25 Stunning Neapolitan Hair Highlights Ideas

Neapolitan highlights draw inspiration from the classic ice cream trio—combining chocolate brown, creamy vanilla blonde, and strawberry pink tones for a deliciously dimensional look.

This multi-tonal approach creates eye-catching contrast that adds depth and movement to any hair style.

Unlike traditional highlighting techniques, Neapolitan coloring embraces bold color combinations while maintaining a cohesive, blended finish.

The versatile technique works across hair lengths and textures for customizable results.

Ready to indulge in this sweet color trend? Explore these 25 Neapolitan highlighting ideas that will transform your locks into a work of art worth savoring.

1: Classic Neapolitan Balayage

The quintessential Neapolitan look features hand-painted sections of rich chocolate brown, creamy blonde, and soft pink tones blended seamlessly together.

This traditional interpretation creates balanced dimension throughout. The pink should appear as an accent rather than dominating the overall look.

Ask your colorist for evenly distributed sections of each shade with subtle transitions between colors.

Style with loose waves to showcase the dimensional color placement and highlight the beautiful interplay between the three signature shades.

2: Peek-a-Boo Neapolitan

This playful variation keeps darker brown as the dominant shade with hidden panels of blonde and pink underneath.

The strategic placement creates surprising pops of color that appear with movement. Keep the visible top layer primarily chocolate brown.

Request your colorist to focus the lighter blonde and pink tones on the under-layers, particularly around the nape and lower sections.

Style with tousled texture or half-up styles to reveal glimpses of the hidden Neapolitan colors for a subtle yet striking effect.

3: Ombre Neapolitan

This graduated approach transitions from deep chocolate roots through vanilla blonde mid-lengths to strawberry pink ends.

The vertical color placement creates a striking, dimensional effect. The brown should dominate the root area, blonde the mid-sections, and pink the ends.

Ask for a traditional Ombre technique with clear transitions between each of the three signature shades.

Style straight to showcase the clean color transition or add loose waves for a more blended, lived-in appearance.

4: Neapolitan Money Piece

This face-framing technique concentrates the three-tone effect around your hairline for maximum impact.

The strategic placement brightens your face while keeping the overall look wearable.

Request bold face-framing highlights incorporating all three Neapolitan shades, with the rest of your hair maintaining a more subtle version of the color story.

Style with your part visible to showcase the striking money piece effect that draws attention to your face and eyes.

5: Chunky Neapolitan Highlights

This retro-inspired approach features bolder, more defined sections of each color. These chunkier pieces create stronger contrast than traditional fine highlights.

The technique creates a more graphic interpretation of the Neapolitan theme for those seeking dramatic results.

Ask your colorist for wider sections of each shade placed strategically throughout your hair.

Style with sleek, straight techniques to showcase the bold color blocking or add volume for a more tousled, lived-in effect.

6: Subtle Neapolitan Baby-lights

This delicate approach incorporates ultra-fine strands of blonde and pink throughout a chocolate brown base.

The technique creates dimension without overwhelming commitment for Neapolitan beginners.

Request fine, delicate baby-lights using blonde and pink tones that blend seamlessly with your brown base.

The effect should be subtle shimmer rather than obvious stripes.

Style with natural movement to showcase the dimensional color that catches the light as you move.

7: Inverted Neapolitan

This unexpected variation flips the traditional color placement, featuring pink roots transitioning to blonde mid-lengths and chocolate brown ends.

The unique approach creates a striking, fashion-forward look. This creates a bold root shadow effect with dramatic contrast.

Ask your colorist to invert the typical Neapolitan color placement, with pink starting at the roots rather than the ends.

Style straight to showcase the clean color transitions or with textured waves for a more blended appearance.

8: Neapolitan Color Melt

This seamless technique blends the three signature shades together with imperceptible transitions.

The smooth gradient creates a softer, more wearable interpretation of the Neapolitan theme.

Request a color melting technique that gradually blends each shade into the next without harsh lines.

The effect should appear like the colors are naturally flowing into each other.

Style with gentle waves to enhance the melted effect and showcase the dimensional color placement.

9: Dip-Dyed Neapolitan

This bold approach keeps the majority of hair in natural brown with blonde mid-lengths and vibrant pink ends.

The technique creates a striking color statement while maintaining professionalism near the face.

Ask for your natural brown to remain at the roots and upper sections, transitioning to blonde mid-lengths and finishing with vibrant pink only at the very ends.

Style with sleek, straight techniques to showcase the clean color transitions or add beachy waves for a more casual approach.

10: Neapolitan Color Blocking

This graphic technique separates each color into distinct sections rather than blending them together.

The result creates a bold, artistic interpretation perfect for those seeking a statement look.

Request visibly separated sections of each color—perhaps with brown dominating one side, blonde another, and pink accents throughout.

The placement should be intentionally distinct. Style sleek and straight to showcase the dramatic color separation or add texture for a more tousled effect.

11: Pastel Neapolitan

This softer variation features muted versions of the signature colors—soft mocha brown, creamy platinum, and diluted pastel pink.

The subdued palette creates a more ethereal, dreamy interpretation.

Ask your colorist for lighter, more pastel versions of the traditional Neapolitan shades. The effect should be soft and delicate rather than bold and contrasting.

Style with loose, romantic waves to enhance the dreamy quality of these softer tones.

12: Neapolitan Shadow Root

This modern approach maintains darker chocolate tones at the roots, blending into blonde mid-lengths with pink accents throughout.

The technique offers beautiful dimension with easier grow-out. This creates depth while reducing maintenance.

Request a dark shadow root that extends 1-2 inches from your scalp before transitioning into the lighter blonde and pink tones.

Style with volume at the roots to showcase the dimension created by the darker base transitioning into lighter ends.

13: Strawberry-Forward Neapolitan

This pink-dominant variation features strawberry tones as the star, with chocolate and vanilla shades as supporting accents.

The approach creates a bolder, more vivid interpretation of the theme. The overall effect should lean noticeably pink while maintaining dimension.

Ask your colorist to make pink the dominant color, using brown and blonde as complementary accents throughout.

Style with texture spray to separate the different tones and showcase the strawberry-dominant color story.

14: Neapolitan Curly Hair Highlights

This technique adapts the three-tone approach specifically for curly textures, placing colors to enhance your natural curl pattern.

The strategic placement creates beautiful dimension that moves with your curls. Each Neapolitan shade should enhance your curl structure.

Request picture highlighting techniques that hand-paint color onto specific curls to create natural-looking dimension.

Style with curl-defining products rather than heat tools to maintain your natural texture while showcasing the dimensional color.

15: Neapolitan Face Frame

This focused technique concentrates the three-tone effect primarily around your face, with a more subtle approach throughout the rest of your hair.

The placement creates a brightening effect that flatters your features.

Ask for bold face-framing pieces incorporating all three Neapolitan shades, with more subtle dimension through the back and interior sections of your hair.

Style with your part visible and hair tucked behind one ear to showcase the multi-dimensional face-framing pieces.

16: Neapolitan Under-lights

This playful approach keeps the top layer relatively natural with vibrant Neapolitan colors hidden beneath.

The technique creates a professional appearance with surprising pops of color revealed through movement.

Request your colorist to focus the blonde and pink tones on the under-layers while keeping the visible top layer primarily chocolate brown.

The bright colors should be revealed only when you move or style your hair up.

Style with half-up styles or tuck one side behind your ear to strategically reveal glimpses of the hidden colors.

17: Reverse Neapolitan Ombre

This unique variation starts with blonde roots, transitions to pink mid-lengths, and ends with rich chocolate brown tips. The unexpected color placement creates a striking, fashion-forward effect.

Ask your colorist to reverse the traditional Ombre placement, with lighter tones at the roots gradually darkening toward the ends. This creates an edgy, editorial look.

Style straight to showcase the clean color transitions or with textured waves for a more lived-in effect.

18: Neapolitan Ribbon Highlights

This precision technique creates distinct “ribbons” of each color woven vertically throughout your hair.

The method creates clear definition between the three signature shades.

Request ribbon-like sections of each color placed strategically from roots to ends. These defined strands create a woven effect throughout your hair.

Style with movement to showcase how the ribbons of color interact and create dimension as your hair moves.

19: Neapolitan Color Melt Bob

This shorter-length interpretation features the three signature shades blended seamlessly throughout a bob haircut.

The condensed canvas creates concentrated color impact.

Ask your colorist to incorporate all three shades within the limited length of a bob. The placement should create dimension even without long strands to work with.

Style with texture and movement to showcase how the colors interact within the structured shape of the bob.

20: Subtle Neapolitan Brunette

This understated approach incorporates hints of blonde and pink into a predominantly chocolate brown base.

The technique creates dimension without overwhelming commitment for color conservatives.

Request very subtle blonde and pink accents that complement rather than contrast with your brown base.

The effect should be a hint of Neapolitan inspiration rather than obvious tri-color.

Style with natural movement to catch glimpses of the dimensional color as light hits different angles.

21: Neapolitan Split Dye

This bold approach divides your hair into distinct sections—perhaps brown on one side, blonde on top, and pink underneath.

The graphic placement creates a dramatic interpretation for the adventurous.

Ask for clearly defined sections of each color with minimal blending between them. The placement should create a color-blocked effect that’s visibly striking.

Style sleek and straight to showcase the dramatic color separation in its purest form.

22: Blended Neapolitan Highlights

This harmonious approach incorporates fine highlights of each color distributed evenly throughout.

The technique creates a cohesive, blended effect where all three shades work together.

Request finely woven highlights of each color placed throughout your hair with soft transitions between them. No single shade should dominate the overall look.

Style with subtle waves to showcase how the colors interact and create dimension throughout.

23: Vivid Neapolitan

This bold interpretation features more saturated versions of the signature colors—rich espresso brown, bright platinum blonde, and vibrant raspberry pink.

The amplified palette creates dramatic contrast. The effect should be bold and striking rather than subtle or pastel.

Ask your colorist for more intense, vivid versions of the traditional Neapolitan shades.

Style with sleek techniques to showcase the vivid color contrasts at their most impactful.

24: Root Stretch Neapolitan

This low-maintenance approach keeps your natural color at the roots for an extended 2-3 inches before transitioning into the Neapolitan palette.

The technique creates beautiful dimension with easier grow-out. This creates depth while reducing the frequency of touch-up appointments.

Request your natural color to remain at the roots before transitioning into the blonde and pink tones.

Style with volume at the roots to showcase the dimension created by the natural base transitioning into the lighter, colorful ends.

25: Peekaboo Neapolitan Panel

This statement approach features a hidden panel of vivid pink underneath layers of chocolate brown and blonde.

The concealed placement creates a surprising pop of color revealed through movement.

Ask your colorist to create a distinct pink panel underneath your top layers, with brown and blonde tones framing your face and covering the surface.

The pink should only be visible when you move or style your hair.

Style with tousled texture or half-up styles to strategically reveal glimpses of the hidden pink panel for maximum impact.

Conclusion

Whether you prefer bold color blocking or subtle pastel accents, these 25 Neapolitan highlighting ideas offer the perfect blend of playfulness and sophistication.

Treat yourself to this deliciously dimensional trend that’s sure to turn heads!