Highlighting or coloring: which is better and safer for hair

Many people have the same question when it comes to changing the color of their hair: highlighting or full coloring? Both solutions can give your hair a modern, fresh look, but they have different aftercare needs and effects.

While coloring gives your hair a uniform color throughout, highlights lighten specific areas of it. The best option for you will rely on your hair health, style preferences, and maintenance routine. Each method has advantages and disadvantages.

We’ll examine the distinctions between coloring and highlighting in this post to assist you in determining which procedure is potentially safer and more appropriate for your hair.

The choice between full hair coloring and highlighting frequently comes down to your hair’s health and desired look. Because highlighting only affects certain parts of the hair, it can be less damaging while still producing a more natural, sun-kissed look. However, full coloring gives your hair a uniform appearance but may be more damaging to your strands, particularly if ammonia- or bleach-based products are used. Each option has advantages and disadvantages, so before choosing one, you should think about your long-term objectives as well as the state of your hair right now.

What is highlighting and coloring

Generally speaking, altering your appearance goes beyond simply purchasing new attire. In addition, there is a new haircut and a hair color change. Young girls are particularly interested in learning how to make appearance corrections without sacrificing the strength and health of their hair. They have an insatiable desire to adapt, try out vivid hues, and keep up with current fashion trends. In this instance, single-color coloring and highlighting are constant aids.

Briefly about hair highlighting

One way to color curls is called "highlighting," which only colors individual hair strands rather than the entire head of hair. French hairstylist Jacques Dessange was the first to propose selective hair lightening. This approach was well-liked by all and gained rapid popularity. These days, it’s thought of as classic to have white strands running the whole length of the curls.

Bright and intriguing photos were produced as a result of the popular procedure being enhanced over time by new stylists and colorists. Numerous highlighting strategies consequently emerged. These include marble, ash highlighting, Californian and Venetian, ombre and balayage, and others.

The transformation process’ color scheme, as well as the placement, breadth, and frequency of the dyed strands, set each option apart. Because of this diversity, each girl’s uniqueness could be expressed, her strengths could be highlighted, and her flaws could be concealed as much as possible.

Full coloring

When coloring a head of hair in one tone, the entire head is colored at once. The easiest and most efficient method for drastically altering your appearance is this one. In this situation, picking a color that complements your skin tone, eyes, and facial features is crucial.

Three millennia ago is when hair dyeing was first used. For these purposes, leeks and Chinese cinnamon were used. A little while later, people discovered the coloring secret of the powder of dried Lawsonia leaves (henna) and started combining soot with natural ingredients to create a black, resinous hair color.

Changing one’s hair color was a ritualistic practice connected to status and wealth in ancient times. While hair coloring was only accessible to affluent individuals and royalty in the eras of Ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt, anyone can now drastically alter or even correct the color of their hair.

A little background: Eugene Schueller, a French chemical engineer, is credited with creating the first synthetic hair color, which debuted in 1907. In the realm of hair coloring, this is an important finding.

The process basically involves applying a coloring composition to the hair, allowing it to penetrate the hair shaft and destroy the natural pigment. The voids left behind are then filled in with molecules of a new shade.

For curls, coloring is a challenging procedure because it ruins the structure of the hair shaft. Consequently, the hair turns dry, brittle, and loses its natural elasticity.

Cosmetic companies add cutting-edge nutritional components to the composition and swap out harsh ingredients with kinder ones in an effort to mitigate the harm caused by chemical components.

Paints with and without ammonia, tint shampoos, and natural coloring agents (like henna and basma) are utilized for coloring. This vast range reduces the potential harm that coloring could cause in some way.

Possibilities of both procedures

Despite their similarities, coloring and highlighting have different objectives. This is another way that the outcome varies. Let’s investigate this matter further.

Making use of highlighting allows you to:

• experiment with your image, following fashion trends;
• disguise gray hair, make it inconspicuous;
• refresh your image, make it bright, unique, adding just a few color accents;
• emphasize the beauty of your natural color;
• visually rejuvenate your face;
• visually adjust some rude facial features, hide the existing shortcomings;
• add volume to your hair;
• lighten your hair with minimal damage;
• return to your natural color after full coloring;
• smooth out the border between the colored strands and your natural shade.

Note that the majority of highlighting methods have no effect on the roots. Consequently, you don’t have to change your appearance every month.

Single-color coloring is an option if you are dedicated to working with just one color. By using it, you can:

• completely hide gray hair;
• even out the color of your hair along the entire length;
• dramatically change your appearance, for example, turn from a blonde into a redhead or brunette;
• return to your natural shade after highlighting or previous coloring without a haircut.

For permanent personalities, single-color coloring is an option. Your hair will become a "stack of straw" on your head if you experiment with color too often, giving your curls a lifeless, stiff appearance.

Cost

The pricing structure for highlighting and coloring is entirely different. If the amount of paint used makes a big difference in the final cost of full staining, then the technique’s complexity determines the cost of the highlighting version.

In Moscow, a single-color hair coloring will set you back around 2,000 rubles; in the surrounding areas, the cost will be lower. In the future, the average cost of coloring the roots will be 1,500 rubles in Moscow and roughly 1,000 rubles in other areas.

The price of highlighting will go up. Classic foil highlighting in one tone costs between 2800 and 3000 rubles in Moscow; prices in the surrounding areas and other parts of Russia will be lower. However, the cost of a stylish image with multiple color tints and shades will exceed 5,000 rubles.

The class of the beauty salon, the performer, and the area where the coloring will be done all have an impact on the cost of both procedures.

Difficulty of performing at home

Both procedures are done at home, but in some instances, a do-it-yourself makeover done without the help of a professional won’t produce the desired results and will instead ruin the curls and hairstyle.

Single-color dyeing presents challenges when a drastic image change is intended. For example, changing from red to light-colored, cold hues or from black to blonde, there may be multiple stages to the transformation.

If not, dyeing won’t present any challenges. It is necessary for you to abide by the paint manufacturer’s advice, the dye preparation ratios, and the steps outlined in the product instructions.

The situation gets worse when highlighting is used. It will take some skill to choose the right strands for lightning. The way colors are perceived and combined in practice is crucial when creating a new image.

Simple ombre or classic single-color highlighting can be completed at home, but it will be nearly impossible to achieve the desired results with multi-color options (balayage, Californian, or Venetian technique) without the assistance of a professional colorist.

Suggestions. Experts advise undergoing the initial transformation process in a beauty salon for tenacious fashionistas. After that, it will be simpler to carry out the master’s actions again.

Pros and cons

Highlighting

The following are some benefits of using color to highlight strands:

• the procedure is always popular;
• to change your image, you do not need to sacrifice the health of your curls, proper care will help to correct the damage;
• you can constantly experiment, adding new shades each time;
• no need for constant hairstyle correction, for the ombre or balayage technique, the regrown roots will harmoniously fit into the image;
• no age restrictions;
• allows you to create a bright, unique image;
• many options, the choice is not limited to a color palette, as in the case of single-color dyeing;
• simple options can be done at home.

Drawbacks to the process:

• it is difficult to achieve the desired effect without the help of a master;
• high cost;
• the procedure takes a lot of time, can last up to two or more hours;
• all paints damage curls to a greater or lesser extent.

Single-color dyeing

Advantages:

• allows you to change dramatically;
• perfectly hides gray hair;
• large selection of shades;
• done at home;
• affordable price.

Cons:

• greatly damages the structure of curls, after dyeing the hair becomes dry, stiff and requires high-quality care;
• othick roots are very noticeable, once every 1-1.5 months you need to paint over the roots;
• after a while the color washes out, it needs to be updated regularly.

Regardless of the outside weather, highlighting and single-color dyeing are efficient methods to add brightness to your image. One-tone coloring is without a doubt the most detrimental to hair when it comes to health. In this instance, separating the strands is kinder to the hair.

Experts in coloristics, renowned hairdressers, and regular fashionistas advise weighing the benefits and drawbacks before committing to any of the suggested procedures. Individuals who are doubtful of their own skills ought to speak with experts. Keep in mind that healthy hair is beautiful hair!

Hair may need extensive restoration after coloring. We provide a synopsis of common and successful restorative techniques:

• lamination and biolamination of hair;
• botox for hair;
• keratin restoration;
• serication;
• hyaluronic hair restoration.

Your hair goals and the state of your hair will determine whether you should highlight or color your hair. Highlighting could be a better choice if you want a more subdued, natural change because it gives your base color dimension without totally changing it.

However, full coloring provides more thorough coverage and dramatic changes—particularly when covering gray areas or experimenting with striking color schemes. In contrast to highlights, which only affect smaller sections of the hair, it usually has a harsher effect on the hair.

The health of your hair should come first, even though both approaches have advantages and disadvantages. Depending on your desired look and hair type, professional advice can help you make the best decision.