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Looking for a low-maintenance way to elevate your brown hair? Whether it’s a tried-and-true air-dry routine or a specific shape and cut, simple switches can keep things looking polished with the least amount of work necessary. But if it’s a color change that you’re after, people swear by a caramel-hued balayage to give their hair vibrance and depth while requiring minimal time in the salon chair.
The color application technique involves a stylist painting highlights directly onto the hair to create a more seamless effect and softer grow-out that only needs a touch-up twice a year. The beauty of caramel balayage is it helps give one-dimensional brown hair some much-needed body and movement and can easily be customized to look as subtle or vibrant as you want. Ahead, find 13 of our favorite caramel balayage looks that you'll want to show your stylist ASAP.
Meet the Experts
- Beau Dieda is a celebrity colorist and extension specialist based in Los Angeles, CA.
- Angie Ceja is a hairstylist and education manager at Zotos Professional.
Caramel Balayage
Choosing a shade: According to celebrity colorist Beau Dieda, the key is to work with your natural base color and undertone. From there, your stylist can help you find the most harmonious shade to enhance your look. As a general rule of thumb, warm undertones often suit golden or honey caramels, while cool undertones look best with ashy or neutral caramel tones.
Maintenance level: Caramel balayage is fairly low maintenance, with touch-ups every three to six months depending on your hair growth and how dramatic or subtle the color is.
Goes great with: Caramel balayage can work for virtually any complexion and undertone, though both experts agree it looks particularly great with warm, neutral hues.
Similar shades: Brown balayage, ombré.
Price: Price varies depending on the salon and stylist as well as hair length, thickness, and how many highlights are needed.
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Subtle Dimension
@stephengarrison/Instagram
Balayage doesn’t have to be bold and obvious. In this case, a seamless blend makes the highlights nearly undetectable. The caramel color simply adds movement and dimension to the short style.
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Brunette With Bright Pops
@hermusicofficial/Instagram
Here, singer and songwriter H.E.R. uses hints of light caramel towards the ends of her curls to add body and bounce to her look. This will allow for a much more natural grow-out period and let you stretch the time between salon appointments.
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Dark Base
@claytonhawkins/Instgram
The true beauty of a balayage gets put on full display the longer your hair is. Need proof? Just look at this gorgeous color on Ashley Park. A dark caramel hue paired with her deep brunette base creates a touch more visual interest and dimension to her long strands.
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Chestnut Blonde
@colorbymattrez/Instagram
This caramel balayage creates a chestnut hue, in which the hair is a delicate blend of light brown, subtle blonde, and a hint of warm chocolate. As seen on Addison Rae, it creates a glamorous yet effortless effect.
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Caramel Curls
@haircolorkilla/Instagram
According to hairstylist and education manager at Zotos Professional, Angie Ceja, caramel balayage is particularly great for naturally curly hair as the highlights enhance the curl pattern. We love the way the color intertwines throughout the curls and coils to create body and movement.
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Caramel Money Pieces
@haircolorkilla/Instagram
Another color variation that will warm up your look is rich brown and honey caramel. If you aren’t ready to commit to a full-color change, focus on the face-framing money pieces, as seen here. The select strands still brighten up the look without losing your natural base.
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Sun-Kissed Bronde
@colorbymattrez/Instagram
Tate McRae's caramel bronde balayage offers a perfect sun-kissed look to her brunette strands. With darker tones peaking through, the effect creates a beautiful contrast through her golden lengths.
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Caramel Blend
@haircolorkilla/Instagram
These caramel highlights, which blend throughout the entire head of hair to create an almost uniform color, fall on the high-maintenance end of the spectrum. Even still, the lived-in roots make for an almost ombré effect that is subtle yet chic.
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Multiple Caramel Tones
@haircolorkilla/Instagram
For a stunning blend and weaved-in effect, utilize multiple shades of caramel throughout the hair. Here, the stylist focused on face-framing pieces and the lower half of the hair to create a vibrant color that still feels wearable.
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Melted Caramel Brunette
@haircolorkilla/Instagram
These gorgeous curls feature a subtle melted color to help amp up the dimension throughout the body. We love the lived-in effect and perfect color combo.
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Subtle Ombré Balayage
@styledbysam/Instagram
We love the subtle ombré effect of this caramel balayage. See how the highlights start a bit sparser at the roots and bulk up towards the mid-length and ends of the hair? It creates a gradual color fade without the usual upkeep.
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Caramel Warm Glow
@stephengarrison/Instagram
Tons of small, well-placed caramel highlights help create a general brightening effect while adding warmth throughout the body. It looks especially great paired with these super soft waves, showing off the balayage's depth and blend.
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Elevated Brunette
@camouflageandbalayage/Instagram
In this case, the deep brown tones of the hair are kept fully intact and simply complemented with some subtle honey caramel balayage. This creates a cool brunette-on-brunette style that looks perfectly blended.
