How to Add Drastic Highlights to Haircolor

If you are looking to make a statement, highlights have the ability to do just that. You can add drastic highlights to your existing natural hair color or tint and really stand out in a crowd. Chunky highlights make a dramatic statement and are a fun and interesting technique that add personality and character to any hairstyle. Here are some tips to help you add drastic highlights to your hair color.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Toner or demi-permanent color
• Color bottle or brush
• Mixing bowl
• Bleach lightener
• Foil
• Peroxide

1. Determine your color level. Go to a stylist or beauty supply store and use color swatches to find your existing color level. Levels go from black (level 1) to light blond (level 12).

2. Choose a color for your highlights. If your hair is very dark you may choose to go with a bright blond or red. Whatever color you choose, it should be at least five color levels away from your current shade to create a drastic effect.

3. Create a dramatic effect around the face by sectioning out a triangle shape right at the hairline about 1 inch in diameter directly at the center part.The tip of the triangle should be facing the back of the head, and the widest part will be at your forehead.

4. Apply bleach lightener to the sectioned area, being sure to saturate the area all the way up to the scalp, without actually touching the scalp. Use a bleach lightener with 40 volume peroxide to lift the existing color out of the hair.

5. Put aluminum foil around the bleached area.Check the hair every 5 minutes until the desired lightness is achieved. The bleached hair should be one level below the color you have chosen as a toner.

6. To create more sections, clip the area out of the way and section off another area approximately 1 1/2 to 2 inches from the hairline section using a horizontal slice directly across the middle part. The width of the slice should be 1/2 from front to back, and 3 inches across to achieve a drastic highlighted effect. Saturate the parting with lightener and cover in aluminum foil. Add another section if desired until you have three to four sections on top of the head, parallel to the forehead.

7. Put on a toner or demi-permanent color that you have chosen for your hair color after removing the lightener. If the hair still has red tones, you might want to choose an ash, neutral or champagne toner to achieve a light blond effect. These toners have a violet base. For golden tones, choose a toner with a yellow base.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure the hair is light enough before removing the lightener from the hair.
• Do not apply violet-based toners to white or pale yellow hair. Only apply these toners to hair that has some red or orange tones. It is much easier to lift color out of hair that is virgin (never tinted) than hair that already contains color.

Resources

• Ladies Home Journal: All About Highlighting