Classy, Expensive-Looking Color & Highlight Ideas to Try
9 Expensive-Looking Hair Color and Highlight Ideas to Elevate Your Look
Elevate your look with these luxe, rich-looking hair colors, from brondes and balayages to deep brown hues. Plus, tips for lasting glossy, dimensional hair.
By Hair.com & Powered By L’Oreal Professional Products Division
Update Date: 23 Feb 2026
42 Dreamy Hair Colors That Are Trending for Winter 2023
Leann Garofolo
TL;DR: You don’t need a drastic hair color change to make a big impact. Blended highlights, seamless tone transitions, and high-quality products can instantly boost your confidence—and give your hair that coveted salon-fresh finish.
The right hair color isn’t just beautiful (that’s a given)—it has the power to transform your entire look. Intentional highlights, dimensional tones, and high-gloss shine are the hallmarks of an expensive-looking mane. The payoff? Instantly elevated confidence, authority, and polish. Whether you’re craving sun-kissed bronde, luxe brunette tones, or glossy caramel ribbons, these trending shades prove that subtle, modern updates can make the biggest statement—while still feeling totally approachable. For a major dose of inspiration, check out some of our favorite dye jobs below.
Key Takeaways
Small Changes, Big Impact: You don’t need a dramatic transformation—subtle highlights and rich, blended tones can instantly upgrade your look and add an expensive, polished feel.
Intentional Color Placement Matters: Expertly placed highlights and dimensional color are what set salon-fresh hair apart. Strategic techniques like face-framing pieces or seamless transitions create that luxe, effortless finish.
Maintenance is Key to Lasting Luxury: Using high-quality, color-safe products and scheduling regular glosses or touch-ups will keep your shade vibrant, shiny, and salon-worthy long after you leave the chair.
Your Expensive-Looking Hair Color Questions, Answered
What makes a hair color look more “expensive?”
Expensive-looking hair is all about dimension, seamless blending, and high-gloss shine. Subtle highlights, soft transitions between shades, and expert placement create a polished, elevated effect that looks effortless and luxurious.
Do I need to go lighter or blonder for my hair to look expensive?
Not at all! Luxe hair color can be any shade—from deep brunettes to rich reds to sun-kissed blondes. The key is choosing tones that complement your complexion and focusing on healthy, glossy hair.
Can I achieve an expensive-looking color at home?
While at-home kits have improved, achieving multi-dimensional tones and seamless blends is best left to a professional colorist. However, you can maintain your color’s vibrancy and shine at home with quality products and regular gloss treatments. We love the Pureology Color Fanatic line of toners.
How do I maintain the “expensive” look between salon visits?
Use sulfate-free, color-safe shampoos and conditioners (we love the Biolage Color Last Shampoo); incorporate weekly glosses, shine treatments, or hydrating masks (like the Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Deep-Conditioning Mask); minimize heat styling; and protect your hair from UV damage for long-lasting luster.
Will subtle highlights work on all hair types and textures?
Yes! Strategic, face-framing highlights or blended balayage can flatter every hair type and texture—just make sure your stylist customizes the technique for you.
Blended Blonde Highlights
813K followers
\ \ matrix Verified\ \ 2,130 posts · 813K followers\ \
Good hair day by @flatlay.diaries
If you’re after a natural-looking, low-maintenance blonde, simple, blended blonde highlights like these will do the trick.
Blonde Mocha
813K followers
\ \ matrix Verified\ \ 2,130 posts · 813K followers\ \
Good hair day by @hollybullockhair_
Like the toasty beverage, this fusion of mocha brown and reddish golden blonde shouldn’t be passed up. Have your stylist hand-paint the warm highlights onto your base color for a subtle balayage that won’t need monthly touch-ups.
Caramel Balayage
\ \ redkenpro Verified\ \ 6,913 posts · 2M followers\ \
Good hair day by @salon_caroline_le
A caramel balayage is at the top of our hair color wish list since it meshes well with many base shades: It brightens up darker strands, adds dimension to brunette tones, and blends seamlessly with lighter locks.
Bronde
813K followers
\ \ matrix Verified\ \ 2,130 posts · 813K followers\ \
Good hair day by @aaashleee
Bronde hair color offers the best of both worlds for those who are torn between brunette and blonde. The in-between hue is easily customizable and can be made warmer or cooler to flatter your skin’s undertones.
Dirty Brunette
Dirty brunette hair is the hair color trend we just can’t get enough of year after year. This take on bronde is a striking way to bring dimension to your dark brown hair no matter the season. Your colorist will paint golden blonde highlights over your base for a result that’s bright, but still distinctly brunette.
Face-Framing Highlights
813K followers
\ \ matrix Verified\ \ 2,130 posts · 813K followers\ \
Good hair day by @krazy4hair
Calling all ‘90s babies: Face-framing highlights are the sophisticated older sister of the stripey highlights that were all the rage in the 1990s through the early aughts. Opt for high-contrast blonde streaks against a brunette base to recreate this classic Y2K look.
Expensive Brunette
\ \ redkenpro Verified\ \ 6,913 posts · 2M followers\ \
Good hair day by @themaneartistry
If you have dark hair, infuse your mane with brightness by tapping into the expensive brunette trend. It blends highlights and lowlights in tones like warm-toned blonde, copper, or ash blonde to create a naturally dimensional, sunkissed look.
Mushroom Brown
813K followers
\ \ matrix Verified\ \ 2,130 posts · 813K followers\ \
Good hair day by @hairby_gloria
You can’t go wrong with mushroom brown hair for a brunette shade that’s more ashy and cool as opposed to warm and chocolatey. This ashy brunette has grayish undertones, so those with cool undertones in their complexion will find this chilly brown hue particularly flattering.
Espresso
Espresso hair color is rich, dark, and bold—just like your morning coffee. This nearly-black shade of brown is a trending hue year after year, so you won’t regret trying the look for yourself.
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