Hair Highlighting in Abingdon
If you are new to hair highlighting, highlights represent a fantastic way to freshen your look by lighter colours in a big or small way and these can be adding to achieve dimension, contrast, softness, elegance, edginess or anything in between! if you are considering highlights for the first time or you want to learn what to ask for or how to change what you have, our Stylists address why highlights are applied using foils, what highlights look like and whether you can choose which colours you have.
If you are considering something different, our highlighting service page can help. Finally, if you’re new to the salon and not sure how to get the most value from your next appointment, need a consultation or would value a conversation before booking, call or send a WhatsApp message on 01235 534705
Hair Highlighting FAQ’s
How do highlights work?
Hair highlights are a popular hair colouring technique designed to introduce and add lighter strands of hair without colouring all of your hair. In most cases these lighter strands of hair are designed to compliment your natural hair colour and add contrast, depth and a point of interest. Highlights are created using either one of or both bleach, hair colour, high lift tints and sometimes toning the bleach. The foils allow for your Stylist to identify specific strands of hair, isolating them from the rest of your hair and with consistency. The end result is a multi-tonal effect taking advantage (typically) of two to three colours in total.
The strands of hair placed in foil can be any colour within reason. There can be more foils, fewer foils, thicker or finer strands (also known as babylights) of lightened/highlighted hair. The more information that you present to your Stylist about what you would like, the more that your Stylist can guide you towards a better end result. In this instance the consultation is really important as certain types of highlights can suit you better than others.
Unsure how much highlights will lighten your hair? Here’s more information.
Can I choose which colour highlights?
Yes, absolutely and whilst we don’t expect you to know which colours work for you, your Stylist will show their value in being able to point you in the right direction or at the very least show close off some doors to colour options. If this is your first time or you are unsure what might work best, your stylist will help guide you in making a decision that complements your natural hair colour, skin tone, eye colour and dress sense. More experienced clients may have a strong idea as to which colour they would like to aim for, though in most cases if you are unsure and need some guidance you won’t be able. Most people value the support so we would encourage you to be as transparent as possible.
For first time clients having highlights, if you’re aiming for a natural look, it’s usually best to stay within two to three shades lighter than your base. To contextualise this, there are 10 levels to hair colour (numbered one to 10). It’s highly improbable that any Stylist will be able to lighten your hair from black (level one) to the lightest blonde (level 10) so two to three levels lighter will showcase a much more natural appearance that is natural looking, an elegant and sun-kissed look that is straightforward to maintain. For example if you are a medium brown the introduction of caramel or honey highlights could work really well. The more shades away from your natural hair colour, the greater the contrast and greater number of appointments typically needed to stay on top of any maintenance.
What will I look like?
The end result of your highlights depends on a number of factors which are usually outlined and discussed during the initial phase of your consultation. depends on several things, including the technique used, the colours chosen, and how the highlights are placed. With the support of your Stylist, your highlights can be soft, striking, elegant, edgy, sophisticated, sun-kissed, contrasting, natural or just about anything in-between. If you are unsure what you need, the best thing you can be is honest and to explain what you like, dislike about your hair, your typical hair routine, even referencing your lack of knowledge can be beneficial as some Stylists will assume that you do!
If you are new to the world of hair colouring or you would like a change but aren’t sure what to change to, the great thing about highlights is that you can really make them personal to you. So whether you need aa soft lift that isn’t going to be obvious at first glance, highlights can do just that. Equally, if you are looking for a much lighter appearance and you are considering being as light as possible, the final look will be appropriate to your hair goals.
As a final option, if you are considering lightness with sun-kissed ends, another alternative to achieving a lighter finish is a balayage with a soft finish.
Why do highlights go in foils?
There are two primary reasons for using foils to highlight hair. The first reason for using foils is precision. When your Stylist highlights your hair, they do so with consistency in mind and by sectioning your hair, the placement of each foil follows a strict process. The foils are isolated in foils for both a more accurate application and to a lesser extend prevent foils from ‘bleeding’. Bleeding is a term used when the colour contaminates unwanted sections of hair or begins to appear patchy.
The second and most important reason is that hair products require careful and considered application timings. Bleach in particular must be applied at most for one hour and utilising foils (a conductor of heat) greatly support the speed and efficiency of trapping heat and therefore the time needed to achieve an eventual colour needed by your Stylist. When using foils your Stylist can also monitor the progress of your colour more readily by checking individual foils.
Conclusion
Hair salons and the subject of hair colour, in particular highlighting hair can feel like a big step. With the right Stylist that understands ‘you’, what you seek, possible options whilst outlining the ideal hair routine there is no reason that the subject of colour needs to feel neither intimidating nor overwhelming. Highlights work by lightening selective strands of your hair to create contrast and dimension and they are far from a set formula. If you have something specific in mind or need to create a certain look, highlights come in different forms so if you need help with your first set of highlights or you seek a change, speak with your experience Stylist at your next appointment who will be best placed to support your needs.
If you are feeling lost in what could work best for you, leave it to us. Our consultations work through any question you might have, logistics and we too make recommendations based upon your lifestyle and hair type.
