Choosing the Right Technique for
Your Hair Texture and Desired Look
Traditional Highlights
Traditional highlights involve sectioning the hair and applying lightener from root to tip in foils. The technique creates a structured, uniform pattern of lighter strands that contrast with the base color.
Best For:
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Hair Texture: Works well on all hair types, from straight to curly.
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Desired Look: Ideal for those looking for a low-maintenance dimensional hair color, and don’t want to come in every 6-10 weeks for touch-ups.
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Example: Pops of warm blonde on dark blonde or light brown hair, caramel dimension on medium dark brown hair.
A French word meaning “to sweep”. A special clay-based lightener is hand-painted onto the hair surface in a freeform way. No foils are used. A softer, more natural, sun-kissed look. There are no harsh lines of demarcation as the color blends seamlessly from roots to ends. Hairstyle maintenance is very low. Can go 3–4 months or more between appointments.
Best For:
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Hair Texture: Works well on all hair types, from straight to curly.
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Desired Look: Ideal for those looking for a low-maintenance dimensional hair color, and don’t want to come in every 6-10 weeks for touch-ups.
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Example: Pops of blonde with warm undertones on dark blonde or light brown hair, caramel dimension on medium dark hair.
Babylights
Babylights are ultra-fine, delicate highlights inspired by the natural, subtle tones seen in children’s hair after spending time in the sun. This technique involves using tiny sections of hair for an ultra-blended, soft finish.
This is a great technique for all shades from platinum highlights on light cool brown hair to caramel highlights on chocolate brown hair. It's also terrific for creating diffuse dimension or depth without too much contrast.
Best For:
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Hair Texture: Best suited for fine to medium hair textures, as it seamlessly blends without overwhelming the hair.
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Desired Look: Great for those seeking a natural, low-maintenance look with minimal regrowth lines. Perfect for soft, sun-kissed brightness.
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Example: Someone who wants an almost imperceptible glow, like a soft blonde or honey-toned brunette.
Teasylights
Teasylights are a modern hybrid of balayage and traditional highlights. Hair is teased at the root before applying lightener, which softens the line of demarcation and creates a diffused, blended effect.
Best For:
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Hair Texture: Ideal for medium to thick hair, as the teasing ensures the highlights are soft and well-blended, even on denser strands.
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Desired Look: Perfect for a natural grow-out and a more blended effect compared to traditional highlights. Great for creating a low-maintenance style with added brightness.
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Example: Dimensional blonde with a lived-in finish or brunettes looking for a sun-kissed glow without harsh lines.
Foilayage
Foilayage combines balayage’s hand-painted technique with the precision of foils. By enclosing the painted strands in foils, it intensifies the lift and brightness while maintaining the organic look of balayage.
Best For:
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Hair Texture: Ideal for medium to thick hair, as the foils can provide better lift on denser strands. It works well on wavy and curly textures, enhancing movement and dimension.
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Desired Look: A great choice for those who want a brighter, high-contrast balayage effect with the lift of traditional highlights. Perfect for clients seeking a “lived-in” blonde with striking, dimensional pops of light.
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Example: Bright, cool blonde on a brunette base or caramel highlights on brunette hair or black hair.
Beautiful highlights are a versatile way to add dimension, depth, and brightness to your hair, but with so many techniques available, it can be overwhelming to decide which one is right for you.
From traditional highlights to more modern methods like babylights, teasylights, and foilayage, each approach creates a unique effect.
Here’s a breakdown of the main types of highlighting techniques and guidance on which one may suit your hair texture and style goals.
Face-Framing Highlights (aka The Money Piece)
Best For:
Face-framing highlights, often called the “money piece," are bold, lighter sections placed around the front of your face. This technique instantly brightens your face, draws attention to your best features, and can be customized from subtle to dramatic.
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Hair Texture: Works on all hair types and lengths.
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Desired Look: Perfect if you want an instant refresh without a full highlight service. It pairs beautifully with balayage, teasylights, or foilayage for added dimension.
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Example: A bright blonde streak framing a brunette’s face, or soft caramel tones adding warmth to medium brown hair.
Understanding the Art of Highlighting:
Which Highlighting Technique is Right for You?
When choosing a highlighting method, consider these factors:
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Hair Texture and Density: Fine hair benefits from softer techniques like babylights, while thicker hair responds well to teasylights or foilayage.
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Desired Maintenance: Babylights and teasylights grow out more naturally, making them low-maintenance options. Traditional highlights require more frequent touch-ups.
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Styling Goals: If you’re looking for high-contrast, structured dimension, traditional highlights or foilayage are ideal. For a subtle, natural glow, babylights or teasylights are better.
Consult a Hair Color Specialist
Achieving the perfect highlight is an art form. A Color Specialist will consider your natural hair color, texture, and lifestyle to recommend the best technique. Whether you’re looking for bold, dramatic highlights or a soft, sun-kissed finish, the right highlighting method can elevate your style and boost your confidence.
Ready for your next transformation? Consult Hair Color Specialist, Claudette Markovic, to find the perfect highlighting technique and shade for your unique look and texture!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right highlight shade for my hair?
The best highlight shade depends on your skin tone, base color, and lifestyle. Warm skin tones pair well with honey, caramel, or copper shades, while cool tones look best with ash, beige, or icy tones. Brunettes often shine with caramel or chestnut highlights, blondes with platinum or pearl, and redheads with strawberry or copper.
If you want low-maintenance color, choose softer highlight shades that blend naturally as your hair grows. A professional colorist can help select the perfect shade to complement your features and style goals.
What's the difference between babylights and traditional highlights?
Babylights use much finer strands of hair than traditional highlights, resulting in a subtler, more diffused lift. This technique creates a blended, sun-kissed effect, perfect for adding subtle dimension to your existing hair color, while traditional highlights produce a bolder, more noticeable change, often requiring more frequent salon visits.
How do I choose the best highlighting technique for my hair texture?
A consultation with a skilled colorist or stylist is essential. They can analyze your hair texture, discuss your desired look, and recommend a technique that complements your hair type and lifestyle, ensuring a flattering and manageable outcome.
Can fine hair benefit from teasylights?
Teasylights can be adapted for fine hair, with a skilled colorist using a gentler approach to avoid damage. This technique can create subtle, natural-looking highlights that add depth and the illusion of thicker, fuller hair without harsh lines, subtly enhancing the overall hue and texture.
How often should I refresh my highlights to maintain the look?
Depending on the chosen technique, hair growth rate, and desired level of maintenance, highlight refreshes can vary. However, as a general guideline, a touch-up every 8-12 weeks for most techniques is recommended to maintain vibrancy and address any regrowth, ensuring your look stays fresh and blended.
What is the best highlight color for brown hair?
The best highlight color for brown hair depends on your undertones and style goals. Warm caramel, honey, and golden blonde highlights bring out richness and dimension in brunette hair, while cooler ash or beige tones add contrast without looking brassy.
Subtle chestnut or espresso brown highlights are great for creating dimension in black hair while keeping a natural look. A skilled colorist can help select the right shade of brown highlights to complement your skin tone, enhance your features, and achieve the perfect balance between brightness and depth.
What are lowlights in hair coloring?
Lowlights are the opposite of highlights. They involve adding darker shades to your hair to create depth, richness, and contrast. Instead of lifting color, lowlights deposit pigment, making them ideal for blending overly bright highlights, adding dimension to flat hair, or transitioning your color for fall and winter. They work well on all hair types and can help fine hair look thicker and fuller by creating the illusion of density. A great stylist can customize lowlight shades (from deep caramel on blondes to espresso tones on brunettes) to enhance your natural color and overall style.
Is there a shampoo to maintain blonde highlights and prevent brassiness?
To prevent brassiness in blonde highlights, consider using a purple shampoo once or twice a week. Regular salon appointments for a toner refresh and using color-safe hair care products can also significantly extend the life and vibrancy of blonde highlights, ensuring they complement your natural hair tone beautifully.
Are there specific hair care products recommended for maintaining highlights?
Consult with your colorist for personalized recommendations, but generally, color-safe shampoos and conditioners, deep-conditioning treatments, leave-in treatment mask, and heat protectants are essential for maintaining the health and vibrancy of highlights, prolonging their lifespan while keeping your hair healthy and shiny.
Can blonde highlights work for all skin tones?
Absolutely! A skilled colorist can tailor blonde highlights to flatter any skin tone. During your salon consultation, discuss your desired tone and intensity to ensure the chosen blonde shade complements your complexion beautifully.
What are some alternative highlight color combinations other than blonde?
Don’t be afraid to explore alternative color combinations that go beyond traditional blonde highlights! Adding hints of caramel, honey, or even subtle pops of colour like rose gold or copper can create a unique and eye-catching look. Check out inspiration photos on Instagram or Pinterest to discover trendy combinations and spark your creativity.