Peekaboo hair is all the rage right now in the hair color world. This unique, underneath hair color style sees the under layer of your hair dyed a different color from the top layer.
Amazing! But how do you know if a peekaboo hairstyle will suit you? What color will you pick? And how to you get the look at home? You’re in the right place!
If this is your first time trying peekaboo hair, we understand it can be hard to know where to start.
There are so many color combinations you can choose! And what are peek a boo highlights? Or underneath highlights? And how do you even get the look at home? It can all seem very overwhelming.
We created this guide for you with everything you need to know about this edgy hair trend including; best underneath hair dye, tips on dyeing your own hair, and our favorite products that will help make your new hairstyle last longer than ever before!
This step by step guide has everything you need for beautiful colored under layers in no time. Let’s go!
Table of Contents
- What is it called when you dye the underside of your hair?
- What is peekaboo hair?
- 12 of the best peekaboo hair color ideas.
- #1 Black hair with white underneath
- #2 Black hair with green underneath
- #3 Brown hair with blonde peekaboo highlights
- #4 Dark hair with red peekaboo highlights
- #5 Blonde hair with purple peekaboo highlights
- #6 Blonde hair with pink underneath
- #7 Blue and pink peekaboo highlights
- #8 Rainbow peekaboo
- #9 Silver hair with blue underneath
- #10 Mermaid peekaboo
- #11 Peekaboo unicorn hair
- #12 Peekaboo pastel rainbow hair
- How to do peekaboo hair step-by-step.
- How do you color underlayered hair?
- Peekaboo hair top tips
- Peekaboo hair dye FAQs
- Can I do peekaboo hair at home?
- Can I get peekaboo hair without bleach?
- What color should I dye the underside of my hair?
- Peekaboo hair dye ideas.
- How do you dye your hair two colors without bleeding?
- How do I style peekaboo hair?
- Will this look suit me?
- Where do you put peekaboo highlights?
- Is Peekaboo hair high maintenance?
- How do you maintain peekaboo hair?
- Parting words
What is it called when you dye the underside of your hair?
The technique of having your hair dyed underneath is also known as peekaboo hair!
What is peekaboo hair?
It’s a sought-after style is such a popular hair color idea right now.
With a peek-a-boo style, the bottom layer of your hair is dyed a different color from the top layer.
The under hair dye can be a block color, streaks or highlights or you can go crazy with an underside rainbow, mermaid or skunk stripe hair color effect!
When you have half dyed hair underneath, the bottom color is only visible when it shows through the top layer of hair or when you have your hair up in a ponytail.
It works amazingly with short hair, long hair, wavy hair, with or without bangs and even curls too.
Typically, peekaboo hair dye is done using a semi-permanent to permanent color.
Bright colors are normally used to create that a showstopping and surprising contrast!
12 of the best peekaboo hair color ideas.
Here are some of the most on-trend peek a boo hair color ideas of the moment to help you get started on your hair-color journey.
#1 Black hair with white underneath
Black and white is a great option for those with very dark hair who want to add a touch of lightness and fun to their look!
To achieve this style, simply dye the bottom layer of your hair white and leave the top black. You can use a temporary dye so that you can change up your look as often as you like without damaging your hair.
Blonde and black also works delightfully if you go for platinum light blonde contrast against a jet black base.
#2 Black hair with green underneath
If you’re feeling extra bold, why not try adding a pop of color to your black hair? Green and black is a great option if you want something that really stands out.
To get this look, start by bleaching the underside of your hair and then dyeing it over a light emerald green or neon shade. You can also add a few green peekaboo hair highlights throughout for an extra dose of color.
We also love this color combo in peekaboo braids.
#3 Brown hair with blonde peekaboo highlights
This is a classic combo that always looks chic and stylish. For a more subtle take on the trend, go for a sandy blonde or golden hue instead of an icy platinum shade.
Just dye the underneath layer of your hair in platinum blonde highlights and leave the top a warmer chestnut or ashy brown – easy peasy!
#4 Dark hair with red peekaboo highlights
This is such a fun and unique hair color combo and black and red peekaboo hair is one of the most popular ways to wear the look.
You can work red underlayer hair dye effortlessly with dark brown hair or black base color. The best part about it is that you can use any shade of red highlights that you like – from a bold and vibrant hue to a more subdued burgundy shade.
#5 Blonde hair with purple peekaboo highlights
If you’re looking for a hair color that’s both fun and unique, try blonde with purple highlights underneath. This look is achieved by adding a pop of color to blonde hair.
Go for lavender peekaboo highlights or mauve hair dye on a caramel base for a softer and more blended underlayer hue.
#6 Blonde hair with pink underneath
For a fun and flirty look, try blonde with pink highlights underneath. This is a great way to add some personality to your look.
If you want a subtler take on this trend, opt for a pastel pink shade or try flamingo pink hair for a more vibrant, lasting color. Cool tones can go for rose gold peekaboo highlights to create depth and dimension.
#7 Blue and pink peekaboo highlights
This is a fun and unique way to add some color to your hair. To get this look, start with blue highlights and then add in pink peekaboo highlights for an extra pop of color.
Fantasy colors like pink and blue peekaboo hair colors work great for this look and if you don’t want to dye your hair, colored hair extensions are the way to go!
#8 Rainbow peekaboo
This is a unique and colorful way to add some personality to your hair. To get this look, start with a light base color and then add in peekaboo highlights in all the colors of the rainbow.
This is a great way to show off your personality and it’s also a great way to experiment with different hair colors. It looks particularly striking on light blonde hair.
#9 Silver hair with blue underneath
Silver hair is all the rage right now and this is a modern and trendy way to add some color to your hair.
To get this look, start with a silver base color and then add in blue peekaboo highlights for an extra pop of color. Pastel blues work well with the silver-gray tone.
#10 Mermaid peekaboo
Sea and ocean colors are all the rage this season, so why not add a little bit of that ocean magic to your hair?
Teal and turquoise highlights blended with your natural hair color is a great way to add a touch of fun and intrigue.
This is a look that’s best achieved with the help of a professional hairstylist, as it can be difficult to get the right amount of contrast without overdoing it!
#11 Peekaboo unicorn hair
Peekaboo unicorn hair color is a playful and whimsical way to add some color to your locks.
We love it because it’s not limited to just one specific color. You can choose from a range of pastel shades like baby pink, lavender, and mint green to create your own unique unicorn-inspired look.
#12 Peekaboo pastel rainbow hair
Pastel rainbow peekaboo highlights are a subtle twist on the more vibrant rainbow colors.
Instead of going all out with bold, bright hues, peekaboo pastel rainbow hair incorporates soft, delicate shades of color – think mauve, baby blue, lavender purple, and minty green.
Related post: What Are Peekaboo Braids? 8 Trending Ideas for an Edgy Look.
How to do peekaboo hair step-by-step.
Once you’ve decided on the style that suits you best, follow these simple steps for creating perfect underlayer hair locks in no time at all.
You’ll need to set aside at least an hour to get it right.
Step 1. Shampoo & condition your hair
Use a deep cleansing shampoo to remove any impurities and dryness from your hair.
If you have darker hair where the bottom layer will be showing through we recommend using a clarifying shampoo as this will help your peekaboo color pop.
Then prep your hair with a long-lasting moisturizing conditioner to protect the top layer of your hair from any damage caused by dyeing underneath it.
Step 2. Section your hair.
Use crocodile hair clips to section your hair at the back, leaving the hair underneath exposed at the nape of your next.
Make sure you cover the width of your neck from side to side.
Protect your clothes by covering your shoulders with an old towel or hairdressing cape.
Step 3. Lighten your hair.
If you are lightening your hair, apply a bleach formula on the underneath part only and allow it to process according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Be careful to keep an eye on it! You don’t want to over-process it as we’ll be dyeing it again.
Shampoo it out and conditioning as instructed above.
This prep step is only needed if you are going lighter or want a peekaboo effect to be more visible.
Step 4. Time to dye!
Apply the color of your choice all over your underneath layer. Start at your roots and make sure your hair is fully saturated in hair dye.
Pay special attention to the underneath section if you have already lightened your hair as per step 3 above.
This will help create a deeper contrast between top and bottom colors. If you haven’t, don’t worry it’ll still look great!
Step 5. Process time.
Allow the dye to process according to manufacturer’s instructions before washing out… Ta-daaaa!
Step 6. Style and admire!
Once dry, style as usual with a flat iron for that perfectly peeking color or scrunch up with sea salt spray for beachy texture and volume!
And that’s it, you’re done!
How do you color underlayered hair?
Watch and learn this video from the experts to show you how to get this style successfully at home!
Peekaboo hair top tips
- Choose contrasting colors to create a tonally stunning effect
- Clip up the top layer of your hair and leave it up for the entire process
- Apply barrier cream or petroleum jelly to the nape of your neck and around your ears to protect them from hair dye stains
- Apply the dye in one-inch sections to ensure an even coverage
- Use a tail comb to separate the sections
- Use one color or create a striped look with multiple colors
Peekaboo hair dye FAQs
Can I do peekaboo hair at home?
It can be easy to do at home, but you’ll need a pal to help you out.
That’s because the underneath of your hair is round the back of your head and tricky to reach and dye by yourself.
Once you’ve picked your chosen color, the results will depend on what color your hair is now.
If your hair is dark – you may need to lighten your hair first before applying your color. This means using bleach to get the right, light base to make the hair dye color really pop.
If your hair is light – you have a good base for most colors. If your heart is set on pastel hair dye, you may also need to lighten your hair first to get the right base.
ALWAYS do a strand test first to check what color you’ll end up with and avoid any hair dye mishaps.
Can I get peekaboo hair without bleach?
You can get peekaboo hair without using bleach, but it will be a lot lighter and slightly less vibrant. It all depends on the color your hair is now, and the under hair color you want it to be!
If you have hair darker than medium brunette, you’ll almost certainly need to use bleach to get the right base for a pop of color.
Color cannot lighten color, so if your heart is set on a lighter shade, it’s bleach for you.
The brighter you want your underneath color to be, the more likely you’ll need to use bleach to get the look.
If your hair is already a light shade, and you want to go darker underneath – like blonde hair with jet black, midnight blue or rich red under hair dye- you may be able to get away with it!
The best thing to do is always try a strand test first to see what the resulting color will really be.
What color should I dye the underside of my hair?
Dyeing just the underside of your hair is an easy way to try out new shades without committing.
Pair different colors and blends with each other and you’ll get some really cool effects. Try black dye if you have platinum blonde locks or bright pops of every neon and pastel color imaginable!
Rainbow hair colored dyes are good for adding more color in an otherwise monochrome look; reds go great next to green or blue; orange gives off such vibrant shades – perfect when paired together with pink peekaboo hair (or purple peekaboo hair!).
The best effects work with a high contrast – so if you’re dark hair, think light, bright colors and if you have light hair, think bold and dark.
Check out the latest looks for ideas and inspiration.
Peekaboo hair dye ideas.
For dark brown/black hair
- Red shades
- Blue shades
- Purple shades
- Silver
For dark blonde/light brown hair
- Pink shades
- Pastel shades
- Copper
For light blonde/white hair
- Black shades
- Green shades
- Blue shades
How do you dye your hair two colors without bleeding?
Your base hair color should be dark enough so that the peekaboo color layers will show through your top layer of hair and not bleed into it!
It’s all in the application.
Ensure that you pre-lighten the underneath section of your hair only if you plan to go lighter for peekaboo effect or if you want it to be more visible.
Otherwise, do not lighten beforehand and apply the dye to the underneath layer alone.
As with all hair dyeing, do not shampoo your hair the night before dying as this will strip your natural oils and leave hair dry and prone to smudging.
You should also use a specialist no-rinse conditioner or intense conditioner if you have dyed your hair blonde/bleached strands beforehand so that it doesn’t damage your hair as much.
How do I style peekaboo hair?
There are several ways to style this look.
You can have a full block color underneath which will show through sheer colored layers on top, or just a few pieces of a different color that peak out for a stylishly subtle effect.
You can also go crazy and use any variation of colors imaginable from pastel, neon, metallic and glittery hues – the world is your oyster.
Think pink ombré with an electric blue dyed hair underneath!
Or how about orange streaked blonde peekaboo hair topped with bright green highlights? The possibilities are endless… And so much fun to experiment with! Best part of all it’s low maintenance as there’s no need to constantly recolor your hair.
Just shampoo and condition as usual and your peekaboo color will look its very best every time you wash!
Will this look suit me?
This is perfect for people who want to play with all kinds of different colored locks. It’s a fun trend that’s really versatile so there are no limitations to who can try it out.
You don’t even need to have any past experience dying your tresses, because the on-trend style is easy to master.
It works particularly well with short or long haircuts but be aware that shorter styles may require retouching more frequently as it grows.
Color blocking is definitely a hot trend right now so it’s the perfect time to try this look out, especially as it looks its best when the contrast between your natural hair and the underneath dye color is very different.
This means that if you have strawberry blonde or dark brown locks you’ll want to use a light blonde or silver shade underneath instead of another warm tone for example.
It’s cool how it works with any color or tonality. All that matters is that there is a clear distinction between the top layer and bottom layer!
Where do you put peekaboo highlights?
Peekaboo highlights use the same section of your hair – your underneath layer – but are applied to certain strands of your hair.
This is done using foils and gives a more subtle, multidimensional look.
With underneath highlights placement, you can also color strands around your hairline the front of your hair to frame your face and bring out your eye color.
This gorgeous look is a real art and best done by a hairstylist to get it right!
An easier way to create these highlights is to use colored hair extensions.
These can clip onto the underside of your hair to give that highlighted vibe in a quick and easy way.
Is Peekaboo hair high maintenance?
Surprisingly, no! We would actually say it is easier than regular color as you do not need to worry as much about regrowth.
How long your underneath hair color will last depends on the type of color you have used to get the on trend look.
Reds and pinks will fade faster than greens or blues blacks for instance, which are stubborn colors to remove.
Red hair colors can fade quite quickly if you don’t use the right products and protection though.
But there are definitely some things you can do to help diminish the need for more touch ups.
How do you maintain peekaboo hair?
First thing first – USE THE RIGHT SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER.
A color protecting shampoo will not only keep your hair looking vibrant for longer but it will also help you cleanse any products correctly out of your hair, strengthening it in the process.
These contain no nasties like sulphates that can strip and fade your color.
When it comes to topping up your colour, again this will depend!
Because the colour is underneath the top layer of your hair, it grows out well as the roots are not so visible as when you dye the top layer of your hair.
Parting words
You now know everything you need to about the edgy hair trend and how it can be customized to suit you, your style and your personality too.
We hope this post has been helpful as a starting point for those of us who are new at experimenting with our hairstyles and color! Good luck!
