How to do highlighting through a cap correctly – a complete overview, before and after photos on dark, light and light brown hair

A popular technique that can produce beautiful, natural-looking results is highlighting through a cap. This approach is suitable for novice and expert hair stylists alike, providing a means of enhancing the richness and complexity of your hair color.

Regardless of your hair color—dark, light, or light brown—the cap technique guarantees exact control over which hair strands are emphasized. This method can be used to create a range of styles, from delicate adjustments to striking contrasts.

We will walk you through the process of correctly applying cap highlighting in this article. Additionally, before and after pictures are provided so you can see how this technique affects various hair tones.

What is highlighting through a cap

During this kind of hair coloring process, a specific hairdressing cap is worn, which will protect the root zone from lightening and enable you to apply the lightening composition on your own. Using foil and a basic open method to achieve this is not as simple, especially for long hairstyles where the strands can become tangled and break off.

In turn, this coloring tool for hair will enable you to easily straighten the chosen curls and prevent more tangling.

This process is most practical when applied to short to medium-length hairstyles. If your hair is long, thick, or curly, you might require extra assistance when choosing and binding the hair strands for the next coloring step.

You can color even the tiniest strands neatly and evenly with this coloring. This technique is most frequently applied to thin, Venetian, frequent, and classic coloring. Foil is the most common medium for graduated highlighting techniques, as well as intricate diagonal and asymmetrical approaches.

Who is suitable for highlighting through a cap

Curls lightening like this is perfect for people with short hairstyles of any hue. The hair should be hydrated and healthy at the same time. Dyeing hair that is extremely dry, brittle, and falling is not advised.

Furthermore, the strands ought to be devoid of any type of dye, be it conventional full coloring or color-changing with tonics, henna, or tint shampoos.

This style of highlighting is ideal for women of all ages, sizes, and complexion types. Each woman can select the color that best suits her needs thanks to the range of coloring options that can be replicated using this type of cap.

Crucial! Long curls that fall below the shoulder blades can be challenging to remove through tiny openings, so foil or an open method is typically utilized for elongated hairstyles. When coloring long hair, using a cap is appropriate if you only need to highlight a few strands.

Whether your hair is light, medium, or dark brown, highlighting through a cap is an easy and efficient way to add dimension. Using this technique, you can achieve a natural, blended look by applying color and removing small sections of hair through the holes in the cap. We’ll take you step-by-step through the procedure in this comprehensive guide, offer advice on how to get the best results, and show you before-and-after pictures to show you how this technique looks on various hair colors.

Pros and cons of highlighting through a cap

It is advised to consider the advantages and disadvantages of this coloring technique, just like any other method, before selecting one.

Advantages:

• ease and speed of coloring;
• suitable for highlighting thin curls;
• the ability to carry out the procedure completely independently;
• affordability of the procedure;
• spectacular result;
• original camouflage of gray hair on a short haircut;
• visual addition of volume, splendor and density to hair.

Cons:

• this method may not be suitable for a very long haircut;
• the hair should be healthy and free from any other type of coloring;
• not all types of highlighting can be done in this way.

This method is very popular among fair-skinned people because it is easy to use and produces lightened, shiny, and radiant hair. Its main benefit is that it can be used to independently refresh short and medium-length hairstyles.

How to prepare hair before the procedure

Preliminary moisturizing and packing the curls with beneficial microelements and vitamins is the key to getting the hair ready for this procedure. To achieve this, it is advised to begin using moisturizing soft conditioners every time you wash your hair and to apply oil masks to the ends once a week a few weeks prior to coloring.

In order to avoid overdrying the hair, it is best to use a hair dryer, iron, and curling iron as little as possible.

It is not advisable to shampoo your hair right before the coloring process. This should be done three to four days prior to coloring in order to prevent rinsing off the subcutaneous fat that is naturally secreted and provides the curls with elasticity and resilience.

It’s important to note that all products used on highlighted or dyed strands should be gentle and designed for this purpose.

Technique for highlighting through a cap

Highlighting with a hairdressing cap is not a very complicated technological process. The primary duties involve accurately fastening the product to the head and extracting the necessary quantity of threads in the appropriate sequence.

Essential instruments and apparatus:

• a comb with frequent teeth;
• brushes and containers for mixing the coloring composition and applying it to the strands;
• a hook for pulling curls through the holes;
• a cap for coloring;
• a pair of gloves and several towels;
• polyethylene film;
• coloring agent;
• mild shampoo and balm with a moisturizing effect.

If you don’t have a special hook for highlighting strands, you can use a thin, sharp comb in its place.

Phases of operation:

• preparation – combing, trying to get rid of the slightest tangle;
• strand selection – highlighting curls using a hook;
• dyeing – preparing the dye and applying it;
• final stage – waiting for the required amount of time and removing the dye.

The composition should be kept between 20 and 40 minutes; the lighter the highlights should be, the longer the product should be kept.

Tips for strand selection

Strands can be chosen frequently, threading hair through each hole and coloring all the areas that are chosen, depending on the desired result. You can add brightness and dynamism by creating thin highlights on a regular basis with this method.

It is advised to dye the curls using the one through three method, which lightens only the third chosen strand, to produce a more organic and natural look. Colorists that use Californian and Venetian techniques employ this method.

As a result, the strands are typically threaded through every hole while being dyed in various ways, and the desired outcome is taken into consideration when lightening the curls.

Highlighting sequentially from the roots using an indent:

• comb your hair and put on a cap, trying to press it as tightly as possible to your head;
• carefully pull out several strands through the holes using a hook or a sharp comb;
• comb the selected curls;
• dilute the dyeing composition according to the instructions on the package;
• apply the dye to the selected strands, making soft, smooth movements from top to bottom, not reaching the roots a couple of centimeters;
• wrap the colored curls with film and leave for half an hour;
• unwind the film and rinse the strands with warm water without removing the cap;
• after the dye is washed off the hair, remove the product and wash your hair again, with shampoo and conditioner.

Following the coloring process, you can use a warm blow-dryer to style your hair as desired; just make sure to moisturize your hair beforehand.

How often the process ought to be carried out. For medium-length curls, this process should be repeated no more than once every 3–4 months; for short hair, it should be done every 2-3 months. In this instance, frequent root correction is not required because the root zone was not affected by the lightning.

Types of caps for highlighting

These coloring supplies come in a variety of forms, including silicone, rubberized, plain polyethylene, branded, and hook-equipped.

Certain models have a bonnet-like appearance, while others resemble standard caps like shower or pool caps. Every product has numerous holes all the way around.

• highlighting through a silicone cap. Silicone models fit very tightly to the head, preventing the product from slipping, making it very easy and quick to pull out strands and apply the composition.
• rubberized caps. Rubberized options are similar to silicone ones, but they are somewhat thicker and may suit owners of thick or curly curls.

• polyethylene. The thinnest are polyethylene items that require skillful fixation on the head. In addition, in this case, when dyeing, you should retreat a larger interval from the roots, trying not to get on the scalp and roots.

Highlighting caps can be reused or thrown away. Disposable ones are typically thrown away right away after use and are typically sold with paint. Rubberized and silicone products are reusable as long as they are completely cleaned of paint after each use.

How to make a cap for highlighting with your own hands

You can easily make your own hairdressing cap if the set you purchased with paint does not come with one. With all the same characteristics and functions as a purchased product, such an item will essentially be identical.

Cap for dyeing from a bag

The most popular way to make something similar at home is to make a homemade coloring product from a thick bag.

• cut a thick plastic bag exactly to the size of your head. The item is ready;
• the holes should be made when the bag is already on your hair, before you start separating the locks.

How to make holes in a cap for coloring

It is best to enlist assistance when making holes in thick plastic, as the holes must be carefully punctured to avoid tearing or damaging the bag.

• put a polyethylene cap on your head and start making holes for the strands without removing the item;
• you should try to make holes in a checkerboard pattern, keeping an equal distance between them;
• you can pierce the bag with any convenient object, including a sharp comb;
• the diameter of the holes should be approximately 3-4 mm.

How to properly put on a cap for highlighting

When applying the composition and removing the curls, the product should fit snugly against the head and not move.

• put the item deep on the head and fix it with your hands while creating the holes;
• after all the strands have come out through the holes, adjust the product on the head again, putting it on as deep as possible.

You can use an unnecessary swimming cap in place of a homemade bag cap. It will let you make a lot of holes to pass the curls and fits snugly enough. In this instance, the holes are pre-drilled before the object is placed atop the head.

Effect after the procedure, Before and After

Such coloring will give the curls brightness, shine, and a lively sheen, revitalizing the hairdo.

As a result on various hair types:

• highlighting through a cap on very short hair. The curls will acquire brightness and dynamism due to frequent thin coloring and the acquired highlighting effect;

• on curls of medium length. Medium length will become visually more voluminous. Classic highlighting will add color and originality to the hair;

• on long hair. A long haircut will be transformed, becoming more voluminous and well-groomed. Partial lightening through a cap will help create the effect of strands burnt out in the sun;

• on dark curls. The dark color will become deeper and more saturated due to the contrasting highlighting with the help of highlighting;

• on light strands. Such lightening will give light hair shine and radiance;

• on light brown hair. The light brown shade will look brighter and more dynamic.

The effect can be very bright and contrasting or natural and natural, depending on the coloring type and how the strands are highlighted.

The best cap for highlighting: selection and prices

An excellent product for coloring is a Dewal silicone cap. It’s hat-bonnet shaped and has a handy hook attached. It costs roughly 300 rubles.

Second place goes to a silicone object that is secured under the chin to guarantee a snug fit. Harizma brand. Expended roughly 400 rubles.

Sibel Frosting’s disposable polyethylene caps with visors are a good choice for coloring. Five pieces in a standard set will set you back about 250 rubles.

The cost of highlighting through a cap in a beauty salon

The price of this coloring treatment in a salon ranges from 2,000 to 4,000 rubles, depending on the length of the curls.

Step	Description
1. Preparation	Choose a highlighting cap with small holes and gently comb your dry hair. Make sure it"s tangle-free.
2. Putting on the cap	Place the cap tightly on your head, ensuring it fits snugly without shifting during the process.
3. Pulling out strands	Using a special hook, pull small sections of hair through the cap’s holes, focusing on even spacing.
4. Applying bleach	Carefully apply the bleach to the exposed strands, avoiding contact with the cap to prevent uneven coloring.
5. Waiting time	Let the bleach sit for the recommended time, monitoring the lightening process closely.
6. Rinsing	Rinse the bleach thoroughly while wearing the cap, then remove the cap and wash your hair with a mild shampoo.
7. Aftercare	Apply a deep conditioner to restore moisture to your hair after the bleaching process.

Whether your hair is light, medium, or dark brown, highlighting through a cap is an easy and efficient way to add dimension. You can achieve stunning results that accentuate your natural color with the appropriate technique.

You can precisely control the amount of highlight and achieve the desired look by pulling strands through the cap with care and evenly applying bleach or dye. It’s critical to carefully follow the instructions to prevent damage or uneven color.

This method is a flexible choice that suits a variety of hair types, whether you use a stylist or do it at home. Simply remember to take your time, apply the appropriate products, and relish the changes that your highlights can produce.