Highlights: small pieces of Hair that reap extraordinary results. These little wonders are an easy way to add depth, are 5-star dimension creators and bring a fresh tonal variation to your Colour, like flickers of sun-kissed hues without your Hair ever needing to see the sun.
Highlights are no longer for the pros. These simplified techniques make them accessible for all, we’ll even show you how to use your fingertips to apply them! In saying this, we understand that painting highlights might make you immediately shake your head and proclaim you can’t do them, but you probably said that about Colouring your Hair — and look at you now!
We’ve outlined the do, don’ts, how to’s and techniques with simplified support guides of our favourite Highlight styles. Keep scrolling to start reaping the benefits.
Rules of Highlighting
Keep your Highlights thin, especially at the starting point, for a light and natural finish. (The bigger the Highlight, the higher the chance it will look like stripes.)
Start subtle, you can always add more Highlights in later.
Although you don’t need to be methodical, keep things symmetrical.
Don’t stack the Highlights on top of each other, allow breathing room applying them with a brick technique.
You can only Lighten Natural Hair. If your Hair is already Coloured, use Colour Remover to clean it out before Lightening.
We recommend Highlighting with a Hair Colour, however, if you do choose Bleach it is essential to Tone afterwards, using a Cool Hair Colour or the Toner Kit.
What you will need:
Hair Colour, Developer or Bleach.
Tint Bowl and Brush.
Wide Tooth Comb.
Sectioning Clips.
Aluminium Foil cut into rectangles.
Simple Highlights
Best for: Beginners, to frame the face.
It’s called Simple for a reason — use this Highlighting style to nicely shape, even lengthen the face, adding subtle light to the face and brightening Hair.
Flushed Highlights
Best for: Full head of Highlights, Brunettes.
Flashing glimmers of Light with movement, the Flushed Highlights cumulate attention with every hair flip, head tilt or curl movement, showcasing your Hair in all its glory.
Sun-kissed Highlights
Best for: Lazy Colourer's, casual styles.
Designed to mimic the way the suns rays kiss your Hair these Highlights stay around past sunset adding glowing hues through your Hair, whimsically falling around your face. These low maintenance Highlights have a lower starting point making them a preferred choice if you’re not so great at regular touch-ups.
Highlight Application Tips
Apply your Colour by turning your Tint Brush on its side, using the smaller tip for a precision application.
If you are doing your Hair alone or are struggling with the application, pull pieces of Hair out and dip your index and thumb finger in Colour. Starting at the top of your piece of Hair, press your fingers together and pull the Colour through to the ends.
We prefer to start Highlights a few centimetres from the Hairline.
At the top of the Highlight (closest to the Hairline) apply your Colour mixture in a lighter, feathered technique to stop a harsh, flat grow out.
Pre Application
Comb and segment Hair into 4 sections.
When painting Highlights, begin in the top two sections (as we want these Highlights to be Lighter) followed by the bottom two sections.
To easily and cleanly apply your Highlights, use the end of your Tint Brush to create a row, pulling out Hair to Highlight as you go. In the top sections create vertical rows. In the bottom sections create horizontal rows.
Applying Highlights
There are two ways to paint Highlights structured (Classic) or free-flowing (Casual). No technique is better than the other, it comes down to personal taste.
Using your chosen Highlight style as a reference, paint your Highlights as the style suggests using one of the following application techniques.
The Classic Application
Begin in either of the top sections, using your part as the starting point, point your Tint Brush end to create a horizontal row around 1-1.5cm thick.
Pulling your row tight, use your Tint Brush to weave through your Hair row. Hold the weaved pieces of Hair and let the rest fall away.
Place foil underneath the leftover Hair and paint your Colour mixture keeping it off the scalp, using a lighter feathered technique at the top.
Fold the foil around your Coloured Hair and move onto your next row using the same application.
Once you’ve finished your top sections, if your Highlighting style suggests, begin the same technique in your bottom sections instead creating horizontal rows.
The Casual Application
Begin in either of the top sections, using your part as the starting point, point your Tint Brush end to create a horizontal row around 1-1.5cm thick.
Pull out the pieces of the Hair you want for Highlights, letting the rest of your Hair fall away.
Using your Tint Brush paint on your Colour mixture keeping it off the scalp, using a lighter feathered technique at the top.
If you prefer, dip your index and thumb finger in Colour and, starting at the top of your piece of Hair, press your fingers together and pull the Colour through to the ends.
Fold the foil around your Coloured Hair and move onto your next row using the same application.
Once you’ve finished your top sections, if your Highlighting style suggests, begin the same technique in your bottom sections instead creating horizontal rows.
Highlighting Tips
Keep an eye on your processing Colour. If the Hair in your top sections is getting too hot and developed, remove the foils.
It is important to keep track of your timing, do not over-process your Colour.
Try and get the job done as quickly as possible. Do not exceed the Colour processing time.
If you have thick Hair, consider getting help.
Always wear gloves.
