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Highlights add depth to your hair, making it appear thicker and more vibrant. They also enhance your overall appearance, giving you a youthful and energetic look. While salon highlights can be expensive, doing it at home is simple and much more cost-effective. This article will guide you on how to achieve professional-looking highlights using a highlighting kit or natural methods.
Steps
Proper Preparation
Choose the Right Color. For hair highlighting, you’ll need bleach or a dye lighter than your natural hair color, depending on your hair type and condition. It’s best to select a shade one or two tones lighter than your hair. Going too light can result in unnatural streaks. If possible, opt for a highlighting kit that includes toner, which helps control strong tones for a more natural finish.
- Choose a dye that nourishes your hair and is drip-free, as indicated on the packaging. Highlighting can damage your hair, so maintaining moisture is key to minimizing harm.
- If you have dark hair, ensure the dye’s natural hair color matches yours for accurate results.
- If your hair has been previously dyed, bleaching may be necessary to lighten it. Hair dyed with henna or vegetable-based dyes won’t lighten effectively.
Protect your skin and clothing. Wrap a towel around your shoulders or cut a hole in a large plastic bag and place it over your head. Use the gloves provided in the dye kit to shield your hands from the bleach. You certainly don’t want your bathroom covered in dye stains.
- For the hairline, you can apply Vaseline if desired. This eliminates the need to clean dye off your ears and neck later. However, avoid applying Vaseline directly to your roots!
Familiarize yourself with the tools. Most highlighting kits come with applicators that can be tricky for beginners. If you have time, practice applying conditioner to your hair first. You’ll notice it can get messy and sticky if not handled properly.
- If the applicator is too large (as it often is), consider using a child’s toothbrush instead. Oversized brushes can lead to uneven application, resulting in less-than-desirable highlights.
Read the instructions on the box. The most crucial step is to follow the directions provided. Hair dye materials (and the companies that produce them) have been around for a long time, and their processes are refined and reliable. Make sure to read the instructions thoroughly—and then read them again to be certain.
- The one thing you shouldn’t do is use a cap. If you have long or thick hair, a cap can be more trouble than it’s worth. To avoid dyeing unintended areas, place cotton balls, cloth, or paper towels under sections you’ve already finished.
Test on a small section of hair. Before dyeing your entire head, try the process on a small, hidden section to ensure you’re happy with the results. Choose a strand from the lower part of your hair and follow the dyeing steps to accurately assess the outcome.
Dyeing Your Hair
Prepare the dye mixture. Follow the instructions in your highlighting kit to mix the dye. Don’t be alarmed if the dye appears white, blue, or purple—this is completely normal.
- If you’ve never dyed your hair before, you can skip the bleaching step and opt for a long-lasting dye. This reduces damage and can lighten your hair by up to three shades.
- Avoid bleaching if you’re aiming for a natural hair color.
- If using bleach, pour it into a small bowl for easy dipping and application with a brush.
Divide your hair into at least four sections. Splitting your hair into 12 sections isn’t a bad idea either. Use clips or hair ties to secure each section. You don’t want dyed sections touching undyed ones.
- If you have time, test the dye on a small section to ensure you’ve chosen the right color and know how long to leave the bleach on. This helps avoid hair disasters. A hair disaster? No way!
Apply the highlights. Start a small distance from the roots and apply the bleach from there to the ends on thin sections. Thinner highlights look more natural, while thicker ones create a zebra-stripe effect. When the brush is nearly dry, apply the remaining product upward toward the roots. This creates a natural, subtle gradient and avoids uneven patches.
- Don’t start applying at the roots. You risk overloading the hair with dye, creating harsh lines—something you want to avoid.
Leave the dye or bleach on for the specified time. If using dye for highlights, follow the recommended time on the instructions. Leaving it on longer won’t make the color darker. If using bleach, monitor your hair closely to prevent over-lightening.
- If using bleach, rinse immediately once the desired lightness is achieved. Leaving bleach on too long can cause severe damage.
- If unsure about timing, err on the side of caution. You can always reapply if the highlights aren’t light enough.
- Note that highlights will continue to lighten with sun exposure and subsequent washes.
Apply toner (optional). Some at-home highlighting kits include toner, which helps blend the highlights with the rest of your hair. This is a great idea. Your hair will look more natural and shiny. If your kit doesn’t include toner, you can purchase it separately.
- As with other products, always follow the instructions. They’re usually very clear.
Rinse out the dye thoroughly. Shampoo your hair twice, then use the conditioner provided in the dye kit if available. Make sure to rinse your hair completely to remove all traces of dye.
- Bleaching can dry out your hair (if you’re lightening your hair, that’s essentially bleaching), so leave the conditioner on for 2-3 minutes before rinsing to help retain moisture. Hydration is crucial at this stage.
Dry your hair naturally or with a blow dryer. Check the final result in natural light using a mirror. Don’t panic! If the color isn’t what you expected, wait a few days. The first couple of washes can adjust the color.
- If you’re truly unhappy with the result, consider visiting a salon for correction. Avoid causing further damage to your hair. While re-dyeing is possible, it’s best to avoid it if you can.
Using Natural Methods
Use lemon juice. Lemon juice acts as a natural lightener and can create subtle highlights without the damage of chemical bleaching. Think of it as sunshine in fruit form.
- Squeeze the juice of several lemons into a small bowl. Apply the juice to your hair from roots to tips using a paintbrush, your fingers, or by dipping your hair into the bowl. Sit in the sun for 20-30 minutes to activate the lightening effect.
- This method works best on light hair, as dark hair may turn orange or brassy.
Use Kool-Aid drink mix. If you want to add colorful streaks to your hair, look no further than your kitchen! Kool-Aid powder can create highlights in shades of purple, red, pink, and green.
- Boil water in a medium-sized pot. Add 4-5 packets of unsweetened Kool-Aid and stir until dissolved. Apply the mixture to sections of your hair using a paintbrush, your fingers, or by dipping your hair into the solution.
- Leave the color on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
Use chamomile tea. If you have light brown or blonde hair and want to add natural highlights, rinse your hair with chamomile tea until you achieve the desired shade. Simply brew a pot of tea, let it cool, and use it as a final rinse after conditioning. Then, relax in the sun!
- This won’t drastically change your hair color—it only adds a natural, sun-kissed tone. It may take a week to notice the difference.
Highlight hair with chalk. For a temporary pop of color, you can "dye" your hair with chalk. This works best on light hair, but dark hair can also achieve a soft, playful tint. Keep in mind, the color is temporary.
- If you have light hair, the color will fade after one or two washes. If it doesn’t wash out immediately, it will disappear after a few shampoos.
Tips
- Always apply highlights to dry hair. For best results, wash your hair 1-2 days before dyeing.
- Consider deep conditioning your hair a day before dyeing. This helps protect your hair from chemical damage during the process.
- If your hair has been previously dyed or chemically treated, avoid DIY highlights at home to prevent further damage.
What You’ll Need
- Highlighting dye kit
- Paintbrush (if not included in the dye kit)
- Gloves (if not included in the dye kit)
- Small bowl
- Towel
- Vaseline (optional)
- Lemon juice, Kool-Aid drink mix, chamomile tea, or chalk (for natural methods)
