One fantastic way to breathe dimension and vitality into your hair is with highlights. But what type should you choose as you find different highlight techniques available?

You have the traditional highlight, balayage, ombré, sombré, and baby lights, to name a few. Luckily, we are here to help you make the perfect choice.

Regardless of your choice, it is a transformative art form, a personalized expression of your individuality and style. So, explore some techniques to find one that suits your needs.

1. Traditional Highlights

In the expansive domain of highlight techniques, the traditional foil method remains a time-honored standard.

We will separate smaller sections of your hair and place them in individual foil packets. We do this with outstanding accuracy to deliver a glossy finish with clean lines that blend into your natural hair.

The foil helps to keep the hair lightener from seeping into other parts, allowing for a more controlled transformation. With this highlighting technique, the goal is to blend shades seamlessly. It gives a refined and timeless look, shouting sophistication.

We have a comprehensive guide available if you would like to learn more about full and partial highlights.

2. Half-Head Highlights

If you want a rejuvenated look without committing to a full-color transformation, the half-head highlight is the way to go. This highlighting technique strikes a balance if you want to change to a subtle appearance.

We focus on the top half of your head and seamlessly integrate the highlights into your natural shade to create a nuanced effect that complements your look without overpowering it. The highlights are low-maintenance, ideal for those with a busy lifestyle, and provide gradual regrowth. Alternatively, you can also consider root smudging, a complementary technique.

Hence, you do not need regular touch-ups; this hassle-free approach does not compromise your style.

Did you know that having highlights should be part of your hair timeline for weddings well in advance? Check it out here.

3. Lowlights

This highlighting technique is the image of your more dynamic highlight. These highlighting techniques are masterful and vital to add depth and richness, especially if you have lighter hair. Lowlight is the way to go if you want to hide unwanted grays.

We will use a shade darker than your base color to add a subtle complexity to your overall color. Here, the interplay of tones is essential for the darker hair strands to blend with your natural hair. Hence, it creates a delicate, sophisticated look by adding depth.

So, if you want to infuse warmth into your blonde hair and make it look multidimensional, the lowlight technique will ensure you get this.

4. Face Framing Highlight Techniques

To accentuate your facial features, opt for a face-framing highlight. We will strategically place the highlights around your cheekbones and hairline. You achieve a framing effect that draws attention to your face while enhancing your natural contours. The technique will improve your natural beauty.

5. Peekaboo Highlights

Use this highlight technique to add some surprise and playfulness to your hairstyle. We conceal the color beneath your hair’s top layer, forming a secret waiting to be unveiled. You can choose from vibrant to contrasting hues to create a dance effect.

The hidden accents will reveal themselves as your hair moves or shifts for a lively effect. With this vibrant highlight technique, you can embrace your adventurous side, and there is no need to commit to a full-color change.

6. Pintura Highlights

Here, we move away from the traditional take on highlights by creating a freehand masterpiece using a precision brush, which gives you a soft, natural look. The colors blend seamlessly into your hair, reflecting your unique features and style. It looks like the sun is playing on your hair, giving it a radiant finish.

7. Babylights

Babylights give you a natural appearance and blend seamlessly with your existing hairline to provide a smooth transition between colors, enhancing the overall texture.

We recommend these highlight techniques for adding a touch of brightness without creating an overwhelming look.

It is a graceful change, so why not book an appointment with us to return to your childhood carefree days now?

8. Teasy Lights

The teasy lights offer the best approach for a more dimensional look. We strategically tease your hair in sections before applying the highlights. Teasing your hair adds volume to define the teasy lights, adding a rich and dynamic depth to your hair. Hence, it forms a multi-dimensional look.

9. Ribbon Highlights 

The ribbon effect creates a striking visual alternation between thin and thick highlight sections for a bolder option with highlight techniques. Hence, we develop highlights at various widths to infuse a sense of dimension that is natural-looking.

10. Balayage

The hand-painting highlight technique gives you a sun-kissed effect. We use a highlighting brush to achieve the balayage. The method eliminates harsh lines and leaves a beautiful finish mirroring a gentle lightning as if kissed by sun rays.

The great thing is that the balayage technique works well on various hairstyles, textures, and lengths, and differs significantly from traditional highlights.

11. Reverse Balayage 

This highlighting technique converts the traditional balayage on the head. The classic balayage technique involves hand-painting the hair with lighter tones on darker hair, while the reverse is also possible. The method presents a darker tone to light hair, forming dimension and depth with an exciting contrast. Wearing this look, you can enjoy a touch of rebellious charm with sophistication.

12. The High-Contrast Balayage

The high-contrast balayage is for you if you prefer a dramatic to a bold transformation. You achieve a striking transition with a dynamic color effect, featuring both dark and light shades. It will surely capture the attention of passers-by.

A darker root tone transitioning into light hair ends makes an unforgettable statement. The highlighting technique allows you to express your confidence with your hairstyle, giving your look an edge.

13. Ombré

The highlighting technique is similar to balayage with a gradual hue transition, but takes it further by giving a pronounced root-to-tip shift. With this coloring method, you can create a dynamic transition, contrast shades, and add depth and dimension to your style. Learn more about this creative highlight style here.

Bonus: Sombré

The sombré is a more subtle change, and the blending starts higher up with more shades hand-painted in vertical sections. The color blend transitions from dark to a lighter, softer hue, creating a more natural look that suits most skin tones.

Wrap-Up: Choose From a Palette of Possibilities

With these highlight techniques, you can transform your look to suit your personality and lifestyle needs.

You have endless possibilities, whether you want traditional foil highlights, a balayage sun-kissed look, or a peekabo highlight.

If you’re still trying to figure out how to transform your hair, talk to one of our Haste Hair stylists to create a masterpiece that will enhance your natural beauty.

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