Highlights are your best option if you have a great base hair tone and don't want to mess too much with what Mother nature gave ya! Highlights will enhance your natural color by adding lighter strands that can be purposefully placed to frame your face.
Generally, highlights are considered less damaging to hair than full color treatments. Here's why: Application Method: Highlights typically involve applying color only to sections of hair, which means less overall exposure to harsh chemicals compared to coloring all the hair.
Hair Damage: Repeated highlighting, especially with bleach, can lead to long-term damage, including split ends and breakage. The hair's natural texture can also be altered. Chemical Build-Up: Continuous use of hair dyes can lead to a build-up of chemicals in the hair, which may require clarifying treatments to remove.
A few tips to lessen exposures if you do decide to dye your hair: going lighter is less toxic than going darker, and obviously doing only partial highlights is much better than doing a full color.
For best results, use ammonia-free hair color range and lower the chances of hair damage. Additionally, several hair colors are formulated using nourishing oils and other enriching ingredients. These nourishing hair colors help retain the moisture of your hair and maintain its shine and smoothness.
The best coloring technique for gray hair ultimately depends on your desired look and how much coverage you want. We suggest opting for an all-over color service to fully mask every gray hair on your head with a uniform shade. However, highlighting may be better if your goal is seamlessly blending your grays.
Consider a Milder Bleaching Approach
Faye adds, “Balayage is a great technique to consider that uses bleach painting on the surface of the hair, not penetrating as deep into the hair cuticle which creates less opportunity for damage.”
Passive study strategies such as highlighting are so “superficial,” they may impair long-term retention, says Mirjam Ebersbach, a psychology professor at the University of Kassel.
A: Balayage typically looks more natural than traditional highlights. It's a freehand technique where color is applied by hand, leading to softer, sun-kissed highlights with a more gradual regrowth.
Overprocessing your hair by applying highlights too frequently without allowing enough time for the hair to recover can lead to cumulative damage. It's crucial to give your hair a break between coloring sessions to restore its strength and vitality.
“When dealing with a client who has fine or thinning hair, I always recommend adding a deeper root with just a few highlights, which helps hair look fuller and thicker — especially at the roots where you want some volume,” celebrity colorist Erick Orellana explained.
Whereas highlights can last up to two to three months. Single-process color is usually the most affordable option at salons. It's also generally the most gentle option for your hair. So if you're looking for an affordable and gentle option for a new color, single-processing may be the best route.
That being said, highlights only require top-ups every 6-8 weeks, and it is very easy to switch from getting half heads to full heads and vice versa. It all comes down to your hair goals, so have a good think about what look you want.
The temptation of highlighting
The problem is that instead of thinking critically about the content, they primarily spend their mental energy sorting the content into what's important and what's not. Focusing on which details to highlight can get in the way of a deeper understanding of the big picture.
The reason highlighting harms your hair is that the lightening process strips your hair of pigment. A side effect of this process is that it can affect your hair's natural oils and proteins, thus depleting the strands of what gives them a healthy texture and sheen. As a result, you might notice: Reduced moisture.
If you've ever hesitated to color your hair for fear of damage, SmartBond is the answer to your prayers. It's possible to actually improve your hair's strength by coloring it with L'Oréal's new products. For highlight fans, this product is a miracle.
Coloring has everything going for it: it allows you to change your look, boost your hair's shine and enhance your style. Highlights give your hair more subtle tones. Take a closer look at two of the most common techniques, which are just as different as they are complementary.
Natural bleaching agents like apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, chamomile tea, or cinnamon and honey can lighten hair gently and naturally with minimal damage.
If you are looking to add non-uniform streaks or subtle sweeps of color, balayage is a better option. The method offers your stylist more freedom to add color that fits and flatters your cut, face shape, and, of course, your personal style.
Pick a lighter hair colour
A lighter colour will then look better. Your hair follicles produce less pigment as you're turning older. If there's no more pigment being produced in the hair follicles, your hair turns pigmentless.
All-over coloring will need to be touched up every four to eight weeks, while highlights can last up to two or three months. Be sure to ask your stylist about a gloss treatment following your color or touch-up – this step can really add a boost to the color and make it last longer.
Get the Right Cut
Rock a great cut with lots of style and texture, and get a trim every 6-8 weeks. Women who are 100% gray often wear their hair short. But consider long layers. They can be beautiful and add movement to healthy, bouncy hair.