Highlights Hairstyles

Highlights date back to ancient Greek and Roman women using saffron and lemon juice to lighten strands in the sun. The modern foil technique took off in the 1940s and has since branched into dozens of sub-techniques, from precise cap highlights to freehand painting methods like balayage and babylights. At its simplest, highlighting means lifting select strands lighter than your base color to add dimension, movement, and the illusion of thicker hair.

The technique and placement change based on what you're starting with. Fine, straight hair picks up highlights fast, sometimes in 15 minutes under foil. Coarse or resistant hair can need 45+ minutes of processing. On curly or wavy hair, a skilled colorist places highlights where the curl catches light, which looks completely different from a straight-hair placement. Face shape factors in too: chunky highlights around the face open up round features, while softer babylights blend into longer face shapes without adding width. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, know that highlighted hair shifts faster with sun and chlorine exposure.

The range of highlight styles is broad. Classic foil highlights give you that traditional salon-fresh dimension with controlled placement. Balayage highlights are hand-painted, so the color grows out naturally without a harsh root line. Most balayage clients get 4-5 months between appointments. For a subtle, lived-in effect, sombre keeps the contrast gentle. Peekaboo highlights place color underneath surface layers so the effect only appears with movement or updos, which is great if bold color is frowned upon at work. Caramel highlights work especially well on medium to dark brown bases, and color melt blends multiple shades without visible demarcation lines.

Traditional foil highlights need retouching every 6-8 weeks, running $120-250 per session depending on your market and how much hair gets foiled. Balayage stretches to 12-16 weeks because the grow-out is intentional. Between appointments, a sulfate-free shampoo and a purple or blue toning conditioner once a week prevents brassiness. Heat styling accelerates color fade, so use a heat protectant with UV filters every time. Budget roughly $50-80 per year on maintenance products.

Bring reference photos to your appointment showing the exact placement and tone you want. Specify whether you want face-framing pieces, all-over dimension, or concentrated lightness at the ends. Use the AI try-on tool to preview different highlight placements on your own face before committing.