Chappell Roan’s Chunky Highlights Revive 2000s TRL Aesthetic

The early 2000s had a signature hair trend that defined a generation: chunky, high-contrast highlights layered over darker bases, a look that required dedication with a flat iron and nerves of steel. That aesthetic just walked back onto the red carpet, courtesy of Chappell Roan.

At the National PrEP Day gathering held at the Abbey in Los Angeles, Roan debuted a hair transformation that feels lifted straight from the MTV TRL countdown. Her pin-straight crimson red base featured chunky strawberry-blonde highlights placed throughout, crafted by hairstylist Virginie Pineda and paired with choppy baby bangs cut roughly an inch above her brows.

Understanding the Chunky Highlight Trend

How Chunky Highlights Differ From Modern Color

The contrast between the base and the placement of highlights is what makes this aesthetic read as distinctly 2000s. According to Allure, the higher-contrast color approach has been subtly returning this year, with stars like Jennifer Lopez and Gabrielle Union experimenting with the technique. What sets Roan’s version apart is the commitment to the full package: the crimson undertone, the strawberry-blonde placement, and the precision of the flat-ironed finish.

Chunky highlights differ from the softer, blended balayage that dominated recent decades. Instead of seamless dimension, this method uses defined, distinct sections of lighter color, creating visual weight and drama. The strawberry-blonde tone sits somewhere between buttery and peachy, working against the cooler crimson base to create depth without muddiness.

The Role of Bangs in the Complete Look

Roan’s straightened style recalled the flat-iron era dominated by celebrities like Christina Aguilera and Avril Lavigne, but with a modern edit: choppy baby bangs. This particular bang style has been gaining traction lately, with endorsements from Florence Pugh and others. The bangs end just above her sculpted brows, creating a frame that balances the longer lengths below.

The precision of the straightening is notable. This isn’t a damp-haired, air-dried situation, this is the kind of flat-ironed finish that requires heat styling and maintenance. For anyone attempting the look at home, a quality flat iron and heat protectant spray are essential.

The Makeup Palette and Application

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A Bold Color Approach

The makeup, created by makeup artist Dee, elevated the nostalgia factor without leaning too heavily into early-2000s kitsch. According to Allure, the palette included cerulean blue, daffodil yellow, and orchid pink on the eyes, with a brighter pink applied high on the cheekbones and blended out toward the temples.

This is a brave color combination. The cerulean blue suggests liner or shadow on the upper eye, the yellow and pink create a playful mid-lid or outer-corner moment, and the orchid pink likely softens the effect. The high cheekbone placement of the brighter pink gives the face lift and dimension, pushing the look firmly into celebration mode rather than everyday wear.

Making Colorful Makeup Work

Executing multiple eyeshadow colors successfully requires blending skill or professional application. The palette reads as cohesive rather than chaotic because the colors, yellow, pink, and blue, sit in distinct zones on the face and maintain similar saturation levels. The cheek color anchors the look, creating a throughline between the face and the eye makeup.

The Event and Roan’s Role

Roan attended the gathering alongside fellow musicians Christina Aguilera and Tinashe. Beyond her appearance, Roan served DJ duty at the event, her first time DJing, though she noted on Instagram that she “did literally nothing but vibe and b cute.” The transformation suggests she did considerably more than that from a beauty standpoint.

Recreating the Look at Home

Building this aesthetic requires several key elements. Start with a base red tone that reads as crimson rather than orange; this provides the undertone that makes the highlights pop. The chunky highlights should be thick enough to read as distinct sections, not subtle, not blended, but present. A professional colorist can use foils or a balayage brush to create these sections, keeping them roughly the same width.

For the cut, ask for choppy layers throughout with baby bangs positioned just above the natural brow line. The straightening can be done with a quality flat iron, starting from the roots and working down in sections. Heat protectant is essential to prevent damage, especially when working with lighter highlighted hair.

Makeup requires a steady hand or professional application, particularly with multiple eyeshadow colors. Consider a makeup primer to keep the colorful shades in place throughout an event.

Why This Trend Resonates Now

Nostalgia in beauty often works when paired with modern execution and context. Roan’s take on chunky highlights feels fresh because it’s arriving alongside other 2000s revivals, baby bangs, high-contrast color, and bold makeup, rather than existing in isolation. The trend carries cultural weight by referencing a beloved era of music television and practical appeal through its striking presence and personal statement.

Source: Allure