How to do classic hair highlighting and choose the perfect shade

Want to update your appearance with a classic touch? A classic hair color job could be exactly what you need. This well-liked method has been around for many years and is still a top pick for giving your hair depth and dimension. Classic highlights offer versatility and elegance, whether your goal is a more pronounced change or a subtle sun-kissed glow.

The secret to pulling off the ideal classic highlight is matching the shade of highlight to your skin tone and hair color. You can choose colors that accentuate your inherent beauty and go well with your overall style with a little help. Knowing how to choose the right shade can make a big difference, whether you’re a brunette wanting a little contrast or a blonde looking for lighter streaks.

We’ll walk you through the fundamentals of traditional hair highlighting in this guide, including how to choose shades that work best for you. By the time it’s over, you’ll know enough to make an informed choice and walk into the salon with confidence for your next cosmetic procedure.

It’s critical to comprehend both the technique and the selection of shades that complement your skin tone and personal style in order to achieve the ultimate look with classic hair highlighting. This post will go over how to apply highlights that bring out your natural beauty step-by-step and help you select the ideal shade for a flawless, ageless look.

What is it

The traditional method of highlighting involves lightening individual, tiny strands by one or two tones, up to three tones maximum. The masters use foil for wrapping after applying the lightening composition and a rubber cap with holes through which the strands are passed to complete the coloring.

We suggest searching for a specialized comb with wide teeth for girls who wish to highlight their curls at home. This comb will enable you to dye strands that are spaced apart.

In classic highlighting, light contrasts between naturally colored and dyed hair are created. Lightening happens from the roots to the tips, and strands are chosen from all over the head.

When using the conventional method, wax paint is frequently applied, wrapping each hair and preventing any spreading.

Important to note: the effect won’t be as natural if you choose thicker strands for lightening—between two and three centimeters. Select curls that are 0.5–0.7 cm thick if you want to look as natural as possible.

Pros and cons

The following are some benefits of highlighting:

• more gentle effect on the hair, since only part of the head is subject to coloring;
• revitalization due to brighter accents;
• rejuvenation (since classic highlighting involves bleaching, then others begin to pay attention to the hair, and not to the problematic skin of the face, dotted with wrinkles and other defects);
• no need to regularly touch up roots (for this type of coloring, colors are taken that are as close to natural as possible, the regrown roots will not be so noticeable);
• adds volume to the hair and even dries the roots (relevant for those who suffer from excessive secretions from the sebaceous glands).

The oxidants used in this type of coloring ensure that the hair structure will be destroyed because coloring is done from the roots up. But try not to give up too soon! Colored hair can be made healthy and shiny again with the right maintenance.

Professional guidance. When coloring your hair, back off from the roots by at least one centimeter to avoid over-stressing it. Regular trimming of the extremely split ends is also advised.

How much will it cost

Styling strands requires a lot of work and can take up to two hours. Depending on the length of your hair, the reputation of the salon, and the colors you select, visiting a salon may cost you between two and five thousand rubles.

Highlights can be easily done at home if pre-registration and waiting in line are things you dislike. This process has the benefit of being inexpensive: depending on the brand, the oxidizer and dyes cost between 50 and 200 rubles and 450 and 950 rubles, respectively. After highlighting, you will need to pay an extra 250–400 rubles for hair tinting.

However, there are drawbacks as well:

• you can choose the wrong color;
• not taking into account the structure of your hair, buy too "nuclear" oxidizer;
• buying low-quality cosmetics, you can achieve an unpleasant red tint on your curls;
• it is very difficult to dye certain areas of the head yourself due to their inaccessibility.

For this reason, we advise involving your mother or girlfriend in the coloring process and visiting a professional hair cosmetics store. Among the professional makeup brands, Estel, Igora, and Cutrin are highly recommended.

Who is it for

Everyone can benefit from this coloring option. This option will enhance your hair’s beauty and revitalize your appearance, regardless of whether it is curly, straight, long or short, natural, gray, or dyed.

Highlighting is not advised for women who have recently had permanent hair extensions, expectant mothers, or nursing mothers. Those with unhealthy and severely split hair should give up on the traditional coloring technique. They ought to be aware of coloring choices like balayage and ombre.

Consider your color type when selecting a color:

• if you have pale skin and light eyes (blue and green), opt for cold shades: wet sand, graphite, beige, pastel pink, ash, pearl blonde;
• owners of the “summer” color type (peach skin, light brown hair and any pigmentation of the pupils) should choose shades with a golden tint (wheat, gold nut, caramel);
• if you are a natural blonde, all shades of blond will suit you best;
• amber, cognac, nut and copper shades will suit burning red-haired beauties.

For light hair

Blonding is a variation on classic highlighting that entails dying curls a shade or two blonde. Among them are:

• mocha;
• sand;
• light beige;
• pearlescent blond;
• ash;
• and even muted pink.

Note that women whose hair is beginning to turn gray should pay particular attention to using ash color. Gray hair can be concealed with proper application of the ash shade highlighting technique. Additionally, we advise you to become familiar with ash highlighting and the appropriate paint to use for it.

We advise light-blond girls to go for gold and honey shades if they wish to eliminate the bothersome mouse color.

The image below shows how the honey color blends in harmoniously with light hair.

For dark hair

Natural color highlights are the standard for dark hair. For girls with chocolate-colored hair, the following shades work best:

When highlighting dark hair, the dye’s holding time must be extended.

Suggestions. Experts advise lightening the individual strands and then toning them in the chosen colors for girls with dark hair who wish to drastically lighten their locks.

People with light and dark brown hair should concentrate on:

The following images demonstrate how well the hues of golden nut and ocher complement light brown hair.

How to choose the right dye

Highlighting is not that hard to do at home.

To accomplish this, you’ll need:

• cream paint of the selected color;
• lotion-activator for lightening hair (3-9%, selected depending on the structure and color of your curls);
• ceramic or plastic container;
• brush for applying the composition;
• comb with a point for highlighting strands;
• hair clips;
• foil.

A large amount of foil is required, as it is supposed to seal every strand. You should purchase a small roll of this material if your hair is too long.

Selecting a lighter:

• If your hair is too thick and dark, choose an oxidizer of 9-12%.
• An oxidizer with a 6% designation is the best option for lightening normal hair.
• For thin and light strands, we recommend choosing a 3% oxidizer, which will change the color by 1-2 tones.

For the first time, are you dying with dye? Next, make sure to test it for an allergic reaction by dabbing a small amount of the coloring mixture onto your elbow or wrist skin.

Execution technique

Of course, highlighting is possible with a dedicated cap. Wear it on your head and use a hook to remove individual strands. They are not covered in foil after the dye is applied; instead, they are allowed to come into contact with oxygen outside.

Crucial point Hydrogen peroxide should not be used on certain individuals because it can cause swelling. It is advised that they highlight using a cap to shield their scalp from the dye.

But set aside the cap and arm yourself with ordinary foil for the most effective painting.

Phases of emphasis:

1. Lubricate the scalp and ears with Vaseline or greasy cream. Cover your shoulders with an old unnecessary towel or a special cape.
2. Mix the dye with the oxidizer in the proportions specified by the manufacturer. As a rule, When highlighting, you will need 2-3 times less funds than when dyeing the entire head of hair. Even if you have long locks, one pack of paint may be enough. To ensure that your strands are immediately restored after the aggressive effects of the oxidizer, add an ampoule of chromoenergetic vitamin complex to the dye, which you can buy in a professional cosmetics store.
3. Comb your locks and divide them into 4 zones: parietal, crown and temple areas.
4. Cut the foil into strips that are 2.5 times wider than the selected strands. Increase the length of the foil by 20 cm (use the length of the locks as a guide).
5. Select the desired strands and place the foil with the edge curved 7 cm from above under them. Spread the dye on the selected strands with a brush.
6. Fold the free lower edge of the foil upward. Seal the strands on the sides. Remember, the material should completely cover the dyed hair.
7. Thus, dye the entire head.
8. As soon as the holding time comes to an end, unpack the strands and begin to wash the curls in the same order as you did the dyeing (that is, starting from the back of the head).
9. Use the balm, which, as a rule, always comes in the package with the dye.

Crucial point Keep in mind that dye is absorbed from the temples the quickest, so begin dying from the back of the head.

Give your locks a few days to heal after bleaching before toning colored strands.

Remember to take good care of your colored hair. At least once a week, try treating your hair to natural oils and restorative masks. Remember to moisturize your hair.

It is essential to:

• wash your hair no more often than every 3 days;
• don"t comb your hair while it"s still damp;
• don"t use a hair dryer, straightener, or curling irons;
• use shampoo for colored hair;
• regularly trim split ends.

Thus, a genre classic that is still relevant today is the traditional highlighting of individual strands along the entire length. Selecting the appropriate color and coloring composition, along with adhering to the technology used for this kind of coloring, are crucial when using this process.

We’re confident that the outcome will be incredible and give your curls life, enhancing your overall beauty.

Practical advice for highlighting hair:

• what kind of highlighting is suitable for curly hair;
• features of highlighting short, medium and long hair;
• what dye to choose for home highlighting;
• how to do highlighting on dyed hair correctly;
• how to fix unsuccessful highlighting;
• ideas and features of men"s highlighting.

Step	Description
1. Choose Your Shade	Pick a shade that complements your skin tone. For a natural look, go a few shades lighter than your base color.
2. Prepare Your Hair	Ensure your hair is clean and dry. Avoid washing it right before highlighting to prevent scalp irritation.
3. Section Your Hair	Divide your hair into sections to ensure even application. Use clips to keep sections separate.
4. Apply the Highlighting Product	Follow the instructions on your highlighting kit. Apply the product carefully to the sections you want to highlight.
5. Monitor the Process	Check the hair regularly to achieve the desired lightness. Do not exceed the recommended processing time.
6. Rinse and Condition	Rinse out the highlighting product thoroughly and use a deep conditioner to restore moisture.
7. Choose Maintenance Products	Use color-safe shampoos and conditioners to maintain the highlights and keep your hair healthy.

Selecting the ideal shade for traditional hair highlighting can improve the way you look and feel. Recall that the most important thing is to choose a color that goes well with your natural hair tone and your style. The correct shade can accentuate your features and give your appearance a bright, new look, whether you choose for subtle, sun-kissed highlights or more prominent streaks.

Think about the overall effect you want to achieve and your skin tone when choosing the shade. Select shades that are just a few tones lighter than your base color for a sunlit, natural look. Don’t be afraid to experiment with brighter or more contrasting colors if you want to make a bolder statement. Speaking with a professional stylist can also yield insightful advice specific to your hair type and desired outcome.

The key to classic highlighting is balance and subtlety. Choose a color that complements your natural hair color to achieve a more put together and elegant look. If you take the time to select a color that complements your appearance rather than overpowers it, you’ll have a classic yet distinctive hairstyle.