@gutoferreiras
Don’t ever mistake brown for boring, especially when it comes to hair. Here, copper and caramel highlights brighten up brown hair. These highlight colors would look good on black hair as well, but they’d stand out even more than they do here.
Short hair with highlights opens up space to play with contrast, tone, and texture. Can’t get enough of your pixie cut? Growing out a short crop? Want your bob to be more distinct? Adding light and shadow will help you achieve all that and more. The combination of blonde highlights over a brown base has become a classic, but there are still a lot of options to choose from. Read on and pick your favorites among the true classics or unexpected pairings.
@ms_wonderland
Chunky highlights like these were super popular in the ’90s – remember the look of starkly defined highlights? You can see that here as well, but it’s much subtler and, thus, softer. Remember, ’90s looks are back with a vengeance, so this could be your next hairstyle.
Don’t ever mistake brown for boring, especially when it comes to hair. Here, copper and caramel highlights brighten up brown hair. These highlight colors would look good on black hair as well, but they’d stand out even more than they do here.
@gutoferreiras
If you’ve ever wanted hardcore rocker hair, this is the look to emulate. The style is a work of art in its own right, but the mix of platinum highlights, chunky blue streaks, and stark roots is sizzling.
@katierosehair
You almost can’t tell that there are any highlights here; that’s how perfect the hair color is. A close peek reveals some darker hair, very deeply buried and well blended, but mostly, this stunning layered bob has blonde highlights in various shades.
@aryavarji
Dark hair below, bright highlights above, deliberate ombre touches all throughout – it’s such an iconic look. Lightened strands on short haircuts became a thing with Madonna, way back in the ’80s.
@salsalhair
This is absolutely stunning. One of the great things about dressing up short hair is that it can take bright colors. Here, dark red hair brightens up even more thanks to the layers of gold, pale copper, and light auburn. If you want a red ‘do, this is the way to do it.
@modernsalon
This style looks like a perfect swirl of chocolate and vanilla. You don’t often see brown lowlights on blonde hair; it’s usually the reverse. Possibly this hair isn’t naturally blonde, but that’s hardly the point. Reverse the traditional sometimes, because it ends up looking startling.
@katchampagne143
Here’s another take on the ’90s version of short hair highlights, but this is a more extreme version with a stark contrast between the light brown and blonde highlights. While this contrast makes it different from short hair balayage, the highlights are blended so artfully that the overall effect is very smooth.
@modernsalon
Though the base is dark brown, this is a study of blonde highlights. Most of them are extremely light, but there are a few streaks of golden blonde, dirty blonde, and honey blonde. Still, this is one smart way to go light without completely bleaching your hair.
@colorist_co
Here’s another take on red hair, this time with blonde ombre. The change is jarring but not extreme – if you look closely, you can see how beautifully the red blends up into the blonde.
@martinabmhair
To make your hairstyle more feminine and stylish, add movement to it by creating light strands and careless waves. This hairstyle is a great option for fine hair, as the difference between shades creates additional volume and the hair looks much thicker.
@stephengarrison
This dye job reads as dynamic thanks to the artful highlight placement and messy styling. The shock of yellow blonde beneath the rosy light brown is remarkable – it really does look like rose gold.
@myos_ritzlam
Red highlights on black hair are a classic pairing that can be enhanced even further with a similar outfit colorway. This isn’t a traditional red, however, but a dark auburn with a cherry gleam that gives it a softer overtone. Beautiful!
@kandyfhair_
This style has a strong punk rock aesthetic. It’s more like a dip-dye job than mere highlights. The dark hair with the brassy blonde tips is a surefire statement-maker.
@salonpk
This is an excellent example of beautifully done blonde highlights. Darker hair peeks through enough to make it a part of the look, meaning that you don’t have to worry about your roots as much, which is another perk of smooth color transitions anyway.
@justindillaha_hair
This isn’t really black and white, of course, but it’s close enough. Contrasting platinum feathers on highly pigmented black hair look nothing short of amazing. This hairstyle is dramatic, punk rock, and incredibly photogenic.
@velouriadreams
If you’re a fan of extremely short haircuts, this is an option for you. Choppy texture, contrast transitions between hair lengths, and asymmetrical bangs challenge the idea of what a haircut should be. Successfully placed highlights will accentuate your edgy tips even more.
@hugosalon
The mix of colors here is beautiful. There’s black, a little bit of violet, and chunky highlights of teal and purple. Along with the edgy cut, it’s a masterpiece of hair color.
@modernsalon
Red highlights for short hair look amazing with a dark base. They especially dazzle with black hair. The contrast is usually stark, but here the red is subtle; it looks natural.
@beautybyjoni
This hairstyle leans playful, with saturated tones that feel almost confectionary. There’s hot pink, purple, fuchsia, and orange. Her hair looks like a sunset – proving unequivocally that with highlights, you can treat your hair like a canvas.
@msklarie
Short hair with highlights is undoubtedly the most impactful way to refresh your appearance, minus the commitment of a total color change. It is highly adaptable, attractive, and endlessly customizable – the perfect marriage of low-maintenance chic and luminous detail.
