Expert Tips on Choosing Highlights: A Comprehensive Guide

When coloring hair, highlights can add depth, dimension, and interest to your look. But with so many different types of highlights to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are a few things to consider when choosing highlights:

Your skin tone. Some highlight colors look better on certain skin tones than others. For example, warm highlights like honey and caramel look great on warm skin tones, while cool highlights like ash and platinum look better on cool skin tones.

Your hair color. The color of your hair will also affect the way highlights look. If you have dark hair, you’ll need to use a stronger bleach to achieve the desired level of lightness. If you have light hair, you can use a gentler bleach or even a toner to add highlights.

The style you want. There are many different types of highlights to choose from, including full highlights, partial highlights, and balayage. Full highlights involve coloring all of the hair on your head, while partial highlights only involve coloring some of the hair. Balayage is a freehand technique that creates a more natural-looking highlight.

Once you’ve considered these factors, you can start to narrow down your choices and choose the perfect highlights for your look.

1. Skin tone

When choosing highlights, it’s important to consider your skin tone. Certain colors can complement or clash with different skin tones. For example, warm highlights like honey and caramel look great on warm skin tones, while cool highlights like ash and platinum look better on cool skin tones.

• Warm skin tones have yellow or golden undertones. They look best with warm highlights like honey, caramel, and gold.
• Cool skin tones have pink or blue undertones. They look best with cool highlights like ash, platinum, and silver.
• Neutral skin tones have a mix of warm and cool undertones. They can wear both warm and cool highlights, but should avoid extreme shades.
• Olive skin tones have a greenish cast. They look best with highlights that are close to their natural hair color, such as brown, honey, or caramel.

If you’re not sure what your skin tone is, you can ask a professional hairstylist for help. They can help you determine your skin tone and choose the best highlights for your look.

2. Hair color

Hair color is an important factor to consider when choosing highlights, as it will affect the way the highlights look. Darker hair will require stronger bleach to achieve the desired level of lightness, while lighter hair can use gentler bleach or even a toner to add highlights.

For example, if you have dark brown hair and want to achieve platinum blonde highlights, you will need to use a strong bleach and may need to bleach your hair multiple times. This can damage your hair, so it’s important to consult with a professional hairstylist before attempting to bleach your hair at home.

If you have light brown hair or blonde hair, you can achieve highlights with a gentler bleach or even a toner. This will cause less damage to your hair and is a good option if you want a more subtle highlight.

It’s also important to consider your hair color when choosing the tone of your highlights. If you have warm-toned hair, you will want to choose warm-toned highlights, such as honey or caramel. If you have cool-toned hair, you will want to choose cool-toned highlights, such as ash or platinum.

By considering your hair color when choosing highlights, you can achieve a look that is both flattering and stylish.

3. Style

When choosing highlights, the style you choose will depend on your personal preferences and the look you want to achieve. There are many different types of highlights to choose from, each with its own unique look and feel.

• Full highlights involve coloring all of the hair on your head. This is a classic look that can add a lot of brightness and dimension to your hair.
• Partial highlights only involve coloring some of the hair on your head. This is a good option if you want a more subtle look or if you only want to highlight certain areas of your hair.
• Balayage is a freehand technique that creates a more natural-looking highlight. This is a good option if you want a sun-kissed look or if you want to avoid harsh lines.
• Ombre is a technique that creates a gradual transition from one color to another. This is a good option if you want a more dramatic look or if you want to add depth to your hair.

The style of highlights you choose will also depend on the length and texture of your hair. For example, if you have short hair, you may want to choose a more subtle highlight, such as partial highlights or balayage. If you have long hair, you can choose a more dramatic highlight, such as full highlights or ombre.

4. Maintenance

Maintenance is an important factor to consider when choosing highlights, as they will require regular touch-ups to maintain their appearance. The frequency of touch-ups will depend on the type of highlights you choose and how quickly your hair grows.

• Full highlights will require more frequent touch-ups than partial highlights or balayage, as they involve coloring all of the hair on your head.
• Partial highlights can be touched up less frequently, as they only involve coloring some of the hair on your head.
• Balayage is a low-maintenance highlighting technique that can be touched up every 12-16 weeks.
• Ombre is also a relatively low-maintenance highlighting technique, as it involves a gradual transition from one color to another.

It is important to note that the frequency of touch-ups will also depend on how quickly your hair grows. If your hair grows quickly, you will need to touch up your highlights more often. If your hair grows slowly, you can touch up your highlights less frequently.

When choosing highlights, it is important to consider the maintenance involved. If you are not willing to commit to regular touch-ups, you may want to choose a low-maintenance highlighting technique, such as balayage or ombre.

5. Cost

Cost is an important factor to consider when choosing highlights. Highlights can be expensive, so it’s important to factor in the cost before making a decision. The cost of highlights will vary depending on the type of highlights you choose, the length and thickness of your hair, and the salon you go to.

Full highlights are the most expensive type of highlights. They involve coloring all of the hair on your head, so they require more time and product. Partial highlights are less expensive than full highlights, as they only involve coloring some of the hair on your head. Balayage is a freehand highlighting technique that is also less expensive than full highlights.

The length and thickness of your hair will also affect the cost of highlights. Longer and thicker hair will require more product and time to highlight, so it will cost more. The salon you go to will also affect the cost of highlights. Some salons charge more for highlights than others.

It’s important to weigh the cost of highlights against the benefits before making a decision. Highlights can add a lot of brightness and dimension to your hair, but they can also be expensive. If you’re on a budget, there are other ways to add highlights to your hair, such as using a highlighting kit at home or getting a semi-permanent hair color.

FAQs on How to Choose Highlights

In this section, we will address some frequently asked questions about choosing the perfect highlights for your hair.

Question 1: How do I choose the right highlight color for my skin tone?

When choosing a highlight color, it is important to consider your skin tone. Warm skin tones look best with warm highlight colors such as honey, caramel, and gold. Cool skin tones look best with cool highlight colors such as ash, platinum, and silver.

Question 2: How do I choose the right highlight style for my hair?

The type of highlight style you choose will depend on your personal preferences and the look you want to achieve. Some popular highlight styles include full highlights, partial highlights, balayage, and ombre.

Question 3: How often should I get my highlights touched up?

The frequency of your highlight touch-ups will depend on the type of highlights you choose and how quickly your hair grows. Full highlights typically need to be touched up every 6-8 weeks, while partial highlights and balayage can last up to 12 weeks.

Question 4: How much do highlights cost?

The cost of highlights will vary depending on the type of highlights you choose, the length and thickness of your hair, and the salon you go to. Full highlights are typically the most expensive, while partial highlights and balayage are less expensive.

Question 5: Can I get highlights at home?

While it is possible to get highlights at home, it is recommended to get them done by a professional hairstylist. A professional hairstylist will be able to help you choose the right highlight color and style for your hair, and they will be able to ensure that your highlights are done correctly.

Question 6: What are the benefits of getting highlights?

Highlights can add brightness, dimension, and depth to your hair. They can also help to frame your face and make you look younger. Highlights are a great way to change up your look without having to make a major commitment to a new hair color.

We hope this FAQ section has helped you to learn more about how to choose highlights. If you have any further questions, please consult with a professional hairstylist.

Transition to the next article section:

Now that you know how to choose highlights, it’s time to learn how to care for them. In the next section, we will discuss how to maintain your highlights and keep them looking their best.

Tips on How to Choose Highlights

Choosing the right highlights for your hair can be a daunting task. With so many different colors and styles to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are five tips to help you choose the perfect highlights for your hair:

Tip 1: Consider your skin tone.

The color of your skin will affect how highlights look on you. If you have warm skin tones, you will look best with warm highlight colors such as honey, caramel, and gold. If you have cool skin tones, you will look best with cool highlight colors such as ash, platinum, and silver.

Tip 2: Consider your hair color.

The color of your hair will also affect how highlights look on you. If you have dark hair, you will need to use a stronger bleach to achieve the desired level of lightness. If you have light hair, you can use a gentler bleach or even a toner to add highlights.

Tip 3: Consider your desired style.

The style of highlights you choose will depend on the look you want to achieve. There are many different types of highlights to choose from, including full highlights, partial highlights, balayage, and ombre.

Tip 4: Consider your maintenance routine.

Highlights require regular maintenance to keep them looking their best. The frequency of your maintenance appointments will depend on the type of highlights you choose and how quickly your hair grows.

Tip 5: Consult with a professional hairstylist.

If you are unsure about how to choose highlights, it is best to consult with a professional hairstylist. A professional hairstylist can help you choose the right highlight color, style, and maintenance routine for your hair.

Summary:

Choosing the right highlights for your hair can be a challenge, but it is important to take the time to consider your skin tone, hair color, desired style, and maintenance routine. By following these tips, you can choose the perfect highlights to enhance your look and boost your confidence.

Transition to the article’s conclusion:

Now that you know how to choose highlights, it is time to learn how to care for them. In the next section, we will discuss how to maintain your highlights and keep them looking their best.

Deciding on the Perfect Highlights

Choosing the right highlights for your hair can transform your look and boost your confidence. By considering your skin tone, hair color, desired style, and maintenance routine, you can select highlights that complement your features and enhance your overall appearance.

Remember, highlights are a versatile hair treatment that can add depth, dimension, and brightness to your hair. Whether you prefer subtle or bold highlights, there is a style that can suit your individual taste and hair type. Embrace the power of highlights to elevate your look and express your unique personality.