21+ Gorgeous Burgundy Hair Highlight Ideas You Have to See in 2025

Sophie MarieBySophie Marie

I get so excited when a client sits in my chair and says they’re ready for a change, and lately, the word on everyone’s lips is burgundy. There’s a certain magic to burgundy hair highlights; they’re this perfect blend of sophisticated, edgy, and just plain gorgeous. Whether woven into deep brunette locks or used to create a dramatic contrast, this rich, wine-inspired hue can completely transform a look, and I’ve been perfecting these techniques for years. It’s more than just a color—it’s a statement.

Stunning Burgundy Highlight Inspirations

1. Subtle Burgundy Balayage on Dark Hair

A woman with long, dark wavy hair featuring a subtle burgundy balayage, seen from over her shoulder.

If you’re looking to dip your toes into the world of color, a soft burgundy balayage is the perfect entry point. I love this technique because it looks so natural and grows out beautifully, meaning less time in my chair for touch-ups! The hand-painted highlights are scattered through the mid-lengths and ends, catching the light just so. It adds incredible depth to dark espresso or chocolate brown hair without being too overpowering.

2. Vibrant Burgundy Peekaboo Highlights

A woman with straight black hair with vibrant burgundy peekaboo highlights visible as the wind blows her hair.

For those of you who want a pop of color with a little element of surprise, peekaboo highlights are my absolute favorite recommendation. We place these vibrant burgundy panels underneath the top layer of your hair. When your hair moves, you get this stunning flash of color that’s both playful and chic. It’s the perfect way to experiment with a bolder shade, especially if you have a more conservative workplace.

3. Burgundy Money Piece Hairstyle

A woman with long chocolate brown hair showcasing a bold burgundy money piece hairstyle.

Want maximum impact with minimal commitment? The money piece is your answer. By concentrating this gorgeous, rich burgundy color on the strands that frame your face, we can instantly brighten your entire complexion. It’s a look that screams confidence and style, and it works beautifully on almost any haircut, from a long, layered style to a chic bob.

4. Deep Merlot Highlights on a Wavy Bob

A woman with a wavy dark brown bob haircut featuring deep merlot highlights.

A wavy bob is already one of the chicest cuts out there, but when you add deep merlot highlights, it’s next-level gorgeous. These darker, purple-toned burgundy highlights add so much dimension and texture to shorter hair. The waves help the different tones play off each other, creating a look that’s rich, sophisticated, and full of movement.

5. Black Cherry Ombré on Long Hair

Back view of a woman with long black hair transitioning into a black cherry ombré.

If you’re ready to make a bold statement, a dramatic ombré is the way to go. I love starting with a natural black or deep espresso base and melting it into a vibrant black cherry hue towards the ends. The contrast is absolutely stunning and creates a high-fashion, edgy look that is guaranteed to turn heads. It’s a commitment, but oh-so-worth it.

6. Burgundy Underdye on a Layered Cut

A woman with a layered haircut revealing a bright burgundy underdye as her hair moves.

Similar to peekaboo highlights but with a more solid block of color, the underdye trend is still going strong. Placing a vibrant burgundy panel on the bottom section of your hair creates a stunning contrast with the darker top layers. It’s another fantastic option for expressing your personality while maintaining a more traditional look on the surface.

7. Sangria-Toned Ribbons on Curly Hair

A Black woman with voluminous curly hair featuring vibrant sangria-toned highlights.

Curls and color are a match made in heaven. Adding sangria-toned burgundy highlights to curly hair is one of my favorite things to do. The color spirals through the curls, defining their pattern and adding so much dimension and life. This particular shade of burgundy has a little more red and pink in it, which looks absolutely stunning against darker base colors.

8. Burgundy Glaze on Medium Brown Hair

A woman with medium brown hair featuring a subtle, all-over burgundy glaze.

Sometimes you don’t want distinct highlights, but rather an all-over shift in tone. A burgundy glaze or gloss is the perfect solution. Applied over medium brown hair, it creates a subtle, translucent wash of color that shines like crazy in the light. It’s a low-commitment way to warm up your color and try out the burgundy trend.

9. Burgundy Tips on a Sleek Lob

A woman with a sleek black lob featuring bright burgundy dip-dyed tips.

Dip-dyed ends are a fun, edgy way to play with color without touching your roots. On a sharp, sleek lob, burgundy tips look incredibly striking. The contrast between a dark base color like black or deep brown and the vibrant ends creates a powerful and modern look. Plus, if you get tired of it, you can simply trim it off!

10. Wine-Red Streaks on a Pixie Cut

A woman with a dark brown pixie cut featuring fine wine-red streaks.

Who says you need long hair to have fun with color? A pixie cut provides the perfect canvas for some strategically placed highlights. Fine, wine-red streaks woven through a dark brown pixie add texture, dimension, and a serious dose of personality. It’s a great way to make a short haircut even more unique.

11. Mahogany and Burgundy Blend

A woman with long wavy hair featuring a beautiful blend of mahogany and burgundy highlights.

Why settle for one shade when you can have two? I love creating a custom blend of mahogany and burgundy tones. The mahogany provides a warmer, brownish-red base, while the burgundy adds a cooler, purplish-red pop. The result is a stunning, multi-tonal look that is incredibly rich and dimensional, especially on long, wavy hair.

12. Deep Plum Tones on Espresso Hair

A woman with dark espresso hair and subtle, deep plum highlights visible in the light.

For my clients who want something understated and mysterious, deep plum highlights on an espresso brown base are perfection. This is a very dark-on-dark look, so the color is more of a tint than a bright highlight. In low light, your hair looks like a rich, solid brown, but when the light hits it, this gorgeous, violet-burgundy hue emerges. It’s incredibly chic.

13. Cranberry Highlights on a French Bob

A woman with a dark French bob haircut featuring bright cranberry-red highlights.

The French bob is all about effortless chic, and adding a pop of cranberry takes it to a new level. This brighter, redder shade of burgundy looks amazing as fine highlights scattered through a dark bob. It adds a touch of playful color that complements the sophisticated, classic cut perfectly.

14. Burgundy with Copper Face-Framing Pieces

A woman with dark auburn hair featuring burgundy lowlights and bright copper face-framing highlights.

This is a stunning combination for anyone with a warm skin tone. We use a rich burgundy as a lowlight to add depth, then paint brighter, fiery copper pieces around the face. The contrast between the deep, cool burgundy and the bright, warm copper creates a beautiful, dynamic look that’s full of fire and personality.

15. Raspberry Balayage on a Shag Cut

A woman with a textured shag haircut and a vibrant raspberry-burgundy balayage.

A shag haircut is all about texture and movement, which makes it the perfect base for a playful balayage. A raspberry-toned burgundy, which is a bit brighter and pinker, enhances all those choppy layers beautifully. It’s a fun, youthful look with a bit of a rock-and-roll edge that I just adore.

16. Burgundy Babylights on Brunette Hair

A close-up of a woman with medium brunette hair and very fine, subtle burgundy babylights.

Babylights are my go-to technique for clients who want a very subtle, natural-looking effect. We take super-fine sections of hair and apply the burgundy color, mimicking the subtle, multi-tonal hair of a child. The result on brunette hair is a beautiful, seamless shimmer of wine color that looks incredibly natural and sophisticated.

17. Crimson and Burgundy Color Melt

A braid showing a seamless color melt from brighter crimson at the roots to deep burgundy at the ends.

A color melt is a technique where we blend different shades together so seamlessly you can’t tell where one ends and the other begins. Melting a brighter, true-red crimson near the roots into a deeper, richer burgundy at the ends creates a fiery, dimensional look that is pure magic. It’s a work of art that looks incredible in braids and updos.

18. Burgundy Highlights on Ash Brown Hair

A woman with cool-toned ash brown hair and contrasting warm burgundy highlights.

I love playing with contrast, and pairing warm burgundy highlights with a cool, ashy brown base color is a fantastic way to do it. The coolness of the ash brown makes the warm, reddish-purple tones of the burgundy pop even more. It’s an unexpected and super modern combination that looks incredibly chic and high-fashion.

Ready for Your Wine-Hued Makeover?

Wow, what a journey through the world of burgundy! As you can see, there are so many ways to wear this incredible color, from the most subtle, sun-kissed balayage to a bold, head-turning two-tone look. What I love most about burgundy is its versatility. It can be adapted to any style, any hair type, and any personality. In 2025, it’s all about expressing yourself, and a touch of burgundy is the perfect way to do it.

Whether you’re drawn to the surprising flash of peekaboo highlights or the rich, multi-dimensional blend of mahogany and wine, there’s a burgundy style waiting for you. These looks prove that you don’t have to go blonde to have fun with highlights. A deep, luscious red can add just as much (if not more!) drama and sophistication to your look.

I hope you found some inspiration to bring to your next salon visit! Don’t be afraid to experiment and find the shade and technique that makes you feel amazing. If you loved these ideas and want more hair inspiration delivered straight to your inbox, be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter for all my latest tips and trend reports!

Sophie Marie
Sophie Marie

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