To get that stunning hair highlight look without spending money and time at the salon, you can prepare your own highlights at home. All you have to do is buy supplies from a beauty store, prep your hair and post, and apply highlights using a few easy techniques. If your hair is already highlighted, take a few care steps to keep it looking its best.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Hair
Step 1. Choose a highlighting kit with a cap if you have short hair
Look for highlighting kits at salons or beauty stores; some kits include perforated hats, hooks, and brushes, which are great if you have short hair and want to spread the highlights evenly.
If you only want to apply highlights to certain parts, you don't need a highlighter equipped with a hat. A simple highlighter or bleach will suffice
Step 2. Purchase a highlighting or brightening kit and a dabbing brush if you have long hair
For medium-length hair, choose a kit that includes the necessary bleach and a brush or other brush that will allow you to apply the highlights exactly where you want them.
- If you choose a kit that doesn't include a brush or other applicator, or you use separate brightening and developer powders, simply purchase a hair dye brush at the same beauty store. When purchasing a brightening powder and developer separately, make sure you choose developer volume 10 or 20, which is the safest for home use.
- For small, subtle, and not very clear highlights, ask the store staff to find a spool brush, which is the type usually used for mascara or eyebrow gel.
Step 3. Choose a highlighting set that will complement the hair color
If you want your highlights to look natural, choose a blonde highlighting kit that will give the highlights a few shades lighter than the natural color. Auburn red highlights are also great, especially if you have dark brown or black hair.
For a more dramatic highlight color, such as pink, purple, or another color, you will need to lighten the highlight with a lightening product before coloring your hair. You can buy a kit made especially for those colors, or get bright blonde highlights and apply the color paint separately
Step 4. Try not to wash it 2-3 days before lightening your hair
Bleach and dye can damage clean hair because they don't protect the natural oils in the hair and scalp. Your hair should also be dry before starting to apply highlights.
It's best not to use highlights on hair that's been softened or chemically permed. If your hair has been chemically treated with dye, it's best to consult a professional first
Step 5. Prepare your job post
Get all your supplies, including hats and hooks, foil, brushes, brighteners, and developers out of the bathroom sink. Keep items that could be damaged by the lighter away from the work station. Wear an old T-shirt that can be soiled and have an old towel handy to protect yourself from the bleach.
- It's a good idea to have a salon robe to protect your skin and clothing from the bleach. You can buy them at beauty supply stores or the internet.
- If you're going to be highlighting long hair, it's also a good idea to have a few strips of aluminum foil ready to separate the highlighted strands from the rest of the hair.
Step 6. Mix powder and developer
If the device prompts you to mix brightening powder and developer, do so according to the user manual instructions while wearing latex or rubber gloves. Try not to get this mixture on your skin.
If the highlight mixture gets on your skin, wipe it off immediately with a damp cloth
Step 7. Perform a strand test
Choose small strands behind the outermost layer of hair that are not easily seen. Pin your other hair so that it blocks the strands, and apply the bleach to the related strands using a brush. If so, wait for 20 minutes before rinsing.
If your hair starts to break or break, rinse off the bleach immediately and don't apply this highlighting solution to other parts of your hair
Part 2 of 3: Using Highlights
Step 1. Pull the hair strands through the holes of the used hat
If you're going to wear a cap, comb your hair before putting it on. Locate the hole in the hat; this is where your highlights will be used. Use the hook that came with the device to pull a small section of hair through the hole in the hat.
You don't need to use all the available holes; just pull as much hair as desired
Step 2. Use a long-handled comb to separate your hair into sections, if your hair is long enough
If you're not wearing a hat, first style your hair as you normally would. Determine the part of the hair that you want to apply highlights; Most people choose to use highlights in the front area and strands on the outermost layer of hair because this is where the sun usually lightens hair color naturally. Separate these sections using the end of a rat-tail comb and use a small bobby pin to divide them into sections.
- Make sure you don't use metal tools or bobby pins, as these will react to lightening products.
- If you want highlights to show in a ponytail, try highlighting the inner strands, as well as the outer layer you're working on.
Step 3. Apply the brightening product on the desired area
Use your applicator brush to apply the bleach to the strands pulled through the cap, or set aside with tongs. Wipe from the middle of the strands to the ends first because the ends of the hair will be naturally lighter than the roots.
- Use a regular hair dye brush for thicker highlights. For thinner highlights, use only a small spool brush. You can also achieve lighter highlights by dividing your hair into sections, which will allow you to still use the hair dye brush.
- Make sure each strand of hair is evenly coated in the bleach for best results.
Step 4. Use strips of foil to separate long strands of hair
For long hair, wrap a strip of foil under the section of hair to be highlighted while applying the lightening product to the strands. Fold the foil to keep the highlighted strands separate from the rest of your hair while the lightening product is working
Wrap aluminum foil around each section of hair that has been highlighted as you work
Step 5. Check your hair color every 5 minutes, and don't leave the bleach on your hair for more than 20 minutes
Most brightening devices suggest a maximum wait time of 20 minutes. You can check the color of your hair every 5 minutes and rinse when you feel you have reached the desired color.
Make sure you follow the instructions for use on the device packaging label regarding the length of time the product is left in the hair. If left too long, the hair can be damaged and broken
Step 6. Rinse hair with cold water
Remove the foil strip, if you have one. Then, rinse your head with cold tap water until all the bleach is completely rinsed off. If you are using a cap with holes, rinse your hair in cold water before removing the hat.
Step 7. Apply the dye to dry, highlighted strands, if desired
If you want a green, purple, pink, or other color instead of blonde, dry your hair completely first. Then, divide the highlighted strands and apply hair dye to each one. Wrap the foil over the dyed hair so it doesn't touch the rest of the hair.
Leave the dye on according to the directions on the product packaging, or until you are satisfied with the resulting color. After that, rinse the paint off one strand at a time using cold water
Part 3 of 3: Maintaining the Highlights
Step 1. Shampoo and condition hair using a product that treats colored hair
Shampoo and conditioner specially formulated for dyed hair will prevent it from drying out. If the highlighting kit includes a conditioner or rinse cream, use it instead of using your own conditioner.
Make sure all of the bleach is completely rinsed out of your hair before you start shampooing and using conditioner so that the remaining bleach doesn't spread throughout your hair and contribute to the lightening
Step 2. Purchase a touch-up (repair) kit to preserve faded highlights
If the highlight color seems to be starting to fade, use a color fixing tool to lighten the roots. These repair kits usually include a rubber fingertip applicator so that a small amount of highlighting solution can be applied directly to the roots of the hair easily. Follow the instructions for use, and use the touch-up solution only on the roots and areas where you want to highlight.
You can also let the highlights fade away if you don't want to keep improving them. If you want to cover it up, consult a professional about color treating your highlighted hair
Step 3. Use sulfate-free hair products
Since you've colored your hair, it's best to stay away from products that contain sulfates, which are known to dry out and damage your hair, especially if it's color-treated. Check the label of your shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, gel, or styling cream to make sure it doesn't contain sulfates.
