How to Apply Color Highlights

Hair highlights can add a sparkle of summer to your hair and a brightness to your skin and personality. The right highlights also add dimension, fullness and body to your hair without changing anything but the color. Applying highlights correctly is important for not only the look but the health of your hair.

Instructions

1. Focus on the area around the face first. This area should be the lightest. Mix the color up and allow it to sit for a moment to ensure the chemicals are all combined. You will need a hair-coloring brush and foil strips, precut into the sizes you want and the number of them you need.

2. Place a piece of foil under the section of hair you want to highlight. Run the brush with hair color on it down from the root to the tip of the section of hair. Make sure not to get the color too thick on the roots or it will look patchy and unnatural.

3. Fold the foil up towards the scalp, once in half, then again in half. Do not crimp the foil on the folds as this can create areas where the hair color is thicker or more potent. Repeat this process for the front and sides of the hair.

4. Use the same process in the back of the hair, only apply the color at an angle instead of straight across. This will create a more natural effect, as the sun would, avoiding a "square" look to the highlights.

Tips & Warnings

• Always wear gloves when applying hair color. They will not only protect your hands from staining, but also limit your exposure to the harsh chemicals that can cause drying and irritation of your skin.

• Cut your foil strips first before starting the highlighting process. Otherwise, you'll have to let the mixed color sit, or wind up with part of the color already on your hair as you cut up more strips. Be prepared with enough strips before you put the first color on your hair.