How to Do Highlights Just Around the Face

Adding highlights around the face can give a warmer appearance.

Adding highlights to hair can give a fresh new look without the commitment of dying the entire head. Salons often charge high prices for highlighting services, but there are many affordable kits available in drug stores and discount centers. Adding just a few highlights around the face can make a striking difference. Kits make it simple for just about anyone to add subtle highlights at home.

Things You'll Need

• Hair highlighting kit
• Towel
• Petroleum jelly
• Latex gloves
• Hair foil strips
• Mirror
• Rat tail comb
• Ponytail holder or jaw clip

Instructions

1. Read the highlight kit instructions completely. Lay out all the necessary items within convenient reach. Have towels handy for easy cleanup.

2. Mix the highlighting solution according to the manufacturer's instructions. Put on a pair of latex gloves to protect hands from staining. Test a strip of hair, from behind the ear, with the highlighting solution before proceeding further. Follow the instructions for test times and exact procedure. Proceed if the test does not produce any allergic reaction.

3. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly around the forehead and ear areas to keep the skin from staining. Drape an old towel or plastic cape around the shoulders to protect clothing. Position a free-standing mirror in a convenient location.

4. Pull hair the hair back, out of the way, and into a loose ponytail or use a jaw clip. Use a rat tail comb to section the hair around the face from the rest of the head. Work with sections that equal no more than 1/4-inch wide around the face at one time.

5. Lay a foil strip under the 1/4-inch hair section. Paint the highlight solution on the hair strand with the kit brush. Coat the strand evenly and thoroughly. Fold the foil strip over the hair strand. Repeat this process until all the desired hair sections are complete.

6. Leave the highlight solution in the hair for the recommended amount of time. Carefully remove the foil strips. Wash the highlight solution from the hair with warm water. Apply hair conditioner and style as usual.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not prewash or wet hair; apply highlight solution to dry hair.

• Add bolder, chunkier highlights by working with larger sections.

• The hair test will also indicate how light the hair will become over the recommended amount of time; adjust the time if necessary.

• Ask a friend to help.

• Wear old clothes.

• Protect work areas and floors with old towels, plastic or a dropcloth.

References

• Become Gorgeous: How to Apply Highlights and Lowlights at Home
• Hair Crazy Info; How to Do a Strand Test; March, 2010
• Sulekha: How to Use Foil for Hair Highlights

Resources

• Glamour Edited: Choosing the Right Highlights for Your Hair Color and Face Shape