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Andrea Payme
Stylist
Updated on March 30, 2021
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There are lots of ways to draw attention to your favorite facial features. A haircut, as well as color, makeup, jewelry, and upper-body clothing all play a role in framing the face. It’s just a matter of deciding how to put them all together to make the best presentation. Today we talk about trendy face-framing highlights as the quickest and most foolproof way to emphasize your best assets.

Frame Your Face with Color

Face-framing highlights are a coloring technique that cleverly brings out your most attractive features. Explain to your hairstylist that you are looking for strategically placed waves and carefully selected coloring clues that will offer hints as to where the eye should be drawn. A good hairstylist will keep those things in mind as they are cutting, styling and coloring your hair. They’ll help you decide where and how to place face framing emphasis in a subtle way, ensuring that all eyes are always on you!

1. Long Brown Hair with Dark Blonde Face Framing

Ash Blonde Face-Framing Highlights

Instagram / @jayrua_glam

Chunky honey-blonde highlights that flow along the sides of the face are a creative way to draw attention to the eyes and mouth areas. The almond brown base color is upgraded with hints of gold and seems to shimmer and glow in the light.

2. Collarbone Choppy Blonde Bob

The center-parted choppy bob is made so much more spectacular with face-framing blonde highlights and transitional spicy hues. Fun and youthful, it’s the perfect solution to emphasize your cheekbones.

Angled Choppy Bronde Balayage Bob

Instagram / @ksorianohair

3. Waist-Length Messy Brown Waves

There’s no better way to liven up long and dull tresses that have lost their luster than adding some face-framing highlights on dark hair. Walnut brown tones run throughout the midsection all the way to the ends and outline your beautiful facial angles.

Long Brunette Hair with Caramel Balayage

Instagram / @hairby_chrissy

4. Choppy Brown Lob with Caramel Highlights

Sassy, sensual, and parted in the middle, the warm blonde tones of these striking highlights do a perfect job of accentuating the blue eyes and killer cheekbones. The sliced shoulder-length lob sets the stage for your dainty facial features.

Shoulder Length Choppy Brown Cut with Highlights

Instagram / @romeufelipe

5. Long Wavy Honey Balayage Hair

Sun-kissed-blonde face-framing highlights on brown hair are an easy approach to revamping your look if you want to brighten the pale complexion. Slightly messy, the minimal wave gives a big boost of body and volume without being overwhelming.

Warm Bronde Balayage with Face-Framing Highlights

Instagram / @mane_ivy

6. Dark Brown Cut with Subtle Blonde Highlights

Sleek and sultry, just the slightest hint of blonde highlights on mahogany-brown hair does an excellent job of framing the face. An off-center part and long feathered sides also help to set the face in a picture-perfect backdrop of gorgeous chocolate waves.

Black Brown Balayage Hair

Instagram / @tauni901

7. Rusty Blonde Balayage Waves for Dark Hair

Long and tousled darker waves upgraded with rusty blonde balayage will make you look youthful and fun-loving. The lightest pieces near the face provide a natural-looking effect. It’s an adorable option for coarse, wavy hair.

8. Long Hair with Ash Blonde Balayage

Lavender-tinted ash blonde face-framing highlights for dark brown hair are a modern way to make long hair look more grown up. The side part line and a long swoop of peek-a-boo bangs help to emphasize the lower part of the face, drawing attention to the cute chin and sexy lips.

9. Wavy Dark Brown and Blonde Balayage Hairstyle

The rich brown base color with a soft blonde balayage does a lovely job of framing a narrow face. Waves cascade around the shoulders in this sporty and trendy hairstyle that will shave years off your appearance.

Caramel Bronde Balayage Hair

Instagram / @chrisweberhair

10. Honey Bronde Waves

The honey-bronde tendrils curl delicately along the face and neck, and the over-grown bangs are aimed to hit below the chin, which has a narrowing effect. It’s a versatile hairstyle and a great way to show off super-long locks.

Soft Caramel Balayage Long Hair

Instagram / @circlesofhair

11. Tousled Medium Bronde Bob

A face-framing balayage and side-parted bangs that graze the chin work well on a straight hair bob because it allows the eye to focus on You! The light blonde highlights accentuate the texture of this pretty tousled look.

Bronde Bob with Face-Framing Highlights

Instagram / @mane_ivy

12. Long Wavy Walnut Brown Tresses

The walnut brown highlights on brunette hair frame the face in a rather symmetrical way. The waves tumble down the shoulders, brightening the complexion and bringing out the eyes. Choppy, textured ends help the hairstyle come off as casual and easygoing.

Light Brown Balayage for Dark Brown Hair

Instagram / @hairbyamberjoy

13. Brown Lob with Partial Highlights for Straight Hair

Thick and bouncy hair has a phenomenal way of being universally flattering. A shoulder-length lob that is slightly shorter in the back and graced with just a tinge of blonde highlights also enhances your stylish individuality.

Brunette Lob with Subtle Face-Framing Highlights

Instagram / @prettylittleombre

14. Straight Hair with Ash Blonde Balayage

One of the best things about having super-straight hair is that it naturally commands attention. The bright blonde highlights around the face ensure the eye will be drawn directly to your face and that lovely smile.

Long Ash Bronde Balayage Hair

Instagram / @kelvelin

15. Top-Knot for Brown Hair with Toffee Highlights

What’s the best formula of a fun and fashionable hairstyle for long brown hair? A playful topknot with a few face-framing tendrils! The super-thick toffee-tinted waves and a loosely-wound bun provide just the right amount of height and body.

Brunette Hair with Caramel Highlights

Instagram / @styled.by.julia

16. Sleek Ash Bronde Hair

The ash bronde tendrils, long choppy layers, and off-center parting help to frame and define your facial features. The sleek wave indents at the jawline, enhancing the outlines of the face.

Subtle Ash Blonde Balayage for Brown Hair

Instagram / @hairxjojo

17. Angled Black Brown Lob with Caramel Highlights

When you have a boldly angled haircut, the viewer’s eye is often focused on someplace other than your beautiful face. That’s why it’s important to have strong highlights around the face, to ensure that it doesn’t get lost behind the hairstyle.

Long Black and Bronde Balayage Lob

Instagram / @kristen.lumiere

18. Messy Waves with Creamy Blonde Highlights

The strategic placement of highlighting foils contributes to a more natural distribution of lightened pieces, which does wonders for outlining the face. Long, carefree waves are luxurious and feminine.

19. Beachy Blonde Rock and Roll

You’ll look like you’re ready to break out into a guitar solo sporting this shaggy tomboy haircut. It’s parted down the middle and features pretty bleached highlights. The high-voltage, choppy locks effortlessly curl around the face and neck.

Medium Bronde Balayage Shag

Instagram / @jeanpierresosa

20. Brown Barbie-Style Hair

Subtle face-framing highlights on dark hair make all the difference on super-smooth brown barbie-doll hair. The run-of-the-mill long, straight strands are completely revitalized with thin ash brown streaks that outline the face as they spread to the lower half of the hair.

Long Sleek Brown Hairstyle with Thin Subtle Highlights

Instagram / @kelvelin

Remember, well-placed face-framing highlights and babylights are just as important as a great hairstyle when going for a balanced appearance. Never underestimate the power of a carefully positioned wave or curl; and when that curl is highlighted with a sensational color, the effect is even more striking.

Ash Blonde Face-Framing Highlights Angled Choppy Bronde Balayage Bob Long Brunette Hair with Caramel Balayage Shoulder Length Choppy Brown Cut with Highlights Warm Bronde Balayage with Face-Framing Highlights Black Brown Balayage Hair Golden Brown Balayage for Long Hair Subtle Ash Brown Balayage Caramel Bronde Balayage Hair Soft Caramel Balayage Long Hair Bronde Bob with Face-Framing Highlights Light Brown Balayage for Dark Brown Hair Brunette Lob with Subtle Face-Framing Highlights Long Ash Bronde Balayage Hair Brunette Hair with Caramel Highlights Subtle Ash Blonde Balayage for Brown Hair Long Black and Bronde Balayage Lob Long Brown Hair with Blonde Face-Framing Highlights Medium Bronde Balayage Shag Long Sleek Brown Hairstyle with Thin Subtle Highlights
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