35 Dark Hair with Highlights Ideas for 2024

Are you tired of the same old dark hair and looking to add some flair without completely changing your look?

Have you been curious about how highlights could elevate your dark locks but aren’t sure where to start?

Dark hair with highlights is the perfect way to bring depth, dimension, and a touch of brightness to your style. But with so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one.

That’s where these 35 stunning ideas come in. Whether you’re after something subtle or a bold pop of color, this list will help you find the perfect match for your dark hair.

35 Dark Hair with Highlights

1. Rich Espresso Waves with Subtle Highlights

Dark hair doesn’t have to be one-dimensional, and this style proves it. The rich espresso base is elevated with finely woven highlights that subtly catch the light, adding depth without overpowering the natural darkness. The waves create movement, allowing the highlights to shimmer softly through the lengths.

2. Sun-Kissed Brunette Waves

The contrast between dark roots and light ends creates a stunning sun-kissed effect in this hairstyle. With a deep brunette base, the highlights are concentrated around the face and through the mid-lengths, giving the hair a radiant glow. The waves enhance the dimensionality, allowing the lighter strands to cascade beautifully.

3. Copper-Infused Brunette Waves

A deep brunette base takes on a captivating twist with the infusion of rich copper highlights. The highlights are meticulously placed to enhance the natural wave pattern, creating a dynamic play of light and shadow. The copper tones bring warmth and vibrancy to the dark hair, making each wave stand out with a glossy finish.

4. Smoky Brunette Layers with Subtle Highlights

Deep, smoky brunette layers are enhanced by barely-there highlights that softly blend with the dark base, adding a touch of light without stealing the show. The layers provide movement and body, while the highlights subtly accentuate the natural flow of the hair. The curtain bangs frame the face beautifully, offering a soft, romantic touch to the overall look.

5. Ash-Toned Brunette Waves

The dark base of this hairstyle is seamlessly blended with cool, ash-toned highlights that create a beautiful contrast without overpowering the natural richness. The waves add texture and movement, making the highlights appear to dance through the hair.

6. Chestnut Highlights on Deep Brunette

A deep brunette base is beautifully enhanced with chestnut highlights that add warmth and depth without overwhelming the natural color. The highlights are delicately woven throughout the hair, providing a soft glow that catches the light as the waves move.

7. Smoky Beige Highlights on Dark Brunette

Smoky beige highlights bring a soft, luminous touch to this dark brunette hairstyle. The highlights are carefully placed to frame the face and flow through the lengths, adding a cool-toned contrast that enhances the natural depth of the base color.

8. Cool Ash Brown Waves

The cool ash brown highlights in this dark brunette hairstyle bring a modern and sophisticated touch. The highlights are delicately woven throughout the waves, creating a soft contrast that enhances the depth of the base color without overpowering it.

9. Smoky Ash Brown with Soft Waves

Smoky ash brown highlights bring a cool, refined touch to this dark brunette base, creating a perfect blend of warmth and subtle contrast. The highlights are intricately placed, giving the hair depth and dimension, while the soft waves add a gentle movement that enhances the overall texture.

10. Subtle Ash Brown Highlights on Dark Waves

Ash brown highlights subtly woven through dark waves bring a natural yet polished look to this hairstyle. The highlights are carefully placed to frame the face and add dimension, creating a soft contrast that enhances the depth of the dark base.

11. Caramel Highlights on Voluminous Dark Layers

Caramel highlights delicately enhance the dark base of this voluminous hairstyle, adding warmth and dimension without overpowering the natural color. The highlights are subtly placed, focusing on the face-framing layers and the ends, creating a soft, sun-kissed effect. The layers add movement and body, giving the hair a full, bouncy appearance while maintaining a sleek and polished finish.

12. Honey-Toned Highlights on Silky Dark Waves

Honey-toned highlights bring a warm, sunlit touch to these silky dark waves, creating a harmonious blend that enhances the natural richness of the brunette base. The highlights are delicately placed throughout the length of the hair, giving it a soft glow that catches the light beautifully with every movement.

13. Sunlit Blonde Highlights on Dark Roots

Sunlit blonde highlights create a stunning contrast against dark roots, bringing a bright and refreshing look to this hairstyle. The highlights start gradually near the crown and become more prominent towards the ends, giving the hair a natural, sun-kissed effect.

14. Soft Caramel Highlights on Voluminous Layers

Soft caramel highlights delicately enhance the depth of this voluminous dark hair, creating a warm, sunlit glow. The highlights are strategically placed to frame the face and subtly blend through the ends, adding dimension without overpowering the natural richness of the brunette base.

15. Chestnut Brown Highlights on Sleek Layers

Chestnut brown highlights add a subtle warmth to this sleek, dark hairstyle, creating a soft, natural dimension. The highlights are delicately blended throughout the layers, adding depth and a slight shimmer that complements the smooth, straight finish.

16. Rich Auburn Highlights on Voluminous Waves

Rich auburn highlights bring a fiery warmth to these voluminous waves, creating a striking contrast against the dark base. The highlights are concentrated through the mid-lengths and ends, adding depth and dimension to the hairstyle without overpowering the natural darkness. The waves add a bouncy, textured look, enhancing the vibrant tones of the auburn highlights.

17. Soft Mocha Highlights on Classic Waves

Soft mocha highlights subtly elevate this classic dark hairstyle, adding a gentle warmth that enhances the natural brunette tones. The highlights are finely distributed, creating a seamless blend that gives the waves a luminous, sun-kissed effect. The loose waves add movement and texture, framing the face with a soft elegance.

18. Feathered Layers with Subtle Chestnut Highlights

Feathered layers paired with subtle chestnut highlights add dimension and texture to this dark hair, creating a voluminous and dynamic look. The chestnut tones are delicately woven throughout, adding warmth and depth without overpowering the natural brunette shade. The curtain bangs effortlessly frame the face, giving the hairstyle a soft, romantic feel.

19. Golden Caramel Highlights on Wavy Dark Hair

Golden caramel highlights bring a warm, sunlit radiance to this dark, wavy hairstyle. The highlights are strategically placed to enhance the natural waves, creating a stunning contrast that adds depth and movement throughout the hair. The interplay of dark and light tones gives the waves a multi-dimensional effect, making the hair appear fuller and more vibrant.

20. Face-Framing Ash Blonde Highlights with Soft Waves

Ash blonde highlights create a striking contrast against the deep, dark base of this hairstyle, focusing primarily on face-framing strands that add brightness and dimension. The soft waves enhance the dynamic interplay between the light and dark tones, giving the hair a natural yet stylish look.

21. Luminous Mocha Waves with Subtle Highlights

Luminous mocha waves enriched with subtle highlights bring a soft, radiant glow to this dark hairstyle. The highlights are meticulously placed throughout the waves, adding depth and dimension while enhancing the natural richness of the mocha tones. The smooth, voluminous waves create a luxurious texture, allowing the highlights to catch the light beautifully.

22. Sandy Blonde Highlights on Tousled Dark Waves

Sandy blonde highlights add a sun-kissed radiance to these tousled dark waves, creating a stunning contrast that exudes effortless beachy vibes. The highlights are focused primarily on the mid-lengths and ends, blending seamlessly with the darker roots for a naturally grown-out look.

23. Deep Burgundy Highlights on Glossy Waves

Deep burgundy highlights bring a rich, bold dimension to these glossy dark waves, creating a striking interplay of color. The burgundy tones are artfully woven throughout the hair, enhancing the natural waves with a vibrant yet sophisticated touch. The dark base adds depth, allowing the red hues to stand out without overwhelming the overall look.

24. Peachy Coral Highlights on Dark Waves

Peachy coral highlights add a vibrant and playful twist to these dark waves, creating a striking contrast that exudes warmth and energy. The highlights are concentrated toward the ends, giving the hair a beautiful gradient effect that transitions seamlessly from dark roots.

25. Fiery Red Highlights on Voluminous Dark Waves

Fiery red highlights set against voluminous dark waves create a bold and captivating hairstyle. The intense red tones are seamlessly blended with the dark base, adding a dynamic contrast that brings the waves to life. The highlights are concentrated towards the mid-lengths and ends, giving the hair a radiant glow that exudes confidence and drama.

26. Bold Multicolor Highlights on Dark Bob

This dark bob comes alive with bold multicolor highlights, featuring streaks of red, gold, and orange that add a vibrant edge to the sleek black base. The highlights are strategically placed, primarily on the top layers, creating a striking contrast that draws attention to the movement and texture of the bob.

27. Neon Yellow Face-Framing Highlights on Dark Waves

Neon yellow face-framing highlights create a bold and electrifying contrast against the deep, dark waves of this hairstyle. The vibrant yellow hues are concentrated at the front, drawing attention to the face and adding a striking pop of color that transforms the entire look.

28. Vibrant Purple Underlights on Dark Waves

Vibrant purple underlights bring an unexpected pop of color to these dark, wavy locks, creating a bold and edgy contrast. The rich purple tones peek through the deep black base, adding a striking dimension that comes alive with movement. These underlights are placed strategically underneath, allowing for a subtle yet impactful reveal as the hair moves.

29. Warm Copper and Blonde Highlights on Deep Auburn Layers

Warm copper and blonde highlights breathe life into these deep auburn layers, creating a rich, multidimensional look. The contrasting hues of copper and blonde are delicately woven through the auburn base, adding a touch of brightness and enhancing the overall warmth of the hair.

30. Midnight Blue and Purple Highlights on Dark Braided Waves

Midnight blue and purple highlights bring a striking contrast to this dark braided style, creating a bold and mystical look. The deep black base is interwoven with vibrant shades of blue and purple, which add dimension and intrigue.

31. Mystical Plum and Blue Waves on Dark Hair

Plum and blue highlights create a mesmerizing effect on this dark, wavy hairstyle. The deep, rich hues of plum blend seamlessly with the cool blue tones, giving the hair a multidimensional and almost ethereal appearance. The waves add movement and texture, allowing the colors to shift and catch the light with every turn.

32. Vibrant Rainbow Streaks on Dark Layers

A bold spectrum of rainbow hues brings this dark layered hairstyle to life. The vivid colors, from fiery reds to deep purples and vibrant greens, are seamlessly blended throughout the hair, creating a striking contrast against the dark base. The layers allow the colors to flow naturally, giving the hair an almost fluid appearance as it moves.

33. Subtle Pink Highlights on Wavy Dark Hair

Deep waves in dark hair get a playful twist with subtle pink highlights. The pink tones are concentrated towards the ends, creating a striking contrast that adds dimension without overwhelming the natural dark base.

34. Emerald and Amethyst Striped Highlights

This unique hairstyle blends deep emerald and amethyst highlights with a sleek, dark base. The stripes are strategically placed to create a bold, patterned look that draws attention without overwhelming the overall style. The combination of green and purple adds a mystical touch, making the hair look like it’s shimmering in the light.

35. Lavender Accents on Wavy Brunette

This hairstyle features soft lavender highlights that elegantly contrast against the rich brunette base. The highlights are concentrated towards the front and ends, adding a playful yet sophisticated edge to the wavy locks. The blend of lavender with the natural waves creates a dynamic and eye-catching look, perfect for those wanting to experiment with color while keeping it chic.