21 Pictures of Partial Highlights That Are Simply Stunning

Avery Hunt
Avery Hunt Hair Colorist

Partial highlights are a hair coloring technique that dyes only a few sections of your hair. These highlights on any length of hair are sure to leave a marvelous impression!

Expert colorist Justine Petrucci shares everything she knows about this technique. She tells us that “partial highlights are for a girl wanting something a natural look or a refresh. It’s a way to freshen their color and make it look done before they are ready for a full highlight.”

“Dry shampoo! Sometimes it’s not about doing more, it’s about doing less – less washing,” Justine tips about her most recommended product. “A partial highlight is going to change the texture [of your hair] making it dryer, so you should be able to go a little longer without shampooing,” she says.

No need for high maintenance and complicated hairstyling routine! The coloring style adds a very natural dimension that lets you enjoy your hair every day. Keep in mind to use color-safe products for your new partial hair color!

Take a look at these stunning pictures of how to wear partial highlights.

Photos
Casual Partial Highlights on Brown Hair
Instagram @makeupbyreign

#1: Casual Partial Highlights on Brown Hair

A fresh-looking balayage, indeed! Here are the right amount of highlights to brighten your tresses and go well with soft waves. These partial highlights on brown hair will give you the most relaxed aura ever. Pull off a long haircut because that’s how you can rock different hairstyles.

Soft Sandy Blonde Partial Highlights on Medium Hair
Instagram @928underground

#2: Soft Sandy Blonde Tones

If a muted blonde tone that matches your cooler skin tone is what you want, ask your stylist to give you a sandy beige blonde hair color. A partial highlight will deliver a blonde look on your crown and the sides while your hair remains dark underneath. Such an arrangement of light and dark tones creates a beautiful contrast in your hair color.

#3: Dark Hair with Subtle Chocolate Highlights

With a partial placement, adding a few highlights can enrich your hair color with a chocolate dimension. Sometimes, a little hint of lightness is all your hair needs. Your stylist will lighten your dark hair with bleach first. Then, a beautiful shade will be applied to complement your dark hue and complexion.

Bold Red Partial Highlights on Long Wavy Dark Hair
Instagram @looksbylinds.w

#4: Bold Red Highlights on Dark Hair

Ask your stylist to give you bold red highlights with contrasting dark colors. For this, you need a partial highlight with bold panels. Some red tones can be added to your natural hair color without bleach if your hair is level 5 and above. This is for getting brighter tones. Your hair’s underlying layer should be treated with a level 3 color to achieve a dark chocolate tone.

Dark Brunette with Subtle Partial Highlights for Long Wavy Hair
Instagram @pretty.babes.salon

#5: Dark Brunette with Subtle Highlights

Are you a dark brunette seeking a change but hesitant to go blonde? Ask your stylist for subtle highlights and pops of dimension, and satisfaction is guaranteed! If you’re new to hair coloring or uncertain about it, subtle highlights are invariably the best option!

#6: Red and Violet Partial Highlights

Why use only one vibrant color when you can use two? The key is to keep a dark base to make the color pop. Aim for matching tones to avoid a clash of colors. Placement of color is crucial. Consider bringing photos of your preferred styles to your appointment. Here’s a top tip: always use a color-safe shampoo to avoid fast color fading. Vibrant colors require maintenance, so discuss this beforehand.

Dimensional Honey Caramel Partial Highlights for Short Hair
Instagram @arroyasstyling

#7: Dimensional Honey Caramel Short Hair

If you’re keen on a change in hairstyle, consider the dimensional honey caramel short haircut and color combo! The caramel highlights work great with the short haircut, enhancing its shape and making it ideal for a new season. When dealing with shorter hairstyles, it’s vital to apply hair color and highlights differently. I suggest using soft crown highlights for the best contrast.

#8: Multi-Dimensional Balayage Partial Highlights

If there’s a queen of dimensional blonde, you can be crowned for that as you wear this trend! These balayage partial highlights will bring the best in your long, wavy locks. The stylishness proves no match for others!

#9: Best for Light Brown Hair

These partial highlights are best for light brown hair to lighten up your current color. These even make the most flattering shade for a fair skin complexion. A root smudge on long hair is a trick to let your hair grow out with ease.

#10: Partial Highlights on Dimensional Short Hair

Turn your neck-length blunt cut to a much modern look. Jazz it up with beach waves to emphasize your chop and bring out movement and flow. Adding dimension is also cool, so here are the partial highlights on short hair for you!

#11: Feminine Partial Highlights and Lowlights

Partial highlights and lowlights to balance out the shades of brown! Achieve a lighter and softer finish as you come up with a bright brown hue. Nothing beats the calming vibe if you match it with your thin, mid-length hair.

Stunning Platinum Blonde Partial Highlights
Instagram @beautepardest

#12: Stunning Platinum Blonde Partial Highlights

Love and embrace your grey hair, and the next thing you know, it’s one aspect to achieve a new stunning hairstyle. Enjoy having long, straight hair with platinum blonde partial highlights. Your greys will very much blend with the color as if everything about it is natural.

#13: Yummy Partial Caramel Highlights

The color features partial caramel highlights as a sweet addition to a dark brown base. A shoulder-length bob with layers and waves is ideal for showing off your dimension.

partial blonde highlights on brown hair
Instagram @tvonchale

#14: Perfect on Brown Hair

You can always go back to the ever-favorite and traditional coloring method, and yet, nail it! Decide where you want to place your highlights for a lived-in balayage edge. Also, try rocking some money pieces, which are perfect if you have brown hair. Its medium-length chop and beach waves are what will complete your style.

Flattering Partial Highlights on Black Hair
Instagram @_jeniferrose_

#15: Flattering Partial Highlights on Black Hair

Yep—partial highlights on black hair do the trick! The result is convincing when you only desire a subdued lightness to your hairstyle. Texture and soft waves at the ends will spice up and contribute to your transformation.

partial highlights on dark brown hair
Instagram @nu.hair

#16: Ideal on Dark Brown Hair

Ideal on dark brown hair, this half-head of highlights does nothing but liven up your balayage. It creates a refreshing finish that carries out more of the dimension to your look. You will find it very suitable for your long, thick tresses, styled with classy waves.

#17: Trendy Partial Highlights on Straight Hair

Accentuating blonde color is truly versatile for any type of tresses. In fact, partial highlights on straight hair work wonders! It’s the trend that brings you dimension even when your lengthy locks lie flat, and without waves.

#18: Before and After Partial Highlights

Partial highlights give the illusion of an all-over effect using your darker color as a lowlight. The transformation of before and after partial highlights is breathtaking! Does your mid-length hair suffer from a brassy-toned blonde with so much depth at the root? Give it a new life by doing a foilayage. It’s sure to lift your diamond blonde hue, adding dimension to your mane. Style it with gorgeous waves, and with that color, you’ll look amazing!

#19: Low-Maintenance Ash Blonde Partial Highlights

If you have long layered hair, here are the ash-blonde partial highlights for you! The balayage finish has a natural feel, which helps you to be yourself. The dimension here seems neutral and easy to match with whatever vibe you have. When you want a gentle touch of styling, loose beach waves will do magic.

Stylish Curly Hair Partial Highlights
Instagram @hair_by_c.j

#20: Stylish Curly Hair Partial Highlights

Low-maintenance and very stylish look? Who wouldn’t want that? Bring your long natural waves back to life with shades of blonde handpainted to them. These curly hair’s partial highlights are a superb choice to complete your beachy vibe.

partial highlights for dirty blonde hair
Instagram @tashcart

#21: Gorgeous on Dirty Blonde Hair

Go for a half head of highlights that look gorgeous on dirty blonde hair! Opt for partial highlights if you don’t want to be out of the trend. Wear it on a ponytail for a simple approach or add curls and waves for a much more glamourous finish. As long as you have your locks longer than your shoulders, the sky’s the limit when it comes to styling.