The Caramel balayage hair color trend offers an easy way to achieve naturally sun-kissed blonde locks. By adding warm streaks of caramel onto a brunette base, this technique produces an elegantly natural finish. Try a full-head caramel balayage for an all-over lightning effect with a subtle dimension. Start with a dark brown base, wash in Blondor free lights to the mid-lengths, then add thin ribbons of golden blonde for this eye-catching bronde look.
1. Salted Caramel
Cool caramel tones offer clients with dark chestnut brown hair an effective way to lighten the shade without disturbing its natural hue. Subtle highlights or an accent piece can add subtle depth, while honey caramel “money pieces” around the face can lift and brighten their appearance. When combined with soft waves for an effortlessly casual style that will mature beautifully over time, if your client has a lighter brown base, add freehand blonde highlights two or three shades brighter than their base to achieve a natural, sun-kissed finish that looks fresh and radiant. Utilize a protective shampoo such as Pureology ColorMotion Color Protection Shampoo to shield strands from shade fade between salon visits.
2. Golden Caramel
Rich copper shades suit brunettes with warm complexions well, whether their hair is worn curly or straight. Coupled with waves or curls, a caramel hue looks absolutely gorgeous on brunette strands to achieve that magazine-worthy radiance. For an additional subtler effect, ask your stylist to create a face-framing money piece to adorn both the forehead and cheekbones with lightness and life. Caramel balayage provides natural-looking sun-kissed highlights without the harshness of foil highlights and is more gentle than bleach when damaging hair color. Keep it vibrant with Matrix Keep Me Vivid shampoo.
3. Subtle Caramel
Caramel balayage provides a sweeter, more subtle finish for brunettes who wish to add warmth without going overboard with their mane color. This style looks beautiful when applied softly over honey-brown highlights for maximum impact on wavy locks. Soft blonde and caramel babylights create an eye-catching dimensional effect by adding texture to the strands, producing a naturally tousled and sun-kissed effect. Help your clients maintain the vibrancy of their balayage color between salon visits by suggesting they use a protecting shampoo like ColorMotion Color Protection Shampoo, which guards against shade fade with an antioxidant-rich formula.
4. Dimensional Caramel
Dark brunettes can add golden highlights for an eye-catching effect by adding two to three shades of lighter, softer highlights than their natural color. This style works best on light brown backgrounds where highlights should be placed freehand two to three shades lighter. This stunning caramel hue makes an impressionful statement when worn with wavy locks. The airy texture of wavy strands highlights its striking contrast between dark brown roots and the sun-kissed caramel tones scattered throughout. Caramel balayage lasts longer than traditional foil highlights, meaning you won’t need as frequent touch-up visits at the salon. Use a nourishing shampoo like Pureology Keep Me Vivid Sulfate-Free to maintain its vibrant shade between salon visits.
5. Half-Up Half-Down Caramel
Dark brown hair can look just as lovely with some caramel balayage added to it, adding subtle ribbons of caramel for a natural and easy maintenance look. Ask your colorist to add soft ribbons of caramel throughout for the best result. Keep your roots dark, then wash in medium and light ash tones to achieve an elegantly subtle yet naturally more delicate look. This style works best on brunettes with long locks. Here, she kept her hair at approximately shoulder length, with an adorable face-framing layer, honey and caramel highlights, a side part, and some beautiful waves to complete this stunning look. You will be irresistibly charming.
6. V-Cut Caramel
No matter your hair length or cut style, this caramel balayage look will bring life and depth to any image, from dark brown roots that fade into blonde-caramel honey highlights that look incredible with straight or wavy locks. If you’re a brunette looking for an effortless lightning solution without going the entire foil route, soft caramel balayage may be the ideal way to go. Pick a shade two or three shades lighter than your natural color and apply soft, sun-kissed highlights over time for the desired look. Chocolate and caramel pair beautifully with loose beach curls for an effortless finish. Make an impressionful statement with a side-swept ponytail to finish this sophisticated feminine look.