9 Ways To Jazz Up Your Short Hair With Highlights

Short hair is stylish, flattering, and super easy to manage. Not to mention, you can easily revamp your ‘do, thanks to the endless number of hair color ideas you can pair with short hair. If you’re looking for a way to experiment with color, try adding some highlights to your short hair for a must-have look. From caramel to platinum blonde highlights, there are so many chic options you can choose from. Need some inspo? Check out these nine gorgeous ideas for jazzing up short hair with highlights.

What You Should Know Before Adding Highlights To Your Hair

Since highlights are all about lightening your strands, you’ll need to use hair bleach to kick things off, and depending on the hair color you’re starting out with, it may require more work to achieve your desired look. So if you’re a hair coloring newbie, it may be best to book an appointment with a professional colorist for the best results. However, you can totally DIY your short hair highlights at-home with the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Bleach in Highlights. The kit comes with a developer crème, bleaching powder, lightening crème, conditioning shampoo, and DIY highlight brush. Be sure to follow the directions listed on the packaging for desired results then follow up with your preferred hair dye. 

9 Ideas For Short Hair Highlights

1. Pixie Cut With Light Blonde Highlights

There is no better way to bring short hair to life than with a chic brown pixie hairstyle enhanced with light blonde highlights. Serving up a truly stunning combination, brown strands with light blonde highlights add just the right amount of dimension to your mane for a refreshed look. To DIY the look at-home, use the L’Oréal Paris Super Blonde in Bleach Blonde.

2. Bob With Ash Blonde Highlights

We love bob hairstyles because they’re super chic and easy to manage. Try adding ash blonde highlights to your bob for a twist. The ashy, beige blonde hue is a cooler shade of blonde and can really enhance the hair color when used on blonde or light brown hair. It’s also really flattering when mixed in with darker roots. Use the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Ash Blonde to get the look. We also recommend seeking out a professional colorist who can help you get the right dimension and create face-framing layers to complement your face with this stunning color.  

3. Layered Short Hair With Burgundy Highlights 

We love layers on short hair because they make it multidimensional and help add body and movement to the hairstyle. We recommend adding highlights in a color that will elevate your look even more. Try using the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color in Burgundy. If you’re starting with a darker base, you’ll have to bleach your hair first. And be sure to apply the color a few inches lower from the root, so it doesn’t look too stripey. 

4. Straight Hair With Silver and Blonde Highlights

Sure, brown hair alone is a major style win, but there’s something about pairing the hue with a mix of blonde and silver highlights that elevates your look. Known as one of the most popular hybrid hues, silver blonde hair works double duty to give your strands a metallic finish while flirting with the holographic hair trend. Due to the mix of colors, you might need to seek out a professional colorist to help achieve this look. If you're interested in trying it yourself, reach for the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Soft Silver Blonde. 

5. Curly Bob With Purple Highlights

Purple highlights are an excellent choice for anyone dealing with dull-looking short strands. This color can create a gorgeous contrast through your hair, whether you’re starting with a dark or light base. Not sure you’re ready to commit to purple highlights? Use the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray in Purple to DIY the look for just a day.

6. Sleek Straight Hair With Caramel Blonde Highlights 

This simple and easy hairstyle is sure to capture the attention of many. Caramel blonde is a safe color to choose if you have dark hair, thanks to its perfect mix of dark brown and blonde shades. Remember to start with a darker golden blonde base on the lengths and use lighter face-framing highlights to tie it all together. Reach for the L’Oréal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Colour in Dark Gold Blonde to try this color out at-home. 

7. Chin-Length Bob With Platinum Highlights 

If you couldn’t tell by now, we have a thing for bob styles, and we adore a chin-length bob with platinum highlights. This super-light hair color is all about serving up dimension while giving you icy blonde strands to play with. Equal parts chic and sassy, this hair color will surely have all eyes on you. Try using the L’Oréal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Color in Absolute Platinum Extreme Platinum to help achieve this color at-home. 

8. Short Wavy Hair With Pink Highlights 

Step outside of your comfort zone and try out some pink highlights. This color will add a playful and sweet touch to your wavy strands. To achieve this color at-home, reach for the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color in Pink. If you’re starting with a dark base, you’ll need to bleach your hair first. Use the L’Oréal Paris Feria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach to lighten up your strands and then add in that pop of pink!

9. Natural Curls With Blonde Balayage Highlights

Searching for the perfect option for rocking short curly hair with highlights? You may want to consider using blonde balayage highlights. A great way to add golden sun-kissed tones to your mane, this rich color will become your favorite in no time. Get the look by using the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Blonde. Spoiler: this looks amazing on medium and long-length curls too!

Next: 10 Short Hair Care and Hair Styling Tips