How to properly highlight your hair at home. Highlighting on dark hair: how to do it, before and after photos. Types of highlighting for dark hair

Increasingly, women prefer highlighting their hair rather than regular dyeing. Many people consider this method of transformation to be more gentle. In addition, regrown roots are not so obvious. Skillful use of just two shades of color can add vibrant highlights to your hair, and a combination of two or more tones can radically change the image. Correctly placed accents in the form of lightened strands help hide gray hair and visually increase volume. Dark hair can be skillfully changed to blonde or, conversely, dark natural shades can be smoothly achieved on bleached hair. There are many types of coloring: from traditional to the most modern technique - shatush. All of them are actively used.

Preparing for hair highlighting

In a salon or hairdresser, a master will help you choose suitable type highlighting, taking into account hair length, color, structure and client’s wishes. How much such a service costs is a separate question. If for financial reasons it is not possible to go to a specialist, there is no need to despair. It is quite possible to transform yourself at home.

The beauty of coloring your hair yourself is that it saves both time and money. It is worth deciding in advance the following issues: thin, medium or wide stripes should be obtained, use two shades of paint or create entire color combinations. As a rule, numerous thin strands look very natural, while wide stripes are bolder and more expressive. Along with this, there is a risk of not getting the expected result at home. To avoid a disaster, it is worth reading the contents of the article, which provides tips on highlighting hair at home.

Think ahead

Color

When choosing a dye for highlighting, you need to start from the main hair color and buy, as a rule, one or two shades lighter. High contrast can create a striped effect that looks very unnatural. When using lightening agents, you need to select the oxidizing agent very carefully.

If the hair is weakened, use a 4% solution. The darker the hair, the stronger the oxidizing agent (up to 12%). Nevertheless, dark hair in any case, several stages of dyeing will go through before they acquire the desired color. At first it will be orange, then pale yellow, getting lighter with each color.

Skin and clothing protection

To prevent the dye from ruining your clothes, you can cover your shoulders with an old towel or, alternatively, a bag. It is enough to make a hole in the bottom and thread it through the head immediately before the dyeing procedure. The paint box often comes with hand gloves, although they are not comfortable enough. It is worth buying latex gloves in advance. Any face or baby cream will help take care of your skin; it will be used as a barrier to paint along the hairline.

Tools

What you need to prepare:

  • paint container (small bowl);
  • two combs (regular and for removing strands);
  • a brush for applying paint (many kits are equipped with a special applicator; if you don’t have one, you can use a regular toothbrush);
  • accessories (foil, highlighting cap, hook, hair clips, mirror, watch).

Instructions

It all comes down to the fact that you need to calmly and slowly study the instructions for the hair dye: how to properly mix all the components of the dye, how long you need to keep the dye on your hair, etc.

The “allergy test” item should not be neglected.

Tips for dyeing hair at home:

  1. It is better to wash your hair the day before, not on the day of dyeing.
  2. It is necessary to prepare a place where you can sit comfortably, as well as all the necessary equipment and tools.
  3. Apply the cream to the skin (to avoid staining the forehead, neck and ears) carefully so that it does not get on the hair roots.
  4. The product for coloring (lightening) hair is prepared strictly according to the instructions.
  5. The dye must be distributed evenly over the entire length of the hair.
  6. Highlighting begins from the back of the head, gradually moving along both sides to the crown, then to the temples, and lastly to the area above the temples and bangs.
  7. The dye should be left on the hair for a period of time strictly according to the instructions, then washed off with warm running water.
  8. Using special cosmetics, applied after coloring, will protect the hair and give it a healthy look.
  9. When using several shades, it is better to start dyeing with a different tone after 2-3 days.
  10. Any remaining paint should be discarded. It is dangerous to store and use it in the future.

The most common types of highlighting: through a cap, on foil, shatush and Californian.

Highlighting through a cap

Highlighting through a cap

Small changes in hair shade guarantee stunning results. Highlighting through a cap allows a woman to color her strands evenly throughout her head with her own hands. One drawback: this method is only suitable for short or medium length hair. There are small holes on the special cap (it is included in any set intended for such purposes).

If necessary, you can make it yourself. A swimming cap or thick cellophane is suitable for the base. All over the surface you need to make holes of the same size at equal distances in a checkerboard pattern.

The “working principle” of the cap is that only those strands that will be dyed are pulled through the holes using a comb or hook. The thickness of the stripes and their density need to be controlled. To get a light effect, it is enough to pull thin strands through every 2-3 holes, for significant lightening - from each hole.

Having prepared the coloring mixture according to the instructions, you can begin to change your appearance. The paint should be applied using a special brush. All elongated strands must be dyed evenly. The mixture is kept on the hair for as long as indicated in the description for it. The bleached strands are thoroughly washed with running water before removing the cap. After this, you can wash your entire hair with regular shampoo and use conditioner.


This is a very convenient way to highlight at home for owners long hair. You will need long strips of foil about 10 cm wide. The length of the blanks should be approximately 20 centimeters longer than the length of the hair. The edges of the strips must be tucked in by 1-2 cm. Such a pocket will protect the skin and neighboring strands from paint. You should divide your hair into five (or more) parts for convenience, securing them with elastic bands or clips. Coloring begins from the back of the head. Place strips of foil under the strands in certain areas.

The mixture is distributed throughout the curls from roots to ends. After applying the paint, you need to tuck the bottom of the strip and fold it in half. To prevent paint from leaking, the sides should be tucked.

Thus, the lightening of the strands begins from the bottom up to the temples and ends with bangs. The dye, depending on the desired shade, is left on the hair for 15 to 45 minutes, then the foil is removed and the hair is washed. warm water. The use of foil ensures that those strands that should remain unpainted do not come into contact with the paint. The effectiveness of this technique is confirmed by many women who use it at home. The location, width and density of the strands depends only on the desire of the lady.

Highlighting-shatush

Highlighting-shatush

To make the shatush, you will also need foil. The hair is divided into strands of about 2 cm and each curl is combed. The trick of the shatush technique is that the roots are tinted a dark color or not colored at all. Stepping back a little from the roots, shading, apply the lightening agent to the strands. After time, wash off the paint with water. Shatush is used for a smooth transition dark roots to light strands or to create a burnt-out effect.

Shatush technique or “burnt ends” effect

This very fashionable type of highlighting today is a bit like shatush. The piquancy of this coloring method is the method of application. The paint for highlighting should be thick enough. It is correct to dilute the proportion of blondex and oxidizing agent as 1:1. The hair must be divided into horizontal partings and strands of 1.5-2 cm each must be separated. Holding the brush vertically to the hair, paint is applied from the roots (as opposed to the shatush technique) to the ends.

There is no need to wrap the strands with foil - in contact with the remaining undyed hair, they will lighten slightly. The result will look very natural.

Video about highlighting

This video will tell you how to perform highlighting at home without the help of professionals.

Pronounced highlighting using foil or without sharp contrasts of shatush are bold ideas that can be implemented by any woman at home.

The method of lightening individual strands is known to everyone. Every day everything more people they are wondering which highlighting technique has more advantages, and how this or that coloring option applies to the hair different lengths and colors. An article will help you understand this, which indicates the main advantages of this type of painting, as well as its features and common techniques.

Benefits of highlighting

Any hair highlighting technique has its advantages, but they will be discussed below, and first you need to understand the main advantages of highlighting in general. Among them:

  1. Visual increase in hair volume.
  2. Emphasizing facial features.
  3. Fresh and well-groomed hair look.
  4. Ideal combination with any face type and hair length.
  5. It is not done as often as standard monochromatic coloring.

Peculiarities

In addition to the main advantages that absolutely every highlighting technique has, there are also certain features that distinguish this type of color from other options. So, the main features of hair highlighting can be noted:

  1. Zonal highlighting designed for dark brown hair shades. With this dyeing, only the top strands are covered with a layer of paint, resulting in a chic contrast of light curls and natural hair color.
  2. The classic method, where coloring is carried out along the entire length of the hair. In this case, the strands are bleached by tinting, after which a softening of the contrast between natural color And
  3. Reverse highlighting, that is, darkening the natural shade. This dyeing is usually done by fair-haired young girls to achieve a natural color by dyeing individual strands in dark colors.
  4. Gentle highlighting, literally a couple of tones. This method achieves protection of weakened thin hairs, while using ammonia-free paint, which contains moisturizing substances.

Care for highlighted hair

Hair highlighting, the technique of which is generally not as complicated as any coloring, is stressful for curls. Therefore, experienced hairdressers strongly recommend regularly using various oil-based masks that are designed specifically for colored hair. It is best to add an ampoule with liquid vitamins A, E, B5 and so on to a regular hair mask.

Popular techniques

Any more or less popular highlighting technique is familiar to masters working in special salons. Each hairdresser must have all the necessary equipment, tools and dyes in order to perform high-quality painting. But before visiting a salon, a person should at least have a general idea of ​​the basic techniques that can be offered to him. In addition, if there is no money or time to visit a hairdresser, you can do highlighting yourself at home. Information and step-by-step instruction All known highlighting methods are provided below.

Californian or American highlighting

The technique of which is simple and accessible to every person, is rightfully considered the most fashionable. It creates and the hairstyle as a whole looks quite beautiful and natural. This color will look best on natural brunettes or brown-haired women.

Highlighting technology:

  1. The hair is divided into clear horizontal partings.
  2. The separated hair is gathered into bundles of approximately 1 cm, creating a checkerboard effect.
  3. The oxidizer and paint are combined in a 1:1 ratio.
  4. The finished composition is carefully and smoothly applied to the hair bundles, which is the main difference between this type of highlighting.

Reviews

Of course, it has relatively good reviews this technique staining. Many girls and women prefer to do this type of highlighting. As young ladies note, the easiest way to get your makeup done is in salons, since professionals know the technique better and they can’t have any misfires. Slightly older women claim that this technology is extremely simple and without it special effort You can do it yourself without spending extra money on a hairdresser.

Both after the procedure in the salon and after coloring at home, the result impresses everyone. Although at first glance it seems that such highlighting is suitable only for young girls, it also looks chic on older women.

Venetian version

Venetian highlighting, the technique of which is not particularly difficult, but is still more accessible to specialists working in professional salons, differs from other options in its richness of shades and their rather creative combination. Highlighting gives the hair more volume, makes the hair shine, while maintaining naturalness. It should also be noted that the Venetian version does not harm the hair at all.

In any case, the winning shades for dark hair will be: honey, sand, cognac and chocolate. In addition, another significant advantage is the fact that these tones can be used not only separately, but also combined with each other.

Comments

This highlighting technique is not always possible at home, which does not make women very happy. In order to get an excellent result, in any case you will have to spend money on a specialist - either by calling him at home or going to his salon. But there are extremely good reviews regarding the effect, because such beauty cannot be achieved in any other way.

Method "Through the cap"

Most easy method is highlighting using a special cap, which has holes for the strands. This option is intended for owners short hair. The intensity of coloring directly depends on the distance that is observed between the strands during the procedure.

Required tools:

  • special cap;
  • flat brush;
  • special hook for pulling hair;
  • coloring agents;
  • a pair of mirrors;
  • gloves, towel, peignoir.

Progress of the procedure:

  1. The cap is placed on the head, and small strands of hair are pulled out through its holes using a hook.
  2. Using a flat brush, the coloring agent is applied to stretched hair.
  3. In order to lighten by one tone, you should keep the dye on your hair for up to 15 minutes, and for intense coloring - at least 40 minutes.
  4. Without removing the cap, wash off the paint.
  5. The cap is removed, the hair is thoroughly washed with shampoo and then conditioner.

What girls say

The first advantage that girls note is the ability to hide sudden abrupt transitions. To do this, you just need to tint the light strands in a suitable shade.

In addition, it is a rather interesting procedure, which not only gives an excellent effect, but also teaches novice masters the skills to cope with difficulties. After all, when working with a cap, you need the ability to work well with your hands without harming the client.

If a person does highlighting on his own, then the option with a cap is ideal for him, since he can easily pull strands out of the holes and color them without affecting the rest of the hair.

Using foil

Another good option, not inferior in originality to the previous one, is the technique of highlighting on foil. The main advantage of this method is that it is suitable for absolutely all hair types, regardless of length and color.

Before the staining procedure, you need to prepare the following tools:

  • clamps;
  • dye;
  • flat brush;
  • strips of foil 10 cm wide;
  • hook, as in dyeing through a cap;
  • a pair of mirrors.

Execution technology:

  1. The width of the strands and their frequency for dyeing are determined.
  2. The paint is being prepared.
  3. A parting is made, a thin strand is taken and placed on foil, and then smeared with paint and secured with foil.
  4. The same actions are performed on the right and then on the left side.
  5. For lightening, you need to keep the paint on for no more than 20 minutes, and for intensive coloring - more than 50.
  6. The foil is carefully removed, and the paint is washed off using shampoo.

Responses from real people

Compared to highlighting through a cap, in this case there are much fewer problems. Not too much time is spent on painting, but in the end you get a result that you want to demonstrate to everyone around you. It is these facts that owners of highlighting of this type note, recommending that all girls try this method.

execution technique

In this case, the strands located on top are highlighted. To begin with, a thin strand is separated, which will be visible in the palm of your hand, and then a strand for highlighting is selected from it in a zigzag.

The lightener must be applied to the foil, and then put the hair there and wrap the foil. As you can see, the method is quite similar to the previous one, but they should not be confused, since the effect is significantly different.

To secure the foil to the hair, the corners need to be bent, squeezing tightly. After 15-30 minutes, you can already wash off the paint with shampoo and balm with a healing effect.

For dark-haired girls, highlighting helps change their appearance without drastic changes.

This is a quick way to add fresh notes to your image, ennoble the hair mass, and give it special visual effects.

Much has been developed interesting options this type of coloring. Let's figure out who needs highlighting on dark hair and what kind of highlighting it is (there are a lot of photos in the article), whether you can do it beautifully with your own hands and how professionals do it.

Popular types and techniques

It was believed that only those with light hair could afford such coloring, but now highlighting is successfully done on dark blond and even black bases.

Contraindications to the procedure - recent perm and even regular coloring.

If you highlight your hair soon after curling, it will have a detrimental effect on the condition of your hair, it will become brittle and thin. Required to take a 4 week break.

Dark or light

Highlighting has been done for a long time, not only to lighten the strands, so when choosing a color you should not limit yourself to bleaching compounds.

You can use dark colors in tones close to natural. The hairstyle will gain additional volume and “sparkle” in artificial light and in the sun.

Externally, this type of coloring resembles.

Modern beautiful highlights for dark hair middle length, photo:

Venetian

It is done on natural dark strands or dyed in a dark color. Ideal color from chocolate or black shade palette, but the master makes the final decision based on the tone of the hair.

Usually 4–6 different shades are applied, without foil. The paint dries naturally, and the strands produce a natural transition from tone to tone.

Coloring begins approximately 3 cm from the roots. The closer to the ends, the lighter the strand becomes.

This type of coloring is suitable girls of the “winter” and “autumn” type, it looks good framing dark or tanned skin.

Venetian highlighting in the photo:

Venetian highlighting - video tutorial:

French

Another option for gentle highlighting. Suitable for light brown base, performed with paints that lighten the strands by 4 tones.

You can choose several tones, and the palette ranges from milky white to beige and golden yellow.

This method is not suitable for very dark hair., but on light brown and light brown hair the results look great.

French highlighting in the photo:

Classic

Popular among women of all ages. Strand thickness - 3-5 mm The thinner they are, the more natural the result looks.

First, a lightening agent is used along the entire length of the strand, and then the total mass of hair is tinted along the entire length. Preference pastel colors - pearl, beige, mother-of-pearl.

This method helps brunettes become blondes by coloring only half of the total volume.

Classic highlighting, photo:

Grey, white and ash

Ash highlighting suitable for dark-haired women with fair, cool-toned skin and blue or gray-blue eyes. It neutralizes excessive blackness, brings fresh notes to the appearance and makes it more expressive.

Girls use this method to achieve a stylish look, and older women hide their gray hair.

The ashen color should be handled with care, because it is quite capricious. In combination with your appearance type, you can get a completely unexpected and even unwanted effect.

If used for highlighting grey colour , then black will appear more clearly, unlike ash, which blurs, smoothes, and softens the contrast.

Ash (gray) highlighting on dark hair, photo:

Highlighting with gray hair ashen color, photo:

Redhead

The red color makes the look bright and dynamic. The result will look unusual. To create the illusion of glare, dye thin strands.

On a light brown or chestnut base, you can additionally use bronzing - this combination will add volume.

For example, on a chestnut basis you can combine red, brown, white and milky colors.

Light red highlights (dyeing strands with red color) - in the photo:

American

Performed with foil, which is used to wrap dyed strands. This method is used for thick and/or curly hair.

You can create interesting effects in your hairstyle, because by using foil, you can select individual strands, isolating them from neighboring ones and preventing them from coloring.

After the procedure, the hair looks as if it has been bleached by the sun's rays.

Fashionable American highlighting - in the photo:

Brazilian

This is a variety highlighting method. The master strives to achieve as natural a color as possible.

The dyed strands look as if they have faded under the hot rays of the summer sun.

This effect can be achieved by lightening. The roots retain their natural color, so you won’t have to worry about frequent touch-ups in the future.

Because the no foil is used, adjacent strands are slightly dyed. Natural color is achieved.

Brazilian highlights for dark long hair, photo:

Colored

This method involves the use of dyes of different colors and shades. It is usually preferred by bold, extravagant girls, choosing bright colors.

The advantage of technology is no pre-clarification required. Older women choose this type of coloring because it hides gray hair well.

You can separate both thick and thin strands. Foil is required so that the colors do not accidentally mix during painting.

Unusual color highlighting - in the photo:

Small or large

Fine highlighting used in cases where it is necessary to hide gray hair.

It takes a very long time (up to 6 hours), so it is more often used on short hair, and no more than 40% of the hair is dyed.

Large highlighting used to accent and highlight individual curls.

Example of heavily highlighted dark hair, photo:

Option for fine highlights for medium-length dark hair, photo:

Frequent or rare

Highlighting differs in color and degree of saturation of the hairstyle with shades.

If bright colors are used, creative highlighting is suitable for dark hair with lightening of small, sparsely located strands.

If a girl with dark hair wants to become a blonde, but does not dare, it will do dyeing frequently spaced strands.

Frequent (thick white) highlighting - in the photo:

Rare highlights on dark hair, photo:

Zonal (partial)

Not the entire head is highlighted, but individual strands or sections, while the lower hair remains untouched.

Usually for this purpose strands near the face are selected, which helps give the image freshness.

What does zonal (partial) highlighting look like on dark hair, photo:

Color spectrum

The products used are the same as for traditional coloring., but since the procedure is complex, it will often be too expensive financially, it is better to take a line of professional, slower-washing products - those that can be combined with each other to achieve interesting color compositions.

You can choose either natural or extravagant shades. You need to focus on the general style.

There is a rule that helps you choose your shade: it should be 2 shades lighter than the shade of your eyes and skin and 3 shades lighter than your natural hair shade.

When dyeing dark strands in light colors, the natural range is given priority- ocher, wheat, gold belong to warm shades and naturally combine with dark colors. Here - cognac, copper, caramel, chestnut.

But do not underestimate cool tones, especially if the main hair color belongs to a cool range.

Goes well with very dark cool toned bases blueberry colors, and warm bronze and chocolate. It’s difficult, but since professional services are expensive, girls try to do their makeup themselves.

If you have no skills at all, It’s better to start with a simple method - performing the procedure with a comb.

A more difficult option is to use a cap, because pulling out strands on the sides and back of the head is difficult even with two mirrors.

If you want to use foil, it is better to do highlighting on dark hair at home with the help of an assistant with the skills to use technology.

Selection of oxidizing agent

Any technique and light or dark paint can be used. When purchasing an oxidizing agent, you need to pay attention to its concentration:

  • for brown-haired women - 6-9%;
  • for thick dark hair - 9-12%.

If you take strands of different widths, you will get the effect of voluminous hair.

Before washing off the brightening agent, you need to check whether the color has reached the required level. To do this, select the last colored strand.

Depending on the length - on short, medium or long curls

The technique depends on the length of the hair.

Short ones (up to 15 cm) can be painted through a cap, while long ones can be treated with household foil. It is better to do this with the help of an assistant, because separating the strands on the back of your head is very inconvenient.

If thick long hair is highlighted at home, it is better to divide the process into two stages.

First, the back of the head is processed, which after time is washed and dried, and then the remaining areas of the head are processed.

This is done so that there is no sharp contrast between the strands dyed first and last.

After all, a non-specialist spends more time performing all operations. The first strands of hair will take too long to dye.

Highlighting on dark hair, video master class:

Special technologies

At home you can perform highlighting on the backcomb. To do this, short hair is combed and a lightening composition is applied with a brush with light strokes over the surface of the resulting “hairstyle”, which is kept for the required time and washed off.

The result is very interesting - chaotic thin strokes scattered throughout the head.

You can also dye short hair using elastic bands., for which the hair is divided into 8-12 sections, on each of which a ponytail is made, secured with an elastic band.

The prepared coloring composition is applied with a brush to the tips of the ponytails, making neat feathers.

Those with curls can achieve a frosted effect, distributing the dye with gloved hands over freshly washed, damp hair.

To do this, the head is tilted down and the composition is distributed evenly over individual strands.

How to fix a bad paint job

After several highlights of dark hair, the original pattern is distorted, the shades are mixed, and the strands cease to appear clearly.

If the result is not satisfactory, reverse highlighting technique will help out, which allows you to correct the result after poor-quality painting or repeated use of the method.

You can also gradually return to your original color, refresh your usual highlighting scheme, or hide growing roots.

Natural color is used to correct the result, for which, when selecting paint, a strand from the back of the head is selected. But you can use any dark shade close to natural.

Perform coloring can be done with foil or through a cap. You can look beautiful without waiting several months for poorly colored strands to grow back and be cut off.

Highlighting on dark hair - before and after photos:

It is often better not to do highlighting on a dark base, otherwise the hairstyle will soon stop looking good.

It is preferable to avoid surface highlighting, because in windy weather the unpainted parts of the head will be clearly visible, and this will look unsightly.

High-quality coloring will give dark hair an interesting shade. and will make the hairstyle voluminous, and so that the procedure does not harm, the hair needs appropriate care.

If a girl wants to slightly refresh her look and make it more attractive, she can use the technique of lightening her locks. Highlighting can be done at home by yourself, using various devices. There are several types of this type of hair coloring, so we will talk a little more about each of them.

In detail, we will analyze only the technique using foil, since it is as simple and effective as possible. It is not at all necessary to use exclusively light colors of paint; you can use bright colored shades to give your hair style, or try it on blonde hair ah darker types of paints.

How can you paint at home?

You can do highlighting at home on your own long hair; the classic option is to use special thermal paper or regular foil. If the first option is difficult to find, then foil can be bought at any store. This is the method used in salons, and it is also easy to use at home. To obtain the desired effect, a chemical coloring composition is applied to the strands, and then the hair is wrapped in foil.

It is also very easy to lighten strands using a cap. This is the most popular method for home use. Holes are made in the cap through which small strands are taken out and dyed in the desired shade. But this option is suitable for those ladies who have short hair.

Important advice from the editors!

If you want to improve the condition of your hair, you should pay special attention to the shampoos you use. A frightening figure - 97% of shampoos from well-known brands contain substances that poison our body. The main components due to which all the troubles on the labels are designated as sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, coco sulfate. These chemicals destroy the structure of the curls, the hair becomes brittle, loses elasticity and strength, and the color fades. But the worst thing is that this nasty stuff gets into the liver, heart, lungs, accumulates in organs and can cause cancer. We advise you not to use products that contain these substances. Recently, experts from our editorial team conducted an analysis of sulfate-free shampoos, where products from Mulsan Cosmetic took first place. The only manufacturer completely natural cosmetics. All products are manufactured under strict quality control and certification systems. We recommend visiting official internet store mulsan.ru. If you doubt the naturalness of your cosmetics, check the expiration date; it should not exceed one year of storage.

You can also do highlighting at home with your own comb. In this case, a dye is applied to a comb with large and sparse teeth. It is enough to comb your hair with such a comb and leave the paint for a while to work.

It is worth considering that without proper preparation, the result may not be as expected. Experts recommend using a color a couple of shades lighter than your own.

How to do classic highlighting with foil?

Necessary materials:

  1. Composition for lightening curls. It is better to use high-quality dyes so as not to damage your hair.
  2. A special brush for applying the substance to strands. You can replace it with a toothbrush or simply apply it with your hands.
  3. Foil or thermal paper. It is best to purchase specially prepared ones, which are cut into squares. But it will also work in a roll.
  4. A hair comb and a wide-tooth comb. A long comb with a thin handle, it is necessary for selecting thin locks.
  5. Protective rubber or polyethylene gloves.
  6. A cape to protect clothes from dyes.
  7. Container for paint, glass or ceramic.

If you wish, you can look for a complete coloring kit in cosmetic stores; it contains everything you need to carry out this procedure.

Stages of the procedure:

  1. To do highlighting at home for yourself, you can watch a video on how to do it correctly. In general, carrying out the procedure on your own is quite problematic, so it’s worth enlisting help. If there is no assistant, then the girl will need two large mirrors; a chair is placed between them so that the back of the head is clearly visible.
  1. Now we begin preparing the equipment, we should start with thermal paper, it is cut into strips. They should have a width of about ten centimeters, and the length is calculated individually according to the length of the curls. It is worth considering that the strip should be slightly longer than the strands. A cape is placed on the shoulders, and then the dye is diluted according to the suggested instructions.
  1. The hair is divided into several zones; the sides and the back of the head are necessarily separated to make working with curls more convenient. Each part is secured with hairpins. It is best to divide your entire hair into eight different sections, so you can quickly and easily color it. There are two zones on the sides, the back of the head is also divided into two parts, plus the side curls can be divided into two sections. Dyeing begins exclusively from the back of the head, and it is necessary to take the bottom strand.
  1. Use a long comb handle to separate out a strand, then darn it and divide it into three separate thin ones. A fold is made on a piece of paper, and then the foil is placed under the strand. The bend is necessary so that the paint does not leak onto unpainted curls. The brush is dipped into the paint, and then the composition is applied to the curl with careful movements, making sure to leave about a centimeter from the roots. The foil is folded in half, thereby covering the already colored strand.
  1. Next, the next strand is separated, secured with a special clamp, and left in this position, since there is no need to dye it. In this way, the entire selected section on the back of the head is designed. The strands must alternate with each other, this is the only way to get perfect highlighting.
  1. If the strands are naturally light and need to be lightened slightly, then you can keep the dye on for only twenty minutes. On dark hair, the time is increased to forty minutes. Once the time is up, you can remove the foil and then wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner. If the result is too pronounced, you can use a cosmetic toner.

Nuances of the procedure:

  1. Before removing all the foil, you should first remove only one piece of paper from the curl. If the coloring was successful, you can remove the rest. When the result does not suit the lady, you can increase the dyeing time to forty-five minutes. Still, it is not recommended to keep the composition on the strands longer, so as not to damage the curls.
  1. Each area can be stained at a different rate. If most of the strands are already well colored, and some strands have not yet received the required shade, they are simply dried with a hot hairdryer. Thus, the dyeing process is accelerated.
  1. If a lady has thick and porous curls, then she should divide the dyeing process into several stages. First, one section is painted, and after washing off the paint, proceed to the other.

Dyeing, which was especially popular in the early 2000s, is now back in fashion. It has become more neat and thoughtful; the master’s goal is not only to lighten individual strands, but to make the hairstyle more structured, to add liveliness and volume. There are several types of highlights for dark hair, so every girl can choose the appropriate option.

During the procedure, the master separates the strands and dyes them in the chosen shade. Lightening paint is pre-used. To prevent the composition from getting on other strands, professionals put a special cap with slits on the client’s head.

Through the holes, strands of the required thickness are taken out and dyed. If necessary, they are wrapped in foil.

If not classic highlighting is done, but more modern balayage, bronding or similar techniques, a cap is not used. It will not provide the necessary gradual transition of colors, which allows you to simulate glare from the sun's rays.

Types of highlighting for dark hair

For brown-haired women and brunettes, properly done highlighting looks especially advantageous. If you choose the perfect technique and shades, even the most damaged and thin dark hair will look gorgeous.

Depending on the hair type and the final result, colorists suggest choosing the following types of highlighting:

  • classic;
  • zonal;
  • armoring;
  • Venetian;
  • ombre;
  • coloring;
  • blonding;
  • partial highlighting;
  • balayage;
  • shatush.

Sometimes the differences between highlights are almost invisible, but the effect can be completely different.

There is also a difference in the paint application process. Therefore, to achieve an optimal result, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the main features of coloring.

This is exactly the coloring that became the progenitor of the now so popular balayage, shatush and other techniques. Classic highlighting for dark hair involves lightening thin strands. It is advisable that the strand thickness does not exceed 3-5 mm.

Professional colorists recommend using a cap with slots to get as many strands as thin as possible. A bleaching compound is applied to them. After lightening individual strands, the entire mass of dark hair is tinted with regular dye. Pearl and mother-of-pearl shades look especially beautiful.

Zonal

This method is ideal for women who are concerned about the quality of their hair and do not want to spoil it with serious bleaching. The essence of the procedure is that individual strands are lightened only on the surface of the hair.

The master does not touch the strands at the back of the head or behind the ears, so he does not use a cap. Zonal highlighting on dark hair will help imitate glare from the sun's rays and add volume to the hairstyle.

Coloring is as gentle as possible and practically does not damage. There is only one drawback: if you want the dyed strands to be visible, you will only have to wear a straight parting. The bulk of the hair remains its natural dark color.

Another name for this coloring technique is multi-color highlighting.

With classic highlighting dyeing, only one color of dye is used to give the bleached strands the desired shade. When bronding, the master selects several tones that are as close as possible to natural, but differ in the light side.

The correct placement of shades will help create a smooth and natural color transition.

With perfect bronzing, dark hair becomes shiny and full of life. It seems as if such a stunning color came from nature.

The main principle of this coloring is naturalness. Colorists never choose contrasting colors; on the contrary, for Venetian highlighting on dark hair you will need a dye that differs from the natural color by a maximum of 2 tones, no more.

The strands are colored in a chaotic manner, as with balayage and shatush. The main difference from these techniques is that the paint is applied starting from the roots, and not from the middle of the length. Then the coloring composition is carefully shaded. No foil or highlighting cap is used.

Venetian and Californian highlighting are almost identical techniques. The only difference is that “Venetian” is more suitable for girls with dark hair, and Californian coloring will highlight the beauty of blondes.

In 2015-16 This coloring was a real hit. Initially, ombre imitated dark regrown roots, but over time it was slightly modified and became more natural.

The main difference between ombre and more classic types of highlighting is that the color transition between the natural shade and coloring is specially made very clear and noticeable.

To dye dark hair, both blonde and less contrasting colors are used. Most girls prefer naturalness, but such highlighting on dark hair looks great with eggplant, red or any other bright color.

At first glance, it looks very similar to the standard highlighting technique. But there is an obvious difference. Coloring involves the use of several colors, and they do not necessarily have to be close to the natural shade of dark hair.

If with classic highlighting there is not always a need to tint bleached strands, then when coloring after lightening, the hair must be dyed.

These can be either wide strands or smaller and thinner ones.

The most popular shades for such highlighting on dark hair are: copper, chestnut, eggplant, red, cognac, honey.

Both adherents of natural coloring and connoisseurs of bright and extreme colors will be pleased with high-quality coloring.

This dyeing method is perfect for those who want to smoothly transition from dark hair color to blonde.

Compared to classic bleaching, bleaching is much more gentle. A woman has the opportunity to treat her hair before coming to the next highlighting session with a colorist.

This way you can achieve both light brown and lighter shades. A specialist will help you choose the right tone: warmer or cooler, beige, platinum, golden.

Partial highlighting

This technique is similar to zone coloring, but slightly different. Partial highlighting on dark hair is necessary to liven up the hairstyle.

Dyed strands will help structure your hair and add volume. The technology is ideal for those who are not ready for drastic changes, but want to change their image a little.

The basis of coloring is the color stretching technique. The dye is applied to the hair starting from the middle of the length, the roots are not affected.

Balayage is ideal for girls with any natural hair color. Color transitions should be as invisible as possible; the less pronounced the contrast, the more natural the result looks.

The colorist’s task when performing shatush is to imitate the glare of the sun and light natural burnout.

This type of highlighting is characterized by horizontal color transitions and smoothing of contrast. If you need gentle coloring and want to make the natural color brighter, shatush is an ideal option.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any beauty procedure, highlighting on dark hair has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are as follows:

  • highlighting is a gentle dyeing technique, since the dye only reaches half of the hair;
  • perfectly helps to disguise the appearance of gray hairs;
  • correctly positioned colored strands will help emphasize advantages and hide flaws;
  • dark hair looks refreshed and voluminous;
  • most highlighting techniques do not affect the roots, so there is no need to spend money on dye and hairdresser services every month;
  • if you fail to achieve the desired result, you can quickly return to the previous hair color;
  • some coloring technologies will help emphasize multi-level haircuts: ladder or cascade;
  • You can choose the type of highlighting for hair of any length and structure.

The disadvantages are minor. A full highlighting procedure takes several hours, so it is better to set aside a free day for this. If ordinary monochromatic coloring can be done independently at home, you should turn to professionals for highlighting.

Important! You should definitely notify your colorist if your hair has recently been dyed with henna or permed. This can be harmful and not lead to beautiful and renewed dark hair, but to a completely unpredictable result.

How to choose the right colors

Every girl wants to follow everyone modern trends and be the most fashionable, but when choosing shades you must be guided by some important principles. Otherwise the result will not be emphasized natural beauty, and in some cases even ruin your appearance.

For brown-haired women with warm undertones, strands dyed in shades of honey, cognac or caramel are well suited. Ocher, gold or wheat are perfect. If you need to transition from dark hair color to blonde, the option of highlighting individual strands will help you do this gradually and with virtually no traumatic effects.

Brunettes should pay attention to chocolate or blueberry tones. They do not contrast too much with the main tone of the hair, but will help highlight the natural beauty. Dark copper or bronze will help imitate beautiful sun glare and add volume to even thin straight hair.

A great option for those who want to add some spice and brighten up the look is to make individual strands bright red. This highlighting is suitable for both brunettes and brown-haired women.

For girls who like more extreme options, blue, eggplant, red and any other tones are suitable. The advantage of blue-black hair is that it can be combined with almost any bright colors, so the full scope of imagination is welcome.

How to choose your own paint

To highlight dark hair, use conventional coloring compounds. But experts recommend not saving money and choosing professional dyes that are guaranteed not to harm your hair. Some companies produce full-fledged highlighting kits, which include all the necessary chemical compositions, gloves, a hat with slits and a hook for pulling out strands. Professional paint is characterized by a thick consistency, thanks to which it is well fixed on the strands and does not flow down.

The best companies producing dye for dark and blond hair are:

  • L'Oreal;
  • Estel;
  • Garnier;
  • Palette.

If you can't buy an expensive one professional paint, it is recommended to focus on the products of these companies.

How to dye dark hair yourself

You can do highlighting at home, but it is advisable to have at least minimal experience in coloring. There are several simple techniques.

With a cap

The advantage of this highlighting technology is that it is suitable even for beginners. To do this, you need to buy a special cap or cut small holes in your swimsuit. Then put it on your head and use a crochet hook to pull out strands of the required thickness. The technique is ideal for highlighting short or medium length hair.

Using a special brush, a coloring composition is applied to the pulled out strands. You need to start from the forehead, moving first to the temples and then to the back of the head. After this, note the time and, after the expiration of the period, thoroughly rinse the dye from your hair. The cap can be removed only after washing your hair.

The result is classic highlighting. Most of the curls remain dark, and the colored strands look like “feathers”.

With foil

This method is ideal for coloring long hair. The convenience is that the necessary strands can be laid out on pieces of foil, carefully painted and wrapped. This is quite simple to do, the main thing is to properly separate the strands and apply the paint evenly.

When using this technology, dyeing of dark curls begins from the temporal zone. The foil must be tucked underneath, otherwise the paint may leak out. After applying the coloring composition to the strand, the ends of the foil are wrapped on the sides. If it doesn't hold well, you can secure it with a bobby pin.

Video: Professional coloring process

Rules for care after dyeing

Despite the fact that highlighting on dark hair is one of the most gentle techniques, the hairs still suffer and become dry. Some techniques involve painting a fairly large area, so the issue of care and restoration is especially acute.

Companies producing professional compositions for highlighting dark curls, they suggest buying sprays or masks that help restore bleached hair to a healthy state. The funds do not have to be expensive, they can be found quality products at an affordable price.

Since the hairs are already damaged, it is recommended to avoid blow-drying or using a hot iron or curling iron for some time after highlighting. This deforms the hair, making it weak and brittle.

It is imperative to use moisturizing masks and shampoos to saturate the cuticle and cortex with moisture, making them more resistant to mechanical damage and thermal effects. Masks based on eggs, sour cream, olive or any other natural oil have an excellent effect. Burdock and coconut oils are perfect for restoring after coloring, and it is recommended to apply amla oil to the ends.

Given that proper care highlighting on dark hair will become ideal option to update the image. Depending on the needs and tastes of a woman, you can do a more natural coloring or try to play with contrast. In any case, highlighting is a procedure that every girl should try.