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Hair Highlights
Hair highlights are a wonderful and affordable way to change your look. Like many celebrities, most private citizens are able to give themselves a sun-kissed look within a quick salon visit. Still others give themselves highlights in the comfort and privacy of their own home.
When deciding to change your hair, it is important to take length into consideration. Men and women with short hair are better served by getting a "full color" change, or by dyeing all their hair; this option is subject to upkeep every 4 to 8 weeks, depending on your rate of hair growth and consequent root exposure. Highlighting the hair around your face works best with longer hair. Highlights generally need to be touched up every 2 to 3 months.
Generally speaking, there are four types of highlights:
Cap highlighting is the original method of highlighting. It is the quickest and least expensive technique used today. A plastic cap is placed over the head, and a hook resembling a crochet hook is used to pull strands of hair through small, pre-existing holes in the cap. The cap and hair are then covered with dye. While some people prefer this approach to highlighting, it is not advisable for long or curly hair. It can be painful to have the hook pull the hair, and it is harder to put the color exactly where you want it.
Basic foil highlights have overwhelmingly replaced the cap method of highlighting hair. Strands of hair are covered with coloring agent, then wrapped in foil. Once the appropriate portions are covered and wrapped, you are placed under a hair dryer until the color has dried. This method is more expensive and takes longer than the cap method, but allows for greater flexibility when placing the highlights. It does not stress the hair as much as the pulling technique, and allows for the use of many different shades.
Chunking or piecing is similar to the foil technique; the difference is that chunks rather than strands of hair are colored.
Low-lighting, the process of making portions of your hair darker, is a reverse highlight procedure. The same methods as in highlighting are used, but tinting color agents sans peroxide or bleach are used.
Some people elect to perform highlights at home using any of the above techniques. Their reasons for doing so include cost, convenience, and comfort. Home coloring can be successful, but amateurs often misjudge their hair or the power of the coloring chemicals. A recommended course of action is to make a consultation appointment with a stylist so they can analyze your hair type, the chemicals used, and the cost you are willing to pay for the procedure. This is quite common as salons are used to making such appointments and will accommodate the request.
The highlighting process does not end when the dye is removed. Hair maintenance is essential to keeping your highlights from growing drab and literally washed out. Shampoos, conditioners, and styling products for color processed hair are available at grocery stores, salons, and specialty shops. Ask your hair stylist for suggestions.
By Jennifer Jennings
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