A Twist on the Traditional: Different Types of Highlights to Try in 2024 Instead

Last Updated on April 25, 2024 by Ryan

Highlights feel like they have been around forever. So, if you do want to freshen up your hair color but are over highlights, you may be looking for some new inspiration. Well, the good news is that there are a few different types of highlights that you can try. Here are the top options for you! 

Lowlights 

Although lowlights have been for around nearly as long as highlights, people don’t discuss this trend as often. For one thing, lowlights require quite a bit of skill to pull off. For another, this look works best for people with lighter hair. 

In essence, lowlights are when a shade slightly darker than your natural hue, is painted throughout your hair. This needs to be done very discreetly, so that the darker strands are barely noticeable. 

Do it right, though, and lowlights can completely alter your style. This is because painting in darker sections, adds texture and dimension to your style. Also, if you have fine hair, this technique works to add volume to it and make it look thicker. 

This is an ideal look if you tend to like more classic hairstyles but want to add an oomph factor. Of all the different types of highlights, this is definitely one that needs to comeback! 

Peekaboo Highlights 

If you are ready to do something quite different, then you should give peekaboo highlights – also known as under hair color – a try. Here, you only bleach or dye the underside of your hair. So, if you are wearing your hair down, the color can’t be seen. This is especially true with short hair. 

This is a great option if you work in a professional setting or don’t want the hair color to always be seen. It is only when you tuck your hair behind the ears, wear it half up, half down, or do something other style that it will be visible. 

With this look, you can choose to stay close to your natural color. Or, you can go a lot lighter or darker. Or, you can do something completely different and opt for a bright pop of color. 

Babylights 

If you are looking for different types of highlights, then think of babylights as the lower maintenance sister of highlights. While it is technically highlights, the strands of hair that are dyed are incredibly tiny. These highlights tend to be placed near your hairline and close to where you part your hair. 

These babylights add shape and dimension to your hair, especially mid-length hair that is one length throughout. It looks particularly good with beachy waves and it is a favorite among supermodels due to its au natural look. 

As the highlights are so skinny, they don’t stand out from your natural hair color all that much. Due to this, they are incredibly easy to grow out of and don’t need touching up if you don’t want the hassle. Best of all, babylights will continue to work in your favor even as they grow out, adding texture and dimension to your locks.  

Curl Lights 

More and more people are embracing their natural curls, wearing their coils proudly. However, if you do have curly hair you may have struggled with coloring it. It can be difficult to get this look just right and requires different highlight styles. Fortunately, there is now a solution with curl lights. 

Despite technically being highlights, curl lights are done in such a way that they look like balayage. To pull this style off, the stylist has to treat different sections of your curls uniquely. 

For instance, the most intense color is on the topmost layer and with the strands closest to your face. The color gets warmer towards the ends of your hair and the back of your head. Similarly, the bottom layers of your hair are also slightly darker. 

When the curl lights come together, they help to create dimension and varying lengths with your curls. Even if you have a pretty straightforward haircut, curl lights will brighten things up. 

Balayage 

One of the reasons that you may be looking for different styles of highlights is that traditional ones are high maintenance. This is because highlights tend to be chunkier and more noticeable against your natural hair color. If you are tired of that upkeep, then the balayage look is the way to go. 

What’s great about this trend is that the color or bleach is gently painted onto your hair. Also, the color used tends to be very close to your natural hair color. The resulting look is very natural and subtle. As a result, you can often go several months in between your next appointment. Even as the balayage grows out, it will not be noticeable. 

At the same time, balayage is great for brightening up your hair and warming up your face and complexion, regardless of the season. 

Ombre 

Ombre is a great idea if you want your new hair color to be a bit more visible. This is essentially a two-tone style. The darker hair – your natural color – is closer to the root of the hair. About halfway down the shaft, the stylist lightens your hair. 

Sometimes, the contrast between the two shades can be sharp. In other cases, you can ask your stylist for a more gradient look. One of the great things about this style is that it is fairly easy to grow out. If you don’t want to have to keep going back to the salon, you don’t have to! 

Shadow Roots 

While most hair color trends are born in the salon, this one sprung up due to the pandemic. Due to numerous lockdowns, people had no choice but to let their roots grow. In the process, though, they discovered that slightly darker, smokier roots are a pretty great look! 

This introduced shadow roots. If you have lighter hair, then it is a matter of bleaching an inch or two near the roots. This makes it appear as though your roots are growing out. With darker hair, you go for darker roots. 

What’s great about this look is that it creates a subtle two-tone style in your hair. The roots are just enough to be chic and noticeable but not so much that it makes it look like you have had a drastic change. 

Money Pieces 

Let’s face it – no one wants to spend ages in a stylist’s chair, all wrapped up in foils. If you want something a little quicker and more low maintenance, then ask for money pieces. This is where only the sections closest to your face are dyed or bleached. 

Be warned, this can be a rather drastic change. However, it is also a wonderful way to add a pop of color to your look without too much effort. The main thing to keep in mind here is to choose a shade that works well with your complexion. If you have cool undertones, then opt for a cool hair color. For warm undertones, choose warm hues. 

As you can see, highlights don’t have to be your only option if you want to insert some color into your look. There are a lot of options to choose from. All you need to do is to decide which of these looks works for you. Or, go ahead and try a few of them out!