Lowlights vs highlights | ||||||
But what do lowlights and highlights involve exactly and who are they aimed at? Technique of lowlights and highlightsLowlights and highlights are partial colouring techniques.The technique used differs from classic hair dyeing which affects all of the hair. The hairdresser uses a sort of paste usually containing a bleaching agent and peroxide. They then apply it to the hair using a special brush and either foils (strips of foil or plastic used to seperate strands of hair from the rest) or a cap (where hair is pulled through little holes). Unlike a full hair colour (usually called permenant or semi-permenant dyeing) you can choose to have a full-head or half-head of highlights. This means you can simply have the top of your hair dyed leaving the underneath natural - although if you wear your hair in a ponytail this doesn't look particularly good. You can also have a T-section or infills done to maintain the look as your roots begin to show. This means only a small section of the roots on the top of your head are re-dyed. This makes maintaining your look a little cheaper.
It allows you to provide your hair with light (hence the names lowLIGHTS and highLIGHTS!) and is generally used on lighter-coloured hair e.g. from blonde to light brown. A "just back from holidays" effect is guaranteed! It can also add subtle coloured streaks to dark hair. Lowlights and highlights light up the face, illuminating and injecting life into your hair's colour. It's advised to have it done before the summer to prevent the colour changing after exposure to the sun. Note that lowlights and highlights aren't the same as streaks, which can be also done with a special cap or foil. Streaks have a larger, more overall effect on the hair than lowlights/highlights and are more noticeable. Lowlights versus highlightsLowlights involve darkening strands of hair by using colours that are darker than the normal colour of the hair. In contrast, highlights use colours that are lighter than the normal colour of the hair.What's the difference between lowlights/highlights and classic hair dyeing?Lowlights and highlights produce a more subtle result than would be achieved through dyeing hair or adding streaks. Lowlights and highlights are partial dyeing techniques only. Less radical and lighter, this form of dyeing damages hair less.Natural and discreet, the aim of lowlights and highlights is to blend the coloured sections of hair into the rest of the hair, therefore the result is a natural effect. Who can consider lowlights and highlights?People with all hair types can have lowlights and highlights, whether it's straight, curly or frizzy.On curls, this technique gives more depth and on the straightest of hair, it gives the illusion of more volume. It's true that blonde lowlights and highlights are a big trend but more chocolatey tones are also very popular. Lowlights and highlights are recommended for those who'd like to cover up a few grey hairs. Giving more coverage than streaks, lowlights/highlights will hide grey hairs more easily. As well as the classic lowlight/highlight technique, there are variations to play with too. "Dip-dye" hair colour, which involves lowlights on the roots and highlights on the ends, made an appearance in 2011 and was spotted on a number of celebs including Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz.
  Perfect highlights © Sipa Tips for perfect lowlights/highilights- If you don't want a new haircut, cut at least a few centimetres from your length to avoid damaged and split ends.- Use special products such as shampoo for coloured hair, as well as hydrating products (e.g. a mask) to optimise the shine effect obtained through the lowlights/highlights. What to avoid- Lowlights/highlights on very short hair. Why? Lowlights/highlights require a minimum length. If hair's too short, it won't obtain the effect of depth and volume that the technique is supposed to provide. If you want to change colour, dye your hair instead.- Choosing a colour that's really too light compared to your normal colour. Your hair will become striped like a zebra, giving you a rather vulgar look. - Don't combine chemical products with henna because it could result in a catastrophe! - Avoid going over the top with lowlights/highlights. An average of 3 per year is reasonable. Any more than that and you risk damaging your hair. Also in Beauty: > Hair extensions > Chemically straightened hair > Hairstyle finder |
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Beauty Editor 20/01/2012 00:15:00 | ||||||
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