Highlights in girls' hair are strands or sections of hair that are colored lighter than the natural or base color.
Based on the provided reference, highlights are created by adding lightener, color, and/or direct hair dyes to specific pieces of hair. The key characteristic of highlights is that they are pieces lighter than your base color. This process often involves a stylist carefully "weaving" out tiny strips of hair to create these lighter strands, sometimes called a "stripe" within the hair.
Understanding Hair Highlights
Highlights add dimension and depth to hair, giving it a sun-kissed, brighter, or more vibrant look. They are a popular way to change hair color without undergoing a complete transformation.
Highlights vs. Lowlights
It's helpful to understand the difference between highlights and lowlights:
| Feature | Highlights | Lowlights |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Lighter than the base color | Darker than the base color |
| Effect | Adds brightness, dimension | Adds depth, richness |
| Purpose | Create lighter strands | Create darker strands |
While highlights lift specific sections to a lighter shade, lowlights add darker tones to create contrast and dimension.
The Highlighting Process
As mentioned in the reference, the process typically involves:
- Weaving: The stylist sectioning out tiny strips of hair.
- Application: Applying lightener, color, or dye to these specific strips.
- Processing: Allowing the product to lift or deposit color.
- Rinsing & Styling: Washing out the product and styling the hair.
Different techniques exist for applying highlights, such as foil highlighting (using foil wraps to isolate sections), balayage (hand-painting highlights for a more natural look), and cap highlighting (pulling strands through a cap).
Why Get Highlights?
People choose highlights for various reasons:
- To brighten their overall look.
- To add dimension and movement to flat color.
- To create a sun-kissed effect.
- To blend gray hair.
- To try a new color without committing to a full head application.
Highlights offer a versatile way to enhance hair color and style.
