How to Do Foil Highlight Hairstyles

Highlighting your hair using foil at home is an inexpensive and easy process.

Proper hair care and coloration is an important part of fashion, lifestyle and personal identity. Having highlights in your hair can enhance its color and style. It can also serve to make a bold impact on facial features and complement your fashion. Performing your own highlights at home with foil is an easy process that can save you more money and time than having it done at a hair salon.

Things You'll Need

• Foil
• Hair coloring agent
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Hairbrush
• Timer

Instructions

1. Prep you hair before you begin the highlighting process. It is easy for chemicals found in pool water or styling products to impact the quality of the highlight, so make sure you cleanse thoroughly with shampoo and conditioner and dry before applying highlights.

2. Choose a color that suits your style and enhances your overall look. If you have naturally lighter colored hair, you may want to choose a shade three times darker. If you have naturally darker hair, you may opt for a shade that is three times lighter. Review the color code on the manufacturer's box so you know what outcome to expect.

3. Cut a minimum of 20 foil strips that are approximately 3 inches in width. If you have more voluminous hair, you may need to prepare more foil strips. If your hair is naturally curly, increase the foil width to 4 inches.

4. Partition your hair into sections so you know which strands you wish to highlight. The sectioned-off layers should be approximately 1 inch in width. Continue separating the strands, holding them in place with hair clips, until you reach the nape of the neck.

5. Grab a piece of the cut foil and place it underneath one layer. Brush this layer thoroughly with the hair colors, and then securely fold the foil in half to hold it in place. Repeat this process throughout the layers.

6. Time the coloration process depending on the time recommended on the manufacturer's box. The timer should be set from the time you finished the last foil placement.

7. Remove the foil pieces and wash off the excess color with color protection shampoo and conditioner. Finish by drying and styling your hair to see the full results.

References

• Style Hair Magazine: Highlight Hair
• Hair Finder: Foil Highlighting