I was obsessed with Christina Aguilera and Avril Lavigne in the late '90s. They were the antithesis of the bubblegum pop dominating the charts. It wasn't just their rebellious style or angsty lyrics that I wanted to emulate - it was their hair. Thick, face-framing blonde streaks sliced through darker lengths with unapologetic contrast. Before they became known as 'money pieces', they were simply the coolest hair I'd ever seen.
© Universal Archive/Universal ImagNaturally, teenage me headed straight for the bleach.The result? Hair that looked great for about three weeks before my already-fine strands became dry, brittle, and started snapping around the front. Looking back, sacrificing the health of my hair for a trend probably wasn't my smartest beauty decision.
But lately, the look has been revived in a far more sophisticated way, with J-Lo, among other A-listers such as Penélope Cruz and Sarah Pidgeon, stepping out with soft honey-blonde ribbons framing her face. The contrast is still there, but it's softer, glossier, and expensive-looking rather than harsh. And the clever part? You no longer have to colour your own hair to achieve it. Instead, you can use strategically placed hair extensions to create the illusion of fresh highlights or lowlights, allowing you to experiment with colour without damaging your own hair.
© Variety via Getty ImagesHow to make the contrast look modern
For years, we've been chasing seamless balayage and highlights so finely blended they were almost impossible to detect. Now, the pendulum is swinging back towards visible contrast - and I gave it a try myself (results pictured below).
"What people are calling the 'stripey' trend is really about intentional contrast," explains Poppy Saunders, Remi Cachet Brand Specialist and founder of PS Hair Extensions. "For years we've chased perfectly blended colour, but this look celebrates visible ribbons of colour that frame the face and create impact." The key difference is that today's version isn't about chunky, blocky streaks. Instead, carefully placed ribbons of lighter hair brighten the complexion, emphasise the cheekbones, and bring movement to the front sections of the hair. Jennifer Lopez's honey-blonde pieces are the perfect example. They're noticeable enough to frame her face, but soft enough to feel luxurious rather than nostalgic.
Could hair extensions be replacing colour?
Perhaps the biggest reason this trend feels so wearable is that salons aren't necessarily reaching for colour anymore. "Hair extensions give us complete control over where those contrasting pieces sit, so we can recreate the look instantly without permanently colouring the client's own hair," says Saunders. "It's a much lower-commitment way to embrace a trend that's designed to be seen."
Founder of Remi Cachet, Victoria Lynch, agrees. "One of the reasons this look has become so popular is that it delivers the impact of fresh colour without the commitment. Rather than lightening your own hair, high-quality extensions allow you to introduce brighter, face-framing pieces that instantly lift the complexion and add dimension, while keeping your natural hair completely untouched."
For anyone who's spent years nursing damaged hair back to health - as I have - that feels like a very welcome development. Instead of sitting through another colour appointment, lighter extension pieces can simply be added exactly where extra brightness is needed, creating the illusion of freshly coloured hair while leaving your natural strands untouched.
Placement is everything
Creating expensive-looking contrast isn't about choosing the lightest blonde possible - it's about precision. "The success of this look comes down to placement, not specific colours," says Saunders. "If those contrasting pieces aren't positioned correctly, it just looks patchy. When they're placed with intention, they frame the face, create movement and make the whole colour look more expensive."
Depending on how long you want the look to last, salons can customise the placement using different extension methods. "Keratin bonds and tapes are a favourite because they allow us to create really customised ribbons of colour exactly where they're needed," Saunders explains. Lynch recommends investing in premium human hair for the most natural finish. "Professional methods such as keratin bonds or tapes offer the most seamless result, while premium Remy human hair retains its softness, shine and colour for much longer, meaning those brighter pieces continue to blend beautifully throughout their lifespan."
How you can do it yourself
The beauty of this new take on 'stripy' hair is that it doesn't have to be permanent. "What makes this trend feel so wearable is that it isn't about completely changing your hair colour—it's about enhancing what's already there," says Lynch. "Adding lighter ribbons through extensions creates movement, brightness and depth, giving the hair an effortlessly luxurious finish without the commitment of permanent colour."
If you're simply tempted to channel your inner J-Lo for a night out, a holiday, or a festival, there's an even easier option. "For those wanting a temporary transformation, clip-in extensions are fantastic," says Saunders. "You can apply them wherever you want those ribbons of colour before removing them just as easily afterwards."
As for me? After spending years trying to repair the damage caused by teenage bleach, I never thought I'd revisit the trend that started it all. But thanks to a little help from strategically placed extensions, I can dip in and out of the colour contrast as often as I like.
Find your nearest Remi extension specialist, or try it at home...
Additional Lengths Single Clip-In Strip, from £27.50
Our best budget buy: an easy-to-fit strip of human hair that adds instant length, texture or a pop of colour - without reaching for the dye.
Hair Rehab London 18" Clip-In Hair Extensions, £134.99
Our vote for all-over volume: one full-head pack makes it easy to boost length and introduce natural-looking highlights or tonal dimension in minutes.
Gee Hair Face Framers Front Clip-In Hair Extensions, £49.99
Our pick for fine or thinning hair: these lightweight pieces add discreet fullness while creating flattering, face-framing ribbons of colour without permanent highlights.
Foxy Locks Seamless Collection, from £150
Our luxury choice: ultra-flat Remi human-hair wefts blend beautifully, adding salon-worthy length, volume and multi-tonal colour—minus the chemical commitment.
