Highlighting at home – 53 photos, step-by-step instructions on how to do highlighting yourself with your own hands

Without having to pay salon prices, highlighting your hair at home can be an enjoyable and creative way to update your appearance. From the comfort of your own bathroom, you can attain salon-quality results with the correct equipment and methods.

Even if you’ve never colored your hair before, you can still easily follow along with this guide as it will take you step-by-step through the process. Simple guidelines and practical advice are provided, and 53 images featuring various highlighting techniques will provide you with plenty of inspiration.

This post contains all the information you need to confidently highlight your hair at home, whether your goal is to achieve a subtle dimension or a bold, eye-catching transformation.

TOP 5 most popular hair highlighting techniques at home

The highlighting process was not particularly varied even twenty years ago. Almost everyone who had it had bleached, light yellow feathers that were not only more conspicuous in color than the rest of the hair, but also more rigid than the rest. The current state of affairs has drastically changed. Out of all the different approaches, these five are the most widely used.

Venetian highlighting

An excellent choice for gorgeous dark-haired women who like things natural. Highlighting is the haphazard coloring of hair in shades that are two to three tones lighter than the main color. This makes it feasible to replicate the highlights and tints of natural light on hair.

Californian highlighting

The method is based on traditional color-stretching highlighting. Because dyeing is done outside (without the use of foil or cellophane), the hair is not as damaged as it would be if it were done using conventional methods.

Almost all hair types and shades can use it, although light brown, blonde, and brown-haired people use it the most frequently.

Citation! Frequently, a paste made of beeswax is combined with the dye to aid in the pigment’s distribution and improve the condition of the flowers.

Ombre

Ombre is characterized by its dark roots and its smooth, gradient transition to lighter ends. One color is applied to the roots and a different one to the ends. Depending on the preferences of the client, the transition between shades can be either smooth or gentle. Thick, long hair with curls looks best with this coloring.

Shatush

Shatush: a coloring that resembles curls bleached by the sun, with a gentle change in tone from the dark roots to the lighter tips. The hairdresser combs the strands to be lightened first, applying the dye only after to create a natural effect. If the hair is severely damaged, careful brush shading is used in place of combing. The hairdresser selects two to four shades that are close to the primary hair color in order to create the most lifelike effect possible.

Majimesh

A kind of coloring that originated in France. is different from its predecessors in that it doesn’t contain ammonia. Ideal for blondes and women with brown hair who have never dyed their hair. The method gained particular popularity when well-known Hollywood blondes began utilizing it.

How to do highlights at home on foil?

If you are not experienced with dying and want to achieve traditional, zonal, or partial highlights, foil is a very handy tool.

Help!

To guarantee that the outcome fulfills your expectations, adhere to the subsequent detailed instructions:

1. Wash and dry your hair.
2. Divide your hair into 4-8 zones, securing each of them with an elastic band or clip.
3. Put on a peignoir or put on an old T-shirt that you won’t mind getting dirty.
4. Start from the back of the head: untie one “tail” and select the first thin strand for highlighting.
5. Take a strip of foil that fits the size of the strand and form a kind of open "envelope" with the matte side inside.
6. Carefully coat the strip from the inside with the dye and place it under the strand. Apply the dye to the hair on top as well.
7. Wrap the strand in foil, secure it with a clip if necessary and leave it for the time required for the effect.
8. After the time has elapsed, remove the foil from each strand. Take your time, wash off each strand in turn.
9. Apply a leave-in protective balm to your hair and let it dry naturally.

Kindly take note! If you are going to highlight in multiple colors, use colored foil. You can mark each color in this manner.

Highlighting at home yourself without foil

If foil isn’t your thing, try one of the following techniques.

Through a cap

Even a complete novice who has never dyed before can use a cap.

The only rule to follow is to never dye hair longer than 35 centimeters, as this can lead to tangles and a "spotty" appearance.

A hairdressing tool store sells caps; a rubber product is slightly more expensive but has a longer lifespan. If you intend to experiment, a polyethylene cap will serve you well as it is designed for one-time use. Thus, in order to highlight using a cap, you must:

1. Wash, dry and comb your hair thoroughly – this will help you avoid knots and tangling.
2. Put on the cap and straighten it on your head.
3. Using a hook (you can use a knitting hook), pull the strands out of the holes. Try to measure the same distance (2-3 cm) and a checkerboard pattern.
4. Dye the curls with paint and leave for action.
5. After the time has elapsed, rinse with running water and apply conditioner.

Using a hair dryer

"Airtouch" is another term for this technique. Its main function is to use blowing to distinguish between healthy and weak hairs.

• Divide your hair into several sections, securing them with ponytails or clips.
• Start from the back of your head: release one strand, take it at the base and direct the air stream. The hairs that have fallen out of the strand remain untouched. Color the rest with the selected dye using a brush, stepping back 2-3 cm from the roots.

Crucial! To lessen the trauma of coloring your hair, blow it with either warm or cold air.

Hydrogen peroxide

The least expensive, but also one of the riskiest, methods of lightening hair is peroxide bleaching. Only use this technique if you are certain of the strength, durability, and general health of your hair.

The same procedures as in the method with a highlighting cap should be repeated. Use a solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide in place of coloring pigment. If you don’t have a cap, curl your hair using cotton swabs that have been soaked in peroxide. Apply leave-in conditioner after rinsing with water after 30 minutes of use.

How to do root highlighting?

In contrast to the other methods, root highlighting involves coloring only the area where roots have grown. The original determines the dyeing technique. Refreshing the roots by yourself is very challenging because you have to replicate both the paint’s shade and the strands’ placement.

Herringbone pattern highlighting

You can achieve a seamless transition from light brown to blonde by using this technique. Only medium-thick straight hair is suitable. It is preferable to use a different method on thick, curly hair.

1. Divide the hair into a straight parting using a comb with a narrow handle.
2. Using the same comb, begin separating layers of strands on the left and right sides, moving from the center to the side and down, as if drawing a herringbone.
3. Using a brush, cover each strand with dye, stepping back a few centimeters from the roots.

Kindly take note! Asymmetrical hairstyles, bob-car, and gavroche haircuts all look fantastic with Herringbone highlighting.

Using ponytails

If you have short, curly hair that is the same length, ponytails are the perfect solution to make styling easier.

1. Divide the hair into equal squares of 3 by 3 cm in a checkerboard pattern and secure with an elastic band.
2. Repeat the action until all the hair is gathered into ponytails.
3. Put on gloves and spread the bleach over the ponytails with your fingertips and leave for the time required for the effect.
4. Remove the elastic bands and rinse the hair with running water.

Using lemon juice

Due to the gentle nature of the procedure, only those with naturally light and thin curls should consider it. Expect a delay of two to three procedures before seeing any noticeable results, as acid acts more slowly than ammonia.

Citation! The best lemon juice for lightening at home is 100% industrial lemon juice that is free of pulp and sugar. The sauces and spices section of your local supermarket is where you can purchase it.

1. Wash your hair and blow dry.
2. Put on a cap or make a few ponytails.
3. Using a coloring brush, apply the juice to the strands and let dry.
4. Rinse with warm running water and apply a leave-in conditioner.

Hand coloring without additional tools

If you’ve colored enough and know how to handle dyes, you can attempt highlighting without the need for extra tools. All you’ll need is some spare time and some disposable gloves. This method works well for lightening bangs, highlighting specific areas of the face, or a few strands framing the face.

1. Spray clean hair with water from a spray bottle and comb thoroughly.
2. Select the strands you want to color.
3. Take a little dye in your palms and distribute it over your hair like a mask or conditioner.
4. To speed up the effect, you can cover your head with a cellophane cap.
5. After the time has passed, rinse off the dye with water and apply hair conditioner.

What you need for highlighting at home? Necessary tools

Get yourself a basic set of hairdressing tools if you regularly dye your hair at home. This will expedite and broaden the dyeing procedure. You’ll require:

1. coloring brushes – 1 thin and 1 wide;
2. comb with a narrow handle;
3. ceramic or plastic bowls for mixing the coloring pigment;
4. cap with holes;
5. hairdressing foil.

An oxidizer and lightening powder are available for separate purchases. The acidity of oxidizers varies, whereby:

• for blondes and thin curls – 3%;
• for brown-haired and brunettes – 6%;
• for coarse and black hair of Asian type – 12%.

Popular highlighting kits TOP 3

If coloring is not your thing, a set of products will make your task much easier. Everything you need is already included: gloves, powder, oxidizer, and most importantly, thorough instructions. A respectable outcome will be much more achievable. The most popular sets are the next three.

Kapous Special Meshes

Italian cosmetics brand Kapous is well-known for its outstanding balance of reasonable cost and respectable quality. A home beauty arsenal swiftly replaced salons with the Special Meshes set of products because of their gentle composition and ease of use.

The manufacturer offered a broad range of warm and cool hues, so any girl could find something that worked for her.

Citation! The reason the hair stays alive despite the intensity of the effect is that ammonia is not present in the coloring composition. The addition of liquid silk proteins to a balm aids in perfecting the outcome.

Schwarzkopf Professional

At home, pure blond with an 8-shade lightening effect? With Schwarzkopf Professional’s Igora product line, it’s now feasible. Each hair is intensely lightened by the powder’s special formula, and unwelcome yellowness and greenery are kept at bay by the oxidizer’s anti-yellow effect.

Estel play

These highlighting sets are relatively new to the market, but already a large number of customers have been won over by their remarkable shades and varied color palette. This is what you need if you want to play around with color and add highlights to your hair that are red, purple, yellow, or even green.

Hair highlighting paint at home – TOP 5 best

Majimeches from Loreal

Producer: France

One feature that sets this paint apart from others is the unique highlighting comb. This makes applying the coloring composition using the majimesh technique much easier.

The products are good for weak and thin hair because of their soft and gentle composition.

Cost starts at 770 rubles.

Revlonissimo NMT Super Blondes by Loreal

Producer: France.

Another excellent Loreal home lighting product. With the help of the palette’s seven opulent blonde shades, you can conceal the first signs of gray hair and do subtle highlighting.

Starting at 720 rubles

Wella Magma

Producer: Germany

A useful collection of items for color toning and lightening at the same time. Ten shades of differing intensities are included in the line, and they can be combined to create new color combinations.

There are three to five uses for the color stabilizer and highlighting dye included in the package.

Please note!

Cost starts at 2000 rubles.

Schwarzkopf Blondme Lifting

Producer: Germany

Brightening cream that can be used for both highlighting and full coloring. offered by the manufacturer in six blond hues, ranging from the coolest to the warmest. The product’s benefit is that the cream tones and lightens skin simultaneously.

Cost starts at 480 rubles.

Hair Company Inimitable Blond

Producer: Italy

Cream paint for two-in-one hair lightening and toning. delivers intense coloring in one of nine noble shades of blond, along with pure lightening by 4-6 tones. includes extracts from white pearls and silk peptides.

Cost: starting at 420 rubles per unit.

How to conduct an allergy test?

The coloring composition is made up of a number of different chemicals, one of which could potentially cause skin allergies. It can manifest in a variety of ways, ranging from a slight redness to a severe rash and heat. The allergen may even occasionally result in localized baldness. Because of this, manufacturers highly advise performing a preliminary test to rule out an allergic reaction.

1. Apply a small amount of the dye behind the ear or on the elbow.
2. Wait 40-60 minutes.
3. After the time has elapsed, check the condition of the skin – if even minimal redness and itching appear, you will have to stop using this product.

How to choose a good color?

The immediate result of a poorly executed coloring job is that the hair color strongly matches the skin and eye tones, giving the appearance of fatigue, redness, or "aging." Determine your color type and work from there when selecting a pigment if you don’t want the outcome to be different from what you had in mind. Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer are the four seasons.

Winter

A striking, vivid, and unforgettable appearance. There are two possible skin tones: very light and very dark. This also holds true for eye color: the iris can be coal-black or, on the other hand, very transparent blue. Typically, hair is noticeably dark. If this is your color type, be mindful of ash and silver tones as well as cool chocolate tones.

Spring

People with this color type have a gentle, warm appearance similar to that of spring. The skin is warm, pale pink or peach, and the eyes are typically blue or green. The hair may be white, golden, sand-colored, or red. Selecting hues from the natural, warm color spectrum—such as light brown, golden, and natural red—is also preferable.

Summer

Summer’s characteristics include her medium-blond hair, cold skin tone, light eyes, and low contrast appearance. All blond tones, from platinum to natural, are safe for girls to play with.

Autumn

A warm and striking color type, defined by olive skin, warm green or brown eyes, and hair ranging from naturally red to brunette. Shades of honey, golden, brown, and dark red work well for staining.

How to achieve color without yellowness?

You can permanently get rid of the "chicken" yellow color on your hair by adhering to these easy guidelines:

• If your hair needs a haircut, then cut it first, and only then dye it. The same applies to treatment. Pigment is washed out of healthy hair much more slowly than from porous and dehydrated hair.
• Do not prepare the dye several hours before application – this will lead to oxidation, and as a result, to a yellow tint in the hair.
• Dye your hair, starting from the back of the head. The back of the head is the coldest hairy part of the scalp and, accordingly, the dye will begin to act later. Therefore, in order for the dyeing result to be uniform, dye this area first.
• Do not skimp on the dye – each strand should be evenly covered with the bleach.
• Do not lighten your hair by 6-8 shades at once – otherwise you will get a dirty result and dried out strands.
• If your hair was dyed dark, wash it off first and only then start bleaching.

Kindly take note! Special "anti-yellow" tonics and shampoos in purple, pink, blue, or silver are available for purchase.

Common mistakes

Not all issues with yellow color occur when home highlighting is done. Your hair might just degrade and turn into straw as a result of coloring, and your expectations might not match reality at all. Why does this occur? Let’s solve it together!

1. You do not follow the instructions – you mix the ingredients “by eye” and also keep the mixture on your hair for as long as you like. This can affect the intensity and purity of the resulting color.
2. You neglect the allergy test, justifying your decision by the fact that you used this dye before and nothing happened. Consider the fact that manufacturers often change the chemical composition of their products.
3. You don"t try on your hair color – you decided to radically change your image, relying only on the image in your head or the photo on the paint package. You can"t predict the result and therefore it turns out not the way you expected to see it.
4. You don"t wash off your styling products. Of course, the dye goes on better on stale hair, but this only applies to those cases when there is no styling product on your hair. If you don"t wash off the hairspray or styling foam, the coloring will be spotty.
5. You dye your eyebrows and eyelashes with hair dye. Eyebrows should be in the same color range as your hair, but this doesn"t mean that they need to be dyed with the same dye as your hair. The skin of your face and the scalp are very different in sensitivity. this can cause an allergic reaction.

Without going to the salon, highlighting your hair at home is an easy and affordable way to update your appearance. With simple tools and straightforward methods, you can create gorgeous highlights on your own with the help of step-by-step instructions and helpful photos. From preparation to application, this guide takes you step-by-step through the entire process, guaranteeing expert results from the comfort of your own home.

Photo after highlighting at home

On dark hair

Venetian highlights and ombre look best on hair that is dark blond, black, or chestnut in color. Color changes appear as organic as possible while also being contrasting.

For light hair

Light hair frequently has less visible texture and volume. This issue can be resolved by underlining. The image becomes much more refined and well-groomed with just a few lighter color strokes.

For light brown

Light brown hair is a true blessing for those who enjoy playing around with looks. Californian highlighting will help you achieve a romantic carelessness with your hair, while majimesh will give you a true French chic look that combines elegance and simplicity.

For red hair

Since natural red hair is so uncommon, is there anything that could possibly improve it? But if a true color expert does your hair, you can be sure that it will shine!

For short hair

Cuts this short are audacious and fearless. So why not use coloring to further highlight your distinct style? It looks good to have a barely perceptible web on the back of the head or to highlight the bangs locally.

For medium-length hair

The ideal length of hair to showcase the outcome of any coloring is medium-length. Try new things and experiment without fear! Remembering to take care of yourself is crucial.

For long hair

Luxurious hair that has been carefully and extensively tended to is long and silky. You can give them unique hues by highlighting in natural tones, and you can draw attention to your lively and mischievous side by coloring in vibrant neon colors.

Colored highlighting

Colored highlighting has become incredibly popular in recent years. To keep the rainbow strands hidden from prying eyes, you can either color only the lower layers of hair on the back of the head or make obvious color accents.

Ash color

Gray hair and aging have long been linked to noble, silvery highlights in hair. The skin and eyes of cold shades are favorably shaded by ash strands.

Red highlights

Are the red, amber, copper, golden, and honey-colored strands in your hair not a true flame? Red hair draws attention and gets lots of praise.

Pink

What better way to characterize the color pink than as delicate, doll-like, and girlie? Pink curls draw attention to your innocent spontaneity and romantic side. Furthermore, pink hair works well on blondes and brunettes alike.

Black and white

The terms "zebra," "watermelon," and "striped" are used interchangeably to describe monochromatic, black-and-white highlights. It appears very ornate.

Red

For bold and self-assured young ladies, red is a solution. The transition from dark roots to fiery red tips is particularly striking.

Violet

Grandmothers no longer have to have violet hair. Soft, plumy, or eye-catching neon hues work well on girls with "warm" color-type dark hair, such as Autumn or Spring.

Aid! If you use undiluted anti-yellow tonic on gray or bleached hair, you may unintentionally end up with purple strands.

Care after the procedure

No matter how delicate, highlighting dries out and weakens the hair shafts. Use these suggestions to help your curls "come to life" and heal as soon as possible:

1. Do not wash your hair the day before the procedure and for another 3 days after it. This way, the water-fat balance of the scalp will be restored much faster.
2. Buy a special shampoo, balm and leave-in care from the series “for highlighted, colored and bleached hair”. In addition to nourishing and restorative components, they are also saturated with a formula against yellowing and color fading.
3. Let your hair “rest” for a month, until the next coloring. Remember – the more often you color your hair, the more creases and split ends are formed along the length.
4. Do not use a hair dryer and curling iron unless absolutely necessary – this deprives the hair of the remaining moisture.
5. Do not rub your hair with a terry towel – just squeeze it out slightly and blot it to remove excess moisture.
6. Do not comb your hair while it is wet – this will stretch the hair shafts too much and cause them to break.
7. Apply leave-in masks to slightly damp hair, paying special attention to the ends. Damp hair absorbs nutrients better and seals them inside as it dries.

TOP 5 tips

It’s time to take proactive and determined action to restore your hair if the aforementioned care tips were ineffective for you:

1. Massage. Massage the root zone with your fingers, a special massager or a massage comb. This will increase local blood circulation and improve the nutrition of the hair follicles.
2. Give preference to natural materials. It has been proven that combs made of natural bristles or wood do not electrify hair and tangle it much less.
3. Take care of your nutrition – add as many protein-containing products to your diet as possible. If necessary, take special vitamin supplements for hair with calcium and keratin.
4. Try cowashing – this is washing your hair with only conditioner rinse. According to reviews, this helps to restore the natural water-fat balance of the scalp in a short time.
5. Consult a doctor. If your hair has started to fall out, break and break and all the above tips do not stop this destructive process, a trichologist can help you.

Hair toning after highlighting at home

Once the scales have been dyed, they must be tinted in order to seal the loss of natural color pigment. If not, the lighter strands will quickly fade and stiffen up considerably more than the bulk of the hair.

Citation! Hair is seriously stressed out after both toning and highlighting, so give it a few days between treatments.

All hair is typically tinted following highlighting; this procedure is essentially the same as standard coloring. Use 2-in-1 highlighting and toning compositions or leave this task to a professional if the highlighting needs to be contrasting. An average home toning instruction is provided below:

1. Spray your hair with a spray bottle and comb.
2. Using a comb with a narrow comb, divide your hair into several sectors and fix with clips.
3. Smear the hairline and ears with a thick cream.
4. Cover yourself with a peignoir or put on an old, unnecessary T-shirt.
5. Put on protective gloves and mix the dye.
6. Undo the "ponytail" at the back of your head, and begin coloring, moving from the back of the head to the temples, from the temples to the crown and forehead.
7. Wait the time required for the effect and rinse your hair with water.

Step	Description
1. Prepare your tools	Gather highlighting kit, gloves, brush, comb, and foils.
2. Section your hair	Divide your hair into smaller sections for even highlights.
3. Apply the bleach	Use the brush to apply bleach to the selected strands, using foil to separate them.
4. Wait for the bleach to process	Leave the bleach on for the recommended time, checking the color regularly.
5. Rinse and tone	Wash the bleach out and apply toner to achieve the desired shade.
6. Style your hair	Dry and style your hair to see the final result of your highlights.

Without going to the salon, highlighting your hair at home is a fantastic way to update your appearance. These detailed instructions, along with the appropriate tools and patience, will help you achieve stunning, natural-looking results.

Don’t forget to select a highlighting kit based on the color and type of your hair. Take your time when completing the application to prevent errors, and make sure you’re satisfied with the results by testing a small portion first.

With more experience, you’ll become more comfortable doing your own highlights, which will allow you to save time and money without sacrificing a polished appearance. Just be mindful of the instructions and relish your new appearance!

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