20 Gorgeous Chunky Highlight Hairstyles You Need to Try This Season

Ready to make a bold statement with your hair? Chunky highlights are back in a big way!

Far from the stripey looks of the early 2000s, today’s chunky highlights offer dimension, drama, and eye-catching contrast that can transform even the most basic haircut.

Whether you’re looking to refresh your current style or planning a complete hair makeover, these chunky highlight ideas will give you plenty of inspiration.

From subtle to striking, there’s something here for every hair type, length, and personal style.

Let’s dive into 20 stunning chunky highlight hairstyles that will turn heads and boost your confidence!

1: Classic Bob with Blonde Money Pieces

The timeless bob gets an instant upgrade with chunky blonde highlights framing your face.

These face-framing pieces (often called “money pieces”) brighten your complexion and draw attention to your best features.

This low-maintenance option works beautifully on darker base colors, creating a striking contrast that grows out gracefully.

Ask your stylist to concentrate the chunkier highlights around your face, with finer highlights throughout for dimension.

2: Sun-Kissed Beach Waves with Caramel Chunks

Channel endless summer vibes with chunky caramel highlights woven through beachy waves.

This combination creates natural-looking dimension that mimics the way the sun naturally lightens your hair.

The warm caramel tones complement most skin tones and work especially well on brunette bases.

Style with a large-barrel curling iron and texturizing spray for that effortless, just-left-the-beach look that never goes out of style.

3: Edgy Pixie with Bold Platinum Streaks

Take your pixie cut from cute to cutting-edge with chunky platinum highlights.

This high-contrast look creates visual interest and texture in shorter styles, giving you major attitude with minimal effort.

The bright platinum pieces catch the light beautifully and can be concentrated at the crown or throughout the top layers.

This style works particularly well if you have a darker natural base to create maximum impact.

4: Curly Lob with Golden Ribbons

Embrace your natural curls with chunky golden highlights that create a ribboning effect through your locks.

These strategic highlights enhance your curl pattern and add definition to each springy coil.

This technique works wonderfully on shoulder-length cuts, with the highlights placed to catch light at different angles.

The dimensional effect makes your curls appear fuller and more defined, especially when styled with curl-enhancing products.

5: Long Layers with Creamy Blonde Chunks

Transform long, layered hair with chunky creamy blonde highlights that create movement and dimension.

These substantial highlights work through the layers to add visual interest to otherwise one-dimensional long hair.

The creamy blonde tones soften the contrast, making this a more wearable everyday look.

Have your stylist place the chunkier pieces strategically around your layers to enhance your haircut’s shape and flow.

6: Sleek Straight Cut with Cherry Cola Streaks

Add depth and richness to a sleek, straight cut with chunky cherry cola highlights.

These deep burgundy-red streaks create a luxurious dimension against darker bases without being too flashy for professional settings.

The rich, multidimensional color catches light beautifully when you move, adding interest to even the simplest straight styles.

This color combination flatters olive and neutral skin tones particularly well.

7: Shaggy Wolf Cut with Contrasting Chunks

Embrace the trendy wolf cut (a modern shag-mullet hybrid) with chunky highlights that emphasize the cut’s inherent texture.

Opt for high-contrast colors like ash blonde against dark brown for maximum impact.

These strategic highlights enhance the choppy layers characteristic of the wolf cut, creating movement and dimension.

Style with texturizing products to separate the pieces and showcase the color contrast.

8: Bouncy Blowout with Honey Highlights

Elevate your classic blowout with chunky honey-toned highlights that add warmth and dimension.

These golden pieces catch the light as your hair moves, creating a multi-dimensional effect that looks expensive and polished.

The warm honey tones flatter most skin tones and work particularly well against light to medium brown base colors.

Pair with a round brush blowout technique to showcase the color variation to its fullest potential.

9: Curtain Bangs with Face-Framing Chunks

Make your curtain bangs the star of the show with chunky highlights concentrated in this face-framing area.

This targeted approach draws attention to your eyes and cheekbones while creating the illusion of fuller hair.

Choose a shade 2-3 levels lighter than your base color for a natural yet noticeable effect.

This technique works especially well with the curtain bang trend, as the highlights help to define and separate the pieces.

10: Braided Updo with Peek-a-Boo Color

Showcase chunky highlights in an unexpected way with braided styles that reveal flashes of contrasting color.

The woven nature of braids naturally showcases dimensional color, with the highlights creating a ribbon-like effect.

This style works with any color combination but looks particularly striking with bold choices like platinum against black or caramel against deep brown.

The color placement ensures your updo has visual interest from every angle.

11: Volumized Pixie with Root Shadow

Create the illusion of fuller hair with a volumized pixie featuring chunky highlights and strategic root shadowing.

The darker roots provide depth while the lighter chunks create height and dimension.

This combination is particularly flattering for fine hair, as the color contrast creates the appearance of more volume.

Style with a texturizing product and blow dry upward at the roots for maximum lift.

12: Wavy Lob with Silver-Blonde Pieces

Add modern edge to a wavy lob with chunky silver-blonde highlights.

This cool-toned choice creates a contemporary vibe that works beautifully against darker base colors.

The metallic quality of silver-blonde catches light differently than traditional blonde, creating a multidimensional effect.

Style with loose waves to showcase the color variation and movement of this versatile mid-length cut.

13: Tousled Bun with Peek-a-Boo Highlights

Elevate everyday updos with chunky highlights that peek through messy buns and tousled styles.

The strategically placed color creates visual interest even in casual, thrown-together looks.

Place the highlights throughout the mid-lengths to ends so they’ll be visible when hair is pulled up.

This approach gives you versatility between wearing your hair down with full color impact or up with subtle color accents.

14: Asymmetric Cut with Bold Color Blocking

Take chunky highlights to the extreme with an asymmetric cut featuring color-blocked sections.

This architectural approach to hair color creates a graphic, high-fashion look that’s perfect for those wanting to make a statement.

Consider contrasting colors like platinum and black, or vibrant tones against natural bases.

The asymmetric cut ensures the color placement looks intentional and fashion-forward rather than dated.

15: Natural Curls with Caramel Money Pieces

Enhance your natural curl pattern with chunky caramel highlights concentrated around your face.

These warm-toned money pieces brighten your complexion while working with your natural texture.

The strategic placement means less overall processing on your curls, helping to maintain their health and bounce.

The face-framing technique ensures the color makes maximum impact even with minimal application.

16: Blunt Mid-Length Cut with Contrasting Underneath

Create visual interest in a blunt, one-length cut with chunky highlights concentrated on the underneath layers.

This technique adds dimension without altering the clean lines of your haircut.

When you move, flashes of the brighter color peek through, creating a dynamic effect.

This approach works particularly well with cool-toned highlights against warmer bases, like ash blonde against caramel brown.

17: Textured Crop with Frosted Tips

Revive the frosted tips trend in a modern way with a textured crop featuring chunky highlighted ends.

This contemporary take on a ’90s classic creates texture and dimension in shorter styles.

The concentrated color at the tips creates visual interest and emphasizes the texture of the cut.

Style with a matte product for a contemporary finish that showcases the color contrast without looking dated.

18: Layered Shag with Ribbon Highlights

Embrace the return of the shag with chunky “ribbon” highlights that follow the layers of this textured cut.

The strategic placement emphasizes the cut’s inherent movement and choppy texture.

Choose colors that create noticeable contrast without being too stark—like caramel against chocolate brown or honey blonde against dark blonde.

The ribbon technique ensures the highlights enhance rather than compete with the cut’s shape.

19: Sleek Ponytail with Dimensional Color

Transform the classic ponytail from basic to bold with chunky highlights that create dimensional color from root to tip.

The slicked-back style showcases the color variation beautifully, turning an everyday style into a statement.

Place highlights throughout to ensure they’re visible when hair is pulled back.

This approach means your color works hard for you in both down and up styles, giving you maximum versatility.

20: Mermaid Waves with Contrasting Pieces

Channel your inner mermaid with long, rippling waves featuring chunky highlights in contrasting tones.

The wave pattern showcases the color variation, creating a magical, dimensional effect reminiscent of sunlight on water.

This style works with any color combination but looks particularly enchanting with complementary tones like rose gold and copper or platinum and pale blue.

The lengthy style provides maximum canvas for creative color placement.

Conclusion

Chunky highlights offer endless possibilities to transform your hair with bold dimension and eye-catching contrast.

Find the perfect combination for your style, and don’t be afraid to make a statement with your next color appointment!