25 Iconic Ideas for Balayage on Dark 

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Written by Rachel Miller

Updated: September 2, 2024

Sometimes, traditional highlights are just too much. Especially for you ladies with darker tresses, it can be hair to get that sun-kissed vibe or pop of color, without upstaging your luscious dark locks. And if that’s the problem you’re having, we’ve got one question fo you. Have you tried balayage? 

Balayage is a free-form highlighting technique for a much more seamless blend and natural-looking placement than typical highlights. This gives any hair type, with personalzed placement to make sure your hair gets that perfect illuminated and dimensional style. 

And even better, blonde is not the only option. There are TONS of different ways to try, from platinum blonde all the way to subtle caramel, and even vibrant pastels. Check out these 25 iconic ideas for balayage on dark hair to get inspired!

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Think you can’t highlight black hair? Think again! Caramel swirl balayage is perfectly toned and placed to bring that slightly sun-kissed vibe to your jet-black hair without overshining that luscious black color. This balayage style brings soft dimension to black hair with swirly movement ideal for curls and waves, and the sweet caramel tones for subtle sunny illumination. 

#2. Deep Blue Sea Balayage on Dark Hair

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Dive into a dazzling deep sea blue balayage to get a moodier take on mermaid vibes. This deep blue color creates an unexpectedly balanced contrast to dark brown and black hair for a darker, more modern take on that seaside siren aesthetic.

#3. Cherry Blossom Pink Balayage on Black Hair

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Cherry blossom pink balayage will turn your very dark black hair into a beautiful high-contrast pCherry blossom pink is a playful pink inspired by springtime blooms. You can capture that aesthetic with cherry blossom pink balayage on black or dark brown hair. The balayage technique creates small pops of color to illuminate and give a rosy glow to your dark hair and skin tone.

#4. Soft Lavender Balayage on a Dark Brown Base

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Dreamy, delicate, and absolutely dazzling. That’s the aesthetic you get with soft lavender balayage on a dark brown base. This smooth, airy pastel violet shade is perfect for freshening your natural dark brown roots with a whimsical twist.

#5. Sun-Kissed Copper Balayage on Dark Hair

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If you need to get your dark hair summer-ready, look no further than sun-kissed copper balayage. This blazing balayage technique brings a luminous definition to any hair texture, with added warmth from the copper tones to bring dark hair all those summer vibes with a fiery flair to your dark hair.

#6. Dark Chocolate with Subtle Auburn Highlights

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Go for a subtle and sophisticated balayage for your dark chocolate brown, like subtle auburn highlights. This blends normal highlighting with balayage to get multi-tonal depth and dimension, giving your hair a much-needed boost with an added rosy glow for your skin tone.

#7. Steely Blue Balayage on Raven Black Hair

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Steely blue balayage on raven black hair is a seriously heavy-metal style perfect for all you grunge-glam girlies! This contemporary color is equal parts bold and edgy, bringing your black hair an electric contrast and vibrant definition for a rockin’ look, no matter how you style it.

#8. Dark Espresso with Golden Blonde Highlights

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If you’re into more natural styles, dark espresso brown with golden blonde highlights is your new go-to! This seamless take on traditional highlights brings that classic highlighted style with organic depth and dimension, giving a light and bright all-natural look. 

#9. Smoky Gray Balayage on Black Hair

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Want to add a futuristic flair to your black hair or ease your way into graying hair? Go for smoky gray balayage! This technique peppers your black hair with a smoky gray balayage for a mid-contrast and modern form of multidimensional. Plus, this is a low-maintenance color combo, especially with naturally graying hair!

#10. Rose Gold Balayage on Dark Brown Hair

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Rose gold is an iconic color. On dark brown hair, it creates a look that’s nothing short of refined and romantic. These luxurious tones bring a multi-tonal effect to your hair for maximum dimension. They brighten and warm up your dark hair and work with any skin tone, creating a ravishing glow.

#11. Midnight Blue Balayage on Black Hair

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Nothing beats the goth-glam aesthetic that you get with midnight blue balayage on black hair. This understated blue brings a well-blended transition of two quintessentially moody colors for subtle definition and a “too cool to care” attitude.

#12. Warm Cinnamon Balayage for Dark Brown Hair

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Looking for a warm and cozy twist for your dark brown hair? Add a dash of warm cinnamon balayage! This balayage spices up your hair with earthy cinnamon tones, giving your dark brown hair subtle hints of light for warm depth and definition that looks all-natural and oh-so-cozy.

#13. Deep Burgundy Balayage on Dark Hair

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Want to try the redhead life but aren’t ready to jump right in yet? Wade in with some deep burgundy balayage for your dark hair. The balayage technique lets you ease into this rich and dramatic color while giving your current style a lavish lift.

#14. Mocha Brown Balayage with Soft Bronde Highlights

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Looking for a low-key but high-class style? Try mocha brown balayage with soft bronde highlights. This low-contrast balayage brings an organic and refined aesthetic, adding soft depth and dimension, enhanced and illuminated by the soft bronde highlights.

#15. Emerald Green Balayage on Black Hair

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Edgy meets enchanting, with emerald green balayage on black hair. These vivid green highlights are a stunning contrast with the black base, bringing a unique type of brightness and definition that creates an eye-catching villain-era aesthetic on any hair type and skin tone.

#16. Dark Hair with Fiery Red Highlights

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Want to heat things up? Add a feisty flair to your dark hair with fiery red balayage highlights! These red-hot tones are perfect for giving your dark brown or black hair a dose of bold drama and intense dimension.

#17. Teal Blue Balayage on Dark Hair

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If you’re looking for a style that brings sultry siren vibes, you’ve got to go for teal blue balayage on dark hair. This ocean-inspired blue is all things exotic and alluring, adding a tidal wave vibrance and depth to your dark tresses and giving you an irresistible aesthetic. 

#18. Soft Peach Balayage on Dark Hair

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If you love the look of rose gold but want something a little more natural, try soft peach balayage. This toned-down pinky-orange is the perfect way to dip your toes into vibrance, bringing a stunning springtime glow and soft definition to freshen up your dark hair.

#19. Bold Electric Blue Streaks on Black Hair

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Need something a little more high-voltage? Go for bold electric blue streaks on black hair. Electric blue is always a daring choice, but nothing sets the tone for it better than black hair. This is a lively yet edgy kind of look, with the blue streaks zapping your hair with cool, luminous definition that’ll turn heads wherever you go.

#20. Dark Hair with Silver and Purple Streaks

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Edgy meets elegance with silver and purple streaks on dark hair. This gorgeous glow-up creates a mesmerizing multidimensional look, instantly leveling up dark hair with a classy and contemporary aesthetic and a cool glow for warmer skin tones.

#21. Jet Black Hair with Platinum Blonde Balayage

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If you’re into that smoke show look, go for jet-black hair with platinum blonde balayage! This quintessential edgy-glam style pairs with polar-opposite colors for a striking contrast with serious depth and dimension and a silver-fox vibe.

#22. Deep Purple Balayage on Dark Brown Hair

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Deep purple balayage brings fairytale royalty vibes to your dark hair. This rich and regal purple melts into your natural dark brown hair to create a multi-tonal contrast that creates an unusual yet elegant flowing look with a mystical twist.

#23. Black Hair with Subtle Indigo Highlights

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If you want to try the blue-on-black look, but you’re still afraid of that type of boldness, you can get something much softer (but just as stunning) with subtle indigo highlights. These modest blue-violet highlights bring luminous and gentle depth to your black hair, with soft pops of color, giving a more mysterious vibe.

#24. Dark Hair with Chunky Blonde Highlights

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Go for something bold and bright, like chunky blonde highlights! These sunny streaks bring a bold contrast to your dark hair for maximum depth and definition with all that summer-ready lightness we know and love blonde for.

#25. Glossy Auburn Tones on Dark Hair

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Nothing says dramatic and dazzling like auburn. This classic red shade takes your dark hair to the top, with warmth and brightness for all the dimension and depth your hair can handle, and all with a red-hot flair.


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