Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Hair Highlights

Highlights come a variety of shades to accommodate different hair colors.

Give your hair texture and shine by highlighting it one or two shades lighter than your natural color. While you can have the application done at a salon, an at-home kit is less expensive for similar results. Highlighting kits are available at drug and beauty stores and, once you get home, take less than an hour to complete. If you are new to highlighting, do not fret; the process is simple and easy to complete.

Things You'll Need

• Hairbrush
• Highlighting kit

Instructions

1. Brush through your hair to remove any tangles. Hair will highlight best if it has not been washed in at least 24 hours.

2. Open the highlighting kit and read through the manufacturer's instructions. The kit contains a head cap, hook, brush, tray, hair wrap, plastic gloves, conditioning wash and directions. Each manufacturer has a different set of directions and time allowance; therefore, always read the directions and do a strand test if necessary.

3. Mix together the dye according to the manufacturer's directions. Do a strand test on the underside of your hair to test the color of the highlights. Apply a small amount of dye to a small section of hair and wait the recommended time. The strand test will reveal what the highlights will look like once combined with your natural hair. If the color is OK, then proceed.

4. Pull the cap over your head and tie at the bottom of neck. The cap will have a recommended guideline to help you determine where you want highlights. You can choose a specific area, or you can highlight your entire head.

5. Insert the hook into one of the holes on the cap, twist the hook and pull out a section of hair. Repeat throughout the cap where you want to place the highlights. Each section of hair should be similar in size. Put on the plastic gloves.

6. Apply the highlighting cream using the included brush. The brush can slide directly over the top of the cap; no highlighting cream will seep into any unpunctured holes. Each section of hair should be coated entirely with highlighter.

7. Wrap the hair with an included cap. If a cap is not included with the kit, do not fret. Each manufacturer is different and may not recommend wrapping the hair. When the hair is wrapped, it holds heat inside the head and cap to help the highlights form quickly.

8. Set the timer for the time recommended by the manufacturer, typically 20-30 minutes. Once the time is up, remove the wrap and look at the highlights to ensure the color is correct. If the color is still darker than you want, leave the color on for an additional 10 minutes.

9. Remove the wrapping and pull the cap upwards. Discard the cap. Rinse your hair under lukewarm water until the highlighting cream is gone. Apply the conditioning treatment to your hair and wait five minutes. Rinse the conditioner out of your hair, dry and style.

Tips & Warnings

• Request the help of a friend to reach the back of your head for even coverage.

• Do not rinse hair in hot water; this will fade your highlights.

References

• "Allure"; The Best Highlights for Your Hair Type; Victoria Kirby; April 2010
• "Cosmopolitan": At-Home Highlighting How-Tos
• Stylelist; Highlighting Hair: How to Highlight Your Hair at Home; Julie Redfern Davis; March 2010