20 Blonde Hair Ideas for Brunettes From Honey Highlights to Bright Face Frames
Looking for blonde hair ideas for brunettes that leave a little brown showing? Think honey-colored ribbons, bright face-framing pieces and pale blonde ends.
There are also a few much lighter looks here if you’re ready for a bigger change.
You can keep the highlights subtle or go all out with contrasting sections. Save your favorite color and cut together so you can talk through both with your stylist.
Blonde highlights and color ideas worth saving
beige blonde sweeping layers
We’re starting off strong with these gorgeous beige blonde layers. I love the lighter strands running through the brown at the crown, especially where they sweep away from the face.
Ask for long face-framing layers if you want to bring that same shape into your cut.
honey ribbons and curled ends
How pretty is this honey and brown pairing? The fine golden pieces run through the lengths, with brighter color around the curled ends.
There’s still plenty of brown showing between them.
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Save this one if you want a little blonde without choosing an all-over pale shade.
bright blonde face frame
I am obsessed with this face frame. The blonde starts right beside the center part and follows those sweeping front pieces, while the rest stays much darker.
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If you want your highlights to look a little bolder, show your stylist these distinct light sections around the face.
golden flipped layers
If you are looking for a softer blonde and brown mix, this one is for you. Fine light streaks run through the top, with golden color along the outward-flipped layers. Those curved ends are my favorite part.
blonde ribbons on dark waves
Don’t want to lose all that dark brown? No problem!
These beige blonde ribbons weave through the waves with darker sections left in between.
I’d keep that mix rather than ask for every end to be equally blonde. The individual light pieces look so pretty here.
ash blonde feathered ends
This ash blonde look may just be one of my favorites here. The brown upper section gives way to pale, cool-toned ends, with lots of curved layers along the back.
Bring this picture along if you like a gray-beige blonde rather than a golden shade.
light blonde and a center part
Ready for something much blonder? This look has pale blonde through most of the lengths, with darker roots and a few darker strands still showing.
I love the shorter front layers curving around the jaw.
Ask your stylist what moving toward this lighter result would involve for your current color.
dark roots and pale waves
If you are looking for a true eye-catcher, then this one is for you. There’s a big change from the deep brown roots to the very pale blonde lengths.
The long waves and bright pieces beside the face are so pretty together. I’d save this for the color placement as much as the shade.
golden blonde curls
I love this golden blonde with the brown upper section. The lighter pieces become broader through the lengths, ending in those big curled sections.
If you prefer golden shades to icy ones, this is a lovely picture to bring to your appointment.
highlighted bob with a claw clip
How cute is this short cut? The blonde pieces stand out against the brown roots and darker hair at the nape.
A pale claw clip holds the top section up while the front pieces stay loose.
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Try a half-up style like this if you want to show off the different shades in your bob.
golden curls piled high
I am obsessed with this curly updo. It’s so pretty, plus those loose blonde spirals around the face are adorable.
The darker roots are still visible beneath the golden curls. Keep a few front curls out if you want to try a similar piled-up style.
beige highlights and loose waves
Don’t want to go all out with chunky streaks? Look at these fine beige blonde highlights instead.
They run through a light brown base, with a brighter sweep near the face.
The loose waves show off both colors without hiding the darker sections underneath.
golden streaks and long bangs
This is another pretty way to wear blonde around your face. I love how the long, center-parted bangs sweep into the layers, with golden streaks continuing through the brown lengths.
Ask to keep some darker strands between the highlights if you like this striped mix.
creamy blonde front layers
If you’re looking for brighter lengths with a little brown left at the top, save this one. The creamy blonde front sections are especially pretty beside the darker crown.
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Those long layers curve away from the face without turning into full curls. I’d bring this picture for the cut too.
honey highlights on warm brown
The honey blonde and warm brown pairing is so cute in this look. You can see separate golden ribbons through the waves, with plenty of brown running all the way to the ends.
This is a lovely option to discuss if you want highlights rather than a mostly blonde result.
hidden blonde underneath
Want something a little different from highlights all over? This lifted section reveals broad pale blonde pieces underneath the brown hair, plus a light section at the front.
I love how clearly the two colors stand apart. Ask about a blonde underlayer if that’s the detail you want to recreate.
fine highlights and curved ends
Here’s another look at the golden layered style from earlier. The thin highlights near the crown are worth a closer look, especially beside the broader blonde pieces through the lower layers.
If you’re saving this picture for your stylist, point out both the fine streaks and those flipped ends.
cool blonde wavy ends
I love this dark brown with the pale, cool blonde ends. Some light ribbons reach higher up, but there’s a broad darker section through the crown and middle.
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Ask for that darker area to stay visible if you prefer this look to highlights starting everywhere at the roots.
bold front streaks and wispy bangs
How cute are these wispy bangs? The fringe stays mostly brown while broad golden blonde pieces frame it on either side.
More blonde follows the curved layers through the lengths.
This is one of my favorite ways to pair a darker base with a really noticeable face frame.
pale blonde and sweeping bangs
Last but definitely not least, we have this gorgeous pale blonde layered look. I am in love with the sweeping bangs and all those flipped ends!
There’s a little deeper golden color near the top, but the overall look is very blonde. Save this one if you’re considering a bigger color change rather than just a few highlights.
