Want to add some sun-kissed highlights to your hair without the hefty salon price tag? You're in luck! Highlighting your hair at home is totally achievable with the right techniques and products. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to achieve stunning highlights from the comfort of your own bathroom.
Preparing for Your At-Home Highlight Session
Before you even think about grabbing that bleach, proper preparation is key to avoiding a hair-raising disaster.
1. Gather Your Supplies:
- Hair bleach: Choose a bleach specifically designed for highlights, considering your hair color and desired lightness. Look for kits that include developer (usually a low volume like 20 volume for subtle highlights).
- Developer: This activates the bleach. The volume determines how much lift you'll get. Lower volume is gentler.
- Highlighting cap: This makes the process easier and more precise, especially for fine highlights. Alternatively, you can use foil.
- Highlighting brush: This will allow for precise application.
- Gloves: Protect your hands from the bleach.
- Hair clips: To section your hair neatly.
- Old towel: To protect your clothes and surfaces.
- Petroleum jelly: Apply to your hairline to prevent staining.
- Deep conditioner: To repair any damage after highlighting.
- Toner (optional): To neutralize any brassiness and achieve a more natural-looking highlight.
- Color-safe shampoo and conditioner: For maintaining your highlighted hair.
2. Strand Test:
This is crucial. Apply a small amount of the bleach mixture to a hidden strand of hair to check how your hair reacts and to determine the processing time. This will prevent unexpected color results.
3. Assess Your Hair:
- Hair type and texture: Fine hair might require a gentler approach than thicker hair.
- Current hair color: This will impact how light you can safely go. Darker hair needs more processing time and might require multiple sessions.
- Overall hair health: If your hair is already damaged, wait until it is healthier before attempting highlights.
The Highlighting Process: Step-by-Step
There are several ways to highlight your hair at home, but here’s a guide using a highlighting cap:
- Prepare your hair: Wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo to remove any product buildup. Make sure your hair is completely dry.
- Protect your workspace: Cover your workspace with an old towel. Apply petroleum jelly around your hairline. Put on your gloves.
- Prepare the bleach mixture: Follow the instructions on your bleach kit carefully.
- Apply the bleach: Using the highlighting cap, pull small sections of hair through the holes with the highlighting hook. Apply the bleach mixture to the selected strands. Remember to work in small sections.
- Process: Check your hair frequently. Processing time depends on your hair type and desired lightness. The strand test will guide you.
- Rinse: Once you've achieved the desired lightness, rinse your hair thoroughly until the water runs clear.
- Condition: Apply a deep conditioner to repair and moisturize your newly highlighted hair.
- Tone (optional): If you have brassy tones, use a toner to neutralize them. Follow the toner instructions carefully.
- Style: Let your hair air dry or style as usual.
Maintaining Your Highlights: Tips and Tricks
- Use color-safe products: These will help prolong the life of your highlights.
- Minimize heat styling: Excessive heat can damage your highlighted hair.
- Deep condition regularly: This will keep your hair healthy and shiny.
- Use a UV protectant: Sun exposure can fade highlights quickly.
- Consider touch-ups: You may need touch-ups every few weeks or months depending on your hair growth and desired look.
Choosing the Right Technique For You:
- Foil Highlights: This offers more control and allows for thicker highlights. Great for chunkier highlights and balayage.
- Balayage: This technique involves painting the bleach onto the hair, creating a more natural, sun-kissed look. It’s more difficult to do at home, but there are many tutorials available online.
- Highlights Cap: Easier for achieving more even, finer highlights, especially for beginners.
Important Note: If you’re not comfortable with the process, it’s always best to consult a professional hairstylist. Improper bleaching can cause significant damage to your hair.
This comprehensive guide will help you achieve beautiful, DIY highlights. Remember to always prioritize the health of your hair. Happy highlighting!
