Don’t want to commit to a new hair colour 100%? Peekaboo highlights might just be your new BFF.
What you’ll need
Peekaboo highlights – AKA hidden highlights – are the perfect way to add a pop of colour to your hair without going all the way. If you’re not exactly sure what they are, don’t fret: the All Things Hair team have got you covered (well, haven’t we always?).
Basically, peekaboo highlights are like regular highlights, but they’re cleverly placed underneath the top layers of your hair, so they’re not immediately visible to the eye when your hair is styled straight and down. But when you opt for a braid, updo, half-up, half-down hairstyle, or even flowing waves, your fun highlights will peek through!
Want some peekaboo highlights inspiration? Read on to discover some serious Instagram inspo – and we promise you’ll be a convert in no time.
Our favourite peekaboo highlights on Instagram
Multi-coloured peekaboo highlights
We love this multi-coloured combination of peekaboo highlights. Seriously, who would have thought that orange, pink, blue and purple would look so great together? We, for one were pleasantly surprised to discover that these hues actually complement each other beautifully – and now we really want to copy this exact look.
To really let your peekaboo highlights shine through, style your hair into a messy half-up, half-down top knot. And remember to lightly curl the ends of your hair for a casual, beachy look. Credit: @hairbyamandasthlm
Peek-a-blue highlights
Love more vivid shades, but don’t want to commit to a complete colour change? Then peek-a-blue highlights are the perfect choice. If you have naturally dark hair, why not opt for an on-trend, electric blue hue to create a striking contrast with your natural colour? Then, to really bring your look to life, create some loose waves using VO5 Smoothly Does It Heat Protect Serum (£3.99*) and a curling wand. Credit: @rachelpesh
Rainbow peekaboo highlights
Fancy rocking every colour under the sun in your hair, but worried it’ll look a little too wacky? One of the best ways to wear multiple shades at once is to opt for rainbow peekaboo highlights. Why? Because when you reveal your multi-coloured highlights to the world, they’ll look super bright, but when you’re after a more subdued look, you can easily camouflage them by letting the top layer of your tresses down.
Our favourite way to style rainbow peekaboo highlights is in this pretty half-up, half-down French fishtail braid. Credit: @rubydevine
Pastel peekaboo highlights
Want a subtle but sassy colour change? Opt for a light and pretty pastel hue! This Instagrammer’s soft lavender highlights look stunning paired with her blonde hair. And seeing as pastel hair is currently super hot, what better time than now to opt for baby blue or candyfloss pink? Credit: @yourhairsbestfriend
Galaxy-coloured peekaboo highlights
Truth be told, we’re kind of obsessed with this galaxy-inspired ‘do, which combines a mixture of blues and lilacs for super cool, futuristic vibes. But peekaboo highlights don’t just have to be painted on to the middle layer of your hair; they can be the placed on the bottom layer, too, for an even more subtle outcome. This positioning is a good choice if you’re hesitant about dyeing your locks – or if you work in a corporate envrionment – because your coloured underlights will be well hidden except for when you tie your hair up into a top knot, ponytail or updo. Trust us, your hair will look totally out of this world! Credit: @alui.salon
Tip: To keep your peekaboo highlights looking vibrant, don’t forget to invest in a shampoo and conditioner system specifically designed for coloured hair, like the Dove Colour Care Shampoo (400ml, £3.69*) and Conditioner (350ml, £3.69*)!
*RRPs are Unilever suggested retail prices only, it is at the discretion of the individual retailers to set the actual price.
