35 Hair Color Ideas For Brunettes 2025 With Highlights, Balayage, Peek-A-Boo Trends For Every Season

Transform your look with hair color ideas for brunettes 2025 featuring stunning trends like fall caramel highlights, balayage, and peekaboo styles. From short hair to long elegant waves, these fun and edgy options suit every season, from fall 2025 to vibrant spring and summer days. Dive into 35 styles perfect for dark brown, light, or black hair tones.

Peekaboo Highlights: A Fun Twist for Any Season

Peekaboo highlights are a perfect way to spice up your dark brown locks without a full commitment to bold color. These hidden streaks of vibrant hues, like red or blonde, come to life when you wear your hair in a ponytail or braid, making them ideal for spring, summer, or playful nights out. This edgy look suits all face shapes and adds a different dimension to both straight and curly hairstyles, especially for those with medium to long hair.

Creating this style involves sectioning off the lower layers of hair and applying the chosen color to these strands. Professional stylists often recommend using a semi-permanent dye for an easier transition back to natural tones. To maintain this look, use a color-safe shampoo, like Pureology’s Color Fanatic, to keep those hidden hues vibrant through every season.

Fall Caramel Highlights Short Bob

The fall caramel highlights short bob is the ultimate chic look for fall 2025 short hair trends. This blend of warm caramel tones woven through a classic bob provides a soft glow that flatters light to medium skin tones. It’s perfect for casual outings, office settings, or festive fall gatherings, offering a polished yet fun appearance. This style works best for round or oval face shapes and pairs beautifully with warm brown or green eyes.

Achieving this look requires precision highlighting, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends for a natural sun-kissed effect. Maintenance is key: use a sulfate-free shampoo like Aveda’s Nutriplenish to lock in the caramel tones and keep your hair healthy. Regular trims every 6–8 weeks will also keep your bob sharp and stylish.

Dark Chocolate Balayage

Dark chocolate balayage offers a dark brown base enhanced by soft, hand-painted highlights for a natural yet luxurious look. It’s perfect for brunettes who want to add depth and dimension without venturing too far from their natural tone. This versatile style shines in both fall and winter, complementing cozy knitwear and holiday glam. Ideal for long and medium hair, it beautifully enhances oval and heart-shaped faces.

To achieve this effect, stylists use a freehand balayage technique to blend lighter tones seamlessly. Maintenance involves hydrating treatments, like Olaplex No. 3, to strengthen and repair your hair while preserving its glossy finish.

Edgy Black with Red Undertones

For those who crave an edgy, bold look, black hair with red undertones is a striking choice. This style is dramatic yet sophisticated, making it perfect for evening events or anytime you want to turn heads. It suits most face shapes and enhances dark eyes, though green-eyed brunettes can also rock this look with aplomb.

This color requires a base of rich black with red added underneath or subtly throughout the hair. To maintain the vibrancy, use a color-depositing conditioner like Keracolor Clenditioner in Red. A heat protectant is essential to keep the color fresh and minimize fading during styling.

Light Brown Ombre for a Natural Glow

The light brown ombre offers a smooth transition from dark brown roots to lighter tips, creating a sun-kissed effect that works year-round. It’s perfect for medium to long hair, offering a casual yet sophisticated vibe. This style is especially flattering for oval and square face shapes and pairs well with warm-toned makeup.

Ombre is achieved by gradually lightening the hair from the mid-lengths to the ends. Stylists often use a balayage technique to blend the colors seamlessly. Maintain the look with a nourishing shampoo like Redken’s All Soft, which keeps the ends hydrated and prevents breakage.

Blonde Balayage for Summer and Spring

Brighten your look with blonde balayage, a favorite for summer and spring. This style brings streaks of honey or ash blonde to dark brown hair, creating a luminous effect that’s playful yet elegant. It suits most face shapes and adds a radiant glow to olive or tan skin tones.

The balayage technique involves painting the highlights onto the hair for a soft, natural look. Use a purple shampoo, like Fanola No Yellow, to maintain the brightness of the blonde tones. A weekly deep-conditioning mask will also keep your strands healthy and hydrated.

Curly Caramel Highlights

For those with curly hair, caramel highlights are a game-changer, offering dimension and enhancing your natural texture. This look is ideal for both casual days and elegant evenings, especially in fall and winter. Caramel tones flatter all skin tones and add a luminous glow to deep brown eyes.

To achieve this style, stylists apply highlights strategically to accentuate curls, often using foils for precision. Maintenance includes using a curl-defining cream, like Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream, and avoiding heat tools to preserve the health of your curls.

Straight Dark Brown with Subtle Highlights

Sleek and simple, straight dark brown hair with subtle highlights is timeless and polished. This look is versatile, working for professional settings or casual weekends. It’s especially stunning on oval faces and brings out the depth of hazel or brown eyes.

This style is achieved by applying fine, natural-looking highlights throughout the hair. Regular gloss treatments, such as Wella’s Color Fresh Mask, will keep the hair shiny and enhance the dimension. A flat iron can add the finishing touch for an ultra-sleek finish.

Long Black Hair with Blue Undertones

For a bold and unique twist on classic black hair, consider adding blue undertones. This high-fashion look is perfect for long hair and works well for cool-toned complexions. It’s especially striking in evening light, making it ideal for events or date nights.

To achieve this look, a stylist will apply a semi-permanent blue color over a black base. Use a sulfate-free shampoo, like Matrix Total Results Keep Me Vivid, to maintain the blue tones. A shine spray can add extra luster for dramatic flair.

Medium Brown with Rose Gold Highlights

Medium brown hair with rose gold highlights offers a trendy, feminine touch for 2025. This warm combination is perfect for spring and fall, providing a fresh, radiant look that complements fair to medium skin tones. It’s ideal for those who want to experiment with color while keeping things soft and romantic.

Stylists apply rose gold highlights using a balayage technique for a subtle gradient effect. To maintain the color, use a color-safe shampoo like Biolage ColorLast. A leave-in treatment will also help prevent fading and keep your hair silky smooth.

Espresso Brown with Honey Highlights

Espresso brown hair paired with honey highlights offers a rich and warm look perfect for both fall and spring. This style provides dimension and depth while maintaining a natural, understated elegance. It works well with medium to long hair and flatters most face shapes, especially oval and heart-shaped. The honey tones add a golden glow, enhancing hazel or light brown eyes.

To achieve this look, stylists often use foils to create precise highlights. A hydrating shampoo like Davines OI Shampoo will help maintain the luster and softness of the hair while keeping the highlights vibrant.

Chestnut Brown with Auburn Undertones

Chestnut brown hair with auburn undertones is a unique and fiery choice for those who love warm tones. This shade works beautifully in the fall and winter, complementing cozy sweaters and scarves. It flatters fair to medium skin tones and is especially stunning on green or blue-eyed brunettes. The subtle red undertones give it a fun, edgy twist.

Stylists often apply a gloss or demi-permanent dye to achieve the auburn effect. Use a color-enhancing conditioner, such as Joico’s Color Infuse Red, to keep the red tones vivid and fresh.

Icy Brown Balayage

An icy brown balayage introduces cool, ash tones to a classic dark brown base, offering a modern and sophisticated vibe. This style is ideal for long, straight, or wavy hair and suits those with cool undertones in their skin. It’s a chic choice for professional environments and evening outings in the season of fall 2025.

To achieve this look, balayage techniques are used to blend icy highlights seamlessly. Maintenance involves using a purple shampoo, like Fanola No Yellow, to neutralize brassiness and keep the cool tones intact.

Rich Mahogany Waves

Rich mahogany is a vibrant, reddish-brown hue that adds warmth and sophistication to any hairstyle. This shade works beautifully for curly or wavy hair, making it a standout choice for brunettes looking for a bold change in fall or winter. It complements warm skin tones and enhances brown or hazel eyes.

Stylists typically apply this color using a semi-permanent or permanent dye. A sulfate-free shampoo like L’Oréal EverPure will preserve the richness of the mahogany color, while a curl cream can keep waves defined and frizz-free.

Milk Chocolate and Blonde Melt

This look blends milk chocolate tones with soft blonde highlights, creating a luscious melted effect. It’s a playful yet sophisticated style perfect for summer and spring. It flatters oval and round faces and looks stunning on both long and medium hair.

This color melt is achieved using a balayage technique for a seamless transition between shades. Regular use of a nourishing hair mask, such as Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask, will maintain the smoothness and vibrancy of the blend.

Ash Brown with Lavender Ends

Ash brown hair with lavender ends offers a different, daring look for brunettes who love experimenting. This bold style is perfect for festival season or a standout summer look. It pairs well with fair skin and light eyes, adding a cool, edgy touch to any outfit.

To create this style, the ends are pre-lightened before applying a lavender toner. Use a color-protecting shampoo like Matrix Keep Me Vivid to maintain the pastel hues, and consider a leave-in conditioner to keep the ends hydrated.

Dark Brown with Gold Babylights

Dark brown hair enhanced with subtle gold babylights offers a soft, sun-kissed effect that’s perfect for year-round wear. This style works well with short hair or long locks, providing just enough shimmer to elevate your look. It’s flattering for all face shapes and adds brightness to olive or tan skin tones.

Babylights are created by weaving fine strands and highlighting them with a golden hue. Maintenance involves using a lightweight shine serum, like Paul Mitchell’s Gloss Drops, to keep the gold tones luminous and natural-looking.

Chocolate Mauve Balayage

Chocolate mauve balayage is a trendy, muted tone that adds a touch of whimsy to dark brown hair. This shade is perfect for brunettes who want to experiment with color while keeping it subtle. It’s a fantastic choice for fall or winter parties, especially for medium to long hair.

To achieve this look, a stylist applies mauve-toned highlights through the mid-lengths and ends. Use a sulfate-free shampoo, like Pureology Hydrate, to keep the color vibrant, and incorporate a gloss treatment every 6–8 weeks.

Long Black with Silver Highlights

Long black hair with silver highlights offers a sleek and edgy aesthetic. The metallic accents give a futuristic touch, making this style perfect for fashion-forward brunettes in fall 2025. It works best for those with cool undertones and sharp, angular face shapes.

This style involves adding silver highlights to pre-lightened sections of black hair. A toning shampoo, like Redken Color Extend Graydiant, will keep the silver hues bright and prevent yellowing. Heat protectants are essential to maintain the integrity of the hair.

Brunettes have endless options to explore in 2025, from edgy statement colors to soft and natural highlights. What’s your favorite look from this list? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts or your own hair color ideas for the upcoming year!