A money piece is a pair of brighter, face-framing highlights placed right along your hairline. It lights up your face, makes color look fresh, and is one of the easiest ways to try blonde without committing to a full head. On Hoshika's menu, it's booked as Hairline Blonding, $85 on the current menu and about 1 hour 30 minutes.
What is a money piece?
"Money piece" is the nickname for lightened sections at the very front of your hair, on either side of your part. They frame your face like a spotlight. The term caught on because those few strands give a lot of impact for the time and cost.
You'll also hear:
- Face-framing highlights. The broader term. Can be soft and subtle or bright and chunky.
- Hairline blonding. Lightening concentrated along the hairline and the front sections.
- Front pop or face frame. Casual names for the same idea.
Styles of money piece
Not every money piece looks like a bright stripe. Here are the common versions:
| Style | What it looks like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Soft and blended | Fine, painted pieces that melt into your base | First-timers, professional settings |
| Bold ribbon | Thicker, brighter sections right at the face | Statement looks, high contrast |
| Babylights at the hairline | Very fine, many small pieces | Fine hair, natural look |
| Balayage plus money piece | Overall painted color with brighter front | Full refresh, lived-in blonde |
| Tonal money piece | Subtle lift, like caramel on brunette | Low maintenance, darker hair |
Bring photos of what you like and what you don't. "Bright but blended" and "a clear stripe" are very different goals, and pictures settle that fast.
Who it suits
A money piece works on almost any length and color. A few things to know:
Brunettes
This is the classic quick-brightness option for dark hair. A caramel, honey or toasted blonde shade usually looks most natural and holds up better than going icy right away. Very dark or previously colored hair may need more than one session to reach a pale shade.
Blondes
If you're already blonde, a brighter money piece adds contrast and makes the whole head look freshly done. It's a common way to stretch time between full foil highlight appointments.
Red and copper
Strawberry or golden face-framing pieces can soften a red without fighting it.
Short hair and bobs
On shorter cuts the pieces are smaller and the placement matters more. They can make a bob look modern and give it shape.
Bangs
Money pieces and curtain bangs go well together. The brightness highlights the curve of the bangs. How to style curtain bangs covers the blow-dry.
Gray blending
Brightness at the hairline can soften the look of gray coming in at the temples, which is often where it shows first. If that's your goal, blending gray with highlights and lowlights explains the bigger picture.
Think about skin tone, not just trends
Face-framing color sits right next to your skin, so tone matters more here than anywhere else.
- Warmer undertones often look best with golden, honey or caramel pieces
- Cooler undertones often look best with beige, pearl or ash blonde
- Neutral undertones can usually go either way
These are starting points, not rules. Your stylist can hold up the target shade near your face during a consultation.
What to expect at your appointment
- Consultation. You talk through photos, your hair history and how bright you want to go. Tell your stylist about any box dye, henna or past color, even from years ago.
- Sectioning. Your stylist maps out the front sections based on your part and how you wear your hair.
- Lightening. The pieces are lightened, often in foil for more lift.
- Toning. A toner gives the brightness the exact shade you chose.
- Style. You see how it frames your face when it's dry.
Hairline Blonding is about 1 hour 30 minutes on the current menu. If you have a history of box dye or dark color, a free test strand can show how your hair will lift first.
Upkeep: what to plan for
A money piece is lower-commitment than full highlights, but it's right at the front, so you notice regrowth and brass sooner than you would at the back of your head.
Between appointments
- Use purple or blue shampoo a couple of times a week, not every wash
- Use heat protectant, especially on the front pieces that get the most styling
- Be gentle with the hairline; it's often finer and more fragile than the rest of your hair
- Wear a hat or UV protection in strong sun
- Rinse after swimming and protect hair before you go in
How to keep blonde bright has a full at-home routine.
At the salon
- Toner/Gloss ($45 on the current menu) refreshes tone when the pieces turn yellow or brassy
- Hairline Blonding again when regrowth makes the front look grown out
- Balayage if you want to expand into a full lived-in look
How often you come back depends on how bright your pieces are, how much contrast there is with your natural color and how much regrowth you're happy with. Softer, more blended pieces usually grow out more gracefully. If easy upkeep is your top priority, low-maintenance blonde has more ideas.
Money piece vs. full highlights
| Money piece | Full highlights or balayage | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | Front and hairline | All over |
| Time on the menu | 1 hr 30 min (Hairline Blonding) | 3 hr 30 min to 4 hr 30 min |
| Price | $85 (Hairline Blonding) | Higher; see services |
| Commitment | Low | Higher |
| Impact | Big around the face | Overall brightness |
If you're on the fence about a full blonde, a money piece is a good test run. If you love it, you can build out from there. Balayage vs. highlights explains what the next step could look like.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Picking a shade that's too cool or too warm for your skin
- Making the pieces too thick for fine hair, which can look stripy
- Lightening at home with a kit; the hairline is easy to over-process
- Skipping toner and living with brassy front pieces
- Over-styling the front with high heat
Book your money piece in Overland Park
Hoshika does Hairline Blonding one-on-one in her private studio in south Overland Park, inside Willow Salon & Suites on 135th Street. It's $85 on the current menu and takes about an hour and a half. If you're not sure how bright to go or whether your past color will lift cleanly, the 15-minute consultation and the test strand are both free.
See the full services menu, or book your Hairline Blonding appointment online.
Frequently asked questions
Does a money piece work on dark hair?
Yes, and it's one of the most popular ways for brunettes to try brightness. Dark hair may need a slightly softer target shade, like caramel or honey, so the lift looks clean and healthy.
Can I get a money piece with curly hair?
Yes. On curls, the pieces are usually placed by looking at how your curls naturally fall around the face, so the brightness shows where it should when your hair is dry.
Will a money piece fade or turn brassy?
Like any lightened hair, it can warm up as toner fades. Purple or blue shampoo a couple of times a week and a toner refresh keep it looking clean.
Can I add a money piece to my existing balayage?
Usually, yes. Your stylist can brighten the front pieces to give an existing balayage a fresh look between full appointments.
Book with Hoshika
Want this done for you?
Private one-on-one studio in Overland Park. Free consultations for big changes.
