When it comes to hair color, it’s no secret that you have options. You can always take a low-key route with highlights or a balayage or a bolder one with a pop of color. One of the trendiest ways to embrace the latter? By trying the reverse money piece trend.
To help you decide whether or not the reverse money piece trend is for you, we spoke with Min Kim, a celebrity colorist with Butterfly Salon in New York along with Madison Reed master colorist Shvonne Perkins and celebrity stylist and Beachwaver founder Sarah Potempa. They gave us insight into the hairstyle’s history, tips for embracing the trend with your specific hair color and more. Keep reading for everything you need to know.
Featured Experts
- Min Kim is a is a celebrity colorist and a L’Oréal Paris global ambassador
- Shvonne Perkins is a master colorist at Madison Reed
- Sarah Potempa is a celebrity hairstylist and the founder of The Beachwaver Co.
What is a Reverse Money Piece?
To understand the reverse money piece trend, you need to know what a traditional money piece is: a hair coloring technique featuring face-framing highlights that are lighter than the rest of the hair. The reverse money piece is—as its name suggests—the exact opposite of that. “This trendy twist involves darkening or low lighting using a deeper shade or another color that pops in contrast to the rest of the hair,” says Min Kim, a celebrity colorist and L’Oréal Paris global ambassador.
According to Madison Reed’s master colorist, Shvonne Perkins, the reverse money piece trend originated in the 1990s and continued through the early 2000s. She notes that it typically features a “thick, bold placement” and is beloved for being a low-maintenance, regrowth-friendly style.
Why Is It Called a Money Piece?
The term “money piece” underscores how important it is for enhancing your facial features. After all, “the money piece is literally that pop that’s first seen when looking at someone’s hair color,” says Min, “also known as that ribbon of brightness that frames the face.” She jokingly yet truthfully adds that “for colorists, I call it the piece because it will make or break you. If you don’t nail that money piece, chances are you won’t see that client again.”
Why Is the Reverse Money Piece Trending?
The reverse money piece is trending for no definitive reason other than people are playfully experimenting with color. “It’s another way to play with depth and color without a huge commitment,” says Kim. “It can also help contour someone’s face shape depending on the chosen shade.”
Another reason the hair color trend is so covetable is because it’s regrowth-friendly. “Money pieces and reverse money pieces are pretty low maintenance styles,” says Potempa. “As your hair grows, there might need to be a few touch ups, but you will not have to retouch often.”
According to Kim, the reverse money piece trend is “one that comes and goes but with a different twist.” In previous years, the hairstylist has experimented with different variations of the trend, such as incorporating embellishments into the money piece and subtly adjusting its color from the rest of the hair.
What Does the Reverse Money Piece Look Like?
There are many different ways to embrace the reverse money piece look. Kim loves seeing a shade of chocolate brown on brunettes or black or blue “for the daring.” For blondes, she often sees a darker shade than their base, such as “milk tea or soft mocha.” Those with pretty pastels often embrace varying shades of copper, she says.
Potempa adds that a money piece typically involves “thicker blonde face-framing pieces,” but there’s greater flexibility in color options for reverse money pieces. “For the most contrast, I have seen people stick with the classic dark brunette versus blonde color choice with the base of the hair being blonder and the money pieces being dark.”
