The arrival of fall means it’s time to transition your hair color from bright summer highlights to warmer and richer tones.
For brunettes, autumn is an ideal season to add dimension and bring out the beauty of your dark locks.
Highlights not only provide a fresh update to your look, but can also accentuate your eye color, complexion and natural hair color.
When considering which fall highlights to get, it’s important to take into account your natural hair color and complexion.
Cool-toned brunettes look beautiful with ash brown babylights while warm complexions are complemented by golden highlights.
Your hair’s texture also impacts how highlights will look – soft buttery hues work well on straight hair while wavy and curly manes can hold up to bold, contrasting colors.
And don’t be afraid to add more than one shade for extra depth and dimension!
To help inspire your fall hair color transformation, here are 13 gorgeous highlights ideas for brunettes this autumn.
Bronde Bombshell
Nothing exudes warm, beachy vibes quite like bronde – that perfect blend of brown and blonde tones.
One of the biggest hair color trends this fall, bronde adds radiance and brightens up brunettes for the cooler months ahead.
The ideal bronde pairs touches of buttery caramel and honey blonde throughout the midlengths and ends to frame the face.
Keep the roots darker for a seamless, sunkissed effect.
Bronde highlights are versatile enough to work on any skin tone, from fair to olive complexions.
They also complement both cool and warm undertones.
For cool toned brunettes, incorporate pale beige and ash brown babylights to maintain a smooth tone.
Warm complexions look beautiful with richer golds and coppers blended throughout.
Customize the intensity of your bronde depending on how dramatic a change you want – keep it subtle with thin ribbons of light brown or go bold with chunky buttery and blonde accents.
When transitioning to bronde, expect to spend 5-6 hours at the salon for a full highlight and toner session.
Ask your colorist to focus on creating dimension while keeping the grow-out natural.
Proper maintenance is also key – use a purple shampoo once a week to banish brassiness and schedule a touch up every 4-6 weeks.
Going bronde will leave your hair looking like you just got back from a tropical getaway!
Creamy Caramel
For brunettes seeking a warm, sweet and totally irresistible fall hair change, creamy caramel highlights are the perfect option.
Featuring rich gold, copper and amber tones, caramel highlights add vibrancy and dimension to dark brown hair while mirroring the colors of fall.
Much softer than traditional blonde highlights, caramel accents blend seamlessly even with inky black or espresso brown locks.
They’re especially gorgeous on olive and medium-deep complexions, bringing out green and brown eyes.
When applying caramel highlights, concentrate the accent colors on the mid-lengths and ends rather than the roots.
Keeping the roots and crown area darker prevents an obvious grow-out stage.
To build a multi-tonal look, alternate between ribbon and chunky highlights in shades like gold, copper and light brown.
Those with warm undertones should ask for hints of red and auburn as well.
For extra shine and conditioning, request a gloss or glaze service too.
Proper at-home care is crucial for maintaining caramel highlights.
Use a color-safe shampoo and deep conditioner to keep ends from drying out and enhance vibrancy.
Schedule a touch up every 6-8 weeks to refresh your highlights and tone down brassiness.
With its luscious and luminous finish, caramel is one of the sexiest fall hair colors for brunettes.
Chestnut Brown
For subtle enhancement without a drastic change, chestnut brown highlights add just the right amount of richness and warmth.
Featuring natural-looking accents in cocoa, chestnut and mahogany tones, this highlight technique pumps up the dimension of your hair while complementing your complexion.
The effect is understated yet totally rejuvenating.
Chestnut highlights look best on those with cool, neutral or olive skin tones.
The multi-tonal accents build seamless depth while still retaining an overall ash brown or chocolate base color.
Focus the highlights throughout the mid-lengths and ends – keeping the roots and crown darker prevents visible regrowth.
Alternate micro fine babylights with a few chunkier face-framing accents as well.
Maintenance is fairly minimal with chestnut brown highlights.
Use a color-safe shampoo and limit washing to every 2-3 days.
The subtle look can last 6-8 weeks between touch ups.
With its semi-permanent results and straightforward upkeep, chestnut accents are perfect for brunettes seeking low-key illumination.
Cinnamon Swirl
Spice up your dark locks this fall with sultry cinnamon swirl highlights.
Featuring warm copper, cherry and amber tones swirled throughout, this technique wakes up brown hair for autumn.
The effect is rich and multi-dimensional.
Not for the timid, cinnamon highlights make a vibrant statement on olive to dark skin tones.
When applying cinnamon swirl highlights, concentrate the coppery accents on the lower half of hair.
Keeping the roots and crown cooler maintains a natural look as your highlights grow out.
Varying the size and density of highlights also builds major depth.
Finish with a clear gloss to boost shine and longevity.
Expect vivid cinnamon swirl highlights to last 4-6 weeks before your roots need a refresh.
The eye-catching look requires diligent maintenance with color-safe shampoo and weekly toning sessions.
While dramatic, cinnamon accents are one of the hottest trends for brunettes this fall.
The combination of warm tones is energizing for the cooler months ahead.
Espresso with Cream Babylights
For an understated lift all over, espresso brown hair is gorgeous with creamy beige daylights.
The micro fine accents blend seamlessly with the base for the look of natural dimension.
It’s a highlight technique that flatters both cool and warm complexions.
To create a soft, blended effect, apply babylights no wider than 1/8 inch throughout the head – avoid any obvious lines of demarcation.
Focus lighter accents around the face to brighten tired complexions.
Keeping babylights to a cool beige or pale brown enhances the ash tones in espresso hair.
Finish with a moisturizing clear gloss.
Low maintenance is the major perk of babylights – growth is nearly invisible as your natural color blends right in.
Schedule a touch up every 4-6 months based on how quickly your hair grows out.
Use a toning shampoo as needed if highlights start to appear brassy.
For subtle enhancement all over, espresso and cream babylights are a foolproof option.
Spicy Chai Tea Latte
Wake up your dark brunette locks with lively chai tea latte highlights.
Featuring warm cinnamon, honey brown and creamy blonde tones, this fall hair color adds incredible dimension.
Chai-inspired highlights pop especially beautifully on olive to dark complexions.
When applying chai latte highlights, vary the placement and size for tons of depth.
Keep the roots darker and concentrate buttery accents on the tips and ends.
For extra luminosity, add a clear gloss to amplify shine.
This technique works best on straight or wavy hair as tighter curls can blend the colors together.
As a multi-tonal look, chai latte highlights require more regular maintenance for vibrancy.
Use color-safe shampoo and purple toner to prevent brassiness.
Schedule a touch up every 4-6 weeks to maintain contrast.
The effort pays off for gorgeous, head-turning color all autumn long.
Feel like you just sipped a spiced coffee every time you style your hair!
Cinnamon Brown Babylights
For brunettes who want just a kiss of spiced color, cinnamon brown babylights are the perfect choice.
Featuring fine ribbons of cinnamon, copper and chestnut tones, this highlighting technique adds a hint of autumn radiance without overpowering your natural shade.
The effect is delicate and romantic.
Cinnamon brown babylights look especially flattering on those with reddish, auburn or mahogany tresses, enriching what’s already there.
Keeping the accents micro-fine and seamlessly blended maintains a natural effect as your highlights grow out.
Focus lighter ribbons around the face and crown to showcase your features.
Warm, spiced babylights give cascading richness to straight or wavy locks.
Maintenance is fairly easy thanks to the subtle, blended look.
Use a color-safe shampoo and don’t wash hair more than every 2-3 days to preserve vibrancy.
Schedule a touch up every 4-6 months depending on your natural hair growth and highlight contrast.
For subtle spiced illumination all over, cinnamon brown babylights are the perfect way to embrace fall.
Amber Waves
Channel the colors of autumn leaves with lush amber waves.
Featuring ribbons of pecan, honey, gold and copper, amber highlights warm up cool espresso brown locks for fall.
The multi-tonal accents build incredible depth while creating an eye-catching cascade of color.
Amber waves work especially beautifully on straight or wavy hair, allowing the tones to shine through.
Alternate tiny babylights with chunkier face-framing pieces to build contrast.
Keep the roots darker for a natural look as your highlights grow out.
Finish with a clear gloss for glassy shine.
Because they contain various undertones, amber highlights require corrective toning to prevent brassiness.
Use a violet-hued shampoo once a week and schedule a salon touch-up every 4-6 weeks to maintain vibrancy.
While high maintenance, amber accents create showstopping cascades of rich, spiced color.
Chocolate Souffle Babylights
For deeper brunettes seeking subtle enhancement, chocolate souffle babylights are the perfect autumn update.
Featuring barely-there ribbons of espresso, cocoa and dark chocolate brown, this technique adds delicate dimension without lightening your overall shade.
The airy effect replicates sun-kissed hair with a light hand.
Chocolate souffle babylights look best on those with black, espresso or cool neutral brown tresses, enriching your base color with seamless clarity.
Wider babylights pop nicely on curly hair while micro-fine accents blend with straight locks.
Keep the highlights minimal around the hairline and crown for a natural look.
The subtle blended effect requires very little upkeep.
Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner suited for color-treated hair and refresh highlights every 4-6 months as needed.
For understated enhancement with minimal commitment, chocolate souffle babylights are a foolproof choice.
Mocha Latte Balayage
This fall, give your dark chocolate hair a jolt with mocha latte balayage.
Hand-painted ribbons of milk chocolate, caramel and honey blonde transition from mid-lengths to ends for a soft, blended effect.
The bold yet rooted look fakes the effect of natural sun exposure.
When applying mocha latte balayage, concentrate the lightness on the very ends of hair, keeping the roots and crown cooler to avoid banding.
The contrasts of color are dramatic yet blended for visual depth as the highlights grow out.
Because the accents are painted on, the look can be customized based on your hair’s texture and complexion.
High-contrast balayage requires diligent upkeep to prevent obvious regrowth.
Use a color-safe shampoo and potective conditioner to maintain vibrancy.
Schedule a touch up every 4-6 weeks to refresh your highlights and lowlights as needed.
The effort pays off for the eye-catching yet wearable dimension of mocha latte balayage.
Dark Chocolate with Rose Gold Reflections
Add luminous warmth to inky espresso hair this fall with rose gold reflections.
Comprised of soft pink, peach and champagne accents, the metallic highlights add flair to cool or neutral dark brunettes.
Concentrated on the midlengths and ends, the effect builds dimension while adding a whimsical touch.
When painting on rose gold reflections, opt for chunkier face-framing accents and thinner ribbons dispersed throughout the rest of the hair.
Keeping the roots and crown darker prevents the metallic accents from looking brassy over time.
Finish with a smoothing serum for added shine.
Weekly toning treatments are crucial for maintaining the rosiness of rose gold highlights – brassiness can develop quickly on darker hair.
Use a color-safe shampoo plus violet or blue toning masks as needed.
Schedule a single process refresh every 6-8 weeks to revive your highlights’ hue.
The results are well worth it for fairy-tale worthy rose gold hair all season long!
Smoky Topaz Babylights
Add shimmering clarity to cool, ash brown hair with smoky topaz babylights.
Featuring micro-fine ribbons in silver, platinum and sand tones, these highlights create the appearance of natural, sun-brightened hair with icy luminosity.
The effect is understated yet light catching.
Smoky topaz babylights look beautiful on straight or wavy hair, lending a glossy finish as the highlights filter through.
While versatile for any complexion, the cool, sandy accents especially flatter those with pink undertones.
Concentrate the tiny babylights throughout the interior and around the face to create a halo effect.
Upkeep is fairly minimal thanks to the seamless, integrated look.
Use a hydrating color-safe shampoo and limit washing to every 2-3 days.
Refresh your babylights every 4-6 months with a single process application.
For beautiful clarity, smoky topaz accents are perfect for illuminating ash brown hair.
Maple Sugar Highlights
Nothing says autumn quite like maple syrup – the darker amber tones add rich dimension to cool chocolate brown hair.
Concentrated on the lower midlengths and ends, maple sugar highlights build contrast that looks like natural sun exposure.
The effect flatters straight or wavy hair.
When applying maple sugar highlights, alternate fine ribbons of dark caramel and honey with wider, face-framing strips that pop.
Keep the roots and crown slightly darker to avoid obvious regrowth.
Finish with a moisturizing oil for enhanced shine and manageability.
For tonality, incorporate hints of cinnamon and espresso brown throughout.
To keep maple sugar highlights looking crisp, use color-safe shampoo and no more than minimal heat styling.
Coconut oil treatments also help retain moisture and vibrancy.
Schedule a refresh every 4-6 weeks as regrowth comes in for seamless color.
With its warm, autumnal feel, maple sugar makes for the ultimate fall hair makeover.
When done correctly, fall highlights can totally transform your dark brunette tresses with light and dimension.
Just be sure to tailor your highlights to your individual complexion and natural shade for the most flattering and low maintenance look.
With proper salon and at-home care, your autumn hair color will take you straight from summer to the holidays in beautiful, luminous style.
