How to Weave Panels and Chunks in Hair
Weaving chunks and panel of color into your hair is a fresh and updated version of typical highlights. These wider sections of contrasting color add more depth and interest to your overall hair color, instead of blending in as thinner highlights do. Creating your own chunks and panels of color at home is inexpensive and gives you a very fashion-forward hair color. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Hair color
- Aluminum foil
- Gloves
- Color bowl
- Color brush
- Hair conditioner
Instructions
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1
Style your hair as usual. Seeing how your hair lies when styled will give you a good idea where to place the chunks or panels for maximum effect.
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Cut aluminum foil into 3-inch wide strips if you're creating chunky highlights, or 4- to 5-inch strips if you are creating color panels.
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Put on your gloves and mix the hair color in the bottle included in the kit according to the directions. After it is mixed, pour the hair color into an old or color-safe bowl.
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4
Section a chunk or panel of hair to be colored, using the tip of your color brush. Start at the front of your hair, choosing an area that will be visible when your hair is styled.
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Place a piece of the foil underneath the section of hair, butting the top edge of the foil up against your scalp.
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Load the color brush with color and, beginning a half-inch away from the roots, apply the hair color to the section of hair.
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Fold the section of hair, if it is longer than the foil piece, up onto itself. Ensure the entire section is saturated with hair color.
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Fold the foil in half so the bottom edge aligns with the top edge near the scalp. Fold the foil in half again and then fold each of the sides inward. Gently press the foil together to seal it shut.
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Repeat this process where ever you wish to place a chunk or panel of color. Space the chunks and panels several inches apart for maximum effect.
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Process the color for the recommended time, according to the hair color's directions.
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Remove the foil pieces from your hair when the processing time has elapsed. Grasp the folded end of the foil and gently glide downward.
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12
Rinse the color from your hair in a sink or the shower. Use cool to warm water to help seal the hair shaft.
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Apply hair conditioner and rinse.
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Tips & Warnings
Apply a thin layer of hair conditioner to the roots of the hair surrounding your chunks and panels if you are worried about accidental color transfer during application. Conditioner works as a barrier that will not allow the hair color to penetrate the hair it is coating.
For subtle chunks and panels, choose a hair color two to three shades lighter or darker than your natural color.
Do not rinse out hair color with hot water. This opens the hair's cuticle layer and may rinse away excess color pigment.
Hair color will not lift hair color. If your hair has been previously colored, you cannot lighten it unless you use bleach.