What is the difference between highlighting and coloring and which is better to choose?

While coloring and highlights are two common methods for altering the appearance of your hair, they produce different outcomes. If you’re not sure which option is best for you, knowing their distinctions will help you decide.

Highlighting gives your hair a sun-kissed look by highlighting particular strands to add depth and contrast. Contrarily, coloring involves applying one or more colors to the entire head in order to create a striking, consistent change.

Which option you choose will depend on the desired outcome and degree of change you can handle. We’ll go over the advantages and disadvantages of each approach to help you select the one that will best meet your hair goals.

Highlighting and coloring: distinctive features

The process of highlighting entails picking out specific strands and highlighting them by a few shades. The strands don’t have to match exactly; instead, they aim to soften the transition and conceal the boundaries in order to successfully blend with the base color.

Aspect of the process:

• As a rule, it involves bleaching 40% of the curls;
• not suitable for black hair, since it turns out an unnatural look, and it is very difficult to lighten naturally dark strands;
• no sharp transitions, because contrast is not in fashion now;
• lightening with an oxidizer is a mandatory attribute of highlighting;
• is very simple to do, but requires a lot of effort, especially if you have to dye most of your hair;
• perfectly hides gray hair that is just beginning to appear.

Girls who are trying to grow their hair and are not inclined to make drastic changes will look good with highlights.

Please be aware that this technique is only for you if you wish to appear younger than you actually are. Problem areas of the skin with typical signs of age-related changes become less noticeable because light-colored hair draws attention to itself. Highlighting, then, is a type of diversion that gives the impression of youthfulness.

The goal of the intricate process of coloring is to add vibrant colors to individual strands. However, you shouldn’t believe that employing this technique will make you appear audacious and extravagant. It is quite feasible to select a color for your image that will add hints of naturalness.

Characteristics of coloring

• more suitable for girls under 25 years old;
• you can dye your hair any color you like;
• it is difficult to do at home, so you will need the help of professional masters;
• can be carried out on pre -highlighted strands;
• There is an opportunity to make "bindings" of various colors, while the hairstyle will look as harmonious as possible;
• well suited to torn haircuts or asymmetrical hairstyles.

How is it

Since these two procedures involve selective dyeing of strands, many girls frequently confuse them. However, there are several distinctions between the methods:

• highlighting is lightening the curls, and coloring is their complete coloring in rich colors;
• The highlighting procedure is much simpler, in addition, with some staining methods, it is more gentle (balayazh, partial highlighting, etc. d.);
• when coloring, they try to achieve contrasts, and when highlighting – soft transitions;
• highlighting is effective at any age, coloring is mainly suitable for girls under 25;
• coloring involves a symbiosis of several shades, therefore, it is very difficult to choose the right combination.

Because of this, highlighting differs from coloring in that it can give the owner a more natural appearance.

What to choose

Select highlighting if you want to cover up gray hair, look younger, and achieve the desired volume. The coloring process was designed specifically for you if you want to look vibrant, fashionable, and amazing.

Crucial point If the coloring technique is used to dye you, you can achieve a different look by combing your curls in different ways, such as altering the parting or lifting your bangs.

Coloring effect

When doing highlighting, stylists in the modern salon world follow one crucial guideline: proximity to naturalness. Use the following shade selections to create harmony in the image:

• gold;
• honey;
• caramel;
• pearl blond;
• coffee with milk;
• wet sand;
• mustard;
• copper.

Their primary goal is to mimic the sensation of a tiny sun bunny touching your hair and getting lost in it, akin to the effect of sun kisses.

Playing with contrast is the goal of coloring. The master chooses colors that are drastically different from the primary color in this sense. The outcome ought to be a lavish picture.

You can visually add volume even to thin curls by using similar shades. Styling your hair asymmetrically can help you place accents more effectively.

It is important for older women to exercise caution when selecting coloring shades. You might come across as overly colorful or even vulgar if you dare to dye your hair in extremely bright strands.

Though they may appear similar, coloring and highlighting serve different purposes and produce different outcomes. While coloring changes the color of the hair entirely, highlights involve lightening small sections of hair to create contrast and dimension. While full coloring is best for a dramatic change, highlighting works well for people who want a more subdued, sun-kissed look. Which option you choose will rely on your desired style, degree of maintenance, and hair type.

Cost of procedures

Note that full coloring is 20–30% more expensive than highlighting. This is explained by the fact that the master must use a lightener (for light and dark brown curls) and choose from multiple dye options.

The following factors impact the procedure’s cost:

• the chosen coloring technique (of course, a few colorful strands will cost you much less than coloring your entire head of hair);
• the novelty of your hairstyle;
• the length of your hair;
• the type of professional coloring composition;
• the prestige of the salon and the experience of the master;
• additional services (restorative mask, preliminary color wash, keratin or vitamin complex for nourishing curls).

Coloring will therefore cost between 4,000 and 10,000 rubles. You will pay between 3,000 and 8,000 rubles for highlights because, in any case, only up to 40% of the hair is colored and you can get away with just one color by skillfully blending it with the natural curls.

The cost of the paint is approximately 450 rubles, and the oxidizer starts at 250 rubles, so coloring at home with the suggested methods is much less expensive.

You must realize that dye may cling when coloring with multiple colors. That is, if you wish to walk in the same manner as before. What if you decide to alter your image? The remaining paint will just vanish.

Doing it at home

Why don’t you highlight or color at home?

To highlight, you should prepare yourself by gathering:

• a lightener and a dye, which are mixed in certain proportions;
• a comb with a sharp end;
• a pair of gloves;
• clamps;
• 2 hours of free time.

Set aside the foil or plastic bag because the French highlighting technique requires direct drying in the open air.

Phases:

1. Comb the curls well and divide them into zones.
2. Start working from the back of the head: select a thin layer of hair that we will not touch. Divide the next layer into small strands of different thicknesses and apply dye to them. Let your natural layer on them.
3. In this way, the whole hair is painted. A slight indentation from the roots is required. Strokes are made randomly with a brush, on some strands you can do color shading.
4. After 30-40 minutes, the curls are washed and a conditioner is applied.

Professional guidance. If you want the process to be as painless as possible, use dyes without ammonia that will only stay on the hair for about 1.5 months.

In order to complete the coloring process, you will require:

• oxidizer and several types of paint;
• foil;
• clamps for fixing curls;
• comb with a point;
• a couple of hours of free time.

Actions:

1. Comb your hair and prepare the dye. Cut the foil into strips, slightly longer than the length of your hair.
2. Having divided your hair into zones, start from the back of your head. Select strands, put foil under them, carefully coat with dye and wrap in aluminum material.
3. Do the same with all your hair.
4. Leave for 40-50 minutes.
5. Wash off the paint and use a conditioner.

As you can see, the methods being considered are not particularly complex.

Pros and cons

There are benefits and drawbacks to both methods.

Benefits of emphasizing

• allows you to add dynamism and volume to your hair;
• makes you look much younger;
• does not require frequent touch-ups due to the creation of smooth transitions between the natural color and the highlighted strands;
• adds volume;
• perfectly paints over gray hair that is just beginning to appear;
• is very easy to do, but you will have to tinker with the selection of strands.

Benefits of coloring:

• makes the image unusual and sophisticated;
• suits almost all hair, including very dark hair;
• creates interesting accents and allows you to vary the color when changing the styling method;
• suits even completely gray women (of course, with full hair coloring);
• adds volume to the hair.

However, you are unable to ignore the drawbacks of the methods we are examining. Among them, the most noticeable are:

• they damage dyed locks, because in most cases permanent dyes and lighteners are used;
• it is difficult to guess the color, especially with coloring (therefore, it is better to trust experienced masters);
• since coloring, as a rule, involves vertical coloring of strands from the roots, frequent refreshment of the hairstyle is required, and you are unlikely to be able to choose the right color shades yourself;
• both techniques require a lot of time, but coloring takes more;
• both coloring and highlighting are quite expensive procedures.

Crucial point You should realize that highlighting is a universally flattering hairstyle when contrasting these two methods. The only drawback is that, while the contrast may not be apparent on blondes, it will be extremely noticeable on brunettes. When coloring, consider your age. If you are already over fifty, avoid taking chances and stay away from bold accents.

The following situations make these coloring choices inappropriate:

• pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• perm (less than a month has passed);
• preliminary coloring with henna, basma and other natural pigments;
• allergic reactions that occur on the skin.

Features

Experts differentiate between various coloring methods, specifically:

• deepening the base color, when shades with a variation of 3 tones are selected;
• artificial bleaching of strands;
• creative coloring in non-standard colors lemon, eggplant, emerald, mustard, hibiscus and others;
• coloring through a stencil using the pixie technique;
• ombre, which is still not giving up its positions.

Coloring involves more than just using vibrant colors; it also involves creating images that are harmonious for both younger and older women.

A sizable portion of the head is colored during coloring. If you mismatch the shades, you run the risk of seeming ridiculous and uncomfortable. Put your trust, therefore, in the hands of qualified experts.

This season’s most popular colors are:

• "marsala", which resembles a noble aged wine (successfully combined with chocolate, chestnut and eggplant);
• "merlot" with soft notes of "ripe cherry", bordering on red and purple;
• "rose gold", especially relevant for fair-haired beauties;
• rich "caramel", which goes well with the color "mocha" or light "nut";
• "copper" plus "gold", most favorably emphasizes the beauty of girls with peach skin;
• "ash" plus "wet asphalt" is suitable for older women who want to hide gray hair;
• soft "lavender" is best suited for creative and romantic natures.

Once every curl has been dyed a different color, you can complete the coloring process. One option for girls who take more care of their hair is partial coloring.

Without lighters, the highlighting process cannot be completed. Your curls’ color and thickness will determine the best oxidizer to use. If you have fine, light hair, use a mild bleaching technique (buying a 3-6% oxidizer) and lighten your hair by 3–4 tones. Experts suggest taking a 6-9% oxidizer for darker hair. In case you’re a fiery brunette, using a 12% reagent can make you appear lighter.

Hairdressing experts advise coloring brunettes because bleach may not be able to remove their own pigment. Stitches dyed in shades of plum, eggplant, and cognac will dramatically update the picture.

Options for highlighting color:

Professional guidance. When doing the individual strand lighting process, step back a few centimeters from the roots. This is done to shield the scalp from the damaging effects of hydrogen peroxide without affecting it.

How to care for colored strands

As you are already aware, these coloring styles are far from being considered delicate. If you have used hydrogen peroxide and permanent dyes, be prepared to take regular care of your hair. To carry out this:

• use a hair dryer, curling iron and flat iron in rare cases;
• trim split ends from time to time;
• apply restorative masks, you can make them at home;
• do not wash your hair often, otherwise you risk quickly washing out the artificial pigment;
• use shampoos from special series "For highlighted", "For colored", "For colored hair";
• avoid mechanical damage to hair (do not comb wet hair or rub it with a towel), as well as the harmful effects of UV rays (always wear a hat in the sun);
• at least once a week rinse your curls after washing with a decoction of chamomile, oak bark, burdock or nettle.

Recall that the next coloring session cannot begin before three months have passed.

It is therefore entirely up to you whether to highlight or color. Everything is determined by personal preferences based on appearance, mood, inner state of mind, and style.

We’ve prepared some cutting-edge and trendy hair coloring methods:

• Painting in the style of grunge;
• stencil hair dyeing;
• color honeycomb;
• red, purple and pink ombre;
• Color and ash laveme.

Feature	Highlighting	Coloring
Definition	Highlights are added to sections of hair for contrast	The entire hair is dyed a new color
Effect	Creates a more natural, sun-kissed look	Gives a bold, uniform color
Maintenance	Lower maintenance as roots blend more naturally	Requires regular touch-ups to maintain full color
Hair health	Less damaging since only some sections are treated	Can be more damaging due to full coverage
Best for	Those looking for subtle change	People who want a complete color transformation
Which is better?	Better for a low-maintenance, natural look	Better for dramatic, all-over change

The benefits of coloring and highlighting vary based on the look you want to achieve. The goal of highlighting is to give your natural hair color more depth and contrast while producing a more subdued, sun-kissed appearance. However, coloring completely changes your hair and gives you a bold, new look.

Perhaps highlighting is the way to go if you’re looking for a subtler change that brings out the best in your current color. However, coloring can offer you greater flexibility in selecting various shades if you want to totally revamp your look.

In the end, the best option will rely on your preferences and the degree of change you’re looking for. Each technique has advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to decide which will best suit your desired style and level of maintenance.

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