What is the difference between highlighting and coloring? We test popular salon procedures

Two of the most common salon services for changing your hair color are highlighting and coloring. Both can change the way you look, but they do so in different ways and with different outcomes, so you might not know which is best for you.

The goal of highlighting is to give your natural hair color more dimension and brightness by adding lighter streaks or sections. If you want to make a more subtle change without changing your entire color entirely, this is a great option.

However, coloring primarily involves changing your hair’s overall shade. Coloring offers you a clean slate with a consistent, even tone, whether you’re going for a striking new look or just covering up gray areas.

We’ll go over the main distinctions between these two approaches in this post and assist you in selecting the one that best fits your preferences. In addition, we’ll examine some of the most often performed salon procedures so you can prepare for your upcoming appointment.

What is hair highlighting and coloring?

What are the primary distinctions and characteristics of the processes? Both coloring and highlighting are examples of a sophisticated kind of coloring. Furthermore, if a low percentage of oxide is required for any reason during the coloring process, foil must be used in both situations. Usually, the master applies the dye in accordance with a predetermined scheme to draw attention to specific hairs, accentuate the shade’s depth, or give the haircut more texture. Still, these two methods are nearly diametrically opposed to one another.

With the coloring technique known as "hair highlighting," you can attain varying degrees of lightening and the appearance of sun-burned hair strands. Strong lighteners are frequently used in place of dyes during the highlighting process. The width and degree of lightening (ranging from 2 to 8 tones) of the dyed strands, as well as their quantity and configuration, are all customizable by the master.

Hair coloring is a more intricate coloring method that typically calls for the use of three to five paint shades that are near to one another. Here, the master accomplishes the smoothest, most natural tonal transitions. Conversely, vivid and striking hues are employed in imaginative visuals. However, in a strict sense, coloring is a popular kind of highlighting that results in a distinctive coloring pattern.

What is the difference between highlighting and hair coloring: visual differences and technical differences

What distinguishes coloring from highlighting, and which is preferable? It is advised that you first comprehend the primary distinctions between these two methods and closely examine the coloring examples and pictures. And maybe your colorist will be surprised by your unexpected knowledge.

Duration of coloring

If you ask a few masters what makes highlighting different from coloring, they will almost certainly tell you that it’s just a matter of time. Any intricate hair color procedure takes a long time. But highlighting takes about two hours, a lot less time than other methods. If you’re heading to the coloring salon, be prepared to spend a minimum of five hours there.

The degree of gray hair is overlapped

Gray hair is effectively concealed by highlights, as is coloring. On the other hand, it is not a good idea to have an excessively large area of gray hair because this will require more frequent correction down the road. In order to fully hide gray hair, particularly if it is over 50%, the expert can apply dyes that have strong covering power: Long-lasting and sophisticated shades can be found in the following palettes: L’Oréal Professionnel Majirel Cool Inforced, Redken Chromatics Beyond Cover, and Matrix SoColor.beauty Extra Coverage.

Less durable ammonia-free paints are used in the process of bright creative coloring, but they also do a good job of hiding gray hair. But the gray hair will show up again in about a month. Try coloring your picture with vibrant colors, even in their most subtle forms, if you frequently visit the salon. Regular touch-ups will help keep the distinctive coloring pattern and the ability to blend in gray hair.

Area of coloring

Highlighting is regarded as a gentler method because it involves coloring only the outer layer of hair or a small number of hair strands. The master frequently colors the entire canvas of hair with dye. There are some exceptions because coloring is an art form, and rigid rules go against that.

Transitions between shades

Smooth transitions between shades are a feature of both techniques, but highlighting makes the coloring’s boundaries much more visible. The truth is that strand by strand lighting is a part of this technique. As a result, compared to coloring, the outcome is somewhat more contrasting. It’s true that there are some reservations here, as your hairdresser’s experience and skill are largely responsible for the success of coloring. As an illustration, consider airtouching, which appears to be relieving rather than contrasting.

Doing at home

Theoretically speaking, it is much simpler to replicate highlighting at home. The coloring procedure is far more intricate and closely resembles the work of a jeweler. But not everything is that easy, even with highlighting: the outcome might not be as appealing as you had hoped. Here’s one suggestion, though: it’s always best to get in touch with a knowledgeable hair stylist in a salon for any coloring.

Dye shades

As previously stated, coloring entails full coloring, whereas highlighting entails lightening strands. Therefore, the dye’s shade should only be mentioned when coloring because, in general, highlighting comes in a variety of blond shades. The master chooses a shade for coloring based on your particular request and appearance type. You have the option of using a natural shade palette, a pixel-bright coloring, or a longitudinal or disorienting multicolor coloring.

Naturalness

Highlighting gives your curls a very fresh, natural look, as though they were slightly burned by the sun. Coloring can accomplish the same thing, but the outcome will seem even more authentic. Only true if you’re a fan of natural, neutral tones. Furthermore, if you highlight using the ombre technique, the regrown roots won’t show through because the shade transition usually starts at the ear line or below and looks as natural as possible.

Coloring methods

Every technique has a different coloring technique. The most well-liked highlights include California highlights, Venetian highlights, ombre, balayage, and shatush. The coloring services that are most in demand are: zonal, asymmetrical, multi-color, longitudinal, transverse, and "salt + pepper."

Crucial! Whichever method you choose, the colorist must evaluate the condition of your hair first. The base needs to be prepared extremely carefully and with gentle products only if they are broken, porous, brittle, or have been bleached repeatedly.

The lightening oil L’Oréal Pro Blond Studio, for instance, only slightly brightens hair by two shades. There are ammonia-free bleaching pastes and powders available, with Matrix Light Master being a notable example of one with a protective bonder. Today, one can achieve stunning color transitions almost entirely without causing any damage to one’s hair.

Despite their apparent similarities, coloring and highlighting offer different methods and outcomes. While coloring alters the color of the entire hair or large sections of it, highlights concentrate on lightening particular strands to add dimension and brightness. This post will examine both common salon procedures, outlining their main distinctions, advantages, and what to anticipate from each.

What is better to choose: highlighting or coloring

• Coloring is more suitable for those who want to create an extraordinary image with many variations hair styling.

• Young girls should choose a palette of bright colors, while women over 40-45 years old should pay attention to natural and sophisticated shades of coloring.

• Highlighting looks great on long and medium hair, and for short haircuts and hairstyles under the boy it is better to choose coloring.

• Coloring is not suitable for total masking of gray hair, but highlighting will brilliantly perform this function.

• Highlighting is ideal for those who only want to slightly refresh the image and are not ready to do a full coloring.

• If you brown-haired and have long dreamed of becoming a blonde without causing severe damage to your hair, go to the salon for highlighting.

• If you are not a fan of visiting the salon once a month for color correction, then highlighting is definitely your option.

• After highlighting, it is possible and even necessary to do subsequent toning, and after coloring – not always. It is worth discussing this nuance in advance with your stylist, everything depends on the paints and lightening compounds.

• Coloring is suitable for owners of any hair shade, even the darkest, however, in this case, lightening will be required to implement the technique.

• After highlighting, you can do coloring, but not vice versa – and this is another feature that clearly demonstrates how highlighting differs from coloring.

• Highlighting is considered a more gentle type of hair coloring, but even after it, you need to choose good hair care. You have healthy strong strands and a craving for creativity? Then stop at coloring.

Both coloring and highlighting are separate methods that are used to revitalize and change hair, and they both produce different outcomes. While coloring entails changing the entire shade of the hair or applying multiple tones for a uniform or blended look, highlighting focuses on adding lighter strands to create dimension and contrast.

Your preferred level of maintenance and personal style will determine which option is best for you. While coloring can produce a bolder, more dramatic transformation, highlighting offers a more natural effect with less noticeable regrowth.

Both operations can improve your appearance, but it’s crucial to think about how frequently you want to get your hair done and how much of a change you want. Making the best decision for your look and lifestyle can be aided by speaking with a professional stylist.