How to Do Highlights With the Zipper Placement

Learn how to create natural-looking highlights by using zipper foil placement.

The zipper technique of applying highlights to the hair in diagonal lines creates a zigzag pattern. The zipper placement allows you to provide dynamic highlights. The use of foils allows for multiple colors to be used, adding to the depth of colors in the highlights. The highlights appear to be woven naturally throughout the head of hair instead of creating solid chunks of color.

Things You'll Need

• Hair brush
• Weaving comb with pick
• Highlighting foils
• Highlight hair color
• Hair color paint brush

Instructions

1. Start with a head of unwashed hair.

2. Brush the hair out and part it in the direction that it is typically worn, either down the middle or off to the left or right side.

3. Create a zigzag part in the hair along the parted line. Starting at the hairline and moving toward the back of the head, use the pick end of a weaving comb to slice through the hair on a diagonal for about two inche. Then switch direction by 45 degrees to make another diagonal slice. Stop when you reach the crown of the head.

4. Lift up a line of hair strands along each edge of the zigzag part. Place a strip of highlighting foil underneath the strands of hair and paint them with the highlight color.

5. Fold the right and left sides of the foil over toward the middle of the foil. Fold the bottom of the foil up in half so that the hair is completely encased in foil.

6. Apply foils from the front of the head all the way to the end of the part.

7. Leave the color on for the amount of time indicated on the package. The time will vary depending on the product.

8. Remove the foils and wash hair thoroughly with a color-safe shampoo.

Tips & Warnings

• Read the product label thoroughly and use only as directed.

References

• Hair Web: Highlights and Highlighting Hair
• YouTube: Salon Foils To Go Tutorial