As a seasoned hairstylist, I’ve witnessed countless hair color trends wax and wane. Yet, one trend that’s undeniably capturing hearts these days is chunky highlights. These aren’t the glaring, sometimes harsh highlights of the ’90s. Today’s version is a refined play of shadow and light, artfully framing the face.
The Evolution of Chunky Highlights
Let’s time-travel a bit. Remember “The Rachel”? That iconic ’90s look from “Friends” was my first encounter with chunky highlights. It was bold, it was different, and it sure was a hot request in salons!
Fast forward to the 2000s – we saw a shift. Celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian led the trend with chunky highlights and darker roots, a look I’ve recreated many times in my salon. Now, we’re seeing a resurgence, but with a modern twist. Think Kylie Jenner’s vibrant blues and purples.
My Approach to Chunky Highlights
In this section, I’ll share my personal touch on creating chunky highlights that not only stand out but also beautifully complement your unique style.
1. Classic Chunky Blonde Highlights
These are timeless. I love how they add depth and brightness, especially on darker hair. My pro tip? Use a high-quality lightener and follow up with a purple shampoo to keep the blonde crisp.
2. Face-Framing Highlights
Want to accentuate your features? This is the way to go. I often use bold, chunky pieces around the face, creating a look that turns heads and highlights your natural beauty.
3. High-Contrast Chunky Highlights
For those who love to make a statement, this style is a game-changer. Mixing light and dark shades, I aim to create a look that’s as unique as you are.
Choosing the Right Color and Technique
In my years of styling, I’ve learned that choosing the right technique is just as crucial as picking the perfect shade. Balayage offers a softer, sun-kissed finish while foiling gives a more pronounced, bold look.
And here's a fun fact: the right shade can completely transform your appearance. It's about finding the perfect harmony between your skin tone, natural hair color, and personality.
Caring for Your Chunky Highlights
Maintaining chunky highlights isn’t as daunting as it seems. A weekly purple shampoo ritual is essential to prevent brassiness. Regular deep conditioning treatments and a good leave-in conditioner are my go-to solutions for keeping your hair healthy and vibrant.
Inspiration and Trends
I draw inspiration from various sources – celebrity styles, Instagram trends, and even my clients’ unique personalities. Whether it’s Billie Eilish’s neon green streaks or Dua Lipa’s blonde highlights, there’s always something new and exciting to try. And remember, chunky highlights aren’t just for long hair – they can add a playful touch to lobs or even accentuate the beauty of curly locks.
In my journey as a hairstylist, chunky highlights have been a constant favorite. From “The Rachel” to today’s Instagram-worthy styles, they’ve evolved but always stayed in vogue. They’re more than just a trend; they’re a way to express individuality, to make a statement. And that’s what I love about being a hairstylist – the ability to bring out each person’s unique beauty, one highlight at a time.
This style showcases a modern take on chunky highlights, with bold streaks of blonde contrasting against the dark brown base, giving a sun-kissed yet dramatic effect. The cut falls straight and smooth, indicating a sleek, layered look that enhances the dimension created by the contrasting colors. Perfect for those seeking to add a vibrant twist to their hair, the highlights are chunky enough to make a statement, yet blended skillfully to maintain sophistication.
This haircut presents a beautiful cascade of long layers, giving the hair movement and volume, which is particularly effective in showcasing the chunky highlights that blend honey and caramel tones throughout. The highlights are strategically placed to frame the face and are more concentrated around the face and on top, creating a multi-dimensional and textured appearance. Ideal for adding warmth and depth, this style is a perfect choice for those wanting to refresh their look with a bold yet natural streak of color.
This straight, long hairstyle is elevated with chunky highlights, where ribbons of platinum are interspersed with the model's natural ash brown, offering a striking contrast. The hair is cut in subtle layers, adding slight texture that allows the highlights to flow seamlessly together, giving the style an edgy yet polished look. It's an excellent choice for those aiming to make a bold statement while keeping their hair's length and sleekness.
In this haircut, the long layers are expertly snipped to create a fluid shape that enhances the bold, chunky highlights, which are a mix of caramel and blonde tones over a rich brunette base. Each highlight stands out with a ribbon-like effect, providing a striking contrast and added depth that catches the light beautifully. This style, with its seamless blend of colors, is perfect for anyone looking to introduce a playful yet sophisticated element to their hair, achieving a balance between subtlety and statement.
The hairstyle pictured is a bold statement of chunky highlights, featuring wide panels of honey blonde that starkly contrast with the model's natural dark brown hair. It's cut in a long, straight style, which really allows the dramatic color work to stand out, offering a sleek canvas for the bold highlights. This look is ideal for someone looking to make an impactful change, as the defined stripes of color create a trendy and fashion-forward vibe.
This striking style features vivid fuchsia streaks applied as chunky highlights over a natural black base, offering a bold and playful contrast. The cut is long with soft layers that subtly shape the hair, allowing the pink highlights to frame the face and fall gracefully through the lengths. This look is perfect for those daring to express their personality with a pop of color, making it a standout choice for a creative and edgy update to their hairstyle.
This mid-length cut features an array of chunky highlights in sandy blonde and light brown that stand out against the darker base, creating an eye-catching contrast. With a side parting, the highlights are skillfully placed to frame the face, enhancing the overall shape and movement of the cut. It's an ideal look for someone who wants to add a dynamic twist to their style, as the chunky highlights work harmoniously with the textured layers to give a voluminous finish.
This sleek, straight hairstyle showcases a modern take on chunky highlights, where bold, contrasting streaks of platinum blend seamlessly with the model's natural dark base, providing a striking and dimensional look. The cut itself is a uniformly long, one-length trim that allows the colors to take center stage without layering to complicate the bold visual effect. Perfect for someone looking to make a statement, this highlighted style combines the classic appeal of high-contrast color with the simplicity of a straightforward cut.
Here we have an elegant, straight cut that falls gracefully past the shoulders, its dark hue enriched with subtle, chunky highlights that catch the light and add a gentle contrast. The cut is devoid of layers, promoting a sleek and full-bodied look, with the highlights placed to create an understated yet sophisticated style. It's a versatile choice for someone seeking a blend of classic and contemporary, where the highlights add depth without overwhelming the natural beauty of the base color.
The model sports a bold, shoulder-length cut with textured layers that add volume and movement, accentuating the vivid red chunky highlights that contrast starkly against the jet-black base. These fiery streaks are particularly striking as they frame the face, infusing an edgy, modern vibe into the classic straight style. Ideal for those eager to express their personality with color, this hairstyle is a testament to the drama and depth that chunky highlights can achieve.
Flowing with soft waves, this layered hairstyle melds warm honey and ash blonde chunky highlights together, creating an illusion of volume and texture against the darker base. The highlights are masterfully placed to cascade along the curves of the waves, giving off a sun-kissed glow that frames the face beautifully. This look is ideal for those who want to add a multidimensional flair to their locks, blending boldness with subtlety for a versatile and chic appearance.
This stunning long and straight haircut boasts bold chunky highlights in a silver ash tone, delivering a contemporary contrast against the natural dark brunette base. The absence of layers allows the straight, contrasting stripes to stand out more vividly, making this style a head-turning choice. It's perfect for someone desiring a sleek and edgy look that pairs the classic appeal of long hair with the modern twist of prominent, icy highlights.
This medium-length style is a blend of artistry and fashion, featuring luscious waves that showcase a harmonious mix of chunky blonde highlights and a rich, darker base. The layers are cut to encourage bounce and movement, which highlights the smooth transition of colors from the crown to the tips. A person looking to infuse some dynamic contrast into their hair while maintaining a natural flow would find inspiration in this vibrant, multi-dimensional look.
This hairstyle radiates with cascading layers that add depth and movement, enhancing the blonde chunky highlights that beautifully transition from a darker root. The long, flowing waves bring a soft, feminine touch, making it a perfect match for those seeking both volume and grace in their look. It's a chic choice for anyone wishing to add some sunny vibrance to their style, with highlights that mimic the natural lightening of hair for a beachy, effortless feel.
The layers in this hairstyle fall effortlessly, framing the face with a light bounce, highlighting the contrast between the platinum blonde chunks and the softer, sandy base. This dynamic look is amplified by the loose waves that give it a beach-ready vibe, perfect for someone who wants a carefree yet polished appearance. With chunky highlights that add a touch of drama, this style is ideal for those looking to brighten their look while keeping it effortlessly chic.
The model's straight, chest-length cut is elevated by chunky, icy blonde highlights that stand out against the natural dark brunette base, offering a bold and modern twist. With a parting slightly off-center, the highlights are strategically placed to frame the face and enhance the sleekness of the style. This look serves as fabulous inspiration for those aiming to combine the edginess of pronounced highlights with the simplicity of a straight, no-layer haircut.
The hairstyle presented is a daring mix of chunky ash blonde and black highlights, creating a bold statement with the contrast of light and dark shades. Flowing in long, layered waves, the cut adds texture and movement, allowing the colors to intertwine and give off a dynamic, dimensional effect. This striking look is a fantastic choice for anyone wanting to stand out with a hairstyle that pairs the classic wave with adventurous, chunky color contrasts.
The hairstyle showcases a striking combination of fiery red and blonde chunky highlights that create a warm, autumnal cascade of color through the mid-lengths to the ends. Its straight, layered cut, featuring a full, eyebrow-grazing fringe, frames the face and highlights the model’s features. This bold color blend and cut make it a vibrant choice for those looking to add warmth and dimension to their style with a touch of modern flair.
This eye-catching style features a dramatic contrast with chunky ash blonde highlights that stand out against the dark natural base, flowing into loose, beachy waves. The layers are expertly cut to enhance the hair's volume and the dynamic interplay of colors, giving the style a full-bodied and textured look. It's a stunning choice for anyone wanting to blend the edgy boldness of chunky highlights with the softness and femininity of wavy hair.
The haircut shown is a sleek, mid-back length style that seamlessly blends chunky caramel highlights with a deep brunette base, creating an elegant and natural transition of shades. Its subtle layers are cut just enough to encourage movement and to accentuate the lighter streaks, which catch the light and add dimension. This refined look is perfect for someone seeking a sophisticated yet noticeable change, combining the timeless beauty of long, straight hair with the contemporary twist of bold highlights.
This edgy haircut features a daring mix of chunky platinum and ash highlights layered throughout a jet-black base, creating a stark, high-contrast look. The style is a textured, shoulder-length cut with piece-y layers that enhance the multi-tonal effect and add movement to the hair. It's a perfect choice for those looking to make a bold statement, as the chunky highlights give a modern twist to the classic layered cut.
The model flaunts a chic, long-layered cut with a full fringe, accentuated by chunky ash blonde highlights that give a striking contrast against the dark brown base. Soft waves add texture and movement, highlighting the seamless blend of colors and creating an effortlessly stylish look. This hairstyle is perfect for someone seeking a fresh, modern look with a touch of playfulness, courtesy of the bold highlights and face-framing bangs.
Amy is an hairstylist and the editor-in-chief at Snazzy Lair, where her expertise and leadership are instrumental in shaping the direction of the publication and ensuring its continued success. With over a decade of experience in the hairstyling industry, Amy has honed her craft to perfection. She possesses an innate talent for transforming hair into works of art, and her dedication to her clients' satisfaction knows no bounds.
