25 Gorgeous Winter Highlights That Will Transform Your Brown Hair This Season

Looking to refresh your brown locks for the winter season?

The right highlights can add dimension and warmth to combat those cold, gray days ahead.

From subtle honey accents to bold contrasting pieces, winter highlights offer endless possibilities for brunettes seeking a seasonal update.

Explore these 25 winter-inspired highlighting techniques that will transform your brown hair into a multidimensional masterpiece.

1: Cinnamon Spice Highlights

Add warmth with these reddish-brown highlights that create striking dimension against deeper brunette bases.

The spicy hue brings unexpected richness perfect for the cozy winter season.

You’ll turn heads with this unique color combination.

The warm cinnamon tones complement fair skin with pink undertones particularly well, creating a harmonious blend that brightens your overall appearance during darker months.

2: Caramel Ribbon Highlights

These warm, golden-brown ribbons woven throughout your chocolate base create natural-looking dimension that mimics the way winter sunlight catches your hair.

The subtle contrast adds movement without dramatic change.

You’ll love how these natural-looking highlights brighten your overall appearance.

The delicate caramel tone complements most brunette bases while adding that touch of warmth to counteract winter’s coolness.

3: Cool Ash Highlights

Create sophisticated contrast with these cool-toned highlights against your warm brunette base.

The subtle gray undertones add dimension without warmth, offering a winter-appropriate update that mimics frosty aesthetics.

You’ll achieve that coveted “expensive brunette” look with this technique.

The ash tones create modern contrast while maintaining an overall brunette appearance—perfect for those wanting subtle dimension.

4: Face-Framing Money Piece

Brighten your face with lighter, bolder pieces around your hairline while keeping the rest of your brunette base more subtle.

This strategic placement creates a beautiful spotlight effect that instantly refreshes your look.

You’ll notice how this technique immediately brightens your complexion during darker months.

The concentrated color around your face draws attention to your features while requiring less overall processing on your hair.

5: Chocolate Glaze with Subtle Highlights

Enhance your rich brown base with barely-there highlights in a slightly lighter brown tone.

This tone-on-tone approach creates dimension without obvious contrast—perfect for brunettes wanting minimal change.

You’ll achieve sophisticated depth with this nuanced technique.

The subtle highlighting adds just enough dimension to prevent your brown hair from appearing flat under winter’s harsh indoor lighting.

6: Mulled Wine Lowlights

Add rich dimension with deep, burgundy-red lowlights woven throughout your brown hair.

These darker pieces create shadows and movement inspired by winter’s signature beverage for increased sophistication.

You’ll appreciate how these lowlights add depth rather than brightness.

The wine-inspired tones create beautiful dimension that looks especially striking in winter’s natural light, adding complexity to your brunette base.

7: Hazelnut Sweep

These neutral-warm brown highlights offer subtle enhancement for light to medium brunettes.

The tone-on-tone effect creates dimension without obvious highlighting for a natural winter refresh.

You’ll achieve elegant movement with this understated approach.

This technique works particularly well for those new to highlighting or who prefer a more conservative enhancement to their brunette base.

8: Snow Cap Highlights

Channel winter’s beauty with these icy, cool-toned highlights focused primarily on the top layers of your hair.

The placement mimics the way snow caps mountain peaks, creating natural-looking brightness.

You’ll create seasonal-appropriate dimension with this placement technique.

The concentrated highlights on top catch natural winter light beautifully, adding brightness where it matters most.

9: Maple Brunette Highlights

These rich, amber-toned highlights add warmth to darker brown bases.

The deep golden color creates cozy dimension perfect for winter’s hygge aesthetic without appearing too summery or bright.

You’ll radiate warmth with this seasonal-appropriate color choice.

The maple tone adds a touch of sweetness to your brown base, creating a universally flattering shade that enhances most complexions.

10: Mocha shine Highlights

This coffee-inspired highlighting technique features warm, medium-brown tones woven throughout deeper brunette bases.

The subtle contrast creates sophisticated dimension reminiscent of your favorite winter beverage.

You’ll love this rich, complex color melt for the colder months.

The mocha tones add warmth without brightness, creating the perfect winter-appropriate highlight that feels both seasonal and timeless.

11: Frosted Brunette Tips

Add winter-inspired brightness with this technique focusing highlights just on the ends of your hair.

The lighter tips create dimension while maintaining your rich brunette base around your face.

You’ll appreciate this low-commitment approach to seasonal highlighting.

The concentrated brightness on the ends requires less maintenance while still creating noticeable dimension throughout your brown hair.

12: Tiger Eye Highlights

Inspired by the multifaceted gemstone, this technique blends caramel, amber, and gold tones throughout a rich brown base.

The varied warm highlights create extraordinary dimension with rich depth.

You’ll love this multidimensional effect for winter.

The combination of colors creates dynamic movement throughout your hair, offering different colors as you move—just like the actual tiger eye stone.

13: Chestnut Contrast

These rich, warm brown highlights add subtle dimension to deeper brunette bases.

The tone-on-tone effect creates sophistication without dramatic color change for an elegant winter update.

You’ll achieve beautiful depth with this nuanced approach.

The chestnut tone adds just enough warmth to counteract winter’s coolness while maintaining the overall richness of your brown hair.

14: Golden Brunette Weave

Add subtle golden dimension with these warm highlights woven delicately throughout your brown base.

The golden touch creates natural-looking brightness that mimics winter sunshine on brunette hair.

You’ll notice how these highlights illuminate your brown hair.

The golden tones prevent your color from appearing flat during winter months while adding just enough warmth to complement the season.

15: Espresso with Caramel Highlights

Create striking contrast with this technique featuring a deep espresso base with delicate caramel ribbons woven throughout.

The color difference adds dramatic dimension to dark brown hair.

You’ll achieve salon-quality brilliance with this high-contrast approach.

The caramel pieces catch winter light beautifully, creating movement that prevents your dark brown from appearing flat in winter’s harsh lighting.

16: Toffee Gloss Highlights

Brighten your brown with these golden toffee tones that create a sunlit effect.

The warm, medium-depth color creates beautiful dimension for winter without pushing too far into blonde territory.

You can position these strategically around your face for a brightening effect.

This versatile shade complements most brown bases and adds rich dimension that looks beautiful in winter’s natural light.

17: Bronze Reflection Highlights

Add metallic warmth with these bronze-toned highlights throughout a rich brown base.

The dimensional color offers subtle warmth with light-reflective properties perfect for catching winter’s limited sunlight.

You’ll notice how these highlights enhance your hair’s natural shine.

The bronze tone adds warmth to your complexion while creating a sophisticated highlight option that’s perfect for winter months.

18: Chocolate Cherry Highlights

Add subtle reddish-purple dimension to your brown with these rich, cherry-inspired highlights.

The cool red tone creates unique depth without pushing your color too far into red territory.

You’ll appreciate this sophisticated twist on traditional highlights.

The cherry tone adds unexpected dimension that’s particularly striking in natural light—perfect for those rare sunny winter days.

19: Butterscotch Ribbons

These golden amber highlights create a sunlit effect throughout brunette hair.

The warm, medium-depth tone bridges the gap between your brown base and lighter highlights for a seamless blend.

You can position these strategically around your face for a brightening effect.

This versatile shade complements most brown bases and adds rich dimension that fights against winter’s dull lighting.

20: Cocoa Contour Highlights

Use strategic highlighting to contour your haircut and create the illusion of depth and dimension.

The placement enhances your cut’s shape while adding rich color contrast against your brunette.

You can work with your colorist to place these precisely where needed.

This tailored approach highlights your cut’s best features while the deep chocolate tone creates sophisticated dimension.

21: Amber Glow Highlights

Add warmth and light with these golden-red highlights hand-painted throughout your brown base.

The amber tone creates beautiful dimension that catches winter sunlight perfectly on those bright days.

You’ll achieve stunning movement with this warm highlighting technique.

The amber color brings out golden tones in your skin while adding multidimensional depth to your brunette for perfect seasonal enhancement.

22: Vanilla Bean Highlights

Create striking yet natural-looking contrast with these cream-colored highlights against your deep brunette base.

The neutral-warm tone brightens without adding excessive warmth or brassiness.

You’ll turn heads with this beautiful high-contrast combination.

The lighter sections draw attention to your cut and create movement throughout, adding wintertime brightness to your brunette.

23: Toasted Almond Highlights

These medium-brown highlights with subtle golden undertones create warm dimension throughout brunette hair.

The natural-looking color adds richness while maintaining your overall deep appearance.

You can position these to enhance your haircut and natural movement.

This versatile shade complements most brunette bases and adds rich dimension that looks increasingly natural as it blends with your brown over time.

24: Smoked Mocha Highlights

Add cool-toned depth with these sophisticated highlights featuring ashy brown notes woven throughout a rich brunette base.

The smoky quality creates editorial-worthy dimension perfect for winter.

You’ll achieve contemporary sophistication with this highlighting technique.

The cooler tones create modern contrast against your warm brunette base, mimicking winter’s natural color palette.

25: Amber Ombre

Create dramatic dimension with this gradient technique featuring deeper brown roots that transition to vibrant amber ends.

The graduated application offers beautiful contrast with practical grow-out.

You’ll achieve striking dimension with this approach.

The darker roots provide sophisticated depth while the amber ends ensure you maintain that brightness that fights against winter’s tendency to dull your natural color.

Conclusion

From subtle dimension to bold contrasts, winter highlights offer brunettes countless options for seasonal refresh.

These dimensional colors add depth and movement to brown hair while providing the perfect brightness to combat winter’s dullness.