Menu
The Editors
Updated on December 14, 2022
1 of 30

Balayage hair is an expensive color, but it also gives you the advantage of stunning natural color and seamless regrowth. No to mention the variety of colors you can blend in your hair to create a brand new look! No wonder balayage remains one of the best hair color ideas for straight hair. Look through these 30 balayage straight hair looks for ideas and inspiration.

Current Straight Hair Color Trends

While rich monochromatic brown is currently in favor, it can be flawlessly enhanced with subtle balayage or face-framing highlights. Contemporary trendy blonde tones are cool and pale to cool down high summer temperatures. Dark blonde and bronde balayage styles aren’t out of the fashion catwalks either.

Redheads may indulge in fantastic hues of already familiar coppers and auburns as well as rose gold, which is divinely clear and enticing this season. While ombre is still on-trend, it now features very soft and subtle color transitions. See the examples below to note the best color ideas for your straight hair.

1. Blunt Bob with Caramel Balayage

Short Straight Bob with Caramel Balayage

Instagram / @romeufelipe

Want to stand out with your classic short cut? Coloring your hair will breathe new life into your everyday style. Go with this gorgeous caramel balayage, which looks specifically beautiful on a blunt bob cut.

2. Classic and Gorgeous

There are so many hair hue trends that are dominating the salon. But if you are not a fan of experiments, you better go with something that’s forever classic and simple when you go for a sophisticated blonde shade. This sun-kissed hue will look especially lovely on medium to long hair.

3. Caramel Brown Highlights

Some think brunettes have few options when it comes to hair colors. Well, that’s just not true. Take, for instance, this gorgeous caramel-brown balayage: this color looks seamlessly on brunettes, and yet it delivers a bold change from the norm.

Pin Straight Dark Brown Hair with Brown Balayage

Instagram / @sandiegostylists

4. Dark Hair with Berry Highlights and Lowlights

Get cute and funky with a fun berry shade – or several! Hair colors often play it too safe, so dare to be different with the stunning berry pink hue. Make the shades lighter on tips to add extra dimension to your ’do. This way, this style looks truly eye-catching.

Berry Pink Balayage on Straight Brown Hair

Instagram / @hairby.vivi

5. Platinum Blonde Balayage Highlights

You need to see a professional whenever you decide to go blonde, as it can be a tricky task. Using the balayage technique to dye your locks cool blonde will make your straight strands multi-dimensional and gorgeous, while also minimizing the damage and blending the roots.

Brown to White Blonde Balayage on Straight Hair

Instagram / @styled.by.frann

6. Bronze Balayage with Natural Roots

Caramel and bronze hues are all about trends these days. You can rock one of these shades as an all-over wash or work it in as a balayage or ombre style. Make sure you enlist the help of a color-preserving shampoo to keep that color looking wonderful.

Chestnut Brown Ombre on Asian Straight Hair

Instagram / @live_love_dohair

7. Chic Pearl Blonde Balayage

Regardless of your natural hair color, you can easily refresh it with a trendy blonde balayage. Work with your stylist to come up with this unique blonde shade and turn into the blonde cutie you’ve always wanted to be.

Straight Feathered Hair Blonde Balayage

Instagram / @catcoiffeur

8. Blonde Balayage on Straight Hair

Bright gold balayage is ideal for lightening up mousy light brown hair and adding vibrancy to less-than-stellar locks. Add long curtain bangs to balance your long hair and create extra volume on your thin strands.

Long Golden Blonde Hair with Platinum Highlights

Instagram / @abbie_pierrots

9. Ash Blonde Balayage Hair

Blonde hair blended with ashy shades will earn you countless compliments wherever you go! With this balayage, straight hair will get more texture and volume, which is perfect for those having a fine mane.

Ash Blonde Hair on Dark Straight Hair Base

Instagram / @marijkeparadiek

10. Buttery Blonde Hair with Dark Roots

It’s no secret that multi-toned hairstyle ideas are a dime a dozen these days. A smart combination of highlights and lowlights featuring a buttery blonde palette stands out even without any curls and bends, so go for it without hesitation!

Dimensional Dark Blonde Bob with Blunt Ends

Instagram / @pinups_hairsalon

11. Blonde Balayage with Lowlights

What’s great about this style is that it provides extra volume achieved with darker roots and lowlights. The hue will go absolutely amazing with summer sunshine, as with the blonde balayage, your sun-kissed hair will look super bright and sparkly!

Long Straight Hair with Blonde Highlights and Lowlights

Instagram / @the.palm.club

12. Honey Blonde Balayage

There’s something about endless tresses that really show off hair dye in a beautiful way. Try this gorgeous honey blonde color when you’re ready to brighten up, and add a body wave to make your ’do more voluminous.

Face Framing Balayage Highlights for Medium Brown Hair

Instagram / @hairbyoguz

13. Platinum Balayage on Straight Hair

Are you a brunette dreaming about platinum blonde hair color? Check out this impressive idea. This hue totally changes up the classic gold tint and breathes new life into the mane. Try melting the color in so it transitions from your natural roots and illuminates your brown strands.

14. Shiny Mahogany Hair

Looking for a hair color to ring in the fall season? A soft, shiny chestnut brown with red undertones is the right way to go. The shade is brazen without being over-the-top. When curled and styled, it is truly magnificent, so make sure you’ll have some fun with this shade some time soon.

15. Violet Balayage on Dark Base

There’s a reason dark plum hair is a thing right now. Not only is it striking and totally fabulous, but it’s completely versatile and can be made to look close to natural. The cool colorful balayage, for example, is an ideal way to work the shade in seamlessly.

16. Short and Trendy

Trendy layers complement a short hairstyle well, and you can go with pretty much any shade. Brunette ombre hair is popular with layered hair of any length, while bolder colors work well for black hair. Not sure if you’re ready for modern layers? Ask for a more traditional cut that will still show off your new hue.

Short Light Golden Brown Hair with Darkened Roots

Instagram / @nothingbutpixies

17. Beautiful Berry Hair Color

Get fruitylicious with your hair. The best way to do so is by getting some beautiful burgundy highlights that are reminiscent of a delicious bowl of berries. Make sure to start them at the top, by the roots, so they weave in throughout the hair and create a cool, prism-like effect.

Black Hair with Burgundy Balayage

Instagram / @guy_tang

18. Hair Color for Very Long Hair

Long hair can be expensive to maintain, so you may as well go with a style you love. Choose a plum brown hair color in ombre highlights. It will bring out the beauty in your long hair. Be sure to use a shampoo and conditioner for color treated hair following your salon visit – long hair needs extra care to make color last.

Burgundy Balayage Highlights for Dark Brown Straight Hair

Instagram / @peterdelucasalon

19. Dark Lavender Ombre Hair Color

Everything you knew about highlighted hair is out the window. Forget the traditional honey and/or platinum highlights and start thinking about some serious color. More specifically, consider purple lowlights. Especially on textured, layered locks, these cool flashes of violet are totally stunning.

Dark Lavender Ombre

Instagram / @xostylistxo

20. White-Hot Blonde

Now there’s something to be said about classic styles. Say, for instance, bright blonde on blonde locks. Platinum blonde with lowlights is the epitome of California beach babe, and it will never go out of style. Seriously.

White Hot Blonde

Instagram / @rafaelbertolucci1

21. Soft and Subtle Plum Shade

If your black hair has you at a loss about hair color options available, let us make things easier for you. Weave plum highlights into the bottom of your hair for a clear-yet-subtle color transition. The purple will shine especially bright in the sunlight, glistening like a jewel.

Black and Mahogany Hair

Instagram / @modernsalon

22. Dramatic Hues

If you’re looking for something different, go with a pretty style that comes with a dramatic punch. This option is ideal for any hair type, including African American curls. Dark hair looks stunning with bold highlights. Add some curls or waves to your hair to further accentuate the balayage.

Black Hair with Choppy Caramel Highlights

Instagram / @balayagebynatalie

23. Crimson Hair Color

Get a hairstyle that will have you seeing red…kind of. Deep plum highlights are a great way to add color to your life without going completely neon. The rich color is still bold without being overpowering. Try playing with loose, beach waves to show off the panels of color and really turn heads.

Choppy Black Bob with Burgundy Highlights

Instagram / @hairbynoora

24. Plum-Colored Streaks

Just because you’re not a blonde, doesn’t mean you can’t rock popular today bright and bold colors. Add some fun to that brunette mane of yours and try plum brown hair in the form of lovely colorful highlights. The look is surprisingly flattering and totally unexpected.

Purple Balayage for Brown Hair

Instagram / @chelscaruso

25. Metallic Silver Tone

The silver hair trend was clearly not a flash in the bucket. Oh no, this metallic look is still alive and ticking – it looks amazing on any and all hair types. If you really wanna show off your silver fox look, try a sleek straight style with body-inducing layers.

Long Straight Layered Silver Blonde Hairstyle

Instagram / @jackmartincolorist Salon: Jack Martin Salon in Tustin, CA

26. Burgundy Beauty

A deep burgundy is a popular hair color for fall. Darkening up as the weather cools is a lovely way to express your excitement for the upcoming holidays.

27. Something New and Different

If you struggle with dark ash brown hair that looks dull and lifeless, transform it with maroon highlights and a new sassy cut.

Short Black Hair with Caramel Highlights in the Bangs

Instagram / @khimandi

28. Sophisticated Brown Hair Color

Having fun with hair color can also mean taking the more subtle natural route. In fact, playing it safe can actually be a stroke of genius, especially if you’re looking to add a bit of warm honey brown to your cool, raven locks. The well-blended ombre effect works the color in perfectly and literally looks like you woke up like this.

29. Color and Waves

Dark hair color ideas are just as popular as lighter shades, and a cool two tone color will shine bright on wavy hair. Go for a dark brown with light brown accents next time you visit your salon. Choosing a two tone color can brighten the face and lighten up hair that normally looks and feels “heavy” and drab.

Ash Brown Hair Color

Instagram / @hairbykacie1

30. Ashy Blonde Hair Color

Switch up that typical ombre and go for a color combo that is a bit off the wall. And nothing is more unpredictable than ashy brown hair that fades into an equally ashy blonde. While glossy, shiny hair is the normal go-to, matte finishes are starting to take over the hair world and it’s no wonder. The look, especially when worn in a two-toned style, is beyond cool.

Brown to Ash Blonde Ombre Hair

Instagram / @taitkieuapril05

Well, these all are so beautiful that you may want them all! However, we recommend you to consider your color type (the 4 basic seasons system) and choose hair colors accordingly: cooler hues for cool-toned skin and warmer colors for warm-toned skin. Note also that in case your appearance is endowed with low contrast characteristics, you won’t withstand too saturated hues or dramatic color solutions.

Short Straight Bob with Caramel Balayage Middle Length Straight Hair with Highlights and Lowlights Pin Straight Dark Brown Hair with Brown Balayage Berry Pink Balayage on Straight Brown Hair Brown to White Blonde Balayage on Straight Hair Chestnut Brown Ombre on Asian Straight Hair Straight Feathered Hair Blonde Balayage Long Golden Blonde Hair with Platinum Highlights Ash Blonde Hair on Dark Straight Hair Base Dimensional Dark Blonde Bob with Blunt Ends Long Straight Hair with Blonde Highlights and Lowlights Face Framing Balayage Highlights for Medium Brown Hair Straight Hair with Bright Blonde Balayage and Framing Streaks Long Curly Mahogany Hair Black Hair with Purple Highlights Short Light Golden Brown Hair with Darkened Roots Black Hair with Burgundy Balayage Burgundy Balayage Highlights for Dark Brown Straight Hair Dark Lavender Ombre White Hot Blonde Black and Mahogany Hair Black Hair with Choppy Caramel Highlights Choppy Black Bob with Burgundy Highlights Purple Balayage for Brown Hair Long Straight Layered Silver Blonde Hairstyle Burgundy Balayage Straight Bob Hairstyle Short Black Hair with Caramel Highlights in the Bangs Brown Face-Framing Balayage Ash Brown Hair Color Brown to Ash Blonde Ombre Hair
1 of 30