25 Stylish Hairstyles With Chunky Highlights

Chunky highlights are making a bold comeback, bringing the perfect blend of dimension and contrast to your hair.

These statement-making streaks add instant visual impact and texture to any hairstyle.

Unlike subtle balayage or fine highlights, chunky versions create deliberate, eye-catching patterns throughout your hair.

They frame your face beautifully while adding movement to even the simplest cuts.

Ready to embrace this striking trend? Explore these 25 stylish hairstyles featuring chunky highlights that will transform your look from ordinary to extraordinary.

1: Bob with Face-Framing Chunks

Elevate a classic bob with bold, face-framing chunky highlights that instantly brighten your complexion.

This strategic placement creates a halo effect around your face. Ask your stylist to place the thickest, brightest pieces at the front while keeping the back more subtle.

This creates a beautiful graduation of color that looks intentional rather than overwhelming.

The contrast between your base color and highlights adds dimension that makes fine hair appear thicker and more voluminous.

2: Long Layers with Chunky Money Piece

Combine the trending money piece technique with chunky highlights for a bold frame around your face. These thicker sections brighten your complexion instantly.

Keep the money piece sections substantially thicker than traditional highlights—around 1-2 inches wide.

The contrast creates a beautiful frame that draws attention to your facial features.

This style works particularly well with long, layered cuts that allow the highlighted pieces to create movement throughout.

3: Pixie with Bold Chunky Tips

Add dimension to a pixie cut with chunky highlighted tips that create texture and visual interest.

This technique adds punk-inspired edge to this classic short style. Ask your stylist to concentrate the highlights on the longer top section for maximum impact.

The contrast between your base color and the highlighted tips creates beautiful dimension.

This low-commitment approach to chunky highlights works perfectly for those new to this bold trend.

4: Blunt Midi with Two-Tone Chunks

Create striking contrast with a blunt, shoulder-length cut featuring alternating chunks of two distinct colors.

This geometric approach channels 90s vibes with a modern twist. Ask for thick, alternating sections of color throughout your hair for maximum impact.

The straight, blunt cut provides the perfect canvas for these bold, chunky highlights.

This head-turning style works best with high-contrast color combinations like black and platinum or chocolate and caramel.

5: Shaggy Wolf Cut with Chunky Layers

Enhance the dimensional nature of a wolf cut with strategic chunky highlights placed throughout the heavily layered style.

This technique accentuates the cut’s inherent texture. Ask your stylist to place highlights primarily on the top layers to create maximum dimension.

The contrast between highlighted and non-highlighted sections emphasizes the wolf cut’s signature layers.

This combination creates a wild, untamed look that’s full of movement and visual interest.

6: Curtain Bangs with Chunky Highlights

Transform basic curtain bangs into a statement piece with bold, chunky highlights that frame your face.

This technique draws immediate attention to your eyes and cheekbones. Ask your stylist to place thick highlights strategically within your curtain bangs.

The contrast creates a beautiful frame that emphasizes the curtain-like opening around your face.

This face-framing technique works with various lengths, from bob to waist-length styles.

7: Sleek Ponytail with Chunky Strands

Elevate the simple ponytail with visible chunks of contrasting color throughout. This technique creates visual interest in this otherwise basic style.

Gather your hair into a sleek, high ponytail to showcase the chunky highlighted sections.

The contrast between colors creates a striking effect when the sections are pulled together.

Add a section of hair wrapped around the elastic for a polished finish that further showcases your dimensional color.

8: Messy Bun with Chunky Dimension

Transform the casual messy bun with chunky highlights that create beautiful dimension within the up-do.

The contrasting sections add visual interest to this effortless style.

Gather your hair loosely, allowing the chunky highlighted pieces to create patterns throughout the bun.

Leave a few face-framing pieces out to showcase the high-contrast highlights around your face.

This dimensional approach adds intentionality to the purposefully undone messy bun.

9: Braided Style with Chunky Contrast

Elevate any braided hairstyle with chunky highlights that create striking patterns when woven together. This technique adds visual interest to braids of all types.

The contrast between your base color and chunky highlights creates beautiful dimension within the braid.

Choose a braid style that showcases this color contrast—fishtail and Dutch braids work particularly well.

This combination looks especially striking in social media photos and videos.

10: Blunt Bob with Chunky Underlayer

Create unexpected dimension with a blunt bob featuring chunky highlights concentrated on the underlayer.

This peek-a-boo technique adds excitement to this classic cut. Keep the surface layer your natural color while adding chunky highlights underneath.

The contrast creates a surprising element that becomes visible with movement or when styled with a deep side part.

This approach offers a versatile way to incorporate bold highlights into a professional-friendly style.

11: Curly Shag with Chunky Highlights

Enhance your natural curls with strategic chunky highlights that accentuate your curl pattern. This technique adds beautiful dimension to curly hair styles.

Ask your stylist to place thick highlights throughout, working with your natural curl pattern.

The contrast between colors makes each curl stand out individually, showcasing your hair’s natural texture.

This combination creates a sun-kissed effect that looks naturally enhanced rather than artificially placed.

12: Half-Up Style with Chunky Sections

Showcase chunky highlights by gathering the top section of your hair into a half-up style.

This technique creates beautiful contrast between the secured top and loose bottom sections.

Pull back the top third of your hair, making sure to include some of the chunky highlighted strands.

The contrast between your base color and highlights creates dimension in both the up and down portions.

This versatile styling option works for both casual and formal occasions.

13: Straight Lob with Chunky Blocks

Create architectural interest with a sleek, straight lob featuring blocky, chunky highlights placed in a deliberate pattern.

This geometric approach feels both retro and modern. Ask your stylist for thick, straight-across sections of highlights throughout.

The precision placement creates almost stripe-like patterns that look particularly striking when hair is worn straight.

This bold technique works best with high-contrast color combinations for maximum impact.

14: Layered Cut with Chunky Balayage

Combine traditional balayage placement with chunky width for a modern, dimensional effect.

This hybrid technique creates bold yet natural-looking dimension. Ask your stylist to hand-paint thicker sections than traditional balayage would use.

The graduated application still creates a natural grow-out but with more immediate visual impact.

This approach works beautifully on layered cuts where the highlights can create movement throughout the different lengths.

15: Feathered Shag with Chunky Pieces

Enhance the inherent texture of a feathered shag cut with strategically placed chunky highlights.

This combination emphasizes the cut’s natural movement and layers. The contrast between colors enhances the feathered effect of this retro-inspired cut.

Ask your stylist to place thick highlights primarily through the top and face-framing layers.

This combination creates a rock-and-roll aesthetic that’s full of dimension and attitude.

16: Asymmetrical Cut with Bold Chunks

Create additional visual interest in an asymmetrical cut by incorporating chunky highlights on the longer side.

This technique emphasizes the deliberate imbalance of the cut. The contrast draws attention to the architectural nature of this contemporary cut.

Ask your stylist to concentrate thicker highlight sections on the longer portion of your asymmetrical style.

This combination makes a double statement with both cut and color working together.

17: Beachy Waves with Chunky Ribbons

Enhance natural-looking waves with thick ribbons of lighter color throughout. This combination creates a dimensional, sun-kissed effect with bold impact.

Ask your stylist for wider sections than traditional highlights—about 1-2 inches wide.

Style with a beach wave technique to showcase how the colors interact with the texture.

This sunny, dimensional look works year-round, bringing warmth to your style even in winter months.

18: Straight Fringe with Chunky Highlights

Transform a straight-across fringe with bold chunks of contrasting color.

This face-framing technique creates immediate visual impact in your most noticeable hair section.

Ask your stylist to place 2-3 thick highlighted sections within your bangs. The contrast draws immediate attention to your eyes and brow area.

This bold approach works particularly well with blunt bob styles that feature a strong fringe.

19: Voluminous Blowout with Chunky Dimension

Enhance the dramatic effect of a voluminous blowout with chunky highlights that create movement throughout.

This combination maximizes both color and styling impact. Ask your stylist for thick highlights placed strategically to enhance your face shape.

Style with a round brush and blow dryer to showcase how the highlights move within the voluminous style.

This glamorous combination works particularly well for special occasions and photoshoots.

20: Textured Crop with Chunky Tips

Add punk-inspired edge to a textured crop with chunky highlighted tips. This technique creates visual interest while keeping the look low-maintenance.

Ask your stylist to concentrate chunky highlights on the longer top section.

The contrast between your base color and the highlighted tips creates beautiful dimension in this short style.

This bold approach works particularly well with styling products that create piece-y definition.

21: Sleek Middle Part with Chunky Face Frame

Create striking symmetry with a sleek, middle-parted style featuring chunky highlights framing both sides of your face.

This balanced approach creates a beautiful halo effect. Ask your stylist for thick, identical highlight placement on both sides of your center part.

The symmetrical contrast creates a face-framing effect that’s both bold and flattering.

This technique works particularly well with sleek, straight styling that showcases the precise placement.

22: Tousled Bob with Chunky Pieces

Add dimension to a tousled bob with randomly placed chunky highlights throughout. This combination creates effortless-looking dimension with maximum impact.

Ask your stylist for thick highlights placed without a specific pattern for natural-looking distribution.

The contrast between colors enhances the tousled texture of this effortless style. This combination works particularly well for creating the illusion of thicker hair.

23: Wavy Lob with Chunky Money Piece

Combine beachy waves with bold face-framing chunky highlights for a youthful, sun-kissed effect. This technique brightens your complexion instantly.

Ask your stylist for significantly thicker front sections in a lighter shade than your base color.

Style with loose waves to showcase how the chunky highlights move within the texture.

This combination creates a beautiful frame that draws attention to your facial features.

24: Long Straight Hair with Chunky Underlayer

Create unexpected dimension with long, straight hair featuring chunky highlights concentrated underneath.

This peek-a-boo technique adds excitement without overwhelming. The contrast creates a surprising element that becomes visible with movement.

Keep the surface layer your natural color while adding chunky highlights underneath.

This approach offers a versatile way to incorporate bold highlights into an otherwise classic style.

25: Disconnected Undercut with Chunky Top

Maximize the impact of a disconnected undercut by adding chunky highlights to the longer top section.

This combination creates a bold, high-fashion look. Ask your stylist to place thick highlights throughout the longer top section.

The contrast against your natural base color adds another dimension to this already dramatic cut.

Style with texturizing products to emphasize both the cut and color dimensions.

Conclusion

Whether you prefer subtle or statement-making looks, chunky highlights offer endless possibilities to transform your hairstyle.

Embrace this bold trend and watch your hair dimension come alive with eye-catching contrast!