Fall Highlights Are the Freshest Update for Brunettes This Season

Low-maintenance hues for every shade

Jessica Fields
Jessica Fields
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Published: Oct 4, 2024

fall highlights for brown hair — IG: @prose

Slipping into a new hair color come fall is easier said than done, especially when you’re a brunette. While we all swoon over the season’s hottest shades—platinum blondes, rich reds and gorgeous coppers—taking the plunge can be difficult. Luckily, there’s another way to update your look and refresh your color. Enter the best fall highlights for brown hair. Highlighting techniques, like balayage, have always provided a quick hair upgrade without the commitment. Adding dimension and tone variation to your look is just one of the benefits. Fall highlights can also add warmth that’s perfect for the season. Ahead, we chatted with two celebrity colorists for the most alluring highlights for brunettes this season.

Featured experts

Min Kim is a celebrity hairstylist and color specialist
Glen Coco Oropeza is a celebrity hairstylist and Prose spokesperson

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Espresso highlights

A deep, dark brown might not sound like the ideal shade for highlights, but according to Kim, it's the perfect color for a fall refresh. "This type of highlight adds depth and richness to shade and a subtle lift," she says. Even better? Kim notes that espresso tones are often easy to blend with your natural base, so you won't have to do too much lifting.

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Golden Blonde

If you've leaned toward blonde this season, golden blonde highlights may be a good option. The key to nailing this look is to have a harmonious blended appearance. "You want the color to look seamless, so try not to stray too far away from your natural color," says Oropeza. He recommends opting for a highlighting hue that is two or three shades away from your hair color to create a flawless look.

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Chestnut

"Chestnut highlights offer a soft natural look for those with dark brown hair," says Oropeza. He explains that the rich shade has slightly more warmth for fall and can be easy to maintain with the right regimen. Color-safe shampoos are ideal, but he notes that hot tools can also cause fading and damage to colored hair. He suggests adding a leave-in product like Prose'sCustom Leave-In Conditioner ($34) to your wash day lineup to preserve your color and hair's health.

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Warm accents

"Warm brunette accents are great for transitioning from copper blondes and are also much more low-maintenance," says Kim. To maintain the look, she recommends using color-preserving cleansers and vitamin-enriched masks such as L'Oreal Professionnel's Inforcer Mask ($45) to prevent breakage and prolong vibrancy.

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Cherrywood

Red is one of the top hair color trends this season. Whether it's a deep cherry shade or a light strawberry hue, the color is notoriously difficult to maintain. Subtle cherrywood highlights are an easy way to sport the trend and work perfectly with dark brown hair. Try sprinkling the highlights throughout the hair for a warm and seasonally- appropriate look.

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Brown Butter

Think of these highlights as the caramel drizzle on top of a decadent brownie. These add a subtle contrast and enhance the overall warmth of the look. While other highlighted looks on this list focus on the full head, Kim mentions that these brown butter highlights are meant to brighten up your features and frame your face. That said, she suggests consulting with your colorists about the placement and keeping the rest of your hair a natural brown shade.

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Honey Wheat

When opting for lighter highlights, it's important to make sure the highlights meld just right. "This means that the tones transition seamlessly from root to end. The line of demarcation shouldn't be too evident," says Oropeza.