20 Low Maintenance Balayage Ideas From Subtle Brunette to Bright Blonde
Looking for low maintenance balayage with a little something extra? Think fine caramel ribbons, brighter face-framing pieces or blonde ends with a darker root.
These looks give you plenty to bring to your color appointment, including a few deeper shades if you’d rather stay brunette.
You can keep the color subtle or go much brighter. Just remember that a photo can’t tell you the upkeep.
Ask your colorist what works with your starting shade and how often it’ll need refreshing.
Balayage Color Ideas Worth Saving
fine beige ribbons
We’re starting off strong with these gorgeous brown layers and fine beige highlights. I love how the lighter strands follow the big curves through the ends.
If you want to keep plenty of brunette in your color, ask for narrow ribbons like these rather than large blonde sections.
dark waves and lighter front pieces
Don’t want to go all out with blonde? No problem!
This long brunette look has a few lighter pieces around the face and soft brown streaks through the waves. There’s still so much dark color here, which is my favorite part.
Read also: 20 Color and Cut Ideas for Copper Hair on Olive Skin
golden face-framing curls
How pretty is this golden-brown combination? The brighter front sections sweep away from the face into big curls, with darker brown showing between them.
Bring this one along if you want your colorist to see exactly where you’d like the brightness. I’d keep those golden ends too.
soft brown waves
If you are looking for something understated, this one is for you. Fine beige-brown strands run through the long waves without taking over the darker base.
The little touches of light color beside the face are so pretty.
deep cherry layers
I am obsessed with this deep cherry-brown shade. The sweeping fringe and curled layers are gorgeous, especially with that reddish color showing across the top.
This reads as a more all-over shade than a clear balayage pattern. Save it as a color reference if you’d like to discuss a deeper red-brown direction instead.
long chestnut waves
This is another pretty choice if you love darker hair. The long waves have a chestnut tone, with only gentle differences in color rather than obvious blonde streaks.
For a balayage variation, you could ask your colorist about adding a few fine lighter-brown pieces while keeping this overall depth.
golden ribbons through long waves
If you love lots of little highlights, then this one is for you. There’s golden color around the face and all through the long, loose waves.
I especially love the mix of brighter ribbons and deep brown sections. Ask to keep some of that darker color through the lengths if you want a similar look.
rooted blonde bob
How cute is this short bob? The dark roots blend into pale blonde lengths, with a gentle bend just above the blunt ends.
You don’t need long curls to show off a pretty color combination.
bright streaks on straight hair
Want to see a highlighted look without the big waves? This one’s for you.
Long, straight dark hair has narrow blonde streaks running through it, plus brighter pieces right beside the face.
Keep this photo as a placement reference if you like a more noticeable difference between light and dark.
soft brown half-up bun
I love this loose half-up bun with the brown waves underneath. The lighter brown strands are subtle, but you can spot them through the bun and down the lengths.
Try gathering the top section into a loose knot like this while leaving the rest of your waves down.
dark chocolate waves
This brunette may just be one of my favorites here. I love the narrow brown highlights against the much darker top.
The large waves show off those little ribbons without the ends looking blonde.
Read also: 20 Blonde Hair Ideas for Brunettes From Honey Highlights to Bright Face Frames
golden feathered layers
If you’re looking for a lighter color reference, go with this golden-beige look and its sweeping layers. Fine pale strands sit through a darker beige base, with more golden color near the ends.
Don’t forget to show your stylist the cut too if those flipped-out layers are what caught your eye.
pale blonde with dark roots
I am obsessed with these bright front pieces. The pale blonde lengths look so pretty beside the darker roots, especially where the front section sweeps across the face.
Read also: 20 Ideas for Low Maintenance Blonde Hair With Dark Roots
This is a bolder blonde option than the subtle brunette looks. Ask your colorist whether this much lightening fits the upkeep you have in mind.
ash-beige shoulder-length waves
Don’t want super long hair and want something a little shorter? This shoulder-length cut is such a pretty reference.
I love the ash-beige pieces around the face and the dark sections still showing through the back.
Read also: 20 Hairstyle References for a Wolf Cut for Fine Hair
copper-brown layered ends
The copper-brown streaks are so pretty in this layered look. They run down from the top and curve through the darker ends.
If you prefer this reddish direction to golden blonde, point out those narrow copper sections at your appointment. There’s no need to copy the whole cut to borrow the color idea.
fine highlights on smooth layers
This is actually one of my favorite subtle looks on the list. The long brown hair has very fine beige streaks, with a sweeping front layer crossing over the straighter lengths.
Ask for a restrained color difference if you want to keep this same mostly-brunette look.
beige blonde loose bends
How pretty are these loose bends? Beige-blonde sections sit beside deeper brown ribbons, with brighter color framing the face.
The ends look lightly tousled rather than curled into big rolls, which I love.
Read also: 20 Copper Hair Ideas for Tan Skin, From Auburn Waves to Bright Ginger
cinnamon ribbons
Bring a little reddish color into your brunette with this cinnamon-brown reference. I am in love with the brighter ribbons through the lower waves. The top stays much darker.
For a similar placement, ask about keeping the brighter color mostly through the middle and ends.
caramel shoulder-length waves
This shorter wavy look is so cute. The caramel pieces beside the face are brighter than the fine streaks through the rest, with plenty of deep brown at the roots.
I’d keep the slightly tousled styling just like this. It’s a lovely way to wear the mix without a big curled blowout.
soft chestnut layered waves
Last but definitely not least, we have these pretty chestnut-brown layers. I love the fine lighter strands through the lower waves!
The darker top and gently curled ends keep the color differences subtle.
