26 Beautiful Purple Highlights Trending in 2025
Purple highlights add a fresh, playful touch to any punk princess style. Bright ultraviolet shades help you create a bold, eye-catching blend of colors in your hair.
Classic highlights come in many shades, from bright ultraviolet colors to deep, rich purples. Lighter options include lilac, lavender, and periwinkle. Darker tones feature burgundy, plum, and violet.
According to Carly Roe, a skilled hair colorist in Carlsbad, California, “Pastel hair color won’t work on just any hair. Your hair must be a very pale yellow first. Imagine your hair as a blank canvas. If you paint light lavender on a black canvas, it won’t show well. But on a white canvas, the color stands out. The same idea applies to hair. If you aren’t naturally blonde, talk to your colorist. They can tell you if your hair can be lightened enough for pastel shades.”
If you have warm skin, choose purple shades with a red tint. If your skin is cool-toned, go for purples that have a blue hue.
Purple hairstyles are easy to care for because you won’t be dyeing your entire hair a solid violet. Always use products that protect your color. This way, you can enjoy this rich shade and keep it looking great!
Before you book your next hair appointment, take a look at these inspiring photos featuring the top purple highlight ideas!
#1: Electric Purple Highlights in Brown Hair
Choose electric purple highlights for your brown hair if you want a fun purple style. Bright ultraviolet streaks with gentle waves create a cool, unique look. Channel your inner Teen Titan Raven and shine with your bold purple hair. Purple highlights on dark brown hair look amazing on long hair with soft waves, adding depth and dimension.
#2: Dark Purple Highlights on Black Hair
These highlighted streaks on a black base were created using a balayage technique with a shadow root. In the photo, the bright colors were made with Pravana’s violet shade. To get these purple highlights on dark hair, we first lightened the hair from about an inch and a half below the roots down to the ends. After washing and drying, we applied a level 1 semi-permanent color by Baco. Then, we added purple by feathering and balayaging each section with the violet. Many women can get this look without bleaching or using peroxide. Once the hair is lightened, the violet tones it and may turn the ends into a soft lavender. The roots stay dark, making this style easy to maintain.
#3: Dark V-Cut Hair with Purple Highlights
Dark v-cut hair with purple highlights is a fun way to make your hair stand out. Purple hair colors are trendy right now. You can style your hair straight or add waves to highlight the pretty colors and layers.
#4: Saturated Purple Highlights
Add some bright purple highlights for a playful splash of color. Stylish and eye-catching, violet shades stand out and usually fade nicely, making them a great choice for women who want a low-maintenance look.
#5: Neon Purple Accents
Brighten your violet hair with neon purple highlights to make the color stand out. Dark roots help your hair grow out naturally without sharp lines. This vibrant, multi-toned shade is anything but dull. Whether you wear your short purple hair straight or wavy, the beautiful purple tones will always shine through.
#6: Purple Lowlights
Adding purple lowlights to beautiful light blonde hair is a great way to refresh your look. The best part for blondes is that as the color fades, it turns into a pretty pastel purple before going back to blonde. Don’t be shy—enjoy experimenting with purple highlights on your blonde hair.
#7: Dark Brown Hair with Purple Highlights on a Bob Cut
Brunettes can also enjoy bold purple highlights on short hair! Dark lavender streaks look great with brunette hair styled in a cute bob. This dark brown hair with purple highlights shows it really works!
#8: Straight Gray Hair with Purple Highlights
Think about adding purple highlights to your gray hair. Soft lilac streaks mixed with smoky gray create a magical, mysterious look for a night out. You can keep your base color dark and just add some purple touches instead of coloring all your hair purple. Many women like this simple yet stylish choice.
#9: Lavender Highlights
Pastel purple or lavender highlights on brown hair give a soft bluish shine. They look rich and very eye-catching. These light purple streaks work well on short, straight, or wavy hair.
#10: Blonde Hair with Purple Highlights
You can easily add a royal touch with this purple color mix. Brighten your style by adding soft lavender highlights on blonde hair and deep purple tips. A simple straight bob looks stunning with platinum blonde hair and purple highlights.
#11: Caramel Hair with Subtle Purple Highlights
Beautiful grape purple hair highlights add depth to light caramel hair. The soft purple color makes a big difference in how the style looks. Want a more natural look? Try light brown hair with purple highlights.
#12: Purple Ombre Hair
Show off a purplish ombre hair color for a bright, playful look that stands out right away. If you enjoy bold colors, California stylist Joya Smith recommends pairing white-blonde hair with purple highlights.
“I started with a full set of highlights and then washed the hair with purple shampoo,” Smith explains. “Next, I used a toner to make the blonde shade just right. After that, I added purple dye using an ombre method.” See how the ends look like a bright purple dip dye, while the top is a very light blonde, almost white?
#13: Plum Highlights
This bright purple plum shade stands out beautifully, even on light brown or blonde hair. Stylist RayAnne did an amazing job adding these purple highlights to dirty blonde hair.
If you want to add some plum streaks to your medium-length hair, take time to explore the many shades first. Talk with your stylist about options like mauve, light purple, or even mermaid-inspired highlights before choosing purple or plum tones.
#14: Violet Purple Peekaboo Highlights
Adding light purple peekaboo highlights to dark hair gives you a stunning new look. Lightening your natural hair color like this is a great way to refresh your style.
Stylist Kiersten transformed these wavy blonde layers by adding brunette tones with purple highlights. The touch of blonde blends perfectly with the purple streaks on the dark brown hair, creating a stunning mix.
#15: Ultraviolet Purple Highlights
Achieve a bold, unique hair color with shades of blue and violet highlights. If your hair is wavy, the texture adds beautiful depth to your natural color. This look also creates vibrant and rich purple highlights on curly hair.
Colorist Diana blended dark hair with purple highlights to give it a unique, otherworldly look that is still easy to wear.
#16: Blonde Hair with Purple Highlights Underneath
This purple-blonde hair color has lots of dimension. It offers a great alternative to a purple ombre look. Hairstylist apprentice Brooke Carding from Stratford, ON, created this style.
“What I love most about this color is how the curls make the highlights stand out,” says Carding. “Your eyes quickly notice the bright, playful purple hair, which adds to the whole look. It’s a fresh, stylish color that is soft yet still grabs attention!”
Are you considering lilac ombre hair? Carding suggests trying purple and blonde highlights. “Use a temporary color that fades with each wash. This lets you try a fun color without a big commitment. Add purple peek-a-boo streaks underneath your hair. To make the purple last longer, use shampoo and conditioner made for color-treated hair. Also, keep hot styling tools on a low heat setting,” she advises.
All hair types can try these purple ombre highlights. If you want a brighter purple, you might need to lighten your hair first. This color looks good on every face shape. To accentuate your face shape, add highlights around your face to create a nice frame.
Purple highlights in blonde hair add a playful, bold touch to your look. Since they are just peekaboo highlights, they fit well with any lifestyle.
#17: Blue and Purple Highlights
“This is called indigo dreaming! We used a mix of blue and purple shades on her balayaged hair. It gave her a fresh, playful new look,” says hairstylist Reggei Larson from Minneapolis, MN.
Larson explains that using strong heat protection is important when styling blue or purple hair. “A good heat protectant keeps your hair safe from hot tools and also helps your color last longer, especially if you use irons often,” she says.
Fantasy colors look amazing on everyone, especially these blue and purple highlights. Choose this hair color if you wash your hair often and are ready to use high-quality products. With good care, these colors can stay vibrant for 1 to 3 months or even longer. Avoid going too light with the purple shade, as it may fade quickly.
#18: Black Hair with Purple Highlights
This black hair with purple highlights has a bold, fun style. It looks modern but not too flashy. Licensed cosmetologist Janelle Griego from South Valley, NM, created this look.
If you want to try bright colors for the first time, Griego suggests adding these violet highlights to black hair. “Most women feel comfortable with this choice. If you don’t like it, it’s easy to remove. Plus, as it fades, it turns into a lovely blonde,” she explains.
Bright colors like purple highlights on black hair need a lot of care if you don’t use the right products. While the salon handles the coloring, you must maintain it at home. Griego strongly suggests using a shampoo and conditioner with rich purple pigments to keep the color looking fresh.
#19: Bright Magenta Highlights
These magenta highlights on shoulder-length hair stand out and show off a fun, confident style. Hairstylist Danielle Roniger from Afton, WY, created this look.
“We love how vibrant magenta looks. It blends well with a shiny violet tone to create bright purple hair. You can style it straight or curly, but curls really make the colors stand out,” says Roniger.
Listen to your stylist’s advice to keep your hair healthy and care for it properly at home. To get these bright colors, your hair must be platinum blonde. Reaching platinum can damage your hair. If you are already blonde, it is easier to get this look than if your hair is brown or red.
You can get blonde hair with purple highlights, but it may take several salon visits and lots of gentle care. This hair color is an investment, so using good products to keep your hair healthy helps protect that investment.
#20: Dark Purple Hair with Highlights
This dark purple hair with highlights features an amethyst purple blend. Hairstylist Karisa Moore from Kew Gardens, NY, created this look. She explains, “These dark purple highlights are perfect for women who want a bright, bold color. Lightening the hair first made the purple stand out even more.”
Your results can differ based on your hair type, especially if your hair is natural or already colored. Moore suggests talking with your hairstylist to see if light or dark purple shades suit you. Bright fashion colors often fade fast, but using a toner every six weeks can help refresh the color.
If you prefer a low-maintenance style, Moore suggests trying purple balayage highlights. This look creates a soft gradient of deep purple instead of a single solid shade, so you won’t need touch-ups as often—about every four weeks.
“Purple hair looks stunning and vibrant, but it needs regular care. The products you use are important to keep your dark hair with purple highlights looking fresh. Always choose a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. Davines MINU shampoo and conditioner work well because they are made for colored hair,” she says.
#21: Red Hair with Purple Highlights
Stylist Sherry Flack from Troy, OH, created this unique red hair with purple highlights.
“This style has a natural coppery auburn color with hidden purple highlights that bring a touch of shine. It keeps the warm copper shades looking lively,” says Flack. “Adding curls helps blend the copper and purple together beautifully.”
If you want to try red, copper, or purple hair, talk to your stylist first. Bright fashion colors like purple usually fade quickly. Your colorist can create a plan to keep your hair healthy and vibrant with the right home care.
#22: Lilac Highlights on Long Fine Hair
“These highlights look like lilac or light purple shades. Soft pastel colors add brightness to simple blonde hair. If your hair is thin, you should give this a try,” says master hair artist Daisy Englander from NYC.
Englander says to get this color, begin by using balayage and foil highlights to reach a bright platinum blonde. Your hair needs to be very light first. Protect your hair during bleaching by using a bond builder. Take your time because blonde hair can be delicate. After lightening, apply Manic Panic Professional to make the soft pastel shade.
Choose these lilac highlights if you want to experiment with a pastel purple look. This color is bright and bold, similar to purple.
First, your hair must be platinum blonde to achieve this color. Imagine putting purple paint on white paper—you see the real purple clearly. But if you paint purple on yellow or orange paper, the purple won’t show up as well.
The lighter your hair, the more the color will show. If your hair isn’t light enough for these bright highlights, try using a darker purple first. Then, as your hair gets lighter over time, you can switch to a lighter blonde shade.
#23: Metallic Purple Highlights
These shiny purple highlights give a fun, natural look to fantasy hair colors. Add soft streaks of metallic violet to boost your hair’s natural beauty.
These shiny metallic highlights are created by hairstylist Wessam Shafek from Arlington Heights, IL.
“To get these blonde and purple shades, your hair needs to be naturally light or already lightened,” says Shafek. “For soft pastel or metallic violet, your hair must be light enough for the color to show well. Use a sulfate-free color-safe shampoo and conditioner to help the color last longer. Also, wash your hair with cool water.”
When using heat styling tools, Shafek recommends keeping the temperature low. High heat causes the color molecules to expand, which makes your hair color fade faster.
#24: Silver Hair + Purple Highlights
“This silver hair with purple highlights shows you can add a splash of color and still look professional,” says hair artist Yasuko Suzuki from Sunnyvale, CA. “The natural roots blend smoothly into the silver and purple shades, making it easy to style differently for any occasion.”
Suzuki says, “This style stands out more on long hair. If your hair is short, you can use extensions to get the same effect.”
Purple highlights are perfect for women who love to stand out. But keep in mind, this color needs regular care and upkeep.
“For best results, your hair should be healthy and lightened to a level 9 or 10,” she says. “Once your hair is a pale blonde, apply silver and purple colors in alternating sections. Because these cool shades fade quickly, use color-safe shampoos and conditioners to help the colors last longer.”
The great thing about these colors is that even as they slowly fade with each wash, they still look beautiful and turn into a lovely ash blonde. If you are willing to put in some extra time and care to keep the color and your hair healthy, it will look amazing!
#25: Cool Lavender Highlights
Lavender hair is a popular trend that’s here to stay. This soft lavender color was designed by hair colorist Carlie Roe from Carlsbad, CA.
“According to Roe, this fantasy shade is the most popular unusual hair color people ask for at salons today. If you want softer purple highlights, try lavender. The idea behind this custom lavender color came from the gemstone amethyst.”
Roe insists that using the right products is key to maintaining your color. “Always use heat protectants and shampoos safe for color. Heat and ingredients not meant for color-treated hair cause fading the most. And yes, heat includes hot water! So, wash with cold water every time,” she explains.
#26: Light Purple Highlights with Curled Ends
These light purple highlights are perfect for women who want to try a fun hair color without the work of coloring their whole head. Stylist Caylin Zynger from Calgary, AB, designed this look.
“Soft purple babylights add gentle streaks that create a perfect base for adding any kind of dimension, especially with purple shades,” she explains. “This color is great if you want a bold look because it can fade into a cool icy blonde, or you can easily switch to a new style. Purple tones let blondes try something new without losing their platinum look.”
Give it a try! Purple is a gentle color that suits nearly every woman. Adding purple streaks to your hair can introduce you to many new hair color options.
Zynger says, “The great thing about adding purple streaks to brown hair is how easy it is to care for. Fashion colors usually fade fast, but watching this color change over time is actually fun! After a few weeks, it turns into a pretty ash blonde. If you want to keep the purple bright, use Evo Fabuloso Custom conditioner.”