Highlighting Ideas for Blondes

Sunny, blond highlights perk up blond hair.

Lighten your look by adding highlights to your blond hair. Whether you should do your highlights at home or go to a stylist depends on the color of your hair and what shade your want your highlights to be. If you're going a shade or two lighter, you can take on the task at home. (If you're doing more than a few strands around your face, ask a friend for help so you can get those hard-to-reach areas in the back.) If you want a more dramatic look, seek the help a professional stylist.

What to Consider Before Getting Highlights

Make sure your hair is in good condition before getting highlights.

Think about the condition of your hair. If it's already colored --- especially if it's lightened and processed with bleach --- it's apt to be damaged. Proceed with caution. Make sure your hair is in top-notch condition before you go lighter. While blond hair with lighter highlights is attention-getting, if it's damaged, that means that cuticle has been roughed up. A roughed up cuticle is frizzy, not shiny, so be sure to use a heavy duty conditioner to get your hair back in shape. However, if your hair has never been colored, you probably don't need to worry about damage. Either way, use a good conditioner after you get highlights, and a deep conditioner once a week.

Natural Highlights

Subtle blond highlights are flattering and easy to do yourself.

A few face-framing highlights a hue or two above your natural color is a very subtle look. It mimics the way the sun would highlight your hair naturally. If you want to highlight your hair at home with this sun-kissed look, simply concentrate your highlights around your face and/or bangs, where the sun naturally streaks your hair after you've been at the beach for a week. Make sure your highlights are thin, not chunky.

Dramatic Highlights

Bolder highlights require the assistance of a professional.

If you're going for platinum highlights when you have dark blond locks, or using two or three highlights in the same color family, you need extra assistance. Take your tresses to a stylist. Bold looks add dimension and drama but require precise placement. Lowlights --- highlights in reverse --- similarly add texture and a darker look without a drastic change.

Funky Highlights or Lowlights

Adding other colors to blond hair can be fun.

Are you daring? Like to stand out in a crowd? Want to make a statement? Then purple, blue or green highlights or lowlights might be right up your alley. There's a plethora of options available, from temporary color to permanent dyes. Try the temporary route first and experiment with wash-out colors.You can find these at drugstores or beauty stores nationwide. If you'd like a more long-lasting solution, semi-permanent or permanent dyes are available. For best results, these require the expertise of a professional. Otherwise, you may be stuck with unwanted dye stains, especially if your hair is bleached or processed.

References

• The Hair Styler: Hair Highlights: Tips and Ideas
• Becoming Gorgeous: Stylish Blonde Hair Highlights