Facts on Highlights and Low lights

by Christine Scott Hair Artist

If you have sat in our chairs, you will know that one of our passions and expertise are Dimensional Color or High-lighting and Low-lighting.

Why are we critical on this subject?
There are many reasons but most of all because color and the tools we use have a very specific set of rules and guidelines that if not followed can result in extreme damage and/or results that do not fit the expectation.

If you are considering some natural blonde highlights or some more depth to your hair look, the idea of low lights or highlights can be a great way that you can change your look and produce a more natural hair colour. These looks can often evolve into a unique way that you can change your style. Here are some of the ways that you can get a beautiful look with Low lights or highlights from the best hair salon:

Tri colour: The tricolour services available in highlights and low lights and it’s usually one of the best options for getting a very natural colour treatment. The tricolour treatment applies extra highlights in the top layer of hair and then low lights in the under-layer is to add more depth and dimension to the look of highlights. It somewhat of a complicated look that should generally be done at the best hair salon to make it look the best.

Foil: foil highlighting in low lighting can give you extra control over colour placement which can also add added contrast and depth. This type of process is very easy to maintain and it’s usually a less expensive way that you can get a natural coloured look. This is the type of highlight in low light that is commonly used by stylists to get a natural look or handle the process of partial highlights over time. The placement of foil packets happens first and then the highlights or low-lights are applied.

Hair painting: Hair-painting is also sometimes commonly used in a free-form technique which can produce a natural hair colour without the use of foil packets. This uses a column to apply small sections of highlights and low lights throughout your style. This can be commonly used for touch ups and for colour correction.

Keep some of these methods in mind if you are interested in highlight and low light solutions with your hair style.

Products
When highlighting for Blonde; you can use several products but most common are Bleach and High-lift Tint (a special color that has extreme lifting capability)

Using Bleach
Bleach is a ‘Progressive Lightener’ meaning that it continues to lift as you long as it is on the hair. This also means that the area applied first will be lighter than the area did last if all the foils are taken off at the same time! (REMEMBER THIS).

In order to properly use Bleach you MUST remove the packets as each process! This is not an option! If not you will end up with the area done first much lighter than the rest and will have to use a toner, thus negating the effect of a highlight because a toner is an all over color and takes away dimension!

Bleach is an amazing tool in the right hands, in the wrong hands it’s an assault weapon! To remove the packets one would simply start checking the packets a few minutes after application then remove each one as it is ready and wipe with a damp towel to remove the bleach. If the hair is fine you should spray with water as well.

The nice part about bleach is that you can bring each packet up to a different color if you like by removing each as you reach the desired tone.

The down side of Bleach is that in the wrong hands it is one of the most damaging products you can use on the hair. The result is purely in the hands of the user and experience means everything!

Alternatives to bleach
Luckily today we have alternatives to bleach. Hi-Lift Tints or Colors can be used successfully to life the hair up to 4 shades successfully without the dryness and damage. On hair that is light brown and lightener you can achieve a very natural effect that will also be less maintenance.

As for the best brands; Wella, L’Oreal (900 series) and Goldwell, each have their pluses but I prefer Wella due to its low level of ammonia and fast processing time. Each use a 40% peroxide developer and should be watched closely when processing. Remember, manufacturers put the processing time on the package as a guide only! You should make sure your stylist still checks the process every ten minutes at least and remove when the desired tone is achieved.

Using Foils
For today’s highlights foiling is the preferred method of most top colorists as it gives you the greatest control and the most consistent method of application. Another tool is Plastic Color packets, also an excellent tool and can be very useful on longer hair.

You can usually tell the quality of a colorists work by the method and appearance of these packets and their placement as they are applied. Look for very neat organized and properly folded rows. Also make sure the packets are placed closely to the roots as possible, this is limited by the actual width of the parting.

Placement of foils
Depending on the desired result and the operators goals the placement of the actual packets can vary greatly. Some basic guides; For more natural looks you want smaller sections and a finer weaving of the hair. Also you always want to work vertically around the front and side hairlines if natural is your goal. If the packets are applied horizontally in the front hair line you will see lines when you pull the hair back. For Curly hair use wider bolder weaving and moderate size sections as curly hair bunches up when dry and you need the boldness to give more notice to the highlight.

Timing
Every head varies and the stylist should not rely on manufacturer’s guidelines as they are very general. For more details, please feel free to read about our Hera Hair Beauty salon as follow:

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ABOUT Hera Hair Beauty

Established in 2012, Hera Hair Beauty salon is the one of the top hair salon Singapore when it comes to high quality and affordable hair salon Singapore. This expat hair salon Singapore is the only premium quality service provider in Singapore that provides all services one might need when it comes to hair and beauty. The Asian hairdresser Singapore and Western hairdressers Singapore and at Hera Hair salon understand how busy their clients are and this is the primary reason that paramount priority is given to providing all services ranging from hair, nails, makeup to eyebrow shaping under one roof. Being one of the best hair salon in Singapore, you will enjoy the top-notch, quality assured hair services at our hair salon near me, ranging from Haircut Singapore, keratin treatment , hair treatment , blonde highlights, balayage Singapore, olaplex treatment, hair extensions . We adapt international hair fashion to the needs of our international clients. Our global master colorists are well adept in creative, brunette or blonde hair or ash blonde hair colour etc and trained to create perfectly shaded blonde highlights and lowlights. Whether you are in need of a good and affordable hair salon in Singapore or need a premium class luxurious service, we cater to the needs of every individual. At Hera Hair Beauty Salon, we are proud to carry two of the world’s leading hair care product lines, KERASTASE Singapore and Kevin Murphy Singapore. All of our products are brand guaranteed. This is the main reason that we have a very high satisfaction rate, customer loyalty and recommendation.