Celebs All Agree: Chunky Highlights Are The Hair Trend Of The Moment

Prepare yourselves, because we've got another '90s beauty trend making a comeback: chunky highlights. Remember Geri Halliwell's (aka Ginger Spice's) iconic red and blonde tresses? Or what about Kelly Clarkson's brunette, blonde, and red streaks? That's what we're talking about. There's a new wave of stars championing the retro look, and we're happy to tell you it's a little less dramatic than the first time around. 

Rihanna, for example, stepped out for Paris Fashion Week back in June 2024 with her signature dark hair accented by ash blonde highlights over side-swept bangs. The streaks were certainly noticeable, though not quite on the same scale as the thick, chunky highlights of decades past. Keke Palmer, though, went the other way on Instagram with a far more striking version, complete with a money piece and all. 

So, what's the deal with the sudden revival? We spoke to Jennifer Korab, celebrity hairstylist and owner of Renaissance Salon, about the divisive hairstyle — and she can't see it fading anytime soon. "Rihanna is the ultimate trendsetter, and whatever she rocks, people will follow. Y2K has been popular in fashion and beauty for a few years now, and I don't see that slowing down any time soon," she exclusively told Women.com. Korab noted that the key to making the 20000s highlights contemporary is to ensure your streaks aren't too, well, chunky. Typical highlights tend to be around 1 to 1.5 centimeters wide, so those who want something more subtle should aim for fewer than 1 centimeter across to get the right effect. Of course, your hairdresser will give the best, tailored advice. Ready to take the plunge? Good. Because we're highlighting (get it?) the best ways to rock this trend.

The updated way to do chunky highlights is to opt for a cool tones over anything too golden or warm, especially if you're going for classic blonde steaks. "It's definitely better to take an ashier, cooler toned blonde to make it more modern and less in your face," Jennifer Korab told Women.com. Darker and olive skin tones tend to find cool-toned locks more flattering, whereas cool tones are more likely to wash out those with lighter, cooler-toned skin. 

But that doesn't mean lighter skinned beauties can't try this trend. To make cool highlights work for you, ask your hairdresser to start the highlights a little further away from your face (so they won't have to contrast with your skin as much) and start with a warmer shade all over.

Curly haired stunners, you're in luck, as chunky highlights are particularly gorgeous with natural spirals. Because textured hair naturally has a lot of volume, it'll help your chunky highlights catch the light and add serious definition. However, keep in mind that repeated dying can potentially loosen your curl pattern, so it's important to visit a professional to get proper care. Also keep in mind that if your hair is curly and dark, it may take multiple trips to the salon to lift the color of your highlights to wear you want it to be. 

Bleach is notorious for damaging your hair, and it's usually the ends of our locks that show the most signs of it. To keep your locks healthier, try only highlighting the top two thirds or three quarters of your locks, sort of like a reverse balayage method. This will effortlessly give you that more subtle, modern 'do like Rihanna's. It can also allow more of the overall shade to be seen, so it's great if you've got a fresh color and highlights.

Who said your chunky highlights had to be blonde? If you want to do something different, then follow Megan Thee Stallion's lead. The star ignored advice to keep things subtle (because, sometimes, life's too short, right?) and sported purple locks with chunky pink highlights on Instagram in July 2024. The star had two thick blocks of pink around her face, but then added slimmer pink sections towards the back of her head. That means her locks still pack a serious punch, but the purple can stand out too. The star's super chunky take leans more towards the Y2K version than something more modern, but we all like a dose of nostalgia, right?

There's no reason you can't double up on highlight shades. If you have naturally dark hair, combining a cool blonde and a pastel shade, such as a light purple, can be particularly gorgeous together. Just make sure you're leaving enough space in between the highlighted sections and your base color. That will provide a greater juxtaposition between light and dark, as well as a stronger contrast between the highlight colors. We'd recommend visiting a hairdresser for a more complex style like this.