A headlight control apparatus that controls an illumination state of a headlight that illuminates an area ahead of a vehicle includes an illuminance sensor that detects luminance around the vehicle, an illumination control section that switches on or off the headlight in accordance with the luminance detected by the illuminance sensor, a forward detection sensor that detects an object that is present within a predetermined distance ahead of the vehicle, and a dimming control section that dims the headlight when the forward detection sensor detects an object after start of the vehicle.