55+ Ways to Brighten Your Strands with Blonde Highlights

Blonde highlights are a fantastic way to brighten and add dimension to your hair. Whether you prefer subtle, sun-kissed streaks or bold, dramatic contrasts, there’s a technique to suit your preference and enhance your base color.

Blonde Highlights Advice

Blonde highlights are a great way to get the blonde look with a little less upkeep. However, there are still a few things you can do to maintain bright, beautiful highlights.

• Highlighting your hair properly takes a lot of skill, so make sure you book an appointment with a stylist to do the actual coloring. That way, you know you’re getting a flattering color and balanced application. A professional will also be able to minimize damage or tell you if you have to split your highlights into multiple sessions to protect your hair.
• Once you’ve left the salon, make sure you swap out your shampoo and conditioner for products made for dyed hair, specifically blond shades, to prevent brassiness. This shampoo from Olaplex intensifies and brightens blonde shades while also hydrating your locks. You can even pair it with its matching Olaplex conditioner that tones your hair to keep the shade pristine between touch-ups.
• Don’t overwash your hair, though. Not only will shampooing too much strip the oil your hair needs, but it will also fade your color a lot faster. Most people only have to wash their hair 1-3 times a week.
• If you notice a lot of oil buildup or flatness in your hair, use a dry shampoo. This one from Moroccanoil is made for light shades and adds a little extra texture and volume.
• A few times a month, do a brightening treatment to revitalize your color. This hair mask from Joico is easy to use and softens and smooths your hair to prevent brittleness and frizz.
• Healthy hair is naturally shiny, but dying or highlighting your locks can sometimes dull that glossy appearance. To counteract that, massage a little hair gloss, like this one from Kenra, into your hair.
• Try not to get your hair wet with hot water since high heat dries out hair and leaves it prone to breaking. Wear a shower cap, like this one from Drybar, during your showers, and rinse out your hair with lukewarm water.
• Avoid unnecessary heat on your hair in general. If you can, try to let your locks air dry by using a hair towel like this one from DevaCurl. When you have to use hot tools or a hair dryer, never skip using a heat protectant like this one from Chi.
• Even the sun can change the color of your highlights. To avoid your hair getting lighter than you’d like while also preventing stress from UV rays, use a hair sunscreen, like this mist from COOLA.
• Use hair clips, like these from Drybar, or silk hair ties to pull your hair back rather than rubber bands that tend to cause breakage. Highlighted hair is still dyed, so it is more vulnerable to stress and breakage from tight hairstyles.
• Make sure to stay on top of your touch-up appointments. Depending on how fast your hair grows and what your natural color is, you can expect to go back to the salon every 3-8 weeks to get your roots done.

Blonde Highlights Ideas

Long Wavy Hair with Sun-Kissed Blonde Highlights

This style features long, wavy hair with sun-kissed blonde highlights, creating a natural, beachy look that evokes the essence of summer.

Shoulder-Length Hair with Honey Blonde Highlights

Adding warmth and dimension, this shoulder-length cut is enhanced with honey blonde highlights, perfect for a radiant, sunlit glow.

Dark Brown Hair with Caramel Blonde Highlights

Providing a rich contrast, this dark brown hair is beautifully complemented by caramel blonde highlights, adding depth and vibrancy.

Sleek, Straight Hair with Platinum Blonde Highlights

Offering a cool, modern style, this sleek, straight hair with platinum blonde highlights exudes sophistication and elegance.

Wavy Bob with Golden Blonde Highlights

Enhancing natural texture, this wavy bob is brought to life with golden blonde highlights, adding brightness and a fresh, sun-kissed finish.

Medium-Length Hair with Ash Blonde Highlights

Providing a chic, sophisticated look, medium-length hair with ash blonde highlights offers a stylish, cool-toned finish.

Curly Hair with Buttery Blonde Highlights

Adding warmth and a sun-kissed effect, curly hair with buttery blonde highlights creates a vibrant, glowing appearance.

Long Layered Hair with Soft Blonde Highlights

This style features long, layered hair with soft blonde highlights, adding movement, depth, and a subtle light-catching effect.

Shoulder-Length Hair with Beige Blonde Highlights

Offering a subtle and elegant appearance, shoulder-length hair with beige blonde highlights provides a refined, sophisticated look.

Dark Blonde Hair with Light Blonde Balayage Highlights

Providing a natural and effortless style, dark blonde hair with light blonde balayage highlights creates a soft, sun-kissed transition.

Short Bob with Champagne Blonde Highlights

Adding a touch of luxury, this short bob with champagne blonde highlights exudes sophistication and elegance.

Medium-Length Hair with Strawberry Blonde Highlights

Offering a warm and unique look, medium-length hair with strawberry blonde highlights adds a playful, vibrant touch.

Long, Sleek Hair with Icy Blonde Highlights

Creating a modern, polished appearance, long, sleek hair with icy blonde highlights brings a fresh, cool-toned vibe to any style.

Wavy Hair with Soft Blonde Highlights and a Deep Side Part

Enhancing natural beauty, wavy hair with soft blonde highlights and a deep side part adds dimension and a flattering frame to the face.

Shoulder-Length Hair with Honey Caramel Blonde Highlights

Providing warmth and a sunlit glow, shoulder-length hair with honey caramel blonde highlights offers a radiant, vibrant look.

Dark Brown Hair with Face-Framing Blonde Highlights

Adding brightness and dimension, dark brown hair with face-framing blonde highlights beautifully accentuates facial features.

Medium-Length Hair with Sandy Blonde Highlights

Offering a soft, natural look, medium-length hair with sandy blonde highlights adds subtle warmth and dimension.

Sleek, Straight Hair with Golden Blonde Highlights

Creating a polished, sophisticated style, sleek, straight hair with golden blonde highlights adds a touch of elegance.

Long Curly Hair with Buttery Blonde Highlights

Adding a warm, radiant effect, long curly hair with buttery blonde highlights enhances the curls and creates a glowing appearance.

Short Wavy Bob with Ash Blonde Highlights

Providing a modern, edgy look, this short wavy bob with ash blonde highlights combines texture and cool-toned sophistication.

More Blonde Highlights Ideas