23 Flirty and Flattering Light Brown Hair Color Ideas for a Fresh New Look

The light brown, almost blonde streaks framing Olivia Wilde's face add some dimension to her hair, without straying too far from her natural color.

Let's display a popular misconception: not all highlights have to be blonde. Take Ana de Armas' auburn highlights for example. They brighten up her naturally dark hair without going blonde.

You can get this dimensional shade of brown by asking for light brown highlights over a dark brown base. The result is a subtle shade that's natural but striking.

With a peaches and cream complexion, like Alison Brie's, a soft and light shade of brown works with your skin tone instead of against it.

Deep without actually being "dark," this shade manages to be both warm and bold without looking unnatural.

Dyed hair requires a lot of maintenance — unless you go for Jessica Alba's approach. Instead of fully committing to a color, let your roots stay their natural hue. The rest is up to you: Go as light or dark as you'd like.

This classic shade of light brown strikes the perfect balance of cool and warm tones, brightening Mandy Moore's complexion.

One of the lightest shades of brown before being considered blonde, Kate Mara's color has cool tan undertones that keep it in the brunette family.

Lighter brown looks absolutely lovely when warmed up with glossy golden highlights — and it does wonders for complexions that often look washed out.

Cool brown with an ashy ombre creates a beachy, summery look without going full-blown blonde.

Slightly tawny undertones create soft yet noticeable dimension in light brown hair — a great alternative to blonde highlights if that's not really your thing.

You know that moment when you pour a little cream in your coffee and it creates swirls of different shades of brown? Sarah Jessica Parker's ombre is basically the hair-color version of that.

Light nutmeg highlights give Allison Janney's color an almost ethereal look, helping to give her complexion a soft glow.

Try an ombre approach to light brown by asking your colorist to transition into a lighter shade a few inches down from the roots.

The cool and warm shades of Diane Lane's color come together in perfect harmony thanks to a seamless color-melt that creates a timeless caramel hue.

A solid light brown shade like this is ideal for anyone who wants to emphasize a striking contrast with a bright eye color.

Add dimension to light brown by asking your stylist to paint a few face-framing strands with a brilliant blonde shade. It wakes up both your hair and your face!

Light brown hair works beautifully on darker skin — take this warm, honey shade for example.

This cooler brown looks anything but mousy when worn in a short, curly 'do with a ton of personality.

Heidi Klum's cool brown crown starts warming up at the ears with shimmering golden highlights. To keep yours from going too brassy, be sure to wash with a color-enhancing shampoo.