While cool platinum and ashy tones have their place, there’s something irresistible about warm, golden hues that bring life to your look. Enter honey highlights—the perfect way to infuse rich, sun-kissed warmth into your hair. Whether you prefer subtle touches or bold, statement-making streaks, honey highlights offer endless versatility and suit a wide range of skin tones.
From delicate hints of honey to vibrant, dimensional blends, this trend has something for everyone. If you’ve been dreaming of a softer, glowing hair color, honey highlights might just be what you’re looking for. Keep reading for 21 inspiring ways to embrace this timeless look, plus tips on how to maintain your color’s vibrancy.
What Are Honey Highlights?
Honey highlights are inspired by the warm, golden tones of natural honey, ranging from light amber to deeper golden brown. Their versatility means they can be tailored to any hair color or skin tone. These highlights can add brightness and warmth to your hair while enhancing its overall dimension.
When choosing the right shade, consult with your colorist to find a tone that complements your skin’s undertone and base color. For a more natural effect, you can opt for soft, sun-kissed strands, or go bold with deeper, contrasting highlights.
Best Honey Highlight Ideas And Inspiration
Thinking about adding warm, rich honey highlights to your hair? Check out our list of 35 inspiring ideas to help you bring this gorgeous trend to life!
Bronde Hair with Honey Highlights
Bronde, a mix of blonde and brown, is the ultimate hybrid for those who can’t decide between the two. Adding honey highlights with an ombré effect in the lower half enhances the look with warmth and dimension, making it both effortless and eye-catching.
Neutral Blonde with Honey Highlights
Neutral blonde is a seamless blend of cool and warm tones, offering a natural and balanced look. Honey highlights are added just enough to enhance the overall color without overpowering it, creating a soft, radiant glow.
Neutral Honey Brown Highlights
For brunettes who want a versatile and shimmering look, neutral honey brown highlights are a perfect choice. These tones add just the right amount of warmth and coolness for a harmonious and luminous finish.
Dark Honey Brown Balayage
Keep your darker roots intact while adding depth with dark honey brown balayage. A warm-toned toner can elevate this look even further, giving your hair a rich, glossy shine that’s impossible to ignore.
Copper Honey Highlights
For those who prefer warmth without going too light, copper honey highlights are an ideal option. This shade blends golden tones with a hint of copper, delivering a vibrant, radiant look without the commitment of brighter blondes.
Caramel Highlights on Chocolate Brown
Subtle caramel highlights are the perfect way to add warmth to chocolate brown hair. This look combines rich, warm tones at the ends with fine honey strands woven throughout, creating a dimensional and natural finish.
Dirty Blonde with Honey Highlights
Dirty blonde gets an instant upgrade with a mix of honey highlights, lowlights, and cooler tones. The combination adds depth and dimension, making your hair look effortlessly vibrant and textured.
Chestnut with Fiery Honey Highlights
Enhance chestnut hair with fiery honey blonde highlights for a warm, glowing effect. Add a face-framing money piece for extra brightness and dimension, giving your hair a fresh, dynamic look.
Mahogany and Honey Ombré
Mahogany roots flow seamlessly into a honey blonde base with this stunning ombré style. Balayage techniques tie the two shades together beautifully, creating a smooth and natural gradient.
Honey Copper
Add a burst of warmth to your copper locks with honey-toned highlights. This blend of golden hues gives depth and richness, making your hair stand out with a radiant glow.
Dimensional Neutral Blonde Balayage
Balance cool and warm tones with a balayage on medium to dark blonde hair. Incorporate pale honey blonde through the midsection, concentrating the brightest tones at the ends for a dimensional, sunlit look.
Amber-Honey Melt
For a golden, sun-kissed finish, opt for an amber-honey melt. Bright panels around the face add brightness, while the warm hue transitions seamlessly into brown hair, creating a soft, glowing effect.
Honey Brown Midlights
Honey brown midlights are a subtle way to add warmth to a darker base. They create a soft, glowing effect without needing significant lightening, blending seamlessly into your natural color for a balanced, radiant look.
Walnut Brown with Soft Toffee Highlights
For a gentle touch of warmth, pair your dark walnut brown hair with fine toffee highlights. This understated combination adds just the right amount of brightness and sparkle, creating a natural yet polished effect.
Horchata Blonde with Honey Highlights and Lowlights
Achieve stunning dimension with a mix of honey-toned highlights and lowlights on horchata blonde hair. This blend enhances depth and vibrancy, giving your hair a rich and multi-dimensional finish.
Pearl Blonde with Honey Highlights
If you prefer cooler tones, pearl blonde hair with subtle honey highlights strikes the perfect balance. The soft honey strands add a touch of warmth, creating an elegant and harmonious blend of colors.
Pink, Brunette, and Honey Highlights
Add a playful twist to your hair with bubblegum pink money pieces paired with dark blonde roots and honey highlights. This creative combination is bold, unique, and perfect for those looking to step outside traditional color choices.
Honey Highlights on Dark Brown Hair
Honey highlights provide a striking contrast against dark brown hair, creating a luminous, sunlit effect. This combination enhances depth while adding just the right amount of brightness to your locks.
Face-Framing Honey Highlights on Dark Brown Hair
Brighten up your dark brown strands with honey highlights focused around your face. This low-maintenance option enhances your complexion and adds dimension without requiring frequent touch-ups.
Chocolate with Dark Honey Highlights
Dark honey highlights paired with a chocolate base create a rich, dimensional look. Ribbons of warm chestnut and honey tones add depth and a silky, radiant finish to your brunette locks.
Butterscotch Blonde with Honey Highlights
Start with a creamy butterscotch blonde base and layer on honey highlights for a warm, sweet-inspired look. For added dimension, consider blending in fine threads of sandy blonde or platinum tones to create a perfectly balanced effect.
How to Care for and Maintain Your Honey Highlights
Keeping your honey highlights vibrant and healthy requires the right care routine.
- Use Color-Safe Products
Switch to shampoos and conditioners designed for color-treated hair to prevent fading and keep your highlights bright and fresh. - Deep Conditioning
Incorporate a leave-in conditioner or deep treatment mask into your weekly routine to strengthen and nourish your hair. This helps maintain a glossy, hydrated look, especially for lightened or bleached strands. - Toning Treatments
Visit your stylist every 4-6 weeks for a toning treatment to refresh your highlights and maintain their warm, golden hue. - Avoid Overheating
Minimize heat styling and always use a heat protectant when blow-drying or curling to prevent damage and preserve your color. - Color-Depositing Masks
Add a color-depositing mask to your routine to enhance your honey tones. These masks are a quick and easy way to maintain vibrancy and keep your highlights glowing between salon visits.
With proper care, your honey highlights will stay radiant, healthy, and picture-perfect for weeks!
