Highlighting hair is easy and is a great way to change your looks fast. Nowadays, children as young as 4 can be seen on streets and at malls with highlighted hair. Find out why people color their hair, hair coloring ideas and how to do it yourself at home all with beautiful salon results.
Why Color Hair?
People color their hair for numerous reasons. For the most part, coloring hair stems from wanting to cover up gray hair, to correct or enhance unwanted natural color, to boost self image, to experiment with color products or to make an artistic statement with bold colors. It is nothing new to see people with deep purple, bright pink or the newest popular color “red velvet cupcake” colored hair made popular by Cat, a character from the hit Nick TV show ‘Victorious’.
Types of Hair Color
There are three different types of hair color available. These types include temporary, semi-permanent and permanent. All of these have their own purpose.
For example, temporary hair color is normally used for one of two reasons. First, it can be used for someone who just wants a quick hair color for a special event. Temporary hair color last only until the next time you wash your hair. Second, many older ladies who go to the beauty salon once a week for a shampoo and style will often ask for a color rinse. This is the same as a temporary color. It helps brighten or tone down their natural hair color.
Semi-permanent hair color last approximately six weeks unless you wash your hair everyday, then it will only last around four. Semi-permanent hair color is great for people who are afraid to change their hair color. This type of hair color is deposit only, which means you cannot lighten or highlight your hair with this type of color. It is for darkening purposes only.
Permanent hair color is used for permanent effects. This type of hair color can not be changed, except with another shade of hair color. While hair coloring is adding pigment into the hair, hair lightening is removing pigment from the hair.
How to Highlight Your Hair
The most important thing to know when highlighting hair is that your hair must be in good condition before you begin. If your hair is not in good condition, the highlighting process can cause your hair to become over processed and can’t be repaired. Over-processed hair will need to be cut.
There are many ways to highlight hair. First, a highlighting cap. Most highlighting kits come with a cap. This is the most common way to highlight hair. For a more stylish look, try chunking, striping, two-tone, or any other number of ways of highlighting hair.
For a more two-tone look, part hair by putting the bottom 3/4 of the hair into pony tails or clips to keep these separated from the hair being highlighted. Make the part smooth and straight. Begin at the temples on both sides of the head and part the hair straight back to the middle of the back of the head. If needed, you can add cholesterol to the hair to keep the highlighting color off this part of hair.
Next, beginning at the crown of the head, part hair into 1/4 inch long strips to add the highlighting color to. If needed, clip the rest of the hair away from the area until you are ready to apply color. Work your way up to the front of the head. Don’t panic if you see the hair turning an orange color. Many people’s hair has underlying red pigment. The red will need to be pulled out of the hair first before the high lighting color can finish its job.
To check to see if the hair is at the color you want, simply use an old towel and buff the color off a small strand of hair. If the strand appears to be blonde shade you are after, you are ready to shampoo. If it still has a brassy tint, reapply the color and wait a few more minutes. Repeat as necessary to check for achieved color. Do not leave color on any longer than the time suggested on the box as it can result in over processed hair.