Wait, did you just get back from Malibu? Oh that’s just your hair color! My bad. But seriously, that sunkissed brunette thing is SO good right now. I keep staring at everyone’s hair when I’m out cause this trend is everywhere.
California brunette is basically when you take brown hair and make it look like you spent all summer at the beach. You know those girls with perfect hair in every Instagram photo from the coast? That’s what we’re talking about. It’s brown but it’s got sun in it and movement and it just looks… expensive? But also casual? I don’t know how to explain it but you know it when you see it.
The whole thing started because people wanted that natural sunkissed look without actually frying their hair in the sun. Smart! I’ve been doing this color on clients for a while now and honestly it never gets old. There’s so many ways to do it too which is the fun part.
You can go subtle with just some face-framing pieces. Or go all out with a full balayage situation. Dark roots or no dark roots. Warm tones or cool tones. Long hair, short hair, curly, straight, whatever! The California brunette vibe works on basically everyone cause it’s all about that natural sunkissed look.
Caramel Dream Waves
Your hair is long and wavy here. The caramel color goes in a U shape in the back which looks really pretty when you move around! It’s not too much. You can see it good when you turn your head and stuff.
Beachy Golden Fade
This one is super beachy. Brown fades into blonde and it’s gradual so it looks natural! The waves help blend everything. You don’t have to come to the salon a lot with this which is nice because who has time for that.
Money Piece Magic
I don’t know why more people don’t try this. These blonde pieces go by your face! They make you look brighter and you don’t have to do your whole head. Growing out is easy too so you save money.
Warm Honey Balayage Vibes
Lots of people ask for this exact thing. It’s long and wavy with honey color painted in! Way more natural than foils because we paint it by hand. The honey is warm which is good if your skin is warm and you want to look like you went to the beach.
Sunny Babylights on Straight Hair
So babylights are really tiny highlights. They go on medium straight hair and look so nice! It’s like what sun does naturally. Your brown hair stays mostly the same but gets some bright in it.
Chestnut Honey Glow
Chestnut brown is the base here. Then you add honey blonde! It works for fall and summer both which is cool. The chestnut makes it rich and the honey makes it fun but not too light or anything.
Shaggy Ash Blonde Ombre
This haircut is shoulder length and shaggy with bangs. Your roots stay dark and the ends are ash blonde which is a big difference! It reminds me of like 2000s hair but better. You gotta be bold for this one cause it’s pretty noticeable.
Classic California Balayage
Okay this is THE look everyone thinks of. Long wavy hair that’s light brown and sunkissed! When people say California hair this is what they mean. It looks like you just came from the beach even if you didn’t and it’s not trying too hard.
Medium Golden Balayage
This length is medium with golden blonde balayage in it. You can see it but it’s not crazy! Golden catches light really good. Also medium hair is way easier to deal with than long hair trust me.
Sand and Gold Highlights
The base is brown and then sand and gold highlights go all through your long hair. It looks dimensional which means it has depth! Sand is not as warm as honey but not as cool as ash so basically anyone can wear it. Very beachy without being yellow.
Sunkissed Honey Glow
Medium hair with honey and brown that looks sunkissed. You know how your hair looks after summer outside? Like that but better cause we do it on purpose lol. Honey is warm and brown keeps it real.
Chocolate Golden Highlights
Dark chocolate brown with gold highlights in it looks expensive. The dark makes the gold pop out more! Your brown won’t look flat cause the gold gives it life. Good if you wanna stay dark but not boring.
Face-Framing Caramel
Just the front of your hair gets caramel and gold. You don’t need to do everything! These pieces move when you move and they’re smart about where they go so they make your face look good. Everyone looks good with this one.
Shiny Caramel Back Highlights
People forget about the back but it matters! Long brown hair with caramel in the back looks full. Every angle looks interesting not just the front. Plus pictures look really good.
Curly Caramel Glow
If you got curly hair this is so pretty. Golden caramel highlights on brown curls! Each curl shows different colors cause they bounce around. Your curls will look even better than they already do.
Straight Sunny Blonde Pops
Long straight brown hair gets sunny blonde highlights. Classic style that works all the time! When your hair is straight you can see where every highlight is. It’s polished but not like you’re trying hard.
Ash Blonde Balayage with Roots
The roots are dark on this one and it goes to ash blonde. Long and wavy which is trending! Ash tones don’t get brassy. Also you don’t have to come in as much cause the roots are supposed to be dark so it’s less work.
Copper Brown Sunkissed
Medium thick hair looks really good with copper brown and sunkissed blonde. The copper is warm especially for fall! Blonde keeps it from being heavy. Thick hair shows off color really nice.
Textured Caramel Lob
My favorite combo is probably this. Lob with brown and caramel! The lob is so easy to style and you can do lots with it. Caramel makes it move. It’s that hair that looks like you didn’t do anything but you look perfect.
Natural Sand Blonde Blend
Brown goes into sand blonde but slow not fast. Ombre means it gets lighter as you go down your hair! The ends look sunkissed. It’s soft and grows out pretty without looking bad.
Dark Brown Babylights
Thick dark brown hair with tiny caramel and gold babylights. So much dimension! The babylights are small so you still see your pretty dark color. If you’re scared to go light this is a good start.
Ash Blonde Mid-Length Balayage
Mid-length with ash blonde balayage for cool tones. Ash keeps it fresh and modern! Not brassy or orange at all. You gotta do more work with cool colors but it’s worth it if you like that vibe.
Warm Caramel Waves
Warm brown that’s wavy with caramel and gold balayage. It’s like a cozy blanket but for hair lol! Warm tones look good on almost everybody. The waves blend everything and it’s just soft and pretty.
Golden Lob with Long Bangs
Medium wavy hair in a lob with long bangs. Golden highlights everywhere! Bangs frame your face and gold brightens it. Lob shows the color but you don’t have to commit to super long hair which some people don’t want.
Milk Chocolate Beach Tips
Lob that’s beachy with milk chocolate brown. The tips are golden! The ends catch light and look sunkissed but you don’t need highlights all over. Milk chocolate is a soft nice brown color.
Face-Framing Golden Blonde
Long smooth brown hair gets golden blonde around the face. This is classic for a reason cause it works! Smooth texture looks healthy and shiny. Those front pieces brighten everything but it still feels California casual.
Straight Ash Blonde Ombre
Medium straight hair with brown roots and ash blonde ombre. Pretty dramatic kinda! Straight hair makes you see the color change really clear. Ash is modern. Works great if your hair is naturally straight already.
Caramel Foil Highlights
Long wavy hair with caramel highlights done in foils. Foils are more traditional than balayage! They make brighter pieces that are more defined. Good if you want people to really notice it and caramel is warm.
Golden Fade Lob
Medium textured hair in a lob with golden blonde that fades. Fade means it gets lighter slowly usually at the ends! Really natural and sunkissed looking. The texture shows off color so good.
Dark to Ash Balayage
Long straight dark brown with ash blonde balayage highlights. This is a bold look for real! Dark and ash blonde together is high contrast but balayage makes it blend. Not for everyone but so gorgeous if you can pull it off!
Shaggy Caramel Curtain Bangs
Medium wavy hair that’s shaggy in a lob. Brown with caramel and curtain bangs! This is like the most popular thing right now. Shaggy texture with curtain bangs is effortless and cool. Caramel makes it warm and I do this combo all the time.
Soft Beige Blonde Fade
Beige blonde ombre that’s soft. More subtle than other California looks! Beige is neutral so not warm or cool really. Good if you want something kinda different but not too much.
Beachy Golden Babylights
Long beachy wavy hair with babylights that are brown and golden blonde. This is ultimate summer beach hair! Babylights look so natural and delicate. Golden tones are just perfect and this might be my personal favorite from this whole list.
Sandy Blonde Blowout
Blowout style where the roots are ash brown and ends are sandy blonde. Looks fancy! You can see the color change really well with a blowout. Sandy blonde ends keep it beachy even though the style is polished so you get both.
Platinum Blonde Statement
Long wavy dark brown with platinum blonde highlights. THIS IS BOLD! For girls who want everyone to notice. Platinum against dark brown is super dramatic and high contrast. You’ll turn heads but you have to maintain it more.
Copper Golden Medium
Medium brown with copper and golden highlights mixed. Warm and vibrant but not too much! Copper has red in it and golden is bright. It’s unique and they work together surprisingly well.
Cool Dark Golden Ombre
Dark brown base that’s cool with golden blonde ombre. Mixing cool and warm which is interesting! The brown is cool undertones and the blonde is warm. Somehow it works and looks different in a good way.
