What Is A Money Piece And Why You Should Try This Trend

It’s safe to say the goal for most of us is to leave the salon looking like a million bucks. With the latest highlighting technique—the money piece—you’re bound to do just that. If you’re on the hunt for a new hair color trend to try, consider lightening up your locks with this fun technique. Keep reading to learn all about the money piece hair trend, including hair color inspo to go along with it and the best way to care for your new style. 

What Is A Money Piece? 

You’ve probably seen this highlighting style, but weren’t necessarily aware of its name. The money piece highlighting technique is like a cousin to the balayage highlighting technique. Specifically, it involves hand painting face-framing highlights (just like balayage) from root to end to brighten your hair and create a lived-in look. What’s the difference between a money piece and balayage? Balayage involves lots of highlighted strands throughout the head while a money piece focuses on highlighting just the front section of your hair. 

How To Get A Money Piece 

If you want to add a money piece to your mane, your best bet is to head to the salon. Your colorist should know just where to place your face-framing highlights as well as how to blend them properly with the rest of your hair. You should tailor the color and depth of your highlights depending on how bold you want the money piece to be. The closer the shade matches the rest of your hair, the more subtle they will be and vice versa. 

5 Money Piece Highlight Ideas To Try 

Of course, you’ll want to have some inspiration ready to show your colorist at your appointment. Not sure where to start? Consider one of the following money piece hair color combos.

1. Caramel & Coffee

If you have rich brown coffee colored hair, try sweetening things up with a caramel money piece. The combination of brown tones is understated and sophisticated, and the lightness of your caramel money piece will create just the right amount of contrast against your coffee strands. It’s the perfect combo to test out having brown hair with a money piece. 

2. Platinum & Cream

If you have a warm, cream blonde hair color, adding a platinum blonde money piece will bring even more brightness to your face. Plus, adding a platinum hue to your already blonde hair will make your strands look multidimensional. 

3. Navy & Black

If you have black hair and are hesitant about making a major shift to your dark strands,  opting for a navy blue money piece is a great way to dip your toes into the world of hair color. Pairing navy highlights with black hair will add a unique touch to your hairstyle without being too bold.  

4. Mahogany & Espresso  

Speaking of dark hair, if you have an espresso hair color, consider lightening the front of your mane with a mahogany money piece. The warm, red-brown shade will add just the right amount of depth to your hair. And it’ll easily take you from summer to fall.

5. Platinum & Pink

If you have platinum blonde hair, you have the perfect opportunity to get creative with your money piece because your strands won’t require further bleaching. Pink is a trending color, and what better way to spice up your style than by combining two trends in one and opting for a pink money piece. If you want to take a pink money piece for a spin without any commitment, test it out by applying the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray in Hot Pink to your front pieces. Since the hair color spray washes out with just one shampoo, there’s no damage to your strands if you don’t do it perfectly the first time.

How To Take Care Of Your Money Piece Highlights

Now that you know all about the money piece highlighting technique, as well as some color combos to try, here are some tips to help you keep your new style in prime condition.

Tip #1: Use Color-Safe Shampoo & Conditioner 

Color-treated hair requires special care. Swap your go-to shampoo and conditioner for a system that’s formulated for your colored strands. Give the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Shampoo, and L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Conditioner a try. They’re formulated with UV filters to prevent color fading and ensure your color remains vibrant for several weeks. If you lightened or bleached your hair, opt for the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Strengthening Color Care Shampoo and the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Strengthening Color Care Conditioner which are formulated to reinforce weak hair bonds that occur as a result of color processing damage and heat styling. 

Tip #2: Rid Your Hair Of Brassiness 

Since money piece highlights often involve lightening your strands, chances are you’ll come into contact with brassiness at one point or another. If you do, use the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Purple Shampoo for Color Treated Hair and to help neutralize unwanted brassy tones. 

Tip #3: Do Less Heat-Styling 

Heat styling can not only cause breakage and split ends, but it can cause your color to fade, too. Give your colored strands a break by skipping the hot tools and opting for a heatless hairstyle instead.

Photo Credit: @ana.martinezzp/Model Ana Martinez, Hair by Denise Macedo