To cover white hair with highlights effectively, opt for cooler blonde tones like ash or icy blonde to blend seamlessly with the natural silver, white, and gray strands.
Highlighting white hair involves a strategic approach to ensure a natural and blended look. Instead of completely covering the white strands, highlights can create dimension and soften the contrast, making the white hair less noticeable.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Choosing the Right Highlight Color
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Cool Tones are Key: As mentioned previously, ash blonde, icy blonde, and other cool-toned highlights work best because they complement the cool undertones often found in white and gray hair. This creates a harmonious blend.
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Avoid Warm Tones (Initially): While warm tones might be tempting, they can sometimes make white hair look brassy or yellow. If you're determined to incorporate warmth, do so sparingly and gradually, consulting with a professional stylist.
Highlighting Techniques
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Babylights and Fine Highlights: These finer, more delicate highlights are ideal for blending white hair because they create a subtle and natural transition. They avoid harsh lines of demarcation as the hair grows out.
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Strategic Placement: Placement is crucial. A stylist experienced in working with gray hair will know how to strategically place highlights to camouflage white hair and create a flattering effect. This might involve focusing on the hairline and part line where white hair is often most prominent.
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Lowlights (Consideration): In some cases, adding lowlights that are close to your natural (non-white) hair color can also help blend the white and add depth and dimension.
Maintaining Highlighted Hair with White Strands
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Purple Shampoo: Using a purple shampoo once or twice a week will help to neutralize any yellow tones and keep your highlights looking fresh and bright.
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Moisturizing Products: White hair can often be drier, so use moisturizing shampoos, conditioners, and hair masks to keep your hair healthy and hydrated.
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Regular Touch-Ups: Depending on how quickly your hair grows and the extent of your white hair, you'll need to schedule regular touch-up appointments to maintain the look.
Professional Consultation
Ultimately, the best approach is to consult with a professional hairstylist who specializes in working with gray hair. They can assess your hair type, skin tone, and the percentage of white hair you have to recommend the most suitable highlighting technique and colors.
