20 Trendy Curly Highlights 2027 for Face-Framing Volume

Curly hair catches light in a way straight strands simply can’t, which makes highlights less about color and more about depth. The current shift is toward lived-in tone that moves with your pattern, not against it, so your natural texture stays the boss.

This collection of 20 ideas for Trendy Curly Highlights runs from short bobs to mid-back lengths, with options for low-maintenance grow-out and bolder contrast. Whether your curls are fine and need a light hand or thick and can carry chunkier pieces, there’s a starting point here. It also solves the classic curly problem: highlights that look stripey when your hair dries, not dimensional.

1. Collarbone Layers With Dark Brown Base And Blonde Highlights

A blowout on collarbone-length layers with curtain bangs does more than smooth the hair. It gives the blonde highlights a chance to sit on top of each curl instead of hiding inside it. The middle part and face-framing layers work well for round and oval face shapes, softening the perimeter without removing weight. Ask your colorist for: collarbone length layers, curtain bangs, dark brown base with blonde highlights. Thick, wavy to curly texture holds the shape best; finer hair may need a lighter hand with the layers to avoid looking sparse.

2. Short Curly Bob With Dark Brown Base And Blonde, Close-Up Take

A short curly bob with layers and curtain bangs is a fair trade: you get defined, bouncy curls, but you also get a shape that needs regular trims to keep its line. The dark brown base with blonde highlights adds dimension, so the curls do not read as one flat block. This works best for medium density curly hair starting at ear length, and the curtain bangs suit most face shapes. Ask your colorist for: short curly bob, ear length, curtain bangs, dark brown base with blonde highlights. Air-dried styling is the low-effort route, but plan on a trim every six to eight weeks to keep the bob shapely.

3. Collarbone Lob With Full Bangs Dark Brown And Blonde

A collarbone lob with full bangs reads differently than one with curtain bangs. The solid fringe anchors the eye, so the blonde highlights become the main event rather than a supporting detail. Where a lob with a middle part and no bangs lengthens the face, this version works better for longer face shapes because the horizontal line of the bangs breaks up the vertical. Ask your colorist for: collarbone length lob, full bangs, dark brown base with blonde highlights. The curly texture and air-dried finish keep the look from feeling too heavy.

4. Shoulder Length Curly With Honey Blonde Highlights

How do you get honey blonde highlights to look intentional on a dark brown base rather than accidental? The answer is placement: the lighter pieces need to start close enough to the roots that they read as part of the color, not a grown-out afterthought. Thick, curly hair at shoulder length with full bangs can carry that contrast without looking stripey. Ask your colorist for: shoulder length layers, full bangs, dark brown base with honey blonde highlights. Air-dried styling lets the honey tones catch light at different angles on each curl.

5. Shoulder Length Curly With Ash Blonde Highlights, Layers

Ash blonde highlights on a medium blonde base rely on tone more than contrast. The lighter pieces are close enough to the base that the effect is dimensional rather than dramatic. The layers in this shoulder-length cut ensure the curls stack rather than sit flat, so each highlight has its own surface to catch light. Ask your colorist for: shoulder length layers, medium blonde base with ash blonde highlights. A blowout creates polished curl definition, but ash tones develop warmth over time; a toning gloss every four to six weeks keeps them from veering gold.

6. Chin Length Inverted Bob With Blonde Highlights

The inverted shape stacks volume at the crown and tapers toward the chin, which gives thick, wavy hair a lift it rarely gets from a blunt cut. Side-parted curtain bangs add softness around the jaw, making this a good match for square and oval faces. Ask your colorist for: chin length inverted bob, curtain bangs, medium brown base with blonde highlights. A blowout defines the angle best, and because the baseline is so sharp, plan on trims every six to eight weeks to maintain the shape.

7. Collarbone Curly With Copper Auburn Highlights

This is not a subtle glow: the copper and auburn highlights sit on a dark brown base like a deliberate seasonal shift, perfect for autumn when cooler weather can handle a warmer head. On thick, curly hair the vibrant tones catch every twist in the curl pattern, so the color reads dimensional even before you move. Ask your colorist for: collarbone length layers, curtain bangs, dark brown base with copper and auburn highlights. Middle-parted and air-dried, the look relies on the natural texture to spread the copper through the ends.

8. Collarbone Curly With Caramel Highlights Blowout

A collarbone-length blowout on thick curly hair is not a five-minute routine. The layers need to be dried with a round brush to smooth the cuticle and let the caramel highlights sit evenly across the surface.

Ask your colorist for: collarbone length layers, medium brown base with caramel highlights. The warm tone blends into the base without a hard line, which means regrowth is less obvious for about eight weeks. Trim the baseline at the same interval to keep the ends from splitting under the heat styling.

9. Chin Length Bob With Curly Bangs And Blonde Highlights, Middle

Can you cut curly bangs at home? Technically yes, but the margin for error is small, and the blonde highlights on a dark brown base require precision placement that a salon handles better. The chin-length bob keeps the overall shape simple, while the curly bangs add the playful part. Ask your colorist for: chin length bob, curly bangs, dark brown base with blonde highlights. Middle-parted and air-dried, the style works with natural texture rather than against it. Book a pro for the color, shape the bangs yourself only if you have steady hands.

10. Ear Length Bob With Lighter Brown Highlights

If you want dimension without the contrast of blonde, lighter brown highlights on a dark brown base offer a subtler lift. On an ear-length bob, the effect is more about texture than drama: the lighter pieces catch light around the crown and sides. Ask your colorist for: ear length bob, dark brown base with lighter brown highlights. The blowout gives the short length a polished finish, and the shape holds well for about six to eight weeks before the nape needs tidying. A solid low-maintenance option for thick curly hair that still wants some color movement.

11. Ear Length Bob With Ash Blonde Highlights

An ear-length bob with short bangs and a middle parting gets a cool finish from ash blonde highlights against a lighter ash blonde base. This cut works well for fine, curly textures because the short length keeps the hair from weighing itself down, and the bangs add a modern touch without demanding daily styling. The air-dried finish is quick, but the honest trade-off is that ash tones on fine hair can pull brassy faster than you would like.

Ask your colorist for: ear length bob, short bangs, ash blonde highlights. A purple shampoo used once a week will keep the cool tone honest between salon visits. Plan on a toner refresh around the six-week mark to stop the ash from drifting warm, and a trim every six to eight weeks to keep the bob line clean. If you are not ready for that upkeep, this is the one to skip.

12. Mid-Back Layers With Subtle Blonde Highlights

Mid-back length layers with a middle parting let thick, curly hair fall naturally, and the dark brown base with subtle blonde highlights adds depth. The long layers give the curls room to move while keeping the overall shape balanced. Because the highlights are subtle, the grow-out is forgiving; you will not see a harsh root line for months.

Ask your colorist for: mid-back length layers, dark brown base with subtle blonde highlights. Air-dried styling is the key here, so skip the diffuser if you can and let the texture settle on its own. A trim every ten to twelve weeks keeps the layers from getting straggly at the ends, and the gloss finish tends to hold up well between washes. This is the low-maintenance option for anyone who wants dimension without a standing appointment.

13. Mid-Back Layers With Caramel Highlights

Wondering how to ask for those warm, lived-in streaks you keep seeing? The look is a medium brown base with prominent caramel highlights on mid-back length layers, finished with soft curtain bangs and a middle parting. The caramel placement is what makes it work on thick, curly hair, so be specific about wanting the lighter pieces woven through the interior rather than just painted on the ends. Ask your colorist for: mid-back length layers, curtain bangs, medium brown base with caramel highlights. The air-dried texture does half the styling work, and the warm tones keep the overall effect from reading flat. This is a solid mid-back caramel highlights curly option that wears well for everyday.

14. Mid-Back With Caramel And Blonde Highlights, Middle

Layering two highlight shades on a dark brown base gives mid-back curly hair a dimensional, lived-in effect. The caramel and blonde pieces work together so the color shifts as the curls move, not sitting in one flat block. Thick, curly textures carry this best because the coils catch the lighter strands from different angles, which creates the depth.

Ask your colorist for: mid-back length layers, dark brown base with caramel and blonde highlights. The middle parting and air-dried styling let the blend show without any extra effort, and the glossy finish keeps the multiple tones looking cohesive. Because the base stays dark, the grow-out is gentle and you can stretch toning to every eight weeks or so. This takes real time in the chair to place both colors correctly, so budget for a longer appointment.

15. Mid-Back Layers With Copper Highlights, Middle

Copper highlights on a medium brown base bring a warmth that suits thick, curly mid-back length hair particularly well. The long layers give the curls structure, and the striking copper pieces appear vibrant without looking costume-like. The middle parting and air-dried finish keep the style grounded and wearable.

Ask your colorist for: mid-back length layers, medium brown base with copper highlights. If your natural texture is on the finer side, the copper can get lost, so this one is really for the thicker heads of hair that can hold a stronger color statement. Copper is also one of the faster tones to fade, so expect to refresh the gloss around the six-week mark to keep the warmth from turning brassy. The result is a dimensional, warm effect that flat brown alone cannot deliver.

16. Mid-Back Dark Brown With Blonde Caramel Highlights

Two tones are better than one when the base is dark brown and the highlights split into blonde and caramel. From the side view, the mix of warm and cool pieces keeps the mid-back length from reading as one flat color. Ask your colorist for: dark brown base with blonde and caramel highlights. Thick, curly texture carries the dimension best. Air-dried styling is the default here, so plan on a trim every 10 to 12 weeks to keep the long layers from tangling at the ends.

17. Mid-Back Curly With Caramel Highlights and Air Dried

Caramel highlights on dark brown curly hair are a warm, wearable choice. Caramel tones lean warm and can pull brassy faster than a cooler blonde would, especially on an air-dried texture that does not get a toning shampoo every wash. Ask your colorist for: dark brown base with caramel highlights. You will need a color-depositing conditioner around week four to keep the caramel from fading into a muddy brown. This is a good option if you prefer low-contrast dimension and do not mind scheduling a gloss every six to eight weeks.

18. Mid-Back Curly With Blonde Highlights Contrast

A dark brown base with blonde highlights is the higher-contrast cousin of the caramel version. Where caramel blends softly, this pairing puts light pieces directly against dark ones, so each curl reads as a separate ribbon. Ask your colorist for: dark brown base with blonde highlights contrast. If you want a more subtle effect, ask for finer sections and a lower placement. The bold look suits thick, curly hair that can hold the separation. Air-dried styling works well, though you will notice the contrast more when the hair is slightly damp and clumped.

19. Mid-Back Waves With Magenta Highlights

Why commit to a full head of magenta when a few woven pieces do the job? A dark red base gets lifted by vibrant magenta highlights that catch the light with every wave. Ask your colorist for: dark red base with magenta highlights. Full bangs keep the look from feeling too grown-up. This is a statement for fall and winter, when deep red tones feel seasonal. The loose wave texture lets the magenta sit on the surface instead of being hidden by tight curls.

20. Mid-Back Ash Blonde With Platinum Highlights

An ash blonde base is already cool, so the platinum highlights here work to lift the brightness without adding warmth. The technique uses fine slices placed through the mid-back length so the platinum looks like a natural lightening pattern, not a stripe. Ask your colorist for: ash blonde base with platinum blonde highlights. Thick, curly texture needs those fine sections to keep the blend seamless. Air-dried styling shows off the cool tones well, though platinum requires a toning appointment every four to six weeks to stay silver instead of yellow.

Final Thoughts

For fine curls, ask for babylights or balayage to keep weight off the ends. For thick curls, bolder face-framing pieces hold their own. Match the placement to your density, and upkeep gets simpler.

• Wait 48 to 72 hours after highlighting before shampooing.
• Use color-safe shampoo and conditioner to slow fading.
• Deep condition weekly to offset post-color dryness.
• Tone every 6 to 8 weeks to keep blonde from turning brassy.
• Trim split ends every 8 to 12 weeks to keep shape.

Highlights can transform curly hair, adding personality and dimension.