7 Viral Face Framing Highlights That Will Instantly Brighten Your Complexion
Face framing highlights, often affectionately referred to as the ‘money piece,’ have taken the beauty world by storm, and for good reason. This transformative technique involves lightening the front strands of your hair to create a luminous, contoured effect that mimics the way natural sunlight hits the face. By selectively brightening the sections immediately surrounding your features, you can achieve an instant radiance that makes your skin appear more vibrant and your eyes pop with newfound clarity. It is essentially a professional lighting setup permanently styled into your hair, saving you time on makeup application while ensuring you look polished and refreshed every single day.
Whether you are looking for a subtle, sun-kissed transition or a bold, high-contrast aesthetic, the versatility of this trend is truly unmatched. It works beautifully on every hair texture, from pin-straight locks to deep, coiled curls, making it one of the most inclusive hair color services in modern salons. If you are feeling overwhelmed by all the options, you can explore our comprehensive hairstyles for women ultimate guide to see how these highlights integrate with various cuts, lengths, and styles to create your own signature look.
Is the ‘Money Piece’ Still the Most Popular Choice?
The ‘money piece’ remains the undisputed champion of the face framing highlight movement. According to Allure, this high-contrast look is perfect for those who want a dramatic change without coloring their entire head of hair. By concentrating the lightener solely on the two front-most strands, you create an architectural frame that draws eyes directly to your facial structure. It is a bold, unapologetic style that pairs perfectly with a minimalist approach to your daily beauty routine, especially when paired with a clean girl makeup look. The key to pulling this off successfully is ensuring that the transition from your natural base to the lighter shade is blended seamlessly, avoiding any harsh, choppy lines that might cheapen the overall aesthetic.
How Do Soft Balayage Accents Change Your Look?
If you prefer a softer, more ethereal vibe, balayage-style face framing highlights are your best friend. Unlike the bold money piece, this technique uses a hand-painted approach to create delicate, ribbon-like highlights that cascade down from the roots around the face. As noted by Byrdie, this method is ideal for those who want a low-maintenance color service that grows out gracefully without needing a touch-up every few weeks. The goal here is to mimic the way a child’s hair lightens naturally in the summer sun, providing a warm, inviting glow that softens the jawline and brightens the complexion effortlessly.
Why Are Face Framing Highlights Perfect for Curly Hair?
One of the greatest misconceptions in the beauty industry is that face framing highlights are only for straight or wavy hair. In reality, curls provide the perfect texture to show off dimension. By highlighting the curls that fall closest to your face, you can create a halo effect that frames your features and adds incredible depth to your coil pattern. When styling these curls, you might consider wearing them in a messy bun hairstyle to showcase the contrast between your darker roots and the lighter, brighter curls that frame your forehead and temples. This look celebrates texture and light in equal measure, providing a dynamic look that changes depending on how you style your curls.
The Rise of Retro-Inspired ’90s Chunky Highlights
Everything old is new again, and the ’90s trend cycle has brought back the chunky face framing highlights with a modern, high-fashion twist. We are seeing a move away from the hyper-blended looks of the last decade toward more visible, intentional chunks of color. This style is not about subtle transitions; it is about color-blocking that highlights your bone structure. It pairs wonderfully with choppy, shaggy haircuts that provide movement and grit. When opting for this style, ensure your stylist uses a glossing treatment afterward, as InStyle suggests that shine is essential for making these thicker highlights look intentional, healthy, and expensive rather than dated.
Warm Honey Tones for a Radiant Complexion
Color theory plays a massive role in how successful your face framing highlights will look. If you have a warmer skin tone, choosing honey, butter, or golden tones for your face-framing strands will instantly add warmth back into your complexion. This is a classic ‘glow-up’ technique that acts as a natural highlighter for the skin. By keeping the highlights warm, you avoid the dreaded washed-out look that can sometimes happen if you go for a cool, icy platinum on skin with yellow or olive undertones. It’s all about creating a harmonious balance between your hair color, your eye color, and your skin’s natural undertones.
Icy Platinum Strands for a Cool-Toned Edge
For those with cool or porcelain skin tones, icy platinum face framing highlights are the ultimate choice. This look is crisp, modern, and undeniably chic. It creates a striking contrast that can make blue or green eyes appear more intense. The key to maintaining this look is a heavy-duty purple shampoo to keep those icy tones from turning yellow or brassy over time. While this look requires more frequent maintenance, the impact is unparalleled. It provides a sharp, clean-cut aesthetic that works exceptionally well with blunt bobs or long, stick-straight hair styles that emphasize clean lines and geometry.
The Subtle ‘Peek-a-Boo’ Face Frame
If you are a beginner to color or someone who prefers a ‘your hair but better’ approach, the peek-a-boo face frame is the perfect entry point. Instead of placing the highlights on the very top layer of your hair, your stylist will weave them slightly underneath the top layer of hair around your face. This creates a softer, more diffused light that glows through your hair as you move. It is the ultimate low-commitment color service. You get all the benefits of brightening your face without the stark, obvious line of demarcation that comes with traditional highlighting methods. It’s elegant, understated, and incredibly sophisticated.
Final Thoughts
Face framing highlights are more than just a passing trend; they are a timeless technique that can completely reshape your look, brighten your complexion, and boost your confidence. Whether you choose a bold ‘money piece’ or a subtle, sun-kissed balayage, the result is an undeniably polished finish that requires minimal daily styling to look fantastic. We hope this guide helps you find the perfect shade and style for your next salon visit. Have you tried face framing highlights yet? Let us know in the comments below which look you’re planning to try next and how you plan to style it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally, you should refresh your face framing highlights every 8 to 12 weeks. Because they are focused on a small area, they grow out more gracefully than a full head of color, though the speed of your hair growth will dictate your personal schedule.
Like any chemical lightener, face framing highlights can cause some damage if not done correctly. To mitigate this, ensure your stylist uses a bond-building treatment like Olaplex during the lightening process and keep your hair hydrated with deep conditioning masks.
Yes, face framing highlights are incredibly versatile and can be customized to suit any face shape. Your stylist can adjust the placement of the highlights—such as starting them at the cheekbone or jawline—to either widen or elongate your facial features.
While DIY kits exist, face framing highlights require precise placement and specific toning to look professional. It is highly recommended to visit a professional colorist, especially since these pieces are the most visible part of your hair and mistakes are difficult to color-correct.
To prevent brassiness, use a high-quality purple or blue-toning shampoo once a week depending on your hair color. Additionally, avoid excessive heat styling, as the heat can strip away the toner and expose the underlying warm pigments in the bleached hair.
