25 Bold Chunky Highlight Hairstyles

Chunky highlights have returned with a modern twist that’s taking the hair world by storm.

These statement-making streaks create dramatic contrast and dimension that fine highlights simply can’t achieve.

Today’s chunky highlights offer versatility beyond their Y2K predecessors, with placement techniques that flatter your face shape and enhance your cut.

The strategic color positioning creates visual texture and movement throughout your hair.

Ready to embrace this bold trend? Here are 25 stylish ways to incorporate chunky highlights into your hairstyle for a contemporary look that turns heads.

1: Face-Framing Chunky Money Pieces

Create instant brightness around your face with thick, contrasting money pieces.

These statement highlights draw attention to your best features while keeping the rest of your hair more subtle.

Ask your colorist for two thick, light blonde pieces at the front, starting from your roots and working through to the ends. Keep your base color darker for maximum impact.

This face-brightening technique works on all hair lengths but looks particularly striking on long layers or curtain bangs.

2: Chunky Balayage Bob

Combine the precision of a bob with the dimension of thick, hand-painted highlights.

This modern approach offers beautiful contrast without the harsh lines of traditional foiling.

Request chunky balayage pieces painted strategically throughout your bob, concentrated more heavily on the ends and around your face.

The placement creates movement and dimension.

This low-maintenance option grows out beautifully, requiring fewer touch-ups than traditional chunky highlights that start at the root.

3: Two-Tone Pixie Cut

Make a bold statement with a pixie cut featuring thick chunks of contrasting color throughout the longer top section.

This edgy approach maximizes impact on shorter styles.

Ask your stylist to leave length on top while keeping the sides shorter.

Add chunky highlights in a shade that contrasts with your base—like platinum on dark brown or vivid red on black.

This dramatic style requires minimal product to look amazing, as the color contrast does all the work for you.

4: Ribbon Highlights on Long Layers

Create vertical movement with thick ribbons of color woven through long, layered hair.

This technique offers beautiful dimension and flow that catches the light as you move.

Request wide, ribbon-like highlights placed vertically through your layers, starting near your roots and continuing to the ends.

The placement should follow your hair’s natural fall.

This flattering approach works particularly well on thick hair, as the highlights create the illusion of lightness and movement throughout.

5: Chunky Frosted Pixie

Channel ’90s vibes with a modern twist by adding frosted chunky highlights to a textured pixie cut.

This bold combination offers maximum impact with minimal maintenance.

Ask your colorist for thick, pale blonde pieces painted throughout the longer top section of your pixie.

The contrast between your dark base and light pieces creates striking dimension.

This low-maintenance style grows out beautifully, as the highlights blend with your natural regrowth for an evolving look between salon visits.

6: Peekaboo Chunky Under lights

Hide bold chunks of color beneath your top layer for a surprising effect that’s revealed with movement.

This playful technique offers versatility for those wanting color with some subtlety.

Request vivid chunks of color—like blue, purple, or bright red—applied to the underneath sections of your hair, leaving the top layer your natural shade.

The color peeks through when you move or style your hair up.

This versatile approach works beautifully for professional environments where you need the option to conceal your colorful side.

7: Chunky Highlighted Lob

Add dimension to the popular lob (long bob) with strategic chunks of lighter color. This contemporary approach creates movement and texture in this versatile cut.

Ask for thick highlights placed primarily through the mid-lengths and ends, with a few face-framing pieces for brightness.

The strategic placement enhances your cut’s natural movement.

This flattering combination works for all face shapes and offers a perfect balance of bold and sophisticated styling.

8: Skunk Stripe Money Piece

Make a dramatic statement with a single, ultra-thick highlight at the front of your hair.

This bold approach channels the “skunk” trend with a modern, fashion-forward twist.

Request one very thick, contrasting highlight—typically 1-2 inches wide—positioned at the front of your hair.

Keep the rest of your hair your natural color for maximum impact.

This edgy style creates a striking frame around your face and works particularly well with curtain bangs or face-framing layers.

9: Chunky Highlighted Curls

Enhance your natural curl pattern with thick highlights that follow your curls’ movement.

This dimensional approach creates beautiful depth and definition throughout your texture.

Ask your colorist to place thick highlights strategically to emphasize your curl pattern.

The color should be painted on individual curls rather than in horizontal sections.

This texture-enhancing technique makes your curls pop and creates natural-looking dimension that moves with your hair.

10: Contrasting Ends on Blunt Cut

Create architectural interest with a blunt cut featuring thick, contrasting color on just the ends. This graphic approach offers bold impact with minimal processing.

Request a precision blunt cut with the bottom 1-2 inches colored in a contrasting shade—like platinum blonde on dark hair or a fashion color on a neutral base.

The clean line creates maximum visual impact.

This low-commitment option allows you to experiment with chunky highlights without processing your entire head of hair.

11: Chunky Caramel Highlights on Chocolate Base

Warm up dark brown hair with thick ribbons of rich caramel strategically placed throughout.

This dimensional approach creates beautiful contrast while remaining natural-looking.

Ask for wide caramel highlights painted throughout your chocolate brown base, focusing on face-framing pieces and the top layers.

The warm-on-warm combination creates subtle dimension.

This flattering technique brightens your complexion instantly and works particularly well on warm skin tones.

12: Split-Dye with Chunky Segments

Embrace bold contrast with a split-dye technique featuring chunky segments of two different colors. This dramatic approach makes a strong fashion statement.

Request your hair to be divided into sections—typically right and left, or top and bottom—with each section colored in a different shade.

The clean division creates graphic impact.

This statement-making style works best on sleek, straight hair that showcases the clear color separation.

13: Chunky Platinum Pieces in Dark Bob

Create stunning contrast with thick platinum blonde pieces woven through a dark bob. This high-impact combination offers editorial-worthy dimension.

Ask for several thick, bright blonde pieces strategically placed throughout your bob, creating a marbled effect against your dark base.

The placement should enhance your cut’s shape.

This bold approach requires regular toning to maintain the bright platinum shade but delivers maximum impact with minimal highlights.

14: Dimensional Shag with Chunky Highlights

Enhance the inherent texture of a shag cut with strategically placed chunks of lighter color. This combination maximizes your cut’s movement and layering.

Request thick highlights concentrated around your face and through the top layers of your shag cut.

The placement should emphasize your layers and create dimension throughout.

This texture-enhancing approach works beautifully on all hair types and offers a perfect balance of retro and contemporary styling.

15: Thick Twi lighting Technique

Blend chunky highlights with lowlights for a dimensional “Twi lighting” effect that creates depth and movement.

This complex approach offers sophisticated contrast.

Ask your colorist for alternating chunks of highlights and lowlights—typically using three complementary shades.

The varied tones create natural-looking dimension with bold impact.

This multi-dimensional technique works particularly well on medium to long hair and creates beautiful movement that catches the light.

16: Chunky Highlighted Curtain Bangs

Draw attention to trendy curtain bangs with thick highlights that frame your face. This strategic approach brightens your complexion while enhancing your cut.

Request substantial highlights placed specifically through your curtain bangs, creating a face-framing effect that draws attention to your eyes.

Keep the rest of your highlights more subtle for balance.

This flattering technique instantly brightens your face and enhances your bone structure while maintaining the softness of curtain bangs.

17: Bold Block Coloring

Create graphic impact with block coloring that features substantial sections of contrasting color.

This editorial approach offers maximum visual interest with clean lines.

Ask for large sections of your hair to be colored in different complementary shades, creating distinct blocks of color rather than blended highlights.

The result is artistic and dramatic.

This high-fashion style works beautifully on precision cuts that showcase the deliberate color placement.

18: Chunky Red Highlights on Dark Base

Add fiery dimension with thick ribbons of red woven through dark hair. This bold combination creates striking contrast with warm, flattering tones.

Request wide copper or red highlights painted throughout your dark base, concentrated where the light naturally hits your hair.

The warm-cool contrast creates beautiful dimension.

This head-turning combination flatters most skin tones and adds immediate warmth and energy to your overall look.

19: ’90s Inspired Chunky Crown Highlights

Channel the ’90s with thick highlights concentrated at the crown area. This nostalgic approach offers maximum impact with a modern twist.

Ask for substantial highlights placed primarily through the top section of your hair, with the underside remaining your natural color.

This placement creates volume and brightness at the crown.

This throwback style works particularly well on medium-length cuts and offers a perfect balance of bold and wearable.

20: Chunky Silver Pieces on Dark Hair

Create striking contrast with thick silver or gray pieces woven through dark hair. This contemporary combination offers editorial-worthy dimension.

Request several wide, silver-toned highlights strategically placed throughout your dark base. The cool-toned contrast creates a modern, fashion-forward effect.

This bold approach requires regular toning to prevent brassiness but delivers maximum impact with minimal processing.

21: Thick Highlighted Layers

Emphasize your haircut’s layers with strategically placed chunks of lighter color. This technique enhances your cut’s natural movement and structure.

Ask your colorist to place thick highlights specifically on your layers, following the natural structure of your cut.

This targeted placement creates dimension that moves with your hair.

This customized approach works on all layered styles and creates beautiful movement that evolves as your hair moves.

22: Chunky Balayage on Curly Bob

Add dimension to a curly bob with thick, hand-painted highlights that follow your natural curl pattern.

This textured approach creates beautiful movement and definition.

Request chunky balayage pieces painted on individual curls, concentrated on the mid-lengths and ends. The placement should enhance your natural curl pattern.

This texture-celebrating technique makes your curls pop while the balayage application ensures a low-maintenance grow-out process.

23: Thick Blonde Money Pieces with Shadow Root

Create striking contrast with substantial blonde pieces at the front combined with a darker root area.

This combination offers bold impact with manageable maintenance.

Ask for very thick, bright blonde pieces framing your face, with your natural color maintained at the roots for 1-2 inches.

This shadow root technique creates dimension while allowing for easier grow-out.

This face-brightening approach works on all hair lengths and offers maximum impact with minimal commitment.

24: Chunky Highlighted Braids

Showcase your braided styles with thick highlights that create stunning dimension when woven. This technique offers beautiful contrast in protective styles.

Request substantial highlights placed strategically to create patterns and dimension when your hair is braided.

The placement should consider how the color will appear in your preferred braided styles.

This versatile approach works beautifully for box braids, cornrows, or twist-outs, creating eye-catching dimension in your protective styling.

25: Thick Vivid Pieces on Blonde Base

Add playful pops of fashion color with chunky vivid pieces painted throughout a blonde base.

This fun combination offers statement-making impact with minimal processing.

Ask for thick sections of bright fashion colors—like pink, blue, or purple—painted throughout your pre-lightened blonde hair.

The placement can be as subtle or bold as you prefer.

This playful approach allows for easy color changes, as fashion colors fade quickly on a blonde base, giving you flexibility to try different shades.

Conclusion

Chunky highlights offer endless possibilities for creating dimension and statement-making contrast in your hair.

Discuss these options with your colorist to find the perfect chunky highlight placement that complements your cut, color, and personal style!