Tired of your monotonous, single-toned hair? Are you looking for a change that’s subtle yet stunningly impactful? The trend of brown hair with red highlights is the perfect answer – a timeless style that promises to elevate your entire look.

The gorgeous combination of a warm brown base with vibrant red or alluring copper highlights creates a look that is harmonious, unique, and utterly captivating. Let’s dive into 20 fantastic ideas with GOVIHAIR and find the perfect style of brown hair with red highlights for you!

Why is Brown Hair with Red Highlights Trending?

It’s no coincidence that getting brown hair with red highlights is a favorite among beauty lovers. The blend of red and brown offers several standout benefits:

  • Creates Depth and Dimension: The interplay between red and brown strands gives your hair incredible depth, creating the illusion of thicker, more voluminous locks.
  • Natural Light-Reflecting Effect: The highlights catch and reflect light beautifully, making your hair look vibrant and alive from every angle.
  • Flattering for Many Skin Tones: This is one of the most versatile color combos. Whether you have fair, medium, or deep skin, there’s a perfect shade of red and brown highlights to complement your complexion.
Add depth and dimension with this versatile, light-reflecting color combination.
Add depth and dimension with this versatile, light-reflecting color combination.

Who Should Choose Brown Hair with Red Highlights?

The short answer is: Almost everyone! No matter your personal style, the look of brown hair with red highlights can be customized to suit you perfectly.

  1. The Office Professional: Opt for subtle, fine threads of red highlights on brown hair for a look that’s elegant and professional, but far from boring.
  2. The Bold Trendsetter: Go for bold cherry or wine-red highlights to make a statement and showcase your unique personality with this dynamic color choice.
  3. Those with Thin or Fine Hair: The highlighting effect creates a visual texture that instantly makes hair appear fuller and more lively.
  4. Anyone Hesitant to Go Full Red: Adding highlights is the perfect, low-commitment way to experiment with reddish brown hair tones without dyeing your entire head.
From subtle office styles to bold statements, customize this look to fit your personality.
From subtle office styles to bold statements, customize this look to fit your personality.

20 Best Brown Hair with Red Highlights Color Ideas

Brown Hair with Red and Copper Highlights

A sophisticated symphony of deep brown interwoven with metallic copper threads.
A sophisticated symphony of deep brown interwoven with metallic copper threads.

A symphony of warm tones where a deep brown base is interwoven with threads of red and copper, creating a sophisticated and luxurious look.

Warm Red Brown Hair

Face-framing brightness for a glowing, illuminated complexion.
Face-framing brightness for a glowing, illuminated complexion.

An overall reddish-brown hue, accented with slightly brighter red highlights near the face and ends to beautifully frame and illuminate your features.

Light Auburn Red Hair

Gentle autumn vibes offering a romantic and chic aesthetic.
Gentle autumn vibes offering a romantic and chic aesthetic.

This gentle, light auburn shade is reminiscent of autumn leaves, offering a sweet, romantic, and incredibly chic vibe.

Strawberry Brunette

A youthful fusion of pink and brown for a feminine glow.
A youthful fusion of pink and brown for a feminine glow.

A perfect fusion of brown, a hint of rosy pink, and red tones. This unique color is youthful, feminine, and undeniably trendy.

Gorgeous Chestnut Hair Color

Classic chestnut elevated with hidden ribbons of mysterious wine-red.
Classic chestnut elevated with hidden ribbons of mysterious wine-red.

The classic chestnut brown is elevated with hidden ribbons of wine-red highlights, creating a mysterious and captivating allure.

Praline Brown

Sweet caramel base accented with delicate red-copper highlights
Sweet caramel base accented with delicate red-copper highlights

Inspired by sweet praline candy, this color features a caramel brown base with delicate red-copper highlights.

Hot Reddish Brown Shade

Fiery red tones take center stage for a passionate look.
Fiery red tones take center stage for a passionate look.

A bold choice where the red tones take center stage, resulting in a fiery, passionate, and eye-catching look.

Medium-Length Dark Red Haircut

Chic medium cut balanced with lighter brown for added dimension
Chic medium cut balanced with lighter brown for added dimension

A chic medium-length cut where dark red is the dominant color, balanced with lighter brown highlights to add dimension and prevent the color from looking flat.

Chocolate and Merlot Shades

Sweet chocolate swirled with deep Merlot for classic elegance.
Sweet chocolate swirled with deep Merlot for classic elegance.

Imagine a sweet chocolate brown base swirled with rich, deep Merlot red highlights. This combination is the definition of classic elegance.

Rich Mahogany

A timeless dark blend exuding power and sophistication
A timeless dark blend exuding power and sophistication

Mahogany is a timeless blend of dark brown and deep red, exuding an air of power, maturity, and sophistication.

Dark Red Brown Hair Color

Universally flattering deep warmth for medium to dark skin tones
Universally flattering deep warmth for medium to dark skin tones

A warm, deep, and universally flattering shade that looks especially stunning on those with medium to dark skin tones.

Burgundy Brunette

Stand out with mysterious purple undertones on a dark base.
Stand out with mysterious purple undertones on a dark base.

The mysterious purple undertones of burgundy on a dark brown base will ensure you stand out from the crowd in the most stylish way possible.

Chocolate Curls with Red Highlights

Define bouncy ringlets with lively, popping 3D red effects.
Define bouncy ringlets with lively, popping 3D red effects.

Red highlights pop beautifully on bouncy chocolate-colored curls, defining each ringlet and creating a lively 3D effect.

Dimensional Red Brown Lob

High-fashion movement with seamless multi-tonal streaks.
High-fashion movement with seamless multi-tonal streaks.

The trendy long bob (lob) gets a high-fashion upgrade with multi-tonal red and brown highlights, creating seamless dimension and movement.

Cherry Red Highlights on Dark Brown Hair

High-contrast cherry streaks for an edgy, cool statement.
High-contrast cherry streaks for an edgy, cool statement.

The stark contrast between vibrant cherry red and a dark brown or black base creates an edgy, cool, and high-impact look.

Red-Brown Hair with Highlights and Lowlights

Ultimate depth and texture for thicker-looking hair.
Ultimate depth and texture for thicker-looking hair.

Using both lighter strands (highlights) and darker strands (lowlights) creates the ultimate depth and texture, making hair look incredibly thick.

Reddish-Brown Braids

Artistic interweaving of warm tones for a cool braided style.
Artistic interweaving of warm tones for a cool braided style.

A seriously cool style for the fashion-forward. Alternating reddish and brown tones in braids turns your hair into a true work of art.

Copper Balayage for Wavy Hair

Sun-kissed copper painting that looks effortless on wavy hair.
Sun-kissed copper painting that looks effortless on wavy hair.

The free-hand balayage technique paints natural-looking copper streaks onto a brown base, a style that looks effortlessly beautiful on wavy hair.

Auburn Curls with Brunette Roots

Low-maintenance perfection with natural roots transitioning to auburn.
Low-maintenance perfection with natural roots transitioning to auburn.

An ombré or balayage style that keeps the roots your natural brown color, transitioning to a beautiful auburn. This is a great low-maintenance option.

Copper Hair and Curtain Bangs

Trendy face-framing bangs with vibrant copper energy.
Trendy face-framing bangs with vibrant copper energy.

Combine two of the biggest trends: a vibrant copper-brown color and face-framing curtain bangs for a look that is youthful and absolutely on-point.

Classic Auburn

Timeless elegance balancing rich brown depth with vibrant red warmth.
Timeless elegance balancing rich brown depth with vibrant red warmth.

A timeless shade that perfectly balances rich brown depth with vibrant red warmth. Classic Auburn is universally flattering and offers a sophisticated, natural-looking glow suitable for any occasion.

>> Read more: 22 Best Red Highlights on Black Hair That Are Trending in 2025

How to Choose the Best Red and Brown Highlights for You

To get the most flattering brown hair with red highlights, choosing the right tones for you is crucial.

Consider Your Skin Tone:

  • Warm Undertones: You’ll look amazing in warmer shades like copper balayage, auburn, and chocolate brown highlights.
  • Cool Undertones: Opt for cooler shades like burgundy, cherry red, and wine red to complement your skin.

Match Your Base Color:

  • Dark Brown/Black Base: High-contrast red highlights on brown hair, like cherry red or deep burgundy, will stand out beautifully.
  • Light/Medium Brown Base: You can play with more subtle tones like copper, auburn, and strawberry brunette.
Match your undertone and base color to find your most flattering highlight shade.
Match your undertone and base color to find your most flattering highlight shade.

Choose the Right Technique:

  • Balayage: A hair coloring technique where color is painted on freehand, creating a soft, natural, sun-kissed transition.
  • Ombré: A more dramatic color transition from dark roots to lighter ends.
  • Foil Highlights: Using foil to separate strands creates precise, defined, and vibrant highlights.

At GOVIHAIR, our clients often gravitate towards creative techniques like ombré or a “piano mix” of red and brown highlights for a truly unique look. These styles not only add natural-looking depth but also enhance facial features for a sharp, youthful appearance.

How to Maintain Red and Brown Highlighted Hair

Red is a notoriously fast-fading color. To keep your brown hair with red highlights looking vibrant, follow these essential tips:

Use Color-Safe Products

Always choose shampoos and conditioners that are sulfate-free and specifically designed for color-treated hair.

Wash with Cool Water

Hot water opens the hair cuticle, allowing color molecules to escape.

Limit Hair Washing

Try to wash your hair only 2-3 times a week to preserve the color of your red and brown highlights.

Preserve vibrant color and shine with sulfate-free products and heat protection.
Preserve vibrant color and shine with sulfate-free products and heat protection.

Use a Weekly Hair Mask

A deep conditioning treatment will restore moisture and keep your hair healthy, shiny, and vibrant.

Protect from Heat and Sun

Always use a heat protectant spray before styling and wear a hat or use a UV protectant spray when in the sun.

What shade of red is best for brown hair?

The best shade depends on your base color and skin tone. Popular options include copper red, auburn, cherry red, and burgundy highlights. Warmer hues like copper blend naturally, while deeper reds like burgundy create a bold contrast.

Are red highlights high-maintenance?

Red pigments fade faster than other hair colors, so they do require regular maintenance. Using color-safe shampoo, minimizing heat styling, and scheduling toning or refresh sessions every 4–6 weeks will keep the red vibrant longer.

Can brown hair with red highlights be done on virgin hair?

Absolutely. Virgin brown hair absorbs color evenly and helps red tones appear richer and more long-lasting. It also minimizes damage since the hair hasn’t been chemically processed before.

Will red highlights damage brown hair?

Any chemical coloring can cause dryness, but proper care reduces damage. Opt for professional coloring, deep conditioning treatments, and sulfate-free products to protect the hair and maintain shine.

What’s the best technique for adding red highlights to brown hair?

Balayage, foiling, and money-piece highlights are the most popular techniques. Balayage gives a soft, natural blend, while foils create a more defined, high-impact look. A money piece adds brightness around the face.

Conclusion 

Brown hair with red highlights is more than just a hair color; it’s a style statement. It’s classic, glamorous, modern, and edgy all at once. With these 20 ideas, we hope you’ve found the inspiration for your next hair transformation.

Achieve your dream hair transformation with premium custom extensions from Govihair.
Achieve your dream hair transformation with premium custom extensions from Govihair.

At GOVIHAIR, we are dedicated to bringing you the latest hair color trends, tailored to your personal style. We believe achieving your perfect reddish brown hair starts with healthy hair. As a special bonus, every GOVIHAIR purchase comes with a complimentary hair care guide to help you maintain the beauty and longevity of your hair, ensuring you get the most out of it. Don’t hesitate to make a change! Contact GOVIHAIR today to get a personalized consultation and achieve the trendy brown hair with red highlights that will make you shine.

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