26 Summer Highlights for Dark Brown Hair 2025: Blonde, Copper, Red, and Subtle Face-Framing Ideas

Summer 2025 is calling for radiant, dimensional hair—especially for women with dark brown locks. This year’s highlight trends are all about natural colors, wearable contrast, and light-reflecting tones that complement olive skin, tan skin, and pale skin alike. Whether you’re into sleek straight looks or soft wavy finishes, the goal is shine, depth, and effortless style.

From subtle ribbons of light to bold money piece framing, the following highlight ideas are tailored to inspire women who crave a change that feels both current and timeless. Whether you’re keeping your medium length cut or going for long layered hair, these ideas will help you glow this summer—without straying too far from your natural brunette roots.

Subtle Sunlit Balayage for a Polished Finish

Perfect for those who love understated change, this sleek long layered straight cut is elevated with finely blended golden highlights. The placement of the lighter strands adds dimension without overpowering the natural colors of the base, making it an ideal choice for professional women or minimalists. Pair it with a satin blouse or linen dress for an effortlessly chic look. This kind of subtle balayage suits women with olive skin or tan skin, giving a soft sun-kissed effect that feels completely natural.

Bold Money Piece with High-Contrast Blonde

Nothing says confident quite like a bold money piece. These creamy blonde front highlights pop against the dark base, perfectly framing the face while drawing attention to the eyes and cheekbones. It’s a style that flatters both pale skin and olive skin tones and pairs gorgeously with statement jewelry and summer neutrals. The waves add softness to the drama, giving off a modern cowgirl-meets-urban-glam vibe that turns heads from farmers’ markets to rooftop parties.

Long Layered Wavy Hair with Honey-Toned Dimension

The layered cut in this look works harmoniously with the softly placed honey highlights, creating a full-bodied long layered wavy style. The voluminous shape is perfect for women with curly hair that’s been blow-dried or styled into loose curls, offering maximum movement and a lived-in glow. Ideal for brunch dates or garden weddings, this style blends refinement with relaxed summer energy. Try it with a fitted tank and gold hoops for a fashion-forward finish.

Face-Framing Warm Caramel Accents

Subtle yet strategic, these warm caramel streaks are all about face framing. This look complements medium length hair perfectly, with delicate highlights sweeping forward to accentuate facial features. The soft curls give bounce and volume, ideal for days when you want to let your hair do the talking. It’s a go-to style for women with tan skin, offering brightness without going full blonde—a true sunlit glow-up for 2025.

Deep Red Undertones for a Sultry Summer Vibe

For brunettes who want something a little different this summer, a rich red tint infused into long layered hair adds mystery and glamour. This glossy finish screams confidence and sophistication. It’s especially striking on women with pale skin or blue eyes, drawing out cooler undertones and giving off an air of effortless seduction. Style with a wide-tooth comb and a touch of oil for that salon-fresh gloss.

Soft Ash Brown Highlights with a Blowout Finish

Ash brown highlights melt seamlessly into this voluminous long layered wavy hairstyle, creating a soft yet striking contrast. Ideal for medium to long hair, this look flatters a variety of skin tones and adds a fresh, airy feel to otherwise dark strands. The natural waves give it a breezy, editorial look—something you’d expect on a cover of InStyle or Vogue. A great choice for women who want to lighten up without going too far from their brunette roots.

Caramel Curls with Soft Movement

This wavy style with soft caramel strands offers a gentle glow that’s both flattering and versatile. The highlights catch the light in all the right places, making it a smart choice for women with curly or curly hair textures. Ideal for summer evenings or beachside vacations, this look pairs perfectly with sundresses and sandals, radiating feminine energy while staying low-maintenance.

Cinnamon-Toned Straight Bob for Modern Chic

Short and sweet, this sharp bob cut stands out thanks to its cinnamon-toned highlights, subtly scattered throughout for an elegant lift. It’s a refreshing take on the classic straight bob, great for busy women who want a professional look with a bit of flair. This style works especially well on olive skin, offering warmth and contrast while remaining incredibly wearable in corporate or creative settings.

Cool Beige Blonde Waves with Dimensional Shine

This dreamy blonde look is a masterclass in tone blending. The soft beige hue compliments tan skin beautifully and brings out the eyes—particularly striking for women with blue eyes. With soft, flowing curls and a luminous finish, this hairstyle feels luxurious yet laid-back. Think resort wear, oversized sunglasses, and balmy summer nights. It’s the kind of blonde that looks effortless and polished all at once.

Glossy Natural Brunette with Minimalist Vibe

For those who want to keep their natural shade while still enhancing it for summer, this style is all about refined simplicity. The dark brown hair is worn long layered straight, its richness heightened by a hint of gloss and expertly cut layers. Perfect for women who lean into minimalist beauty routines and love timeless fashion, this look feels clean, classy, and beautifully understated. It’s summer hair—but with a quiet confidence.

Rich Chocolate Waves with Subtle Lift

This style embodies the quiet luxury aesthetic that’s trending in 2025. The chocolate brown base is kept lush and glossy, while subtle lighter strands throughout create depth and movement without breaking up the richness. Worn in long layered wavy form, it’s a great pick for women with olive skin or tan skin looking to enhance their color without a dramatic change. Pair it with cozy knitwear for an off-duty model vibe.

Sleek Long Layers with Natural Honey Ribbons

For women who love natural colors and a polished silhouette, this long layered straight style offers the best of both worlds. The finely woven honey highlights blend seamlessly into the mid-lengths and ends, adding brightness without losing the integrity of the dark brunette base. This style shines on those with medium to long hair and looks just as elegant for work as it does for a summer evening dinner.

Beachy Caramel Ribbons for Curly Movement

When your hair already has natural wave or curly texture, this highlight technique maximizes the visual impact. The cascading caramel ribbons give the illusion of sun-drenched beach hair while enhancing the shape and bounce of curly hair. It’s a carefree yet sophisticated option, ideal for warm-weather getaways and casual outfits. Especially flattering on tan skin, it radiates effortless summer energy.

Dimensional Layering with Face-Framing Highlights

A beautifully balanced blend of face framing pieces and cool beige hues, this style suits women who want to elevate their medium length or longer cuts. The precision of the highlights brings out the shape of a well-layered cut, giving lift around the face and extra shine throughout. It’s a great choice for women who want a soft transformation that looks equally good air-dried or styled sleek.

Cool-Toned Soft Curls with Deep Contrast

This style features darker roots cascading into carefully placed light brown and cool-toned accents, making it one of the most flattering choices for brunettes with blue eyes. The contrast enhances facial brightness, while the loose curls soften the overall look. The multidimensional tone also flatters pale skin, adding warmth without overpowering fair features.

Honey Bronze Balayage for Natural Volume

Balayage continues its reign as a go-to for dimensional color, and this honey bronze version proves why. The hand-painted effect adds a soft glow while keeping the root area natural for lower maintenance. Styled in loose waves, it’s ideal for long layered hair and gives a subtle lift to darker brunettes. It’s the kind of look that feels both sunlit and salon-worthy.

Tight Caramel Curls with Sun-Kissed Glow

For those embracing their natural curly or coiled texture, these warm caramel highlights add gorgeous contrast and light. The curls are well-defined and voluminous, perfect for summer days when humidity actually works in your favor. This bold yet feminine look suits all complexions and brings out the vibrancy in olive skin, while also being a statement of texture confidence in 2025.

Soft Brunette Lob with Caramel Slices

This style showcases a timeless bob length that’s made modern with strategically placed caramel highlights. It’s perfect for women who prefer a short or medium cut with maximum style impact. The pieces are sliced in just enough to catch the light, making it feel dimensional but not high maintenance. Best styled with a center part and a flat iron for a sleek finish.

Ash Blonde Ombre for a Bold Fade

Ashy blonde ends contrast sharply with a rich dark brown base in this bold ombre look. Perfect for women who want a high-impact summer style, this cut is also ideal for those with blue eyes, as the tones brighten and intensify their gaze. Worn in tousled waves, this modern ombré complements both pale and tan skin, depending on the makeup and outfit.

Long Layers and Golden-Toned Brightness

This long layered straight cut takes on a golden glow thanks to warm-toned highlights that blend seamlessly into the lengths. It’s a classic California look—fresh, golden, and undeniably summery. Great for women with medium skin tones or olive skin, it works perfectly with denim, neutrals, or summer whites. The flow and placement make it ideal for everyday wear or dressy occasions.

Honeyed Bronze Layers with Face-Framing Shine

This look showcases long layered straight hair with a multidimensional highlight technique that masterfully combines honey, bronze, and light caramel tones. The strands closest to the face are gently lifted for a face framing effect, subtly enhancing cheekbones and drawing attention to the eyes—especially flattering on women with olive skin or tan skin tones. The layers create movement, giving it a wind-swept softness that feels effortless yet polished. These natural colors are perfect for summer, reflecting light without looking overly processed. Ask your stylist for foil placement that blends into the ends for a seamless grow-out.

Warm Cinnamon Waves with a Twist

A timeless option for long layered wavy hair, this style is rich with warm cinnamon and auburn ribbons that swirl through dark chocolate strands. The gentle half-up twist adds a youthful charm while showing off the seamless blend of highlights. Ideal for women who love wavy textures and want a subtle update that doesn’t overpower their natural depth. This look flatters pale skin and blue eyes, bringing a soft warmth to the overall appearance. It’s a low-maintenance pick that still feels luxurious—perfect for weekend brunches or casual date nights.

Light Chestnut Bob with Subtle Shine

For those leaning toward a bob or short summer cut, this medium length lob combines cool chestnut with soft caramel undertones to create a clean, refined look. The precision of the cut emphasizes the evenness of the highlights, giving it a professional, glossy finish. Best suited for women working in creative or corporate environments who want to keep things neat but stylish. It pairs especially well with minimal makeup and sharp tailoring. The straight finish makes it ideal for showing off natural colors and subtle depth without dramatic contrast.

Ash Blonde Money Piece for an Edgy Pop

Nothing screams confidence like a well-placed money piece, and this look blends ash blonde streaks into shoulder-grazing waves for a striking, youthful touch. Perfect for women looking to step up their color game without a full head transformation. The contrast against dark brown hair makes the front strands pop, framing the face while remaining chic. This style works well on curly hair or styled waves, and complements blue eyes and lighter complexions. It’s a bold move, but if you’re planning summer festivals or beach trips, it might just be the pop your look needs.

Deep Plum Red for a Dramatic Summer Statement

Bold yet understated, this take on red highlights is perfect for those who want a touch of drama while staying within the realm of natural colors. The rich plum hue enhances darker hair without looking jarring and is especially flattering for women with medium to tan skin tones. The wavy texture brings out the shine and depth of the color, making it perfect for evening events or an elevated day look. This shade is also great for those hesitant to go blonde but still want to embrace a summer refresh. Pair with berry-toned lips and gold jewelry for an ultra-glam finish.

Feathered Copper Layers with Natural Glow

This long layered cut is made for movement and volume, and the fine copper highlights scattered throughout deliver just the right amount of sun-kissed brilliance. The style is breezy, flattering, and incredibly versatile—suiting both curly and straight finishes depending on the occasion. Copper works exceptionally well with olive skin and brings out a healthy glow, even without makeup. The feathered ends give it a salon-fresh bounce, while the soft highlight placement ensures an easy grow-out. For a little extra flair, pair this look with off-shoulder tops and delicate earrings to spotlight your hair’s natural flow.