27 Curly Hair Highlight Ideas That Make Your Curls Pop

Looking to give your curls a fresh, eye catching update? Highlighted curly hair is totally trending right now and for good reason.

You can instantly add depth, brightness, and movement to your curls with just a touch of color. Whether you go bold or keep it soft and natural, the right highlights can bring out your curl pattern and make your entire look feel more alive.

Plus, changing up your color can boost your mood and give you that extra confidence every time you look in the mirror. Let’s explore 27 curly hair highlight ideas you’ll love!

Things to Know Before Highlighting Curls

If you’re thinking about adding highlights to your curls, here are a few things you should keep in mind:

• Curls need care: Curly hair is usually drier than straight hair, so you’ll want it to be healthy before coloring.
• Color can change texture: Lightening can affect how your curls bounce or feel, especially if hair is already dry.
• Moisture is key: Make sure your hair is well-conditioned before and after getting highlights.
• Placement matters: Good highlights can make your curls pop, but if placed wrong, they can make the shape look uneven.

Take it slow, ask your stylist questions, and focus on keeping your curls strong and soft.

1. Pink Peek Curls

Blonde curls get a playful upgrade with vibrant pink highlights tucked underneath the top layer. The volume sits mostly around the crown and sides, creating a soft, rounded frame that flatters most face shapes.

These hidden pops of color add personality without overwhelming your look, especially if you prefer tighter, springy curls. You can wear it down for a statement or clip it up to reveal even more color.

2. Golden Ribbon Curls

Golden highlights wind through deep brown curls like delicate ribbons, giving your hair extra depth and shine. The color placement makes each curl stand out clearly, especially on long, defined spirals.

If your curls are naturally tighter and you want a look that feels bright but not overdone, this blend creates a polished, sunlit effect that still feels very natural and low maintenance.

3. Ash Blonde Ends

Dark curls come alive with ash blonde highlights blended smoothly toward the tips. The cool tones soften the overall look without taking away from the natural depth at the roots.

You can wear this style confidently if you love defined curl patterns but want a touch of brightness that still feels low key. The color contrast also gives each curl more shape, making your hair look fuller and more textured.

4. Plum-Toned Waves

Muted purple highlights over chocolate brown waves bring a soft, dreamy vibe to looser curl types. The cool plum tones add personality without overpowering the natural base, so you can enjoy color that still feels balanced.

If you prefer more of a wavy texture, this combo works beautifully for everyday wear and adds a subtle pop under sunlight or indoor lighting, depending on where you’re standing.

5. Magenta Pop Curls

Bright magenta highlights layered over jet black curls create a bold, eye catching look full of personality. The curls have a bouncy, uniform shape that really shows off the vibrant streaks, especially in natural light.

If you want a high contrast style that feels expressive and fun, this combo works great on tighter curls and gives your whole look a confident, upbeat edge that stands out in any setting.

6. Caramel Volume Curls

Warm caramel highlights blend beautifully into dense, coiled curls, adding light and movement without taking away the hair’s natural fullness. You can see the golden undertones catch the light and soften the overall shape, which works especially well on 3C to 4A textures.

If you’re looking to brighten your curls while keeping the volume intact, this is a rich and natural looking option that still feels fresh and lively.

7. Green-Tint Curls

Deep black curls with streaks of forest green bring out an edgy, modern vibe that feels both fun and bold. You can see the color best when the light hits just right, giving your curls a subtle shimmer without going over the top.

If you’re into darker styles but want a twist that stands out up close, this works beautifully on tighter curls and adds personality without needing constant upkeep.

8. Burgundy Shine Curls

Rich burgundy highlights weave through dark curls, adding a glossy, jewel toned finish that feels both luxurious and stylish. The defined curls hold the color in a way that creates movement and dimension from every angle.

You can rock this look if you’re after something bold yet elegant, especially if you have medium to thick curls that thrive with color depth and a bit of drama.

9. Copper Glow Curls

Reddish copper tones bring warmth and depth to short, voluminous curls, making the texture stand out even more. You can really see the shine when light hits the curls, giving off a rich, glowing effect.

If you’re drawn to earthy shades with a bit of brightness, this look works well on tighter curl types and keeps your style looking vibrant without being too bold.

10. Honey Ringlet Curls

Golden honey highlights swirl through medium brown curls, adding a soft glow that enhances the hair’s shape and fullness. The curls feel light and bouncy, and the color creates the perfect contrast for a bright, sun kissed finish.

If you have dense curls and want a fresh, youthful look that adds dimension without too much upkeep, this one brings out your natural texture in the best way.

11. Bronze Balayage Curls

Medium curls swept to the side get a glamorous boost from bronze balayage highlights that light up the shape and volume. You can see how the golden tones hug each ringlet, making the style feel fuller and more defined.

If you love statement curls that still look polished, this combo works great for layered cuts and helps bring out facial features with a soft glow.

12. Golden Coil Volume

Tight coils come to life with chunky golden highlights woven through deep brunette roots. The contrast brings boldness and brightness without losing the natural depth of the curl pattern.

You can go big with your volume and still keep the look balanced, especially if you’re into rich tones that complement darker complexions beautifully. This style is perfect when you want your curls to speak for themselves.

13. Rose Streak Curls

Black curls gain a fun, rosy upgrade with thin streaks of pink woven throughout the strands. The color stands out beautifully against the deep base, giving your curls a layered, textured look that feels lively but not too loud.

If you want to play with color while keeping your natural roots, this combo gives you just enough edge while keeping things soft and wearable for everyday.

14. Full Pink Blend

Soft pink highlights are spread evenly throughout these voluminous curls, creating a vibrant, cotton candy inspired finish. The look feels fresh and youthful, especially with the added fringe in front, and the pink tones brighten up darker roots without being overly dramatic.

You can wear this style confidently if you love playful colors and want your curls to look cheerful and bold in every light.

15. Fiery Ombre Curls

Coppery orange highlights blend into rich brown curls for a fiery ombre effect that feels both bold and warm. You can spot the brighter ends immediately, which add a lot of movement and dimension to the hair.

This style is great if you like loose to medium curls and want something that glows in sunlight but still looks soft and cozy in everyday lighting.

16. Auburn Luxe Curls

Deep auburn tones mixed through dark curls create a soft, wine like finish that’s rich without being overpowering. You can see how the highlights wrap around the spiral curls, giving them more definition and shine.

If you want something elegant that still feels youthful, this shade works well on longer curls and helps create a fuller look with minimal styling effort.

17. Violet Layer Curls

Dark curls get an electric touch with layered violet highlights that add instant personality and shine. The purple tones pop most near the ends and edges, giving the whole style a fun, dimensional effect.

If you love bold colors but still want your natural curls to shine through, this look gives you both. It works great on short to medium curls that hold shape and color really well.

18. Sandy Beige Waves

Soft waves with sandy beige highlights create a beachy, effortless vibe that’s super easy to wear. The highlights follow the natural bends of the hair, adding subtle contrast and brightness without looking too styled.

You can go for this if you prefer a relaxed look that still feels polished, especially on looser curl patterns or wavy textures that love a touch of sunlit color.

19. Honey-Twist Curls

Medium curls get a bright lift from honey blonde highlights, adding lightness and bounce throughout the shape. The warm tones catch the light in all the right places, giving your curls a sunny, fresh vibe that works well year round.

If you have naturally defined curls and want a bit more glow without going too blonde, this blend brings out the best in your texture while keeping things soft and wearable.

20. Amber Wave Layers

Wavy curls shine with warm amber highlights that flow gently through the strands, creating a soft gradient from dark to light. You can wear this style if you love a rich, autumn inspired tone that makes your waves feel thicker and more alive.

The mix of depth and brightness adds movement and keeps the whole look polished, especially when styled in layered, shoulder length cuts.

21. Silver Beige Curls

Cool silver and beige tones swirl through soft curls, creating a glossy, dimensional finish that feels classy and modern. You can see the color gently catching the light, adding softness to the texture without overpowering the natural flow.

If you’re into elegant tones with a bit of edge, this look works great on medium curls and gives off a cool, fresh vibe that stands out effortlessly.

22. Charcoal Shine Waves

Deep black waves are lifted with subtle charcoal gray highlights that give the hair a smoky, polished edge. The cool streaks add movement and dimension without stealing attention from the natural base.

You can go for this look if you love darker hair but want something with a sleek twist, especially on looser curl or wave patterns that carry color with minimal fuss.

23. Ashy Beige Waves

Cool beige and soft ash tones run through these wavy curls, creating a dimensional look that feels both silky and voluminous. The blend adds a sleek shine and makes the curls look more defined while keeping the overall vibe soft and neutral.

If you want a fresh, clean tone that still adds contrast and body, this color combo works perfectly for medium length waves or loose curls.

24. Cherry Red Curls

Vibrant cherry red streaks bring bold energy to these tight, springy curls, instantly drawing attention to their shape and bounce. The red highlights pop against the black base, giving you a fiery contrast that’s hard to miss.

You can go for this if you want something fun and fearless ideal for tighter curls that already have volume and just need a bold color to elevate the look.

25. Neon Flame Curls

Fiery orange and copper highlights flicker through these curls, creating a high energy, standout look that feels almost electric. The contrast between the bright tones and dark base brings each curl to life, giving the hair a dramatic shape and glow.

You can rock this style if you love bold color that instantly turns heads great for looser to medium tight curls that hold brightness well.

26. Emerald Twist Curls

Deep green highlights coat these curls with a bold, forest inspired vibe that feels rich and artistic. The color wraps each strand evenly, adding sheen and shape while still letting the natural curl pattern shine.

If you want something creative and full of attitude, this look gives your curls a fresh identity, especially on thicker textures that love bold tones and lots of movement.

27. Electric Blue Waves

Vibrant blue highlights flow through jet black waves, giving this look a cool toned, ocean inspired vibe. The rich contrast helps define each curl and makes the whole style feel bold yet fluid.

You can go for this if you love statement color that still feels smooth and wearable, especially on looser curl patterns that benefit from light catching hues and added depth with every turn.

Conclusion

Curly hair with highlights isn’t just a style it’s a fun way to show off your texture and express your personality. Whether you go for soft tones or bold colors, you can find a look that fits your vibe and brings out the best in your curls.

Don’t be afraid to try something new you’ve got this! With the right shade, you can feel fresh, confident, and ready to turn heads every day.