20 Edgy Ways to Jazz Up Your Short Hair with Highlights

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.

2. Shaggy Bob with Caramel Highlights

Will this style suit me?

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.

3. Pixie with Blue and Platinum Highlights

Will this style suit me?

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.

4. Layered Bob with Blonde-on-Blonde Highlights

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Will this style suit me?

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.

4. Layered Bob with Blonde-on-Blonde Highlights

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Will this style suit me?

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.

6. Dark Red Hair with Copper Highlights

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Will this style suit me?

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.

7. Bob with Brown and Blonde Streaks

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Will this style suit me?

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.

8. Contrasting Blonde Highlights

Will this style suit me?

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.

9. Wedge Cut with Full Blonde Highlights

Will this style suit me?

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.

10. Pixie with Red-to-Blonde Ombre

Will this style suit me?

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.

11. Wavy Bob with Subtle Highlights

Will this style suit me?

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.

12. Blonde Pixie with Rose Gold Highlights

Will this style suit me?

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.

12. Blonde Pixie with Rose Gold Highlights

Will this style suit me?

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.

14. Highlighted Faux Hawk

Will this style suit me?

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.

15. Bob with Blonde Fade

Will this style suit me?

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.

16. Black Hair with Platinum Highlights

Will this style suit me?

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.

17. Feathered Pixie with Undercut

Will this style suit me?

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.

18. Pixie with Purple and Blue Highlight

Will this style suit me?

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.

19. Deep Red Highlights on Dark Hair

Will this style suit me?

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.

20. Curls with Multi-Hued Red Streaks

Will this style suit me?

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.

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.