Are you tired of looking in the mirror at a dull, drab, and unexciting mane? Fear not! We’re here to help you revive your locks with a stylish solution: hair highlights. Not only do they offer a chic way to try out a new color, but they’re also relatively low-maintenance compared to all-over dye jobs. And the best part? Highlights can instantly brighten up your entire look.
To spark some inspiration, we’ve rounded up 23 of the most stunning hair highlight ideas that cater to both dark-haired and light-haired individuals – with some bold, vibrant options in between.
Beautiful Blonde Highlights
This stunning blonde hairstyle showcases a striking contrast between its darker undertones and light highlights. The subtle blend of colors creates a natural, effortless appearance that would be perfect for the summer months. Imagine achieving a sun-kissed look without leaving your house – this hairstyle is sure to turn heads. With inspiration from @stylesbymaddy, it’s clear that this style has been crafted with care and attention to detail.
Purple Hair Idea
For those seeking a dramatic hair transformation, vibrant highlights can be an excellent choice. Here, we showcase dark hair infused with bold purple tones that truly make the locks pop. This striking combination is particularly well-suited to darker hair colors such as black or brown. For those with lighter locks, a more subtle pastel shade may be a better fit.
Chic Brown Highlights
This subtle yet chic hairstyle features dark locks with strategic light brown highlights, perfectly suited for tired hair in need of a revamp. The result is a stylish and effortless look that’s ideal for women seeking an easy-to-wear hairstyle that still turns heads.
Warm Copper Highlights
Elevate your hairstyle by incorporating warm highlights that bring out the natural beauty of your locks. This stunning combination features a rich, dark copper hue on top of a gorgeous brown base tone, creating a striking contrast that’s perfect for the fall and winter seasons. This versatile color scheme would complement both brown and red hair tones, making it an excellent choice for those looking to add some warmth and depth to their look.
Trendy Highlighted Bob
For those seeking a trendy hairstyle, consider pairing a short dark bob with subtle blonde highlights. This understated yet chic look is perfect for the summer season. The subtle nature of the highlights allows for flexibility – simply add more blonde if you desire a bolder appearance. What’s great about this style is that it can be easily replicated on any hair type and color combination, making it a versatile choice.
Bright Copper Highlights
Emblazoned with fiery flair, this bold hairstyle boasts a rich dark red hue, punctuated by vibrant copper accents that make a striking declaration. The fusion of these two colors creates a stunning visual effect, making it an ideal choice for women with naturally red or ginger locks.
Light Blonde Highlights Idea
For those who want to dip their toes into the world of blonde without fully committing to a drastic change, highlights are an excellent solution. The before-and-after transformation showcased here perfectly illustrates this concept. By incorporating subtle blonde accents into dark hair, you can achieve a look that adds a touch of brightness and dimension without sacrificing your natural color entirely. The best part?
If you decide the blonde isn’t for you, it will naturally grow out over time, allowing you to revisit or revamp your hairstyle at your convenience.
Stylish Light Brown Highlights
The second hairstyle we’re exploring is a subtle light brown look that combines dark roots with light brown highlights further down the hair shaft. The similarity in tone between the natural hair and highlights creates a harmonious and natural appearance, making it suitable for most hair colors – excluding black. To achieve this look, simply choose highlights that are only one to two shades lighter than your natural hair color.
Pink and Orange Highlights Idea
For those who crave a hairstyle that truly stands out, the next option is sure to impress. This vibrant look features a striking combination of pink, purple, and orange highlights that will add a pop of personality to any style. If you’re feeling adventurous, this bold color scheme can be easily recreated or modified to suit your taste. Alternatively, you could opt for a single bold shade if the multi-colored approach feels too daring.
Bright Blonde Highlights
Transform your locks into a stunning beachy look this summer by incorporating vibrant highlights. The striking contrast between the dark natural hair and bright blonde accents creates a mesmerizing visual effect that complements textured waves perfectly. This effortless hairstyle is not only stylish but also easy to maintain, making it an excellent choice for those with straight or wavy hair.
Trendy Dark Copper Highlights
This stunning hairstyle combines dark brown locks with vibrant copper highlights, creating a truly fiery look. We’re particularly fond of how well these red tones complement darker hair colors, making it a great option for fall and winter. The overall effect is warm and inviting, perfect for those who want to add some seasonal flair to their style.
Highlights for Brunettes
For brunettes, we’re thrilled to showcase a stunning hair inspiration that adds a touch of elegance. The dark natural color is the perfect canvas for subtle highlights in a lighter brown shade. These understated accents infuse new life into the locks, making them look revitalized without drastic changes. This style is ideal for those seeking a low-key yet impactful update, breathing fresh vitality into their hair.
Soft Pink Highlights
If you’re looking to incorporate a trendy color into your style, consider light pink! While some may think pink is too bold, highlights provide a subtle way to try the trend. Take @kellymassiashair’s gorgeous hairstyle as inspiration – it’s stylish without being over-the-top. The best part? If you don’t love the result, the highlights will easily grow out. Feel free to recreate this look or tone down the pink for a more understated ‘do.
Subtle and Stylish Highlights
To give your locks a chic and stylish makeover, consider adding subtle highlights to dark brown hair. This understated approach is perfect for giving your look a gentle lift without going overboard. As the highlights are light, they’ll impart a sun-kissed glow to your tresses, making this style ideal for the summer months. Once you’ve achieved the desired highlights, feel free to recreate those signature curls or try out any trendy style that catches your eye.
For inspiration, check out @jmalonehair for some stunning examples of this look in action.
Warm Highlights for Dark Hair
If you’re a fan of warm highlight styles, then you’ll adore this stunning look. The base color is a rich, chestnut-brown hue, with subtle dark honey highlights that seamlessly blend together. We’re particularly fond of this honey shade because it creates a beautiful contrast against the brown locks, resulting in a truly eye-catching appearance. While there are various shades of honey to choose from, we find that this particular tone pairs perfectly with both brown and blonde hair.
Summery Blonde Highlights
Building upon our previous summery hairstyle, we’re now featuring a stunning blonde look that exudes effortless elegance. To achieve this multi-tonal masterpiece, lighter highlights were expertly woven into the existing blonde hair, creating a sun-kissed glow that’s perfect for making waves at the beach or pool. The subtle blend of tones ensures the color looks entirely natural, as if kissed by the summer sun.
Glam Hair Idea
Elevate your sense of style with a hairstyle that exudes elegance and sophistication. The combination of dark locks and light brown highlights creates a stunning contrast that catches the eye. Moreover, the wavy texture adds a touch of whimsy and playfulness to the overall look. This chic and stylish hairstyle is universally flattering and can be paired with any hair color. Whether you’re looking for a subtle or dramatic makeover, this style’s versatility makes it an excellent choice.
Bold Highlights for Short Hair
If you’re seeking a hairstyle that makes a bold statement, look no further. This trendy short cut features striking red highlights that add a pop of colour and create a truly eye-catching look. The rich, dark shade of red is particularly stunning, and can be easily recreated on shorter or longer hair lengths. Whether you opt to go for the entire cut and color combo or simply add the highlights to your existing style, this look is sure to turn heads.
Subtle Highlights for Dark Hair
When it comes to adding dimension to dark hair colors like black, it can be challenging to find a solution that doesn’t result in bold or overwhelming contrast. However, there is a way to give your locks a subtle boost without going overboard. Consider introducing highlights with a shade that’s only slightly lighter than the natural color. For example, pairing black hair with light brown highlights creates a low-key yet stylish look that suits most people.
Chic Highlights
The next hair inspiration we’re highlighting features a stunning brown shade with subtle light highlights that add a touch of elegance. This versatile hairstyle is easy to style and looks great on anyone, regardless of their natural hair color or cut. The color combination is particularly striking when paired with blonde locks as well.
Colorful Highlights Idea
Imagine a hairstyle that’s both bold and unique, where a light pink hue takes center stage and red and orange highlights add an extra layer of depth. This vibrant color combination is not only stunning but also incredibly on-trend. For ladies looking to revamp their look or make a statement, this hairstyle is the perfect canvas. Consider re-creating the look as-is or experimenting with just one of the other colors for a fresh spin.
Beachy Highlights
If you’re a fan of beach-inspired hairstyles, then this stunning look is a must-see. The key to its summery vibe lies in the expertly crafted highlights, which feature two distinct blonde shades that blend seamlessly together. This multi-tonal approach gives the overall effect a refreshingly natural and sun-kissed quality. Adding texture with wavy styling, this hairstyle is a masterclass in summer chic – perfect for hot weather or anytime you want to evoke the feeling of a beachy getaway.
Light Brown Highlights
This final hair inspiration features a stunning combination of black locks with light brown highlights. The subtle contrast between the two colors creates a harmonious balance that exudes sophistication and timelessness. With its versatility, this style is sure to never go out of fashion, making it perfect for any occasion. We’ve drawn inspiration from @hairbykacie1’s expertise and can’t help but be impressed by the way this color combination brings out the best in anyone who rocks it.