The dead of winter can leave you feeling dull and uninspired, and your hair color is no exception.
If your brown locks are looking a bit flat and lifeless, it might be time to cozy up to a fresh set of highlights.
I know firsthand how transformative a few strategically placed ribbons of color can be.
A few winters ago, I took my deep chocolate strands up a notch with some warm caramel highlights.
The effect was subtle but impactful – suddenly, my hair had new depth and dimension that seemed to brighten up my whole look.
To help you narrow down the options, I’ve compiled a list of 14 stunning winter highlight ideas that flatter a range of brown hues and skin tones.
Some of these looks are trendy and of-the-moment, while others are timeless classics that never go out of style.
No matter which route you choose, adding a touch of color to your brown hair is a surefire way to beat the winter blahs and emerge looking and feeling your best.
Toffee Balayage
Want to sweeten up your deep espresso locks?
Toffee balayage blends ribbons of warm caramel with a neutral dark brown base for a look that’s subtly sun-kissed.
Your stylist will hand-paint the highlights for a natural, diffused effect that’s soft and dimensional.
Ask for more face-framing pieces if you really want to brighten up your complexion.
This creamy highlight pairs beautifully with both warm and cool skin tones.
For an even more natural look, ask your colorist to smudge a bit of your base color on the roots of your balayage pieces to create a seamless blend.
You can also customize the intensity of your toffee highlights by opting for thicker or thinner ribbons.
Thicker pieces will create a bolder color contrast, while delicate babylights will offer a subtler kiss of warmth.
Toasted Coconut
Love the look of beachy blonde, but not ready to part with your brunette status?
Toasted coconut is the ultimate happy medium.
This multi-tonal highlight combines shades of dark blonde and light brown for a neutral effect that pops against a deep chocolate base.
The mix of warm and cool tones mimics the look of coconut flakes toasted to perfection.
It’s especially stunning on olive and dark skin, but can be adjusted to flatter any complexion.
For a lower-maintenance grow out, ask your stylist to concentrate the lightest pieces on the midshafts and ends of your hair, with a darker smudge at the roots.
This technique creates a soft ombre effect that looks intentional as it grows out.
You can also play with the level of contrast in your toasted coconut highlights.
For a subtler look, keep the highlights within 2-3 levels of your base color.
If you want a bolder look, ask for lightened pieces 4-5 levels brighter than your natural hue.
Cinnamon Spice
Feeling extra cozy this winter?
Infuse your chestnut locks with a sprinkle of spicy cinnamon highlights.
This vibrant auburn hue brings out the rich warmth of a medium brown base and looks striking against fair, cool-toned skin.
For a lower-maintenance look, opt for balayage or babylights rather than allover color.
If you’re feeling bold, ask your colorist to place a few pops of bright paprika at the face-framing pieces for an extra kick of spice.
Just keep in mind that red tones tend to fade faster than other colors, so you may need to touch up your cinnamon highlights every 6-8 weeks.
To maintain your spicy hue at home, swap your regular shampoo for a color-safe, sulfate-free formula and rinse with cool water to prevent fading.
You can also use a color-depositing conditioner or gloss treatment between salon visits to keep your cinnamon highlights looking fresh.
Smoky Ice
Cool girls, this one’s for you.
Icy platinum highlights make a bold statement against an inky espresso or deep mocha base.
The high-contrast combo creates an edgy, rocker-chic vibe that’s a little bit gritty and totally badass.
To keep this look modern, go for thicker, chunkier highlights rather than fine, delicate babylights.
An ombre or dip dye technique works great for this trendy look.
Just keep in mind that lightening your hair to an icy white blonde requires a bit more maintenance than warmer shades.
You’ll need to use a purple shampoo and conditioner to neutralize brassy tones and keep your platinum looking crisp.
It’s also important to deep condition regularly and use heat protectant, as lightening can be drying and damaging to your strands.
Buttery Blonde
Want to go significantly lighter without crossing over to the blonde side?
Buttery champagne highlights are the secret to brightening up your brunette without sacrificing richness and dimension.
This creamy, golden hue looks amazing against honey brown, toffee, and light auburn bases.
Keep the highlights thin and delicate, focusing on the midshafts and ends of your hair.
The result is an illuminated, sun-lit effect that will carry you from winter right into spring.
To make your buttery highlights really glow, ask your colorist to use a gloss or toner after lightening to refine the hue and add a mirror-like shine.
At home, you can maintain your buttery champagne color by washing with a sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo and treating your hair to a weekly moisturizing mask.
You can also use a leave-in conditioner or hair oil to keep your highlighted ends looking soft and healthy.
Rose Gold
Why not play with some color this season?
Rose gold highlights are an unexpected way to warm up your cool or mousy brown locks.
This trendy pink-meets-peach shade looks especially gorgeous woven through a dark toffee or milk chocolate base.
Ask your colorist to strategically place the rosy pieces around your face for a flattering glow.
To customize your rose gold, you can mix in touches of soft peach, apricot, or even lavender to create a multi-tonal effect.
Just keep in mind that fashion colors like rose gold require a bit more TLC to maintain.
In addition to color-safe shampoo and conditioner, you may want to invest in a color-depositing treatment to use between salon visits.
These conditioning masks deposit a small amount of pigment onto your strands to keep your pink hues from fading too quickly.
Rich Mahogany
Take your basic brown to the next level with an infusion of deep, reddish-violet mahogany highlights.
This sultry shade brings out the warmth in yellow and olive undertones while adding lush vibrancy to pale and dark skin alike.
For a multidimensional effect, mix mahogany with rich ruby and deep burgundy highlights.
The blend of warm and cool reds creates the coziest winter color.
To make your mahogany mane really shine, ask your colorist to apply a clear or reddish gloss after highlighting.
This will seal the cuticle, boost shine, and keep your color looking rich until your next appointment.
When washing your mahogany locks at home, be sure to use a shampoo and conditioner formulated for color-treated hair.
Washing with cool water and limiting your use of hot styling tools will also help extend the life of your highlights.
Butterscotch Swirl
Satisfy your sweet tooth with this delectable highlight idea.
Butterscotch swirls combine honey blonde, caramel, and sandy hues for a neutral, beach-inspired look that works on both warm and cool brown bases.
The ribbons of color are more saturated than classic balayage for a bolder swirled or marbled effect.
To get this look, your colorist will need to backcomb or tease your hair before painting on the highlights to create a blended, diffused effect.
Thicker highlights will create more contrast and dimension, while thinner ribbons will offer a subtler, sun-kissed effect.
For the most natural look, keep your butterscotch swirls within 2-3 levels of your base color.
This low-contrast technique grows out beautifully and is easy to maintain between salon visits.
Spiced Chai
Love a good dirty chai latte?
Let it inspire your winter hair color.
This toasty hue seamlessly blends light auburn, cinnamon, and deep caramel highlights for a sweet and spicy look that warms up medium to dark brown bases.
Opt for fine babylights to keep the color from looking too bold or stripey.
For an extra pop of dimension, ask your colorist to add a few lighter honey highlights around your face and on the ends of your hair.
This will create a soft, diffused effect that mimics the look of naturally sun-lightened strands.
To maintain your spiced chai color at home, invest in a shampoo and conditioner formulated for warm auburn tones.
These products often contain small amounts of red and copper pigments to keep your spicy highlights from fading too quickly.
Golden Wheat
Brighten up your complexion and make your features pop with sunny golden highlights.
This light, wheat-inspired shade looks luminous against light brown and dark blonde hair.
For the most natural look, ask your colorist to paint slightly thicker highlights on the undersides of your hair, with finer, brighter pieces woven closer to your face.
This technique mimics the way the sun naturally lightens your hair and creates a soft, seamless effect.
If you want a bolder look, ask for thicker, chunkier highlights throughout your mane.
Just keep in mind that going too light can look harsh against certain skin tones, so work with your colorist to find the perfect shade of golden wheat for your complexion.
To keep your golden highlights looking bright and fresh, use a shampoo and conditioner formulated for blonde hair.
These products often contain purple or blue pigments to neutralize brassy tones and keep your color looking cool and crisp.
Cranberry Crush
Heat up your chilly winter look with a few strategically placed cranberry highlights.
This juicy, pinkish-red hue adds richness and depth to both warm and cool brown hair.
Ask your colorist to mix cranberry with a pop of magenta for an even bolder look.
For a subtler effect, keep the cranberry highlights thin and delicate, focusing on the midshafts and ends of your hair.
This technique creates a soft, diffused look that’s perfect for those who want to experiment with red tones without going too bold.
If you’re feeling daring, ask for thicker, chunkier cranberry highlights throughout your mane for a high-impact look.
To keep your cranberry crush looking juicy, use a color-depositing shampoo and conditioner formulated for red hair.
These products will help refresh your pink tones between salon visits and prevent your highlights from fading too quickly.
Hazelnut Cream
Are you a dark brunette looking for an understated way to change up your color?
Hazelnut highlights may be the perfect winter refresh.
This neutral light brown hue mimics the color of creamy hazelnut spread (yum) and adds soft dimension to espresso bases without veering too warm or ashy.
Stick with delicate babylights and balayage pieces to enhance your existing color.
For a seamless grow-out, ask your colorist to smudge a bit of your base color at the roots of your hazelnut highlights.
This will create a diffused, low-maintenance look that blends effortlessly as it grows out.
You can also customize the warmth of your hazelnut highlights by mixing in a touch of golden caramel or cool beige.
These subtle tweaks can help fine-tune the color to perfectly complement your skin tone.
Bronzed Auburn
Take your auburn to the next level with a bronzy metallic sheen.
Your colorist can achieve this look by blending copper, medium auburn, and touches of light golden brown.
The multidimensional mix gives red hair a sultry, burnished effect that glows against fair and medium skin.
For a bold look, ask for allover bronzed auburn highlights that create a rich, coppery effect.
If you prefer a subtler touch of bronze, focus the highlights on the midshafts and ends of your hair, with a few lighter pieces woven around your face.
To maintain your bronzed auburn hue at home, look for a shampoo and conditioner formulated for copper or red hair.
These products often contain small amounts of warm pigments to keep your color from fading or turning brassy.
You can also use a color-depositing conditioner or gloss treatment between salon visits to refresh your bronze and keep it looking shiny and multidimensional.
Soft Silver
Make an icy statement this winter by mixing cool silver highlights into your salt and pepper or charcoal locks.
This modern, metallic hue looks edgy yet surprisingly soft when painted on a dark grey base.
Keep the highlights fine and delicate to maintain a natural, brightening effect.
For a bolder look, ask your colorist to weave thicker silver pieces throughout your mane, focusing on the face-framing strands and ends.
This technique creates a dramatic, high-contrast effect that’s perfect for those who want to embrace their grey in a trendy way.
To keep your silver highlights looking icy and bright, use a purple shampoo and conditioner once or twice a week.
These products contain purple pigments that neutralize yellow and brassy tones, keeping your grey looking cool and crisp.
You can also use a clear gloss treatment between salon visits to add shine and keep your silver looking smooth and healthy.
There you have it – 14 winter highlight ideas to warm up your brown hair and ignite your inspiration.
Whether you opt for a toasty balayage, dip your toes (or rather, ends) into vivid color, or keep it classic with a gilded bronze, there’s a highlight out there destined to illuminate your brunette locks this season.
Your newly brightened strands will carry you through the coldest months looking and feeling your absolute best!
