28 Best Short Hair with Highlights for 2024

Cindy Marcus
Cindy Marcus Hairstylist, Editor-in-Chief
Photos
Cute Highlighted Short Bob Hairstyle
Instagram @beto_fariaa

#1: Cute Highlighted Short Bob

You should choose a highlighted short bob for its eye-catching shape. Make sure you ask your stylist for fine highlights that will grow out well and give you more natural color. You’ll want to leave the layers long for a smooth and shiny finish that will reflect the light. Blow dry your bob with a smoothing cream such as Olaplex which is also a bonding conditioner, and a medium round brush. The maintenance requirements for your highlighted bob will be about every 8 weeks for color and a cut.

Softly Blunt Cut Short Hair with Highlights
Instagram @nacirsomera

#2: Softly Blunt Cut Short Hair

Consider getting a blunt cut on short hair. The best way to add body if you have a thin hair texture and density is with a blunt bob. If you seek a softer bob, point cutting can be done at the perimeter to remove sharp edges. Graduation, which is a 45-degree angled cut, can be added to make the edges round and create a fuller shape. This method will soften the entire look. Style your hair with a round brush for a bend. In addition, use a flat iron to smooth out the hair shaft and create an under-curve look.

Blonde Highlights on Wavy Layered Bob

#3 Radiant Blonde Mix on Wavy Lob

This bob has a harmonious blend of blonde highlights, a mix of cooler and warmer tones that can brighten the complexion. It’s especially flattering for fine to medium hair, giving the illusion of a fuller mane with its cleverly placed lighter streaks that frame the face and enhance the waves. While it lends a lift to the locks, be mindful that maintaining the blend of blonde tones will require regular salon visits to keep the highlights fresh and the color balanced.

Bob with Pink Highlights and Natural Waves

#4 Playful Pink Highlights on Wavy Bob

This bob is a true charmer with its pink highlights giving a pop of color to naturally dark hair, creating a playful yet chic vibe. It’s ideal for medium hair with a wave, allowing for easy maintenance of the loose curls. The ombre requires minimal touch-ups compared to full-color, a plus for those with a busy lifestyle. Though stunning, the pink may fade, so a color-protecting regimen is key.

Natural Curls with Subtle Highlights in Short Bob Hairstyle

#5 Sunlit Curl Embrace Bob

Embrace the exuberance of natural curls with this curly bob, trimmed to perfection to enhance each ringlet’s spring. The subtle highlights offer a sunlit charm, adding depth and the illusion of texture. It’s a good choice for those with naturally curly, dense hair and shines on round and heart-shaped faces. Maintenance is relatively simple with the right curl-enhancing products, although humidity can be a challenge. For color, a gentle touch-up may be all that’s needed to keep those highlights vibrant.

Short Asymmetrical Pixie Cut with Auburn Highlights

#6 Fiery Auburn Highlights on Asymmetrical Pixie

This pixie cut is a statement piece, with its deep red hues and auburn highlights that give off a vibrant, fiery look. The asymmetrical style with longer, textured bangs is particularly suitable for thick hair, providing a lightweight feel without losing volume. The highlights accentuate the edgy cut and add dimension.This cut can beautifully complement angular features and works well with cooler skin tones.

Short and Soft Bob with Dimensional Highlights
Instagram @hirohair

#7: Short and Soft Bob with Dimensional Highlights

Looking for a chic and effortless style to update your look? Consider a short and soft bob with dimensional highlights. This look features subtle layers to add movement and texture. All while the highlights add depth and dimension. This style works well for those with finer hair, as the layers can create the illusion of thickness. Style your hair with some waves, and use a texture spray to have volume that lasts all day!

Short Textured Bob with Caramel Highlights and Dark Roots

#8 Sunkissed Caramel Waves on Textured Bob

If you’re eyeing a fresh, airy look, consider this textured bob with caramel highlights that dance through the layers. Ideal for medium to thick hair, the cut brings out a vivacious wave that works beautifully with natural movement. The darker roots transitioning to lighter ends not only create depth but also allow for more time between color appointments. Though fabulous, remember that this style may require some styling to maintain its tousled grace—think light mousse and a diffuser for that perfect bounce.

Tousled Short Bob with Dark Roots and Highlights
Instagram @bethanyschair

#9: Tousled Short Bob with Dark Roots

Rock a short bob with dark roots if you want to add some sparkle to your naturally dark hair. If you’d like to try a short bob with highlights, ask your stylist for a full head of thin highlights with a shadow root to keep the grow-out soft and natural. Also when considering this look, talk to your stylist about your expectations on time spent daily on styling and salon maintenance as this look will need to be refreshed about every 6 weeks with a glaze treatment and about every eight to ten weeks for a highlight touch-up.

#10: Bold Blue Highlights on Short Black Hair

These blue highlights on short dark hair look luminescent. Colorist Jasmin did an amazing job on this neck-length bob.

#11: Dimensional Brown Short Pixie with Highlights

A naturally brown short pixie cut with blonde highlights offers amazing dimension and contrast. If you have thick hair, ask your stylist for an undercut to lighten it out a bit.

Unique Pink Highlights on Short White Hair
Instagram @tmcolour

#12: Unique Pink Highlights on Short White Hair

Deviate from your usual highlighted short hair by having bold, pastel color accents on a ghostly white hue.

#13: Modern Short Black Hair with Ash Grey Highlights

There are still a lot of highlighting options on jaw-length hair. Switch it up with some ash grey highlights and big curls for a tasteful take on short hair.

#14: Short Dark Brown Hair with Purple Highlights

Purple highlights in short hair is a gorgeous and edgy hue that isn’t for everyone. Fashion color highlights short hair even more. So if you’re in your teens and 20’s this is a super attention-getting color combo.

#15: Chunky Blonde Highlights on Shorter Hair

Adding chunky highlights to short haircuts really showcases the cut and style. So next time you get a short a-line bob cut, consider adding thick streaks of hair to highlight like this one.

#16: Trendy Curly Hair with Highlights

Highlighting short hair may be tedious and would need you to block your whole day off to achieve. Nonetheless, the results are fantastic on this hairstyle and would make all the waiting worthwhile.

#17: Short Brownish Hair with Blonde Highlights

This brunette hair with blonde highlights combo that we are used to never gets old, does it? Perfection truly is timeless.

Very Short Brown Hair with Dark Blonde Highlights
Instagram @aarenmoorehair

#18: Very Short Brown Hair with Dark Blonde Highlights

Dark blonde highlights on very short hair will create a more dimensional look on an extra long pixie cut.

short wavy hair with light brown highlights
Instagram @hairhecker

#19: Short Wavy Hair with Light Brown Highlights

A natural brunette short haircut with highlights creates a blended dimensional color. Having the highlights blended is lower maintenance than the traditional highlights. It’s a style/color for girls who do not want to be in the salon as often. This highlighted short hair is a classic bob that’s perfect for a woman of any age.

Bold Layered Short Hair with Red Highlights
Instagram @colorbyry

#20: Bold Layered Short Hair with Red Highlights

The color placement on this short layered hair with red highlights gives so much dimension to your haircut. This was done using balayage highlights instead of using a traditional foil technique because you can have panels of red without looking too stripey at the root. Plus, it makes it look more appealing as it grows out. A dark canvas will show off the vibrancy of the red highlights.

#21: Simple Short Hair with Ash Blonde Highlights

It’s a short graduated bob with ash-blonde highlights that make it more modern. You can style it straight/smooth with a lot of volume at the roots, but this cut would also look amazing with some beachy waves.

#22: Short Bob with Highlights and Lowlights

This short bob with lowlights has quite a few elements that make it both trendy and low maintenance. Depending on your hair texture, shorter cuts with fewer layers are typically easier to wash and go. A darker blonde makes a good candidate for lighter, cooler blonde tones. You can do a partial highlight and pull through a lowlight to match your natural color to add dimension.

#23: Caramel Balayage Highlights on Short Wavy Hair

This short style is a dimensional caramel balayage highlights that have been cut into a beautiful short lob. Hairstyles with highlights help accentuate your face, and the color adds texture through the different caramel tones within the style.

Feminine Short Hairstyle with Rose Gold Highlights
Instagram @ktdelong

#24: Feminine Hairstyle with Rose Gold Highlights

Rose gold highlights in short hair that’s dark give such a bold statement with loads of contrast. The placement and technique will give a softer less noticeable regrowth line as it grows out resulting in longer times between appointments. This short textured cut is a breeze to style.

#25: Trendy Short Brown Hair with Caramel Highlights

These warm caramel highlights on short hair are for ladies whose goal is to go bright blonde. These tones are perfect for women with medium to dark eyebrows and a tan complexion.

Bright Peekaboo Highlights on Short Hair
Instagram @amystevie84

#26: Bright Peekaboo Highlights on Short Hair

Blue peekaboo highlights for short hair that’s naturally a copper color offer a bold juxtaposition of tones. Copper (orange) and navy are two opposing colors that pair so well with each other.

Sassy Short Dark Hair with Highlights
Instagram @hairlover603

#27: Sassy Short Dark Hair with Highlights

Dark short hair with highlights cut into a graduated bob created volume and density making it easy to achieve a fullness in all the right areas. The short dark underneath keeps it looking dense while the highlights throughout keep it light and airy on top. This short hairdo is more of a high-maintenance style. I recommend getting a reshape every 4-5 weeks to keep the shape sharp and polished.

#28: Red Hair with Blonde Highlights for Older Women

Short red hair with blonde highlights on a modern layered bob looks amazing. The color placement is to accentuate the layers and frame around your face. The combination of warmth from the copper base color and the coolness of the blonde highlights really give it a look that “pops.”

Short hair with highlights is any haircut that is neck-length or shorter, with pieces of hair painted with lighter hues against a darker color base. This is surely the most effortless and fun way to spice up a dull hair!

Short Hair Highlights Tips

Sported by fashion icons, Vanessa Hudgens, Katy Perry, and Miley Cyrus, cropped hair with strategically placed highlights is guaranteed to leave a fabulous impression.

What should be on top of your mind when planning to own this hairstyle is your face shape and skin tone. Short locks might be tricky to perfect because it depends on a number of things – your facial features, hair density, and hair type. Matching the highlights with your complexion should be noted as well.

Plus, there are different techniques to do highlights. If you want a natural-looking dimension and longer time in between salon visits, a balayage is the way to go. You can also tweak the intensity of your highlights depending on how much contrast and brightness you want!

What more could you ask for from this super versatile style?! Scroll down below to see the hottest ideas for short hair with highlights!