20 Peekaboo Highlights (2023)

20 Peekaboo Highlights (1)

Highlights are a classic foundation for many of our hair color goals. Be it a naturally blended blonde or an allover color change, highlights are the route that take us where we want to go. Peekaboo highlights are the latest color trend taking over our feeds, and they've been used in a variety of ways. Whether you want to add a pop of bright, bolder color into your natural hue or give some added interest to your updos, the playful placement of this color trend is what makes it so fun and unique.

Often worn beneath the surface, around the face, or gradually tinted from front to back, peekaboo highlights are an impactful, pleasantly unexpected surprise to any hair color or style. We tapped expert colorists on the best way to wear this trend.

Meet the Expert

  • Hollywood hairstylist Guy Tang is an influencer and founder of #myDenity hair color products.
  • Rachel Bodt is a celebrity hair colorist.

Whether you want to go with highlights that are a bit more bold—or more subtle peekaboo highlights that you can hide at work, we have you covered.

Peekaboo Highlights

Choosing a Shade: Tang suggests picking a fun, vibrant color or a contrasting color. "This will make the peekaboo highlights pop!"

Maintenance Level: Low. Tang and Bodt both agree that with hidden color placement, touch-ups can be done at your leisure.

Goes Great With: Choppy Bangs, Long Layers, and A-Line Bobs

Similar Shades: Contrast Color, Skunk Hair

Price: This all depends on how much contrast you're looking for. It may be the same as the cost of full or partial highlights at your salon, so consult with your colorist first.

Check out 20 inspo images of varying peekaboo highlights that will make you DM your colorist for an appointment.

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Side Pop

Playing with pops of color doesn't have to be a fully highlighted effort. "Peekaboo highlights are the perfect way to try out a fun color!" says Tang. This burst of purple is a total surprise, hanging off to one side of the hair.

(Video) Peekaboo Highlights Tutorial | Achieve Peek A Boo Highlights At Home

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Natural Texture

The beauty of adding some peekaboo color into natural texture, especially when brushed out as seen here, is that those little color moments will really spread out as each curl separates, giving the illusion that larger chunks of hair have been painted. "If you are going super light," says Bodt, "lay off the super-tight hair ties and say hello to scrunchies and jaw clips to avoid tight tension that can cause breakage."

Opt for scrunchies or jaw clips after lightening the hair to avoid the breakage that tighter hair bands can cause.

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Cotton Candy Blend

You'd think at first sight that this adorable bob was an impressive bleach-and-tone, but one toss of the head or flip of the hair and you'll catch sight of a vibrant cotton candy blend peeking out from below. Bodt recommends using color conditioners to keep your contrasting tone vibrant and long-lasting.

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Babylights

A microweave can offer babylights for any shade of blonde or hint of playful color. But it's weaving just beneath the surface of the hair that allows for those peekaboo moments where your color can peek through and offer some interesting dimension.

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Color Blocks

These blocks of blue add a fun peekaboo moment to dreaded hair, no matter how they're styled. Worn up or down, a hint of blue gradients can be seen casually yet thoughtfully placed throughout.

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Blondie Splices

Peekaboo highlights don't have to be woven by definition. These blondie splices are fully highlighted chunks that lie just beneath the darker strands at the surface for a most interesting contrast.

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Highlighter Yellow

This highlighter yellow hue is hard to miss, even with its peekaboo placement. Any colors surrounding the top layers of your face frame are sure to stand out.

(Video) Hair Transformations with Lauryn: 90’s trend, 3 Chunky Underlight Techniques Ep.20

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Effortlessly Grazed Ends

If you want to give the illusion of peekaboo highlights without the high maintenance color job, rely on your preexisting grown-out highlights to do the trick. By switching up your parting and pulling the hair up into a faux bob, it'll look as though you've got an intentional round of peekaboo highlights effortlessly grazing your ends.

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Blown Away Blue

As if a bright blue wouldn't blow anyone away with its outspoken hue, the peekaboo placement against naturally lighter hair tones is sure to give major impact to your 'do.

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Tinted Tendrils

The pink-tinted tendrils may be front and center, but amid a full head of healthy, naturally dark curls, they're a peekaboo highlight that's sure not to be missed.

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Peachy Keen

With a pinch of highlighted peach hidden throughout your strands, you'll have plenty of fun peekaboo moments to sport with varying style choices.

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Shades of Gray

Peekaboo "skunk" highlights are one of the hottest trends of the year. They manage to be both edgy, yet also totally wearable. You can pull your hair up to show off the gray, or wear your hair down if you want only a hint of gray to show up.

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Mermaid Hair

Who hasn't always wanted to be a mermaid? These dreamy multi-color peekaboo highlights allow you to be just that. The purple and blue colors look beautiful next to dark hair, although this look would be just as magical on lighter hair as well. You can wear your hair down to hide the color—but why would you want to?

(Video) Peekaboo Highlights [BOLD MONEY PIECE HIGHLIGHTS USING A PLATINUM CARD ON DARK HAIR]

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Sunset Highlights

This peekaboo orange gives us major sunset vibes. The platinum blonde hair and orange highlights are the perfect pair. This is a bold look, however you can ask for more subtle highlights if you want to tame it down a bit.

Make sure you are using a shampoo that is made for color-treated hair. Avoid shampoos with sulfates, or those that are labeled as "clarifying" as they can fade your hair.

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Pumpkin Spice

While still in the orange family, these pumpkin spice highlights are much more subtle than the bright orange highlights above. This color would look beautiful on auburn or brunette hair.

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Neon Moon

These neon highlights are the opposite of subtle—and we love it! These bold colors may fade fast unless you make sure you are washing with color-safe shampoo.

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Shego Inspired

Kim Possible fans will love these Shego-inspired green and black highlights. A subtle wave and tuck behind the ear is all you need to display this beautiful hue.

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Purple Rain

If you want a pop a color that you can easily hide, these purple rain highlights will be right up your alley. The highlighted section is kept underneath, hidden underneath your top layer of hair. To show off your highlights, wear it half-up, in a ponytail or in a chic top knot.

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Peek-A-Blue

These delicate blue highlights look beautiful against dark hair that is lightly layered with beachy waves. Baby peekaboo highlights are a versatile way to get in on this colorful trend.

(Video) These girls bleached and dyed the under-layer of their hair!

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Rainbow

If you can't settle on just one color....why not pick them all? These rainbow peekaboo highlights are truly Instagram worthy! These do require a colorist that is experienced in these type of highlights. The darker your natural hair color, the more it will need to be pre-lightened before hand for the brighter colors.

FAQ

  • Where is the best placement of peekaboo highlights?

    Traditional peekaboo highlights are under the top layer of your hair. Your colorist may pin the top layer of your hair up, and apply the color to the underneath portion so it “peeks” out. You can also apply delicate or “baby” highlights for pops of color around your face or at the ends of your hair for a subtle peek of color.

  • Are peekaboo highlights high maintenance?

    If you opt for bright peekaboo highlights, be prepared to touch up the color as it starts to fade. Some shades of color will fade faster than other shades. You will also need to make sure you use color-safe shampoo to keep your color bright.

  • What peekaboo hair color fades the fastest?

    Due to its large molecule size, red hair color fades the fastest and will often start to fade in two weeks. Purple also fades fairly fast, and it may turn to a pink before it fades completely. To maintain your bright color, use a shampoo for color-safe hair and don’t wash your hair every day.

"Skunk Hair" Is Trending—Here Are Our Favorite Ways to Wear It

(Video) Dark Hair with Peekaboo Highlights | Color Correction for Hair

FAQs

Are peekaboo highlights still in 2022? ›

Flashes of bold color using neons and acid tones will be big in 2022. Our stylists are creating peekaboo color underneath so these tones flash through as the hair moves, as bleach bits frame the face or with dip dye application.

What are peekaboo highlights considered? ›

What is peekaboo hair color? Peekaboo hair color is when color is applied to your bottom layer of hair. When you run your fingers through your hair, the hue beneath “peeks” through your top layer of hair to reveal a pop of color.

Are peekaboo highlights damaging? ›

Peekaboo highlights are a great low-maintenance, less-damaging option for anyone who wants to play around with brighter colors without fully committing.

Are peekaboo highlights hard to maintain? ›

Are peekaboo highlights high maintenance? If you opt for bright peekaboo highlights, be prepared to touch up the color as it starts to fade. Some shades of color will fade faster than other shades. You will also need to make sure you use color-safe shampoo to keep your color bright.

What hair color makes you look younger? ›

Caramel, honey, gold, copper, and strawberry give a healthy brightness that makes us look and feel younger. (Framing your face with lighter shades draws the eye away from any complexion concerns, as well.)

How much does peekaboo cost? ›

This at-home gender test determines if a boy or girl is in your future with 99.5% accuracy! After receiving your kit, register online and pay the $54 lab fee.

Where do you put peekaboo highlights? ›

Plan out your peekaboo.

These kinds of highlights are usually applied to the bottom half (or third) of your hair, but you can also add them to areas that frame your face, or place them only on one side.

How do you show off peekaboo hair? ›

To show off your fresh hair color you can do quite a few different fun styles. A half up hairstyle will show your peekaboo highlights nicely; one of our favorite half up styles is this triple dutch braid. You can also do a vintage ponytail; make sure to comb your hair so that the highlights are shown.

What is the least damaging hair highlights? ›

Good ol' foil highlights

"The easiest way not to damage the hair is to ask for foils because it's generally the safest." The foils separate hair that is to be highlighted from hair that will remain its natural color, while sealing the developer and lightener in the hair during the processing time.

Is it better to get full or partial highlights? ›

The Benefits of Partial Highlights

Less damage: As you're only highlighting a few sections, you'll likely experience less hair damage. It looks more natural: Because you'll still see your base color, partial highlights look more soft and natural.

Is half head highlights enough? ›

A full head is all over your head and half head will be spread over the crown and side, also usually the top layer of hair. If you hair is a bob or shorter, a half head might be enough for you. Hi! Highlights and foils are basically the same thing.

How often should you get half head highlights? ›

A half head of highlights is usually less expensive to maintain. That being said, highlights only require top-ups every 6-8 weeks, and it is very easy to switch from getting half heads to full heads and vice versa. It all comes down to your hair goals, so have a good think about what look you want.

What are the easiest highlights to maintain? ›

Here are the seven easiest hair colors to maintain.
...
7 of the Easiest Hair Colors to Maintain (That Don't Require Constant Touch- Ups)
  • Ombré Ringlets. ...
  • Tortoiseshell Hair. ...
  • Babylights And Balayage. ...
  • "lived-in Color" ...
  • Lightened Base. ...
  • Tonal Color. ...
  • Face-framing Highlights.
Jul 5, 2017

Do highlights make you look thinner? ›

Highlights framing your face can actually make it appear rounder. "Lighter tones open up the face, making it appear wider, while darker tones are slimming," says Dubre.

What hair color is seductive? ›

Most women think brunette hair is the sexiest, as 25% of those polled favoured this option. Womens' second preference is blonde, which was voted as the sexiest hair colour by 19.6% of women. Again, red took third spot, accounting for 11.8% of womens' votes.

What hair color is trending in 2023? ›

Stunning Hair Colors You'll Be Seeing Everywhere In 2023
  • 01 of 25. Blended Bronde. ...
  • 02 of 25. Caramel Melt Balayage. ...
  • 03 of 25. Strawberry Brown Balayage. ...
  • 04 of 25. Statement Blonde Money Piece. ...
  • 05 of 25. Soft Cool Black. ...
  • 06 of 25. Low-Maintenance Platinum. ...
  • 07 of 25. Robust Ruby Red. ...
  • 08 of 25. Sunlit Honey Blonde.
Jan 13, 2023

When should you stop dyeing your hair? ›

As a general rule, Mike Liang, advanced colorist at Julien Farel Restore Salon & Spa in New York suggests going gray when you reach 80 percent non-pigmented or white hair. If your hair starts to feel increasingly dry, brittle, or damaged or you experience scalp irritation, it might be time to ditch the dye.

Should you go lighter with hair color as you age? ›

' Basically, as your skin tone lightens with age, so should your hair colour. 'When you first notice white hairs, ask your hairdresser to blend them, and eventually you'll move to a lighter natural colour' explains Ashleigh.

What haircut makes you look younger? ›

Medium-Length Cut with Long Layers

Hemple says long layers always give off a youthful appearance. She adds that off-center or side parts that "fall naturally in place can make the eyes seem wider to give you a more youthful appearance. "

Do people look younger with darker or lighter hair? ›

Lighter hair can make you look younger, as long as you use the right tones. Add some warmth with golden highlights and go for shades like honey to give your complexion a healthy, youthful glow!

How long do Peekaboo results take? ›

You'll have accurate results just 1 -2 business days after your sample is received. Peekaboo is more than 99.5% accurate when performed at gestational times of 7 weeks or later. And we're so confident in our test's accuracy, we guarantee it.

What age is Peekaboo for? ›

By months 9 to 12, your baby will likely be able to play peekaboo on her own. In other words, babies of all ages can benefit from peekaboo. That said, once babies begin to laugh aloud (around 3 to 4 months), peekaboo becomes more fun for both of you.

How reliable is Peekaboo? ›

Peekaboo offers the very earliest gender detection of any DNA-based test and can be performed as soon as 7 weeks into the pregnancy with 99.5% accuracy. Our superior equipment and testing methodology make this possible. Use the Eligibility Calculator on this page to see when you can test.

Is peekaboo hair unprofessional? ›

While at work in professional settings, peekaboo highlights are always a good option and there's always the option for hair extensions if you want to avoid damaging the hair.. It's important to note that regardless of hair color, people are not going to be any less professional than people with colorful hair.

What is it called when you only dye the underside of your hair? ›

OMBRÉ What it means: This look is generally low-maintenance and uses the balayage technique to paint color onto the bottom half of the hair length. (Balayage is the technique; ombré is the look.)

How much is it to get peekaboo highlights? ›

Complete with a one-time pre-lightening for the inner layer (where your colour will be), colour for the whole head, and bond treatment, their hidden colour services cost anywhere from $210.80 to $329.80 depending on your hair.

What is peek a boo blonde? ›

Peekaboo highlights are some hidden dyed hair under the top layer of strands. Introducing them into your style gives you a quirky and unique look. Such dyed strands can work in all types of haircuts. You can now go to work without getting anxious if your hair dye is allowed in the office.

What is the hardest hair color to maintain? ›

Red is the hardest color to keep lustrous and the hardest color to remove,” she adds.

Can highlights ruin your hair? ›

3. Highlights and coloring -- Highlights and semi-permanent dyes aren't as damaging as bleach, but they aren't without consequences, Mirmirani says. They can also change the inner structure of the hair, causing a lackluster look and dryness, especially if you frequently color to hide roots or gray hair.

What is the most low maintenance hair color? ›

Low Maintenance Hair Color Ideas You Can Wear Year-Round
  • Balayage.
  • Shadow Roots.
  • Babylights.
  • Hidden Highlights.
  • Caramel Highlights.
  • Copper Gold Highlights.
  • Face-Framing Highlights.
  • Ombré
Sep 10, 2022

Which is more damaging highlights or balayage? ›

Although they can both damage the hair, in the long term, balayage is more damaging because you have to use a higher developer and layer the lightener more in order to achieve the desired result.

Is it cheaper to do all over color or highlights? ›

All-over color is usually cheaper than highlights because it takes less time and work. Highlights also are more likely to damage your hair. Many of the formulas for highlights contain bleach, which dries out your hair.

What damages your hair more balayage or highlights? ›

Because Balayage highlights don't involve completely saturating your hair in bleach or color dye, you'll enjoy healthier hair because of less process on the hair. As a result, you get to enjoy softer, silkier hair with less damage and dryness.

How many shades lighter should highlights be? ›

Some haircare experts say that for easily maintained highlights, should be no more than two or three levels lighter than your base color, for a more natural look. They should be in the same tonal family. For a golden, dark blonde base (which is considered warm), warm highlights should be used, such as buttery blonde.

What is the difference between Babylights and partial highlights? ›

Babylights are more delicate than highlights. The main difference between the two is that during babylights, your Stylist will highlight more sections of your hair. The sections are finer than normal highlights which creates a more natural blend of colours.

Should I get partial highlights or balayage? ›

"Highlights are often placed much closer to the scalp and applied in specific sections while the balayage process includes a graduated painting the color onto the hair in random sections," says Rivera. If you are looking to add non-uniform chunks or sweeps of color, balayage is a better option.

Should I wash my hair before I get highlights? ›

“Unlike single- or double-process color, highlights aren't applied directly to the scalp, so it's OK to wash your hair the morning of your color appointment,” says Hazelton, adding that she actually prefers that her highlight clients come in with clean, detangled hair rather than hair that hasn't been washed in ...

Why do my highlights fade so fast? ›

Your highlights start fading when the color oxidizes over time—not because you washed your hair. That's why you should protect your hair from oxidation and keep it from the harsh environment. You can use a good heat protectant that will serve as your hair's armor.

Do highlights get lighter after a few days? ›

Celebrity colorist and Color Director for eSalon, Estelle Baumhauer, shed some light on the process, and as it turns out, your highlights can definitely be far more vibrant the day you go to the salon, and they can actually fade over time.

Is peekaboo hair low-maintenance? ›

Peekaboo highlights are very low-maintenance since their placement is partially hidden, meaning that touch-ups can be done less frequently and at your leisure.

What should you not do before highlights? ›

Go to the salon with “dirty” hair

But don't go to the salon with obviously greasy, overly oily or sweaty hair, and avoid packing on the styling products on days you plan to get highlights. Colorists tell clients to wait 48 to 72 hours after getting color to give highlights time to set before washing their hair.

What color lasts longest in hair? ›

As natural brunettes, brown hair dyes can last the longest compared to other hair dyes. There's no need to bleach your hair colour as the eumelanin content will allow the hair colour to stay on longer.

Do hair highlights make you look older? ›

Having lighter tips on the ends of your hair can make your face appear wider and age you. Go for lighter all over with strategically placed highlights to bring the focal attention to the right places, she recommends.

What hair color makes your hair look fuller? ›

Darker colours tend to add more depth and dimension to the hair, which can make it look fuller and thicker. If you have very fair skin, you may want to avoid going too dark, as it can make you look washed out. Some of the best hair colours for thin hair include chocolate brown, auburn, mahogany, and black.

Are highlights still in for 2022? ›

Hair highlights

The lights will be up in 2022 too. For curly or curly hair, it may be interesting to invest in platinum highlights, with a smoky root, so the hair will have a light air and a very modern look.

Should I get peekaboo highlights? ›

If you want to play around with bold hair colors but don't want anything that's super distracting, peekaboo highlights may be the way to go. Adding color to the underneath section of your hair is really fun because you can still show off bright hues without worrying about the extra upkeep of dyeing your whole head.

Are chunky highlights back 2022? ›

Chunky Ribbons

The year may be 2022 but folks are steadily trying to bring back the 2000s with chunky highlights like Jamie Chung's. This look is all about creating ribbons of color which give off tons of dimension, says Martinez.

Do highlights make you look younger or older? ›

Putting highlights and lighter tones around the frame of your face gives you a softer, younger appearance.

What age is best to get highlights? ›

We spoke to the experts to get the lowdown on when it's safe to dye your child's hair. "I really don't think it's safe to dye or bleach a child's hair until after puberty, and ideally not until their late teens — at least 16," advises Dr. Sejal Shah, M.D., a New York-based dermatological surgeon.

What is the hottest hairstyle for 2022? ›

The Biggest Haircut Trends of Fall 2022
  • Baby Bob & Bangs. ...
  • Short Cuts: Bixies & Mixies. ...
  • Undone, Texturized Bob. ...
  • Mermaid Cut. ...
  • Birkin Bangs. ...
  • Grown-Out Curtain Bangs. ...
  • Heavy Fringe. ...
  • Shaved Buzz Cuts.
Nov 21, 2022

How often is it OK to get highlights? ›

Also, since highlights blend better with your natural hair color, you may be able to delay your retouch appointment a little longer. Still, most hair colorists and stylists recommend getting those roots touched up every six to eight weeks.

How long does it take to get peekaboo results? ›

You'll have accurate results just 1 -2 business days after your sample is received. Peekaboo is more than 99.5% accurate when performed at gestational times of 7 weeks or later. And we're so confident in our test's accuracy, we guarantee it.

Videos

1. HOW TO DO A PEEKABOO TRANSFORMATION WITH HIGHLIGHTS| HIDDEN HAIR COLOR
(Brett Ryan Hair Artistry)
2. trying PEEKABOO HIGHLIGHTS | RED & BLACK | ft. Arabella Hair
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3. peekaboo highlight
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4. How to do peekaboo hair dye | Hidden Hair Color
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6. Hairdressers Guide To Coloring Your Own Hair And Not Ruining It
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