40 Balayage Short Hair Ideas to Steal the Show in 2023

Balayage on short hair can look stunning, whether your hair is curly and layered or straight and blunt-cut. The technique allows to create dimension and accentuate natural layers and curves, so balayage is excellent for making short hair pop!

See 40 excellent balayage short hair color ideas we have selected for you and get ready to show off your lovely dimensional style.

Balayage for Short Hair

While the soft fades of color applied in the ombre technique look better on long hair, balayage highlights can be considered an alternative to ombre hair for shorter lengths. It’s a terrific way to add depth, dimension, and visual interest to your bob or pixie.

1. Blonde Balayage on Short Hair

For a really natural balayage look, ask your stylist for full, blended blonde highlights on brown hair. Keeping the hair darker on the roots and the under layers provides a backdrop for the highlights to really pop. If your hair is naturally wavy, you can let it air dry and simply use a texturizing spray or cream to create definition.

2. Balayage Highlights for Long Bob

Balayage for short hair is one of the top trends right now. To master the look, opt for thicker highlights framing the face, starting almost at the root and stretching to the end. Any other highlights should start a little lower down at varying points.

3. Strawberry Blonde Balayage Hairstyle

These beautiful waves really add to the effect of the balayage highlights. To get twisted locks like these, you definitely need to try the straightener method. After blow drying your hair, randomly grab sections and twist in alternating directions, leaving the bottoms straight.

4. Beachy Waves with Balayage Ombre

Do you still have vacation memories lingering in the mind? This balayage gives an impression of dark hair gone lighter in the sun. The soft waves and tender brown tones are so in tune!

5. Ash Blonde Balayage Ombre on Dark Hair

This beautiful balayage short hair look is just the right mix of tenious and stand-out. Dark brown hair looks best with ash blonde balayage highlights. Thin highlights that gradually get thicker towards the ends is a great trick to keep the contrast between the strands while not letting highlights appear stark.

6. Layered Dimensional Style

Girls with straight tresses don’t need to envy girls with curly hair anymore! It doesn’t take waves to create a show-stopping look. Adding balayage hair color along the thoughtfully placed layers creates drama and double interest.

7. Chestnut Short Hair with Subtle Highlights

When selecting a hair color for short hair, consider enhancing your natural hair color with trendy balayage to adds vibrancy and glamour to your strands. Balayage means painted on, which is exactly why this technique tends to produce an artistic result. The way the lighter tones in brown hair catch the light is just amazing!

8. Caramel Blonde Balayage on Inverted Lob

This gorgeous style brings so much warmth and brightness to the face. Thanks to the extra-long face-framing pieces, beachy waves, and super dark roots, this look is edgy and modern. A texturizing spray will be your best friend for achieving the piecey separation.

9. Short Hair with Delicious Brown Coloring

Want a sun-kissed look all year long? Balayage offers dimension and delicate accents to add to your short bob. The good thing about this technique is that such highlights grow out in a natural way that is easy breezy to maintain.

10. Warm Blonde Balayage Hair Idea

You want a short hairstyle that is glamorous and chic, not dull and lazy, don’t you? For a stand-out style, ask your stylist for balayage highlights that are two shades lighter than your base color. Curling your hair will add to the femininity of this hairstyle.

11. Perfect Idea for Going Blonde

Who doesn’t love blonde hair color ideas? The truth is, bleaching dark hair for the all-over platinum isn’t the best idea. Consider going blonde from dark brown hair with pretty sunny blonde balayage and adorable layering. This look is really feminine and flirty. The golden tones are also more flattering on warm skin tones than platinum would be.

12. Pixie Cut with Red and Blonde Balayage

We’re constantly singing the praises of a feminine undercut because it can be styled in so many ways. And the idea to balayage short strands is simply ingenious. To enhance the style, try blowing the hair in every direction for a modern, grungy look.

13. Warm Balayage on Short Angled Haircut

Can’t decide between warm and cool tones? Have the best of both worlds with this lovely blend that transitions from red to dark blonde hues. What a beautiful and non-standard balayage for short hair solution!

14. Short Brown Hair with Subtle Highlights

This balayage hair style will win the hearts of those who love natural-looking hair colors. Mix softness and shagginess for touchable and admirable locks. Beautiful!

15. Bright Red Balayage on Short Hair

Oftentimes, when women opt for bright hair color ideas, they tend to think of it as all-over hues. However, such hairstyles tend to be overwhelming. That’s why adding the craziest hair colors as balayage highlights is a good idea. The darker berry base color adds tons of dimension to the overall look.

16. Short Bob with Balayage Ombre

Bangs aren’t a common pairing with balayage for short dark hair, but some girls just look fantastic with bangs. If you love having bangs, then go for them! To blend everything in, have your stylist put just a few faint highlights in your dark bangs.

17. Short Brown Hair Balayage

Balayage short hair look doesn’t have to be bright or crazy! The style first originated to mimic and enhance the natural lighting of hair ends. For a more natural approach, dye your strands only one or two tones lighter.

18. Blonde Balayage on Short Dark Hair

Keeping your pretty short hair straight and sleek is a styling option that will never go out of style. Enhanced with blonde highlights, short layers create a beautiful texture in fine hair.

19. Shaggy Bob with Blonde Balayage

Balayage is a gorgeous, trendy way to reimagine short hair. Just about any way you style your hair will look really chic with pretty blonde highlights like these, but curls really take the cake! To recreate the look, use a large-barrel curling iron to curl one or two-inch sections of hair.

20. Ash Blonde Balayage for Short Stacked Bob

Can we say adorable? This style for straight hair is spot on! The balayage short hair style has a plethora of colors that range from darker rich tones to lighter ash-blonde shades, and the addition of layering in the back shows off the different hues in the best light.

21. Lavender Balayage for Short A-Line Haircut

This stunning A-line cut gets a dose of modern edge with the addition of soft lavender highlights. The main reason this look is so successful is that the light purple balayage and the light brown base are really similar in saturation. Pick a highlight color that is right for your natural shade of hair if you want everything to blend in.

22. Natural-Looking Dark Blonde Balayage

This blonde balayage short hair is a popular choice for women with dishwater blonde hair color. It gives just the right amount of brightness and refreshment for short hair with layers like in this hairstyle.

23. Blunt Cut Blonde Balayage Bob

This super cute bob is perfect for a city girl in search of a fashionable look. Keep your ends perfect with regular trims! To maintain a spunky (instead of sleek) style, don’t get too perfect with your everyday styling. Use a blow dryer to get hair straight and apply products that build volume. Don’t use any heavy products that will weigh your short hair down.

24. Subtle Balayage Highlights for Short Hair

To reinvent your brown hair, try subtle highlights with plenty of warmth. Golden tones in brown hair really help catch the light. Soft curls showcase the balayage effect and add a lot of femininity to the style. If you have thick hair, you’ll want to section off the top of the hair before you start curling.

25. Cinnamon Balayage Bob

These short hair highlights are done in such a pretty color! Not quite red, cinnamon is a color that is very flattering on women with warm skin tones. It’s also much easier to pull off than red, and it gives off a softer look. To style, add in a few random twists and waves.

26. Burgundy Balayage on Dark Hair

Curious about new hair color ideas for short hair? When you go short, that’s a perfect opportunity to experiment with bleach. It will be easy to maintain healthy ends when you aren’t aiming for length at the same time. Picking a warm-toned color is typically more flattering, but ask your stylist what new hue will work best for your skin tone and eye color.

27. Cool Toned Angled Bob

Short hair color should always blend seamlessly with the cut. The simple layers in this cut work perfectly with barely there balayage highlights. Plus, the cool ashy tones pair well with the sleekness of the styling. Long playful pieces in the front and short feathers at the nape give the best of both worlds!

28. Brown Blonde Sweeps of Color

Got dark hair? Want to add some lightness and diversity to your look? Try short hair balayage. The highlights are aptly swept through the length to give the look ease and movement. This is a great way to add depth to straight hair.

29. Half Bob Half Pixie with Cool Blonde Balayage

Ramp up your style with the wow effect of pastel hues, grazing the longest strands of your asymmetrical haircut. The cut alone does make a bold statement, but the hair color solution skyrockets it to the new unknown heights!

30. Marsala to Strawberry Blonde Ombre

Why limit yourself to one tone when there are so many beautiful hair color ideas? Experiment with short hair balayage and blend two interesting shades with a soft, yet pronounced transition, which introduces an element of fun. Got straight hair? Curl your locks to show off hair color and add volume to fine hair.

31. Natural Brown Hair with Barely-There Red Highlights

Ooh la la! This sleek style has just the right amount of color. The subtle warm tones envelop black hair in a sort of haze, and the softly contrasting frame around the model’s face is sheer perfection! This look resorts to very delicate highlights that don’t require any commitment.

32. Sexy Long Pixie with Babylights

Caramel and cinnamon tones are blended to add oomph to this statement-making pixie-bob cut. If you don’t have enough length to play around with, it’s certainly fun to add a distinct color to ramp up your short hair.

33. Brown Blonde Balayage

Whether your waves are natural or styled, balayage on short hair will certainly enhance their bounce and shine thanks to the classy blend of brunette and blonde highlights. This style looks effortless, carefree and lovely – all in one!

34. Short Sun-Kissed Style

Natural blondes, would you let your hair go darker for the colder months? Nah! Let that summer sun shine all year through with this adorable blonde balayage short hair look. Once highlighted hair can now have a softer vibe while still offering a high impact and enhancing the tones.

35. Balayage for Short Stacked Bob

Want an extra dose of dimension in your hair? Then balayage may be just the ticket! Who knew that such softness could come with such an impact? The addition of caramel color also brings out the layers of the cut.

36. Bronde Balayage for Short Layered Hairut

Calling all blondes! Balayage on bronde hair is a good way to achieve a sophisticated and unique hair color. Go as subtle or bold, as you desire!

37. Long Pixie with Dramatic Blonde Balayage

Ready to rock a sassy pixie cut? Leave your naturally dark hair hue at the roots and accent your layered short locks with caramel and blonde tones to spice them up even more. Who wouldn’t love balayage on short hair when it looks as fabulous as in the photo?

38. Shaggy Bob with Face-Framing Highlights

This face-framing balayage offers softness in the refined red hues on natural brown hair. The shaggy texture balances this softness for a trendy eye-catching look that most brunettes would love to wear!

39. Black Hair with Brown Highlights

Talk about versatility! Highlights on curly hair look stunning whether the hair is worn natural or straightened. Both styles look spot on thanks to the beautifully executed balayage.

40. Dimensional Dark Roots to Red Ends Balayage

This is a high-impact look! The shiny black hair fades through red to the lovely tangerine highlights placed here and there. This color pattern will look equally good on straight hair and loose effortless waves.

If you are thinking of a new hairstyle, why not consider a hair color upgrade too? Rocking balayage short hairstyles is now very popular. You can pick something that is soft and subtle or create a mind-blowing combo with bold colors. There are so many choices, that we can confidently claim: balayage is perfect for everyone!