The Quick Takeaway

In 2025, two highlight trends dominate:

  • Blended, seamless highlights — natural, elegant, and low-maintenance.

  • Chunky, ribbon-style highlights — bold, nostalgic, and unapologetically visible.

Both are fashionable — but they speak to different moods and personalities.
Blended highlights win for everyday wear. Ribbon highlights win when you want statement energy.

Let’s unpack why both exist, who’s choosing which, and what it says about the modern woman’s beauty mood.

Blended Highlights

Chunky, Ribbon-style Highlights

Why This Debate Exists

Highlight trends tend to mirror cultural mood swings.
When the world craves subtlety, we see soft, buttery blends and “expensive brunette” tones.
When the mood turns expressive, chunky contrasts and visible ribbons return to the spotlight.

2025 is fascinating because both tribes are thriving at the same time.
It’s not about “right” or “wrong” — it’s about self-expression.

What Each Look Actually Means

Blended Highlights

Softly diffused lightening, fine foils, and tones that melt into each other.
Think of shades like champagne, honey, or bronde — no harsh lines, no visible streaks.

This look is built on dimension and depth, so it grows out gracefully.
It’s the “quiet luxury” of hair color — understated, expensive-looking, and timeless.

(Glamour’s 2025 trend forecast calls blended bronde tones one of the most flattering, camera-friendly hair colors of the year.)

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Chunky / Ribbon Highlights

Chunky, ribboned, or panelled highlights are the opposite — bold, high-contrast stripes of color.
They frame the face, photograph vividly, and feel unapologetically nostalgic.

If you’ve seen Ariana Grande’s bold ribbons at the Golden Globes or Miley Cyrus’s throwback streaks on the Grammys red carpet, you’ve witnessed this resurgence in action.

2025’s version, though, is refined.
Instead of the thick “tiger stripes” of early 2000s fame, today’s ribbons are strategic, face-framing, and intentional.
Think editorial energy rather than MySpace revival.

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Why Blended Highlights Still Dominate

1. They Look Effortless

Blended tones mimic how natural sunlight hits your hair.
They photograph beautifully in any light — from boardroom to beach.

2. They’re Low Maintenance

Because the contrast between your natural color and highlight is minimal, regrowth looks soft.
You can stretch appointments for months without losing the luxe feel.

3. They Suit All Ages and Styles

The look complements every hair type, tone, and setting.
It whispers elegance — which is why so many professionals, brides, and travellers favor it.

(Vogue, Allure, and Cosmopolitan all highlight “lived-in color” and warm dimension as key 2025 looks.)

Why Chunky (Ribbon) Highlights Are Having a Moment

1. Nostalgia Never Dies

Y2K and early-2000s aesthetics are back — and hair is part of that cultural wave.
Chunky highlights let Gen Z channel the era’s playfulness, but through a modern, polished lens.

2. They Grab Attention

On social media and red carpets, high-contrast streaks read instantly.
They create dimension even in low lighting and make any blowout pop.

3. They Signal Personality

A ribbon highlight says: I’m confident, creative, and unafraid of statement style.
It’s the beauty equivalent of bold jewelry — a power move, not a background note.

(People, InStyle, and Glamour’s red-carpet recaps show that celebrities are leaning into strong face-framing ribbons — often paired with clean, glossy finishes.)

Ribbon vs Blended: Who Chooses What

Personality Type / Lifestyle Favored Look Why It Works
Professional, minimal upkeep Blended Elegant, subtle, low contrast grows out softly
Artistic or creative career Ribbon Bold, editorial, stands out in photos
Bride-to-be / Event-ready Blended (with soft face frame) Timeless in photos; suits all lighting
Gen Z / Y2K nostalgic Ribbon Cultural throwback, trend-driven
Travel-heavy / humid climate Blended Seamless regrowth and soft tones handle frizz gracefully

Maintenance: The Reality Check

  • Blended highlights: refresh every 8–16 weeks; quick gloss every 6–10 weeks for tone and shine.

  • Chunky/ribbon highlights: refresh every 6–10 weeks; contrast grows faster, especially if roots are lightened.
    A smart stylist can “root melt” or shadow your roots for softer grow-out if you want bold ribbons without the maintenance stress.

Why Both Trends Coexist

The rise of both trends isn’t contradiction — it’s evolution.
The beauty industry no longer dictates one “correct” hair color aesthetic.
Instead, clients now choose based on identity, season of life, and personal energy.

Blended hair color embodies restraint, sophistication, and “quiet luxury.”
Ribbon color embodies confidence, nostalgia, and individuality.

Both reflect empowerment — the freedom to express yourself your way.

Curls & Coils: Which Wins on Texture?

Curly-haired clients can shine in both trends if placement is done right.

  • Blended balayage on curls: painted along the outer curve of each curl to enhance dimension and light reflection.

  • Ribbon highlights on curls: applied sparingly, following the natural coil path to avoid visual striping.
    A root shadow ensures natural-looking regrowth.

Stylist’s Insight: The Hybrid Trend

Most salons now customize a hybrid look:

“We blend 90% of the hair for soft dimension — then add just two or three ribbon panels around the face for definition.”

This combination captures the wearability of blended color and the excitement of chunky placement — making it the most requested in 2025.

The Psychology of Preference

Clients often choose highlights subconsciously based on emotion and identity:

  • Blended lovers seek consistency, sophistication, and natural ease.

  • Ribbon lovers seek visibility, individuality, and expressive flair.

The result? Two tribes, equally stylish — just speaking different beauty languages.

The Bottom Line

Blended highlights remain the reigning favorite for real-life wear.
They’re timeless, elegant, and universally flattering.

But chunky or ribbon highlights aren’t disappearing — they’re evolving.
They satisfy the creative, nostalgic, and statement-driven side of 2025’s beauty mood.

There’s room for both, and the best stylists today know how to tailor either to your personality and lifestyle.

Because in 2025, great hair isn’t about following trends — it’s about choosing the one that feels authentically you.

Citations (Reputable Trend Sources)

  • Glamour — “Best Hair Color Trends 2025” (bronde blends, lived-in looks).

  • Vogue, Allure, Cosmopolitan — 2025 hair forecasts (warm, dimensional tones, subtle blends).

  • People, InStyle, Glamour (news) — Celebrity chunky/ribbon highlight resurgence (Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus).

  • Newsweek (culture) — Y2K nostalgia and Gen Z fashion revival.

  • The Right Hairstyles / Madison Reed — Consumer insights on modern “ribbon highlights” and balayage hybrids.