Beauty Hair 12 Photos of Dark Brown Hair With Caramel Highlights to Inspire Your Summer Hair Color By Erin Lukas Erin Lukas Instagram Twitter Erin is a Brooklyn-based beauty editor and has been with InStyle since 2016. She's written for NYLON, Teen Vogue, Into The Gloss, FASHION Magazine, and more. She graduated with an Honors B.A. in Creative Writing and English Literature from University of Windsor, Ontario College Graduate Certificate in Book and Magazine Publishing from Centennial College, and A.A.S in Advertising and Marketing Communications from Fashion Institute of Technology. InStyle's editorial guidelines and Victoria Moorhouse Victoria Moorhouse Instagram Website Victoria Moorhouse is a writer, editor, and consultant based in Brooklyn, New York who focuses on beauty, fitness, and health. Victoria was previously the Senior Beauty Editor at InStyle.com and a Senior Editor at POPSUGAR. Her work can also be found in notable publications such as Shape.com, The Zoe Report, Forbes.com, and Well+Good. She graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Professional Writing. InStyle's editorial guidelines Updated on May 14, 2021 Pin Share Tweet Email Photo: Getty Images/InStyle.com If you want to go lighter for summer without going full-on blonde, you can keep your status as a brunette by asking your colorist for caramel highlights. Caramel highlights on dark brown hair can be done with a couple of techniques like hand-painted balayage or foils to lighten up the base in a subtle way. When the creamy color is evenly distributed and placed on the right areas, it should mimic what the sun does naturally: give the hair a more dimensional look. Warm caramel also happens to be one of the most flattering (and popular) highlight shades for deep brunette hair. The proof is in these 10 celebrity hairstyle pics. Keep scrolling to see how stars like Eva Longoria, Jasmine Tookes, and Jennifer Lopez have took on the trend. 01 of 12 Taraji P. Henson Jean-Baptiste Lacroix/Getty Images Taraji P. Henson added caramel higlights to her dark brown curls to create an ombréd look. 02 of 12 Jasmine Tookes Getty Images Jasmine Tookes's caramel highlights begin a few inches away from her hair line, growing lighter as they reach the tips. 03 of 12 Eva Longoria George Pimentel /Getty Images Eva Longoria's face-framing caramel highlights draw attention to her facial features. 04 of 12 Jennifer Lopez Kevin Mazur/Getty Images You don't have to stick with a subtle use of the color. Over time, you can ask your colorist to add in more and more caramel highlights until you reach a light blonde shade similar to Jennifer Lopez. 05 of 12 Kate Beckinsale Taylor Hill /Getty Images Kate Beckinsale's caramel highlights on her dark brown hair stand out even more when styled in loose, cascading waves. 06 of 12 Priyanka Chopra Steve Granitz/Getty Images A darker caramel highlight warms up a deep brunette base as seen on Priyanka Chopra. 07 of 12 Olivia Munn John Shearer/Getty Images Olivia Munn's subtle, sun-kissed highlights are really only visible from the middle to the tip of her hair. 08 of 12 Natalie Portman Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images Natalie Portman brightened up her brunette bob with a set of caramel highlights. 09 of 12 Sofia Vergara John Shearer/Getty Images Sofia Vergara's highlights are focused towards the ends of her hair, but there isn't a harsh line of demarcation. Bring this photo to the salon if you want a super, super natural look. 10 of 12 Selena Gomez Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images Selena Gomez is bringing '90s chunky highlights into 2021. To create the look, her colorist added thick streaks throughout the lower half of her bob. 11 of 12 Dakota Johnson Steve Granitz/WireImage Blink and you'll almost miss the subtle, face-framing caramel highlights added to Dakota Johnson's chocolate brown base. The placement of these highlights are a foolproof way to brighten up your face. 12 of 12 Halle Berry Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images Halle Berry didn't just surprise everyone with her micro bob and bangs on the 2021 Oscars red carpet, she also debuted a fresh set of caramel highlights throughout the short cut. The new color is the work of the actress' go-to colorist, Tracey Cunningham. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit