Hair highlights and hair lowlights

Feeling bored with your current hair? Want something a bit different? Forget, flat single colour tints the latest thing is Highlights and Lowlights. There are two main approaches to highlights and lowlights.

• Current London fashion is for dramatic eye catching colours which stand out.
• But many people have jobs which dictate that they have more subtle and natural colourings.

Either approach will look Stunning!

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Highlights and Lowlights defined

• Hair Highlights – lighten and brighten hair.
• Hair Lowlights – darken and deepen.

You can expect about three colours to be used to create the shimmering multi-faced effect. ColourFactory technology ensures that ColourNation can produce exactly the colours needed to provide the look you want.

Permanent or Semi-permanent hair colour?

There are two types of colour available. A permanent colour will stay on your hair with little if any colour variation until you need to redo your hair due to regrowth (see below). Semi-permanent colour will fade over time but is generally kinder to your hair. Either colour will only colour the hair you have, new hair will regrow in your natural colour. This is why if you have brown hair and want to go blonde for example – regrowth will be very visible.

The Process

Colour is applied with a developer on to ‘sections’ or ‘slices’ of your hair. Foil is used to contain and separate the sections. You’ll then need to sit under a climazone heater for around 30 mins while the colour develops. Then your foils will be removed and you’re done. The process normally takes about an hour and a half.

Most stylists will colour your hair first and then style it but some will cut first and then colour – there’s no right or wrong way.

What’s the appeal?

Highlights and lowlights are perfect way to update your image without having to be too drastic. A single tone hair tint (one colour all over) for example will be immediately obvious to those who know you while a few highlights or lowlights can subtly change your look. It’s the difference between ‘you’ve coloured your hair’ and ‘you look good, something’s changed’.

Highlights and lowlights are also great when you’re in that transition phase from one style to another. They can help disguise the transition.

In summer normally our hair will be bleached to some degree by the sun. It’s one of the things people recognise as a sign of health and vitality. In winter there’s not much sun and certainly no bleaching effect so highlights and lowlights are a way for us to fake that summer ‘healthy’ look. Actually few of us work out in the sun even during summer (we’re all cramped in offices) so the only time we get real highlights is when we go on foreign holidays, so highlights and lowlights can be useful in summer as well (especially if we haven’t been on holiday but want to give that impression). It gives us a lift and stops our hair looking drab and dull.

Colour consultants will tell you that colour affects your mood – so anything that brightens your appearance (hair) will hopefully have an effect both on our own mood and we hope on those we meet.

Are they for me?

Pretty much anyone can benefit from highlights or lowlights. Any condition and/or length of hair can have highlights or lowlights. Your biggest question will be what colour to go for. Your stylist should be able to help you decide. As a general rule of thumb it’s best to only go three or four shades away from your natural colour (if you want the effect to look natural). If you want more dramatic pink or blue strands for example that’s also quite possible.

Will they damage my hair?

All hair processes will have some effect on your hair. However hair colouring technology has moved on a lot in the last ten years. Many colours today are semi permanent vegetable based dyes and therefore have minimal effect on your hair. Even where permanent colours are used the processes will plump up each of your hairs which will help them look fuller, thicker and healthier.

You should always ask your stylist for their recommended colour shampoo and conditioner to help you maintain your colour and the health of your hair.

Finally our ColourFactory technology mixes your colour fresh in salon which means that we use less ammonia than other colour formulations and therefore is better for the health of your hair.

The Price.

Prices will vary depending on how many highlights and lowlights you want (full head or half head) and the length of your hair. Good highlights should have several shades around the colours you’ve chosen to blend them in and make them look more natural. This is a fairly labour intensive process. Normally in London the price will vary from £100-£150. You should also be aware that the price won’t include a cut, that will be charged extra if required.

How long will they last?

Much will depend on your style, length and how fast your hair grows. Typically human hair will grow at 1cm per month. On a long style this might not show too badly and you maybe able to wait upto 12 weeks before needing to have them redone. If you have a short style a couple of cm’s can really stand out – you may want to retouch after 4-5 weeks.

It’s also worth considering that your natural hair colour will also dictate how quickly you’ll need to have your hair retouched. For example if your natural colour is back and you ha d blonde applied, even 1 cm of regrowing black might be too much for you. So think carefully about the colour you choose. If you choose a colour within a few shades of your natural colouring regrowth won’t be as obvious and therefore won’t need to be redone as frequently.

How to keep your hair colour.

Hair colours do fade over time whether permanent or semi-permanent. The main cause is oxidation in the air and the sun. The best way to protect your colour is to cover up when out in strong sunlight. Some products do contain sun blocking ingredients but they are rarely enough on their own. You should use a good quality colour shampoo and conditioner (available in salon) and use both regularly. Please don’t use something cheap from the supermarket they really don’t help your hair or colour.

At ColourNation we can offer a Colour Shampoo and Conditioner specifically created for your chosen hair colour in ColourFactory. This will add a semi-permanent hair colour to your hair as you wash which will enrich and prolong your colour between salon visits.