Since the early 2000s, hair highlighting has evolved significantly from the chunky blonde streaks. These days, the key is to give your hair a multifaceted, natural look that gives it shine and depth. There are countless ways to highlight your hair to fit your style and personality, from delicate sun-kissed strands to striking, attention-grabbing contrasts.
We’ll look more closely at some of the most widely used contemporary highlighting techniques in this post. Along with more recent styles like color melting and babylights, you’ll learn about traditional techniques like foil highlights and balayage. Whether you want to make a major change or just add a little extra shine, we’ll break down what makes each technique special and who they work best for.
We’ve also included images that demonstrate the outcomes of each highlighting technique to help you visualize these styles. You can choose the ideal look for your next salon appointment with plenty of inspiration and advice from this page, regardless of whether you’re thinking about a modest update or a dramatic transformation.
Type of Highlighting | Description and Photo |
Balayage | A hand-painted technique for a natural, sun-kissed look. Ideal for a low-maintenance style with soft, gradual color. |
Babylights | Delicate, fine highlights that mimic a child"s naturally light hair. Perfect for a subtle, brightened effect. |
Ombre | A gradient style with darker roots fading into lighter ends. Great for a bold, contrasting look. |
Foil Highlights | Traditional method using foil to create precise, even highlights from root to tip. Offers a more defined and intense color. |
- What can be staining options?
- Description of very beautiful and unusual varieties, their photos
- Classic
- Partial, or zonal
- Micro (small), middle and large
- Procorne
- Darning
- 3D
- Airtouch technique
- Melange selective
- Thin and frequent
- Rare
- Superficial
- Highlighting the ends
- Reverse highlighting of strands
- Diagonal lightening or "herringbone"
- French, or majimesh
- Salt and pepper
- Technique of execution "veil"
- Venetian
- Zebra
- Gentle
- Marble
- Mazhikontrast
- Brazilian
- American style
- Californian
- Colored
- Tiger"s eye
- Seamless, or mirror
- Hidden
- On half the head
- Video on the topic
- Hair highlighting. Hair highlighting techniques. Types of highlighting
- Highlighting photos.Highlighting on blondes with regrown roots.Highlighting on short hair.
What can be staining options?
Today’s world offers a wide variety of highlighting options. The distribution strategy, the width of the strands that are highlighted, and the staining techniques set them apart from one another. Certain highlights are only meant for short hair, while others are meant for longer hair.
Both new modern species and methods that have been studied for a long time exist. However, the attractive half of humanity continues to demand them all, and not just that.
The ones dubbed "zebra," "herringbone," and "tiger eye" are the most peculiar. The methods they use to separate the strands and apply the coloring agents are different.
Contemporary highlighting techniques are becoming more and more commonplace. These include ombre, balayage, marble, majimesh, and melange. The primary characteristic of the majority of these methods is the resultant sun-bleached hair.
How do you decide which method of dying individual strands is best for you? You must consider your hair’s color, length, structure, and condition when doing this. These are the primary ideas for developing a fresh look. Selecting a technique that goes with your look and style is crucial. We’ll explain the various kinds of highlighting.
This article provides a thorough overview of contemporary hair highlighting methods, dissecting the most common styles and their distinctive outcomes, which range from delicate balayage to striking foiling. With clear explanations and an assortment of images, you’ll discover what makes each style unique, who fits them best, and how they can change the way you look. Regardless of your desired look—a pop of color, dimension, or lightness—this review will assist you in selecting the ideal highlighting technique for your hair type and style objectives.
Description of very beautiful and unusual varieties, their photos
Classic
Suitable for any length of hair, light brown or dark. It is created by applying a coloring composition all the way down each individual strand, along with foil or hats.
Partial, or zonal
Implies dying individual hairs on a bang, in the face, on the top curls, or at the tips.
Micro (small), middle and large
Individual thin curls can be finely stained if you plan to go blonde in the future. His gray hair is well hidden.
To distribute contrast between the primary color and the lightened, average highlighting is applied.
A large species can be identified by the unusual hair that results from the lightening of several thick strands.
You can see what tiny highlighting looks like in the picture below:
You can see what typical highlighting looks like in the picture below:
You can see what large highlighting looks like in the following photo:
Procorne
Only meant for roots that had grown following the coloring process.
Darning
Three sections of hair are used for darning highlighting: from the forehead to the back of the head, from the temples to the back. Parts of the side are dyed across, while the center is dyed along.
3D
There are multiple shades in this coloring; the primary shade is one, and the other shades are adjacent. To achieve the desired visual volume and naturalness of the hair, the latter should be complementary to the primary color.
Airtouch technique
All hair types can wear it, but long hair will make it look the best. It’s crucial to select the appropriate shades and apply them evenly using a brush or comb when performing.
Melange selective
It’s highlighting done in the Californian style. Consequently, the hair appears to have been bleached by the sun.
Thin and frequent
A laborious process that involves dying the majority of the hair. You obtain a lovely, iridescent natural shade as a result.
Rare
Up to 40% of the hair is affected by a rare kind of selective coloring. You can use this technique to color small sections of hair, like bangs or ends. Though it’s not meant to cover up gray hair, it goes well with any color of hair.
Superficial
Highlighting the outermost layer of curls is done through dying. The process is kinder because not all of the hair is altered. attractive on straight hair.
Highlighting the ends
Will revitalize the appearance and give the hairdo a lovely appearance. This type has the benefit of only dying the ends of the hair, so it doesn’t need to be adjusted often.
Reverse highlighting of strands
It is done if the hair has become dry and has lost its natural appearance following the regular selective coloring. Here, to add expressiveness, individual strands are dyed a dark shade.
Diagonal lightening or "herringbone"
The light stripes converge at the back of the head to form an angle because they are coloring on the bias.
French, or majimesh
It is coloring with ammonia-free products and various techniques. Not recommended for people with dark hair because it can lighten by several tones.
Gives light curls a pearl or golden hue that looks great. The strands get shiny and bright.
Salt and pepper
The coloring in cold ash shades that define the "salt and pepper" technique are not for everyone. Your hair turns gray or silver, giving you a stunning appearance. A great way to cover up gray hair that doesn’t require frequent root zone coloring.
Technique of execution "veil"
Implies coloring the entire top layer of hair, and not selected strands, as a result of which a slight lightening appears.
We recommend watching this video about highlighting in the "veil" execution technique:
Venetian
Consists of a seamless transition between threads and a disorganized highlighting of each one. To achieve a natural look, close shades can be used. The end effect is the appearance of sunburned strands.
Zebra
This creative hair color technique alternates between light and dark curls that are all the same width.
We can refer to this style as "watermelon." Can be used to lighten dark strands of hair or add a dark shade to light hair.
Gentle
Products without ammonia that are meant to lighten hair by a few tones and that include beneficial ingredients for hydrating hair. This kind features curls that are highlighted at both the ends and the middle of the length.
Marble
Lets you selectively apply the dye under the foil after pre-dying your hair a single tone to give it visual volume.
Mazhikontrast
Made by vertically dying contrasting colors—like black and white—together. striking when worn with dark curls.
Brazilian
Adds the appearance of burned-out curls as well. Looks great on dark strands but pairs well with natural light brown ones. Only the latter needs the curls to be lightened beforehand.
American style
Has an effect akin to that of Californian selective dyeing. You can achieve naturalness in the hair as well as smooth transitions and overflows by combining two, three, or four shades.
Californian
Select those who prefer a softer dye technique to get the appearance of burned-out ends.
We recommend viewing the following video about Californian highlighting:
Colored
Colored individual strands will look great on exceptional young women because they highlight in vibrant hues like blue, red, yellow, and others. All you have to do is pick colors that go well with your image and complexion.
Tiger"s eye
The "tiger’s eye" variety looks stunning on chestnut and amber curls because the individually colored golden strands have a lovely, natural appearance.
We recommend viewing this video regarding tiger eye highlighting:
Seamless, or mirror
Will enable you to lighten specific strands for people who are unsure about making a drastic change to their appearance. doesn’t need to be colored frequently.
Hidden
The hair’s inner layers are colored to complete the look.
On half the head
Designed to draw attention to specific parts of the curls, like the front curls or bangs.
No matter what kind of highlighting is done, henna-dyed hair cannot have it done.
You’re at a loss for choices when it comes to highlighting methods and styles. In this instance, an expert will assist you in determining the best shade and style. After that, you’ll need to take extra care of the colored hair because, while highlighting curls is a kinder way to change your appearance, it also weakens the structure of your hair.
Highlighting has come a long way from the classic blonde streaks that many may recall from earlier times. These days, you can add depth, dimension, and personality to your hair in a variety of ways thanks to the many different techniques and styles available. There is a style that can fit your taste and personality, whether you prefer the delicate, sun-kissed look of balayage, the delicate glow of babylights, or the striking contrast of chunky highlights.
It’s important to take into account your natural hair color, texture, and level of maintenance commitment when choosing the best highlighting technique. While some techniques, like balayage, offer a more low-maintenance option that still grows out beautifully, others call for frequent touch-ups. You can determine the best strategy for getting the look you want while maintaining the health and vibrancy of your hair by speaking with a professional stylist.
In the end, the ideal highlight is the one that exudes confidence and uniquely represents your style. You can be as creative as you want with your hair thanks to the abundance of contemporary hair techniques available. Highlighting provides countless opportunities to transform your appearance and give your regular look a new, contemporary spin, from modest color changes to striking contrasts that turn heads.