The highlights add depth to the hair, making it look thicker and more vibrant. They can also enhance the features, making the face more youthful and radiant. Getting this treatment at the hairdresser can be quite expensive, but luckily, making it at home today is easier and cheaper than ever. Read this article to find out how to do the highlights professionally using a prepackaged kit or DIY methods.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare the Required
Step 1. Choose the right color
For highlights, it's best to use a color that's one or two tones lighter than the base color. Making highlights that are too light can create an unnatural and streaked effect. If possible, buy a kit with a toner, a product that can even out the most artificial shades, making them look natural.
- It would be better to choose a moisturizing tint that does not drip (these characteristics are indicated on the package). Dyeing your hair is harmful, so if you can avoid drying it out, the result will be much better.
- If you have dark hair, make sure your natural tone matches the one indicated on the box. Usually, the various results are illustrated depending on the starting shade, so you can get an idea of the color you will get.
- If you have previously dyed your hair, it will only lighten with hydrogen peroxide. If you have colored your hair with vegetable dyes or henna, it will not lighten at all.
Step 2. Protect your skin and clothes
Wrap a towel around your shoulders or punch a hole in a plastic garbage bag and put your head on it. Put on the gloves provided by the kit to protect your hands from the bleach. You definitely don't want to end up with a dye-covered bathroom.
As for the hairline, you can apply petroleum jelly if you want. This way, you won't run the risk of staining your ears and neck. Just make sure it doesn't get into the roots of your hair
Step 3. Get familiar with the tools
Most highlight kits feature an applicator that can be a little awkward if you've never used it before. If you have the time, use it to apply the classic conditioner and practice. If you don't master its use, you will see that it will create a lumpy or viscous result.
If it's too big (and it often is), buy a baby toothbrush and use it instead of this tool. Sometimes the brush is so big that it dyes too thick strands, which is not the best
Step 4. Read the instructions
Before you start doing the highlights, you absolutely must read the instructions on the box. These kits (and often the companies that make them) have been on the market for years, so the process has been perfected and is reliable. Accordingly, read the directions twice, so you will feel more confident.
The only item you should avoid using is the streak helmet. If you have very long or thick hair, this tool can just be a nuisance. If you are concerned about dyeing strands you don't want to dye, you can place cotton balls, washcloths, or kitchen paper under the sections you dyed
Step 5. Test one strand
Before dyeing your entire head, test the product on a section of hair to make sure you get the effect you want. Choose a lock on the underside of your hair and proceed with the application according to the instructions to do a thorough test.
Part 2 of 3: Dyeing the Hair
Step 1. Prepare the color
Follow the instructions in the package to determine how the color should be prepared. Don't worry if it's white, blue or purple - it's completely normal.
- If you've never dyed your hair, leave out the hydrogen peroxide and use a permanent dye instead. It damages the hair less and allows you to alter its color up to three shades.
- Don't use hydrogen peroxide if you want to get a more natural look.
- If you choose to use hydrogen peroxide, pour it into a small bowl so that you can easily dip the brush into it.
Step 2. Divide the hair into at least four sections
If you prefer to divide them into 12 sections, you can do this: use pliers or rubber bands to secure them, this will prevent the dyed sections from staining those you have not yet dealt with.
If you have time, do a strand test to make sure you've chosen the right shade and determine how long you should let the bleach work - this could save you from a disaster. Prevention is better than cure
Step 3. Make the highlights
Start 5-6 mm from the roots and apply the bleach from this area to the tips, making very thin strips. The finer the reflections, the more natural the color will appear, while the thicker ones will create a zebra effect.
Don't start directly from the roots. You risk staining strands that you don't want to color, and then the final effect will be unsightly and unnatural, which is to be avoided
Step 4. Leave the color on for as long as necessary
Keep an eye on your hair to make sure the highlights don't get too light. Check your watch constantly. Leaving the product to act for longer will not allow you to get a more intense color.
- If you use hydrogen peroxide, rinse as soon as you get the desired shade.
- If you are unsure how long you should leave the bleach on, always make a conservative calculation. If the highlights aren't clear enough, you can always repeat the procedure.
- Remember that colored locks continue to lighten with sun exposure and frequent washing.
Step 5. Apply Toner (optional)
Some homemade highlight kits include a toning solution, which helps you blend the colored strands with the rest of your hair. Using this product is preferable: it can in fact give you a more natural and luminous result. In fact, if the packaging does not have it, you can buy it separately.
As with everything, follow the instructions carefully. It is generally quite easy to apply
Step 6. Wash off the dye
Shampoo and moisturize your hair in the shower using the special conditioner from the kit, if available. Rinse thoroughly, making sure to remove all dye.
The bleach can dry out your hair (and you will use it if you want your hair to be lighter), so leave the conditioner on for 2-3 minutes before rinsing, to promote optimal recovery of hydration (very important for those with dyed hair)
Step 7. Dry your hair with a hair dryer or in the air
Check the final result in the mirror, using natural light. If you don't like it or it's not exactly what you wanted, don't be discouraged. Wait a couple of days - the first two washes might make it settle.
If you hate the result with all of yourself, you could go to a hairdresser to avoid damaging your hair more than necessary. The process can be done twice, but if you want to avoid making other mistakes, go to a professional
Part 3 of 3: Natural Methods
Step 1. Use lemons
Lemon juice has natural lightening properties that can create subtle highlights on the hair without the damaging effect of the bleach. The effect is similar to that of the sun.
- Squeeze several lemons into a small bowl. Apply the juice to the strands of hair you want to dye from root to tip using a paint brush, your fingers or by dipping the hair into the bowl. Expose yourself to the sun for 20-30 minutes to activate the bleaching effect.
- This method works best on light hair, as dark hair may turn towards orange or brass.
Step 2. Use Kool Aid
If you want to color your locks, you can use this product (available on the internet). It can be used to achieve purple, red, pink and green highlights.
- Bring the water from a medium-sized saucepan to a boil. Add 4-5 sachets of Kool Aid and mix until the powder dissolves. Apply the solution to the strands you want to dye using a paint brush, your fingers, or dipping your hair into the pot.
- Before rinsing off, leave the color on for 10-15 minutes.
Step 3. Use chamomile tea
If you are brunette and just want to lighten your hair to create highlights, you could use chamomile tea until you get the desired effect. Place a tea bag of chamomile tea, let the water cool and use the solution to rinse off the conditioner after washing your hair. Then, relax in the sun!
This method will not drastically change your hair color - it will only add natural highlights, as if you were exposed to the sun. You should see results within a week or so
Step 4. Make highlights with a special chalk
If you want to dye a few strands of a temporary and original color, you can use chalk. It's easier to get visible results on light hair, but it's also good for dark hair, creating a more subtle and nuanced effect. Obviously, it will not last long.
If you have very light hair, the dye will withstand one or two washes. If it is not completely eliminated the first time, it will take a few washes
Advice
- Always do the highlights on dry hair. For best results, shampoo a day or two before your treatment.
- If you have stressed or chemically straightened hair, avoid doing highlights at home, as you risk damaging it.
- Consider doing a deeply nourishing treatment the day before the dye. This helps you prepare your hair for the harsh chemical process you will be subjecting it to.
