How to do highlighting on foil step by step – detailed instructions, photos and videos

Your hair can be transformed with gorgeous, sun-kissed streaks by using foil highlights. This well-liked method provides amazing results with accuracy, whether you’re going for a dramatic shift or a subtle boost. We’ll take you step-by-step through the entire process in this guide, from setup to cleanup, so you can accomplish salon-caliber highlights at home.

We’ll break down each step into simple to understand steps with accompanying pictures and videos. This will assist you in visualizing the procedure and ensuring that everything is done correctly. Whether you’re a do-it-yourself enthusiast or simply interested in learning how pros get those flawless highlights, this guide will give you all the information you require.

Prepare yourself to explore the world of highlighting! With a little practice and the appropriate method, you can give your hair a pop of color and shine that will make it look young and vibrant. Let’s begin achieving those exquisite, glistening highlights.

Step	Description
1	Prepare your materials: you"ll need hair bleach, developer, foil sheets, a brush, gloves, and a mixing bowl.
2	Mix the bleach and developer according to the instructions on the package.
3	Section your hair into manageable parts using clips. This helps in working with smaller sections and ensures even application.
4	Start applying the bleach mixture to small sections of hair, placing a foil underneath each section before applying the product. This helps to isolate the hair and prevent color bleeding.
5	Fold the foil over the hair and make sure it’s securely closed. This keeps the bleach from touching other parts of your hair and helps in even processing.
6	Repeat the process until all sections are covered. Make sure to follow the recommended processing time as per the bleach instructions.
7	Once the processing time is up, carefully remove the foils and rinse your hair with cool water until the water runs clear.
8	Shampoo and condition your hair to remove any leftover bleach and to restore moisture.
9	Style as desired and enjoy your new highlighted look!
Photos & Videos	For visual aids, check out step-by-step photos and videos online that demonstrate each stage of the highlighting process.

Do you want to become an expert at foil highlighting? From styling your hair and choosing the appropriate products to applying the foil and getting that flawless shine, this guide will take you step-by-step through every step. You’ll have all you need to achieve salon-caliber results at home with clear photos, comprehensive instructions, and educational videos. Are you prepared to jump right in? Now let’s get going!

Highlighting with foil. History of appearance

When many girls get back from vacation, they find that the hot southern sun has left their hair with golden strands in addition to a tan on their skin. Jacques Dessange, a hairdresser, beauty salon owner, and innovator of highlighting, also made a note of this. Inspired by the appearance of sun-bleached hair, he determined that this effect could be artificially produced using dyes and an oxidizer.

Citation! In addition, Jacques Dessange created curling irons, a rubber cap for highlighting, and the now-famous "Baby Liss" tool for rapidly creating curls.

Types of highlighting that use foil

The following kinds of highlighting involve the use of foil:

• Classic. Strands of the same thickness are lightened, taken at equal intervals. The standard of classic highlighting is small, lightened "feathers" all over the head.
• Strand-by-strand. Separate curls near the face or on the back of the head are highlighted with paint of a contrasting color.
• Veil. Thin strands on the crown are lightened. This method helps to give thin hair visual volume.
• American. Fashionable coloring of strands and ends in all shades of copper, red and red.
• Ombre. The master creates a smooth gradient on the hair, from dark roots to light ends.
• Bronzing or blonding. Effective and at the same time discreet coloring. The hairdresser uses from 3 to 5 colors, several tones lighter than natural hair, and places color accents with them. The result is the effect of a silk sheet shimmering in the sun.

Pros and cons

On the packaging, the majority of paint manufacturers include a warning that reads, "do not allow contact with metal!" So how are we supposed to interpret using aluminum foil? You don’t need to worry because the sheet is protected from any chemical reactions by an ionic network that forms upon initial contact with air. Furthermore, there are indisputable benefits to this technique:

• Speed ​​of coloring. Aluminum retains heat and speeds up all chemical processes.
• No bad smell. Each dyed strand is securely “sealed” in foil, so you don’t feel the persistent smell of ammonia.
• Allows you to separate and fix a strand of any length without using clamps.

It is also important to discuss the drawbacks:

• Requires preparation. Before use, the foil must be cut into strips.
• Does not allow you to control the degree of hair lightening during the dyeing process, since it is opaque.
• Experience in use is required. The shorter the strand, the more difficult it is to fix it.
• Foil is a disposable consumable, which you constantly have to buy more.
• For coloring, you need multi-colored foil, to mark strands dyed in different shades, which doubles the costs.

What you need for home highlighting with foil?

You’ll also need a set of foil coloring sheets and the following tools:

• Hair dye/oxidizer. From 2 to 5 shades a couple of tones lighter than natural hair.
• Bowls for mixing dyes. Each individual color should have its own container. Preferred materials: durable plastic, glass, porcelain.
• Brushes for applying paint. It is advisable to purchase a set at once. A separate tool for each color.
• A comb with a thin handle – for dividing hair into sections.
• Clamps and elastic bands – for fixing the separated strands.
• Fat cream – to protect the skin from paint stains.
• Peignoir or old T-shirt – to avoid staining clothes.
• Hair washing accessories – shampoo, conditioner, towel.

How to properly do highlighting on foil? Step-by-step instructions

You accept responsibility for the health of your hair as well as the outcome of your decision to try dyeing it at home. Whenever you dye your hair, always adhere to the color scheme that the stylist recommends. Follow the paint’s application instructions exactly.

Crucial! Make sure there are no gaps in the foil envelope when folding it. At least one centimeter should separate the fold line.

Classic highlights

Our mothers created the classic highlights. With this coloring, you can make your head appear to have feathers that have been lightened by two to three tones. It’s true that foil hasn’t been used for this until recently; instead, the method was typically applied to a unique rubber cap with numerous holes.

Reference!

Classic highlights can be performed at home using the following plan:

1. Put on a protective peignoir or an old T-shirt. Apply cream to the hairline and ears. Put on disposable gloves. This step is the same for all coloring schemes.
2. Comb your hair and divide it into 4 – 8 zones using a comb. Fix with hairpins or elastic bands.
3. Prepare the dye – this must be done immediately before application (relevant for all dyeing techniques).
4. Dye the hair at the back of your head. Undo a few rubber bands and use a comb to separate the first strand for highlighting. Take a piece of foil, coat the matte side with the dye, and place it under the selected strand. Apply the dye again, but directly to the hair and wrap the strand in an “envelope” of foil.
5. Repeat the same action with all the other strands. Make sure that they are approximately the same distance from each other.
6. Wait the time required for the dye to take effect and start washing out the dye strand by strand. This way you can avoid burning your hair and losing the definition of the selected strands.
7. Apply a restorative balm or conditioner to your hair.

Ombre

A smooth gradient from dark roots to lighter ends is known as ombre coloring. There are no coloristic restrictions when it comes to ombre; you can play around with color however you like. This can be a striking departure in vivid, neon colors or a barely perceptible change in one color scheme. Now let’s get going:

1. Apply the bleach to your hair. Accumulate the product and distribute it from the middle to the ends using a brush. Leave it on for the time required for the effect and rinse with running water. Dry your hair with a towel and leave it to dry a little – it should be slightly damp.
2. Make a straight parting, and then another one – horizontally. Secure each part with an elastic band.
3. Release one strand at the back of the head, put foil under it and cover the bleached strand with the coloring composition. Put another sheet of foil on top and secure it with an envelope.
4. Repeat the previous step with all the remaining strands. Hold the required time and rinse with shampoo and conditioner.

Bronding/blonding

With the help of this technique, you can give your hair the appearance of sun-burned strands. It appears extremely pertinent and natural. Buying colored foil is the best option for bronzing.

Kindly take note! The process of bronzing requires a lot of work. Only attempt it if you are certain that you can handle multiple dyes at once.

1. Moisten your hair with a spray bottle.
2. Make a zigzag straight parting, then a horizontal zigzag parting and secure all 4 sectors with hairpins.
3. Untie one section of hair at the back of your head and separate the first strand using a narrow comb handle.
4. Place it on a piece of foil and apply the dye, wrap it up.
5. Take the next dye and repeat the action with another strand.
6. When all the hair has been processed, wait the time required for the dye to act and wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner.

Balayage

Using the coloring technique of Balayage, you can lighten and highlight your hair’s curls to create contrast in your hairdo.

If you have the necessary hairstyling skills, you can do it yourself:

1. Make a horizontal parting and separate the upper part from the bottom using elastic bands.
2. Move elastic bands to such a level that the tail is a part that you plan to paint.
3. Separate a narrow strip from the tail from below, put it on foil, cover it with a clarifier and wrap.
4. Repeat the action until all the strands are processed, and leave the hair to lighten for 10 – 15 minutes.
5. Rinse the product, slightly dry your hair and apply paint. Adhere to the manufacturer"s instructions, and do not exceed the exposure time. At the end, apply a nutrient balm.

American highlighting

This method is a particular coloring and highlighting symbiosis. enables you to replicate lovely overflows in a range of reddish-brown hues on the hair. Purchase three to five kings in one color scheme in advance.

1. Divide the hair into three parts – the upper crown (remains unpainted), the zone of the temples (will be painted in intermediate colors) and the back of the head (will be painted in the prevailing color).
2. Start from the back of the head: select several wide strands with a comb, cover them with the desired color and fix them with foil.
3. Do the same with the temple part, choosing thinner strands. Alternate the colors of the colors to get an interesting result.
4. Wait the time required for coloring. First, wash off the dye from the darkest strands, then from the lighter ones, and finally from the lightest ones. This way you will get a cleaner result.

Veiling

Veiling lives up to its name. The procedure leaves the hair appearing as though it is shielded from the sun’s glare by a thin veil. Attempt to replicate this effect:

1. Separate the hair on the crown by running a comb along the back of the head from one ear to the other.
2. Collect the lower part into a ponytail – you don"t need it. Part the hair on the crown in a straight line.
3. Decide on the strands to be colored and separate them from the general mass using the "darning" method. Move the narrow end of the handle along the top layer of hair in a zigzag pattern, as if stitching it.
4. Take a wide sheet of foil and coat it with bleach.
5. Place the selected strands on the foil and cover them with the dye.
6. Place another sheet of foil on top and fasten it to the bottom.
7. Leave for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with water.

Reference!

Hair care after the procedure

Even the mildest paint alters the hydrobalance and the hair’s inherent structure. The same applies to highlighting. Use these suggestions to give your hair back its natural sheen and thickness:

• Immediately after dyeing, apply conditioner to your hair. This measure is necessary in order to smooth out the hair scales. It is ideal if the kit includes a moisturizer from the same manufacturer along with the paint.
• Purchase care products for nutrition and moisturizing in advance. Give preference to products marked "for dyed and bleached hair".
• Don"t do highlights too often. The optimal interval between the first procedure and correction is 1.5 – 2 months.
• Minimize the use of curling irons, tongs and hair dryers. If you can"t do without styling, dry your hair on a cold setting, directing the air flow from top to bottom.

Refer! Consider co-washing (washing your hair just with conditioner) if your hair is in a terrible condition after coloring.

Alternative highlighting methods

If you’re not comfortable dying with foil, consider using one of the other highlighting techniques.

Using a cap

Use a hole-filled rubber or cellophane cap for this technique. Since longer hair makes it harder to pull to the surface, it works best on hair that is no longer than 35 centimeters.

Even people without any prior hair coloring experience can perform highlighting using a cap:

1. comb your hair thoroughly;
2. place the device on your head;
3. use the hook to pull out the strands;
4. cover them with bleach or dye;
5. leave on for the time required for the effect;
6. rinse and apply conditioner to your hair.

Comb

Every girl who dyes her own hair at home needs to have a comb with a long, thin handle. A comb is meant to divide hair into sections and keep the hair that needs to be bleached apart from the remaining hair.

Highlighting with just a comb is a challenging task that can be made easier by using the following techniques:

• Zigzag. Using the narrow handle of the comb, make a zigzag parting. Strands that lie at an angle to the left are dyed. To the right – remain untouched.
• Darning. Pass the narrow handle of the comb under and over the hair as if you were “darning” it. This method is convenient for separating thin strands.

Striper

A comb with a toothed attachment on the back is called a striper, a tool used in hair styling. The guidelines that follow will assist you in managing it:

1. Thoroughly comb the strands with a comb.
2. Apply the lightening mixture to the toothed attachment.
3. Quickly comb the strand with it.
4. Work strand by strand, moving from the back of the head to the crown.

Crucial! Avoid running the striper over the same area twice to avoid getting spots instead of outlined strands.

FAQ

Which is better for highlighting: foil or a cap?

Foil is perfect for long hair and intricate coloring in three or more shades. For modest highlighting on short hair up to 35 cm, a cap works well.

Is special foil required, or will regular foil suffice?

In most cases, food foil is either significantly thinner or thicker than hairdressing foil. The coloring outcome will be inadequate in both situations. You need specific hairdressing foil for highlighting.

Which foil side should be highlighted?

The matte side of the sheet is where the foil should be bent.

Although foil highlighting can appear like a difficult task, with the correct techniques, it’s completely manageable and can yield amazing results. You will be able to achieve gorgeously highlighted hair that looks salon-perfect by following our detailed instructions. Always keep in mind that preparation and taking your time with each section are crucial. Take your time and make sure to review your work as you go along.

The use of foil not only aids in obtaining exact highlights but also improves process cleanliness and control. By isolating the strands, the foil prevents color bleeds onto other areas of your hair. With the help of our thorough instructions, pictures, and videos, you’ll be able to see every step clearly and understand how it’s done. Don’t give up if it doesn’t go perfectly the first time; practice makes perfect.

Lastly, the foil technique allows you to achieve your desired look with flexibility, whether it’s a bold, dramatic highlight or a subtle, sun-kissed look. Take pleasure in the process, try out various methods, and don’t be embarrassed to ask for assistance when you need it. Cheers to highlighting!

Video on the topic

Master class. Methods for creating classic highlighting. Darning /#balayagescience03/