents shimmer under the light.
39. Dark Chestnut Brown with Chestnut Brown Balayage
A dark chestnut brown base combined with chestnut balayage creates a harmonious, earthy vibe. The chestnut balayage adds just the right amount of lightness. The highlights make the hair look brighter and lighter without straying too far from the natural base.
40. Honey-Dipped Ends on a Dark Chocolate Base
This beautiful style features rich dark chocolate brown hair with honey-dipped ends that bring a touch of brightness and warmth. The honey-toned balayage adds a golden glow to the dark base, making it look glossy and healthy. The contrast between the two shades is stunning yet soft, creating a sun-brightened effect.
41. Cinnamon Spice Balayage on Warm Dark Brown Hair
Cinnamon spice balayage is the perfect accent for warm dark brown hair, adding a spicy, fiery touch to an otherwise deep base. The cinnamon tones bring out a rich vibrancy that feels cozy and alluring. Use a lightweight texturizing spray and a large barrel curling iron to create soft curls that really let the cinnamon spice shade shine through.