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I Got ‘Peekaboo Highlights’ After Seeing Them All Over Instagram—Here’s Everything You Need to Know

 

Including the process, maintenance and more

Hairstylists often say that one of the telltale signs you’re ready for a change is when you keep putting your hair up in a ponytail. Day after day, pony after pony, with no desire to style it in any which way. Just bored, bored, bored with it all. That’s how I felt after a year of no new haircuts or color.

In early 2020, I had a shoulder-skimming lob and fresh fringe; by the summer of 2021, my hair reached my mid-back and my bangs had become long layers. I was ready for a change, but not ready for anything too drastic.

​​One day, I scrolled past a picture of a girl with her tucked behind her ears, revealing a hidden rainbow of highlights at the nape of her neck. After going down an Instagram rabbit hole of similar styles, I found out that this covert color trend was called “peekaboo highlights” and I knew I had to try it next.

So if you’re interested in joining me on my journey, here’s why you should get peekaboo highlights. Plus, I chatted with a hairstylist to learn more about maintenance and offer some more inspo to show at your next appointment. 

Meet the Hairstylist

Lorena Martinez Valdes is a hair colorist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. She has been with the salon since 2014 and continues to work with her clients on their color requests and jumping in on current trends. She specializes in balayage, bleach and tones, men’s gray blending and subtle dimensional colors.

 

First, What Are Peekaboo Highlights?

Their popularity lies in their versatility. Peekaboo highlights are often applied to the underlayer of your hair, so that when you wear it down you don’t see them—hence the peekaboo name. You can have them frame your face on one side in baby-fine strands or in bigger blocks of color like chunky highlights, but most of the time it is a nice little reveal if you’re wearing certain styles. As Valdes shares, “It allows people to do a pop of [subtle] or intense color without having to do it all over.” 

How Do Peekaboo Highlights Differ from Traditional Highlights?

Peekaboo highlights are different from traditional highlights based on their subtleness and where they can be placed. Now, the actual process of bleaching and/or coloring is pretty much the same, but peekaboo highlights are “a panel or section versus color all over the head. It’s typically slices of color rather than weaves of color in the hair [like traditional highlights],” according to Valdes. Traditional highlights are also a way to brighten your natural base (like asking for a balayage vs. ombre), whereas peekaboo highlights let you be a bit more experimental without committing to a full color service. 

My Experience Getting Peekaboo Highlights

Shortly after saving a few (dozen) of my favorite photos to my phone, I found myself in the chair at Nova Arts Salon in Los Angeles. My stylist, Cindy Pak, and I looked through the photos together and decided on an underlayer of rainbow shades that would melt into my naturally dark hair.

How Do Hairstylists and Colorists Achieve Peekaboo Highlights?

Since I wanted something on the subtler side, Pak sectioned off a few, fine strands of hair around my neck to bleach to a pale blonde. (Note: Brighter shades won’t show up on dark hair unless it’s lightened first.) While my hair was being processed, she mixed a palette of red, orange, turquoise and indigo blue gloss with an ashy gray gloss to tone them down a bit. We were going for an ‘oil-slick’ effect rather than a Lisa Frank one (though I see that in my near future).

A colorist will take account of your natural texture and how it’s worn day to day. According to Valdes, placement is key when it comes to achieving peekaboo highlights at the salon. 

Several hours, a thorough shampoo and one masterful blowout later, I emerged from the salon with cascading mermaid waves and a hidden surprise of highlights that reminded me of a desert sunset. The colors blended in seamlessly with the rest of my hair, making a quick appearance only when I moved or tucked my hair behind my ears.

Some Mistakes to Avoid with Peekaboo Highlights

The one mistake to avoid with peekaboo highlights? You should not attempt to bleach your hair at home. Due to the intricacy of the process, it’s best to leave it to the professionals at the salon. And while there are no rules on what colors you can do —regardless if you have blonde or brunette hair—Valdes says those with dark hair should steer away from white/platinum highlights due to how dry they may leave your strands in between sessions. 

How Long Do Peekaboo Highlights Last?

According to Valdes, peekaboo highlights can last four to 12 weeks, depending on if you’re doing a double process or highlights to achieve the look. Peekaboo highlights satisfied my itch to change my hair without requiring an overhaul of my wardrobe or makeup (unlike when I bleached my hair silver or went for a full-on neon rainbow). They haven’t required much upkeep either.

How Do You Maintain Peekaboo Highlights?

Similar to other highlights or color services, it’s recommended to use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner to moisturize hair and maintain its vibrancy. You’ll also want to invest in styling products, like leave-in conditioner, hair oil or heat protectant to prevent breakage, strengthen strands and improve shine. 

Are Peekaboo Highlights Suitable for All Hair Types?

Peekaboo highlights are suitable for all hair types. The process stays the same, but may differ depending on your hair’s movement, texture, density and/or hair pattern. As for blondes vs. brunettes, it all depends on what color you’re doing. Whether you’re doing a striking red or subtle blonde highlights, bleaching may or may not be involved. 

My take? Peekaboo highlights are a great low-maintenance, less-damaging option for anyone who wants to play around with brighter colors without fully committing. It’s a style that can be as showy or as subtle as you want it to be depending on your plans for the day–and what could be better than that?

Need more inspo? Here are five examples to get you started. 

1. Baby Highlights

As I mentioned, peekaboo highlights don’t have to be bold hues of blues, reds and purples. Similar to Gabrielle Union, you can go for caramel highlights to compliment your darker locks. A stylist can strategically place them on your fringe to frame your face. 

2. Skunk Hair

Remember the skunk hair trend of 2021? Well, this black-and-white color takes it to a whole new level. If you have extremely dark hair, consider bleaching the bottom layer for a drastic, super cool contrast.

3. Purple Hues

If you have blonde hair, consider a vibrant hue to spice things up. These hidden purple strands offer the pop of color you’re looking for without committing to a full shade throughout.

4. Neon

Speaking of bold colors, neon shades are still popular right now. Consider brightening up dark locks with this striking shade—and matching it with your brows is completely optional. 

5. Fringe Fun

The fun part of peekaboo highlights is the placement. You can apply it on the nape of the neck, the crown of your head and even underneath your fringe. There are no set of rules as long as you can take a ‘peek’ at it later.