Female representatives often prefer highlighting over standard coloring. By artificially lightening the strands, the hair is inflicted less harm than a full color. For women with dark hair who want to preserve their natural color, giving it brightness, highlighting with toning will be the most suitable and gentle option.
Feature of the highlighting technique on dark hair
With the help of the highlighting procedure, it is possible to visually increase hair volume, hide gray hair and get a beautiful rich color. Usually, for highlighting on dark hair, it is recommended to use a dye lighter by 2 tones of your own hair color.
Dark hair is less susceptible to color dyeing, so they are pre-lightened. In this case, the clarifier is applied either separately, or a special “2 in 1” paint is used, it will both brighten and color the strands.
Types of highlighting techniques
Highlighting is classified into several varieties:
- With a special hat with slots. This method is suitable for short hair, just separate individual strands through the cap. It is undesirable to use this technique on damaged and weak hair, since there is a high probability of removing the cap along with the weakened hair follicles.
- Using special foil paper. Individual strands are laid out on foil and a coloring agent is applied. The strands are wrapped in foil and wait the required time. Through this type of dyeing curls, the main thing is not to overexpose the foil in time.
- With a brush and comb. After applying the coloring agent, comb the hair. You should not expect a bright contrast.
The purpose of any highlighting is the same - the coloring of individual hair strands. But using different techniques, staining will always look different.
The main features of the procedure:
- Highlights classic. Maximum naturalness, color of strands along the entire length of the hair, their thickness can be different, depending on the wishes of the woman.
- Zonal highlighting. Only the upper strands are dyed. With this procedure, you can achieve a bright contrast of light curls against the background of your natural color. Common types of partial hair coloring: root, asymmetric, diagonal. All this is achieved with the help of zonal coloring.
- Reverse highlighting means darkening the strands and the traditional one - lightening them.
- Gentle highlighting carried out mainly with ammonia-free paints, which include moisturizers. It is applied to very weak hair. The strands are lightened by only a few tones.
- Highlights in the usual way. It is possible to transform and change the tone of hair color into many shades.
Frequent highlighting
The technique in this performance will look perfect and advantageous on dark hair, since it is more noticeable. This method lightens the upper strands and it is possible to use both one and several shades at once.The staining done will not be conspicuous, since it is done in small strands.
Frequent highlighting will suit absolutely any hair, but it will look more impressive on dark hair. Only a professional and experienced hairdresser will be able to correctly select shades and perform the job perfectly.
Pros and cons of the procedure
Frequent highlighting on dark hair has many more advantages than disadvantages.
Among the advantages are the following:
- any highlighting is a gentle dyeing technique, and the dye gets on only half of the hair, thereby dyeing occurs with minimal harm and stress to the native hair;
- the volume visually increases;
- with the help of some techniques, you can emphasize haircuts such as a cascade or a ladder;
- the ability to hide minor flaws with the correct location of the colored strands;
- giving hair freshness and depth of color;
- carrying out the procedure on oily hair dries the roots, thereby giving a little bulk;
- suitable for hair of any length and shape;
- looks natural;
- masks gray hairs;
- corrects the previous staining that does not satisfy the woman;
- often resort to this method when returning the native hair color.
The disadvantages of this procedure are insignificant:
- this technique is not recommended for damaged hair;
- long procedure;
- on hair previously dyed with henna, the result may be unpredictable;
- it is not recommended to carry out highlighting immediately after a perm or dyeing, you must wait at least a month;
- in order to avoid overdrying the hair, proper care is necessary;
- after a while, the strands turn yellow.
Frequent highlighting on dark hair is ideal for women who want to refresh their look or hide minor flaws.
Shades that are ideal for highlights on dark hair
To choose the right shades for dyeing strands for owners of dark curls, you need to take into account such nuances as skin color type, face shape and eye color. After all, well-chosen colors will not only add volume, but also focus on the natural hair color.
Variety of color palette suitable for women with dark hair:
- caramel;
- shade of color "walnut";
- golden;
- coffee;
- cognac.
To choose the right shade, you need to build on the natural color. To achieve the expensive effect of beautiful hair, there should be no bright contrast. Well-chosen shades will eventually merge into one with natural color, creating uniformity and depth.
Ash shade
It is necessary to experiment with shades of gray-silver color on your own very carefully, because with an unfortunate coincidence of circumstances, it will visually age and deprive you of individuality.
Ash shades:
- snow ash is ideal for dark-haired women;
- pure ash will emphasize the shape of the face;
- ash blond - a guarantee of color harmony, suitable for hair of any length;
- The ash-graphite shade looks quite eccentric.
Benefits of ash highlights:
- luxurious stylish color in the case of a well-chosen shade, taking into account the peculiarities of appearance;
- hides gray hair;
- removes yellowness;
- suitable for different hair lengths.
Disadvantages:
- preliminary lightening of dark curls several times, the result will be dry and brittle hair;
- special care for the selected shade;
- facial skin imperfections become more pronounced.
Ash shade is suitable for girls with fair skin, green or blue eyes. It may vary in intensity. It is possible to use gentle paints, which do not contain ammonia.
Hair tinting
Over time, the lightened strands lose their attractiveness and shine, begin to turn yellow and fade, since their structure is disturbed during coloring. Hair tinting will help to cope with such problems, hair color evens out.
There are 3 ways of toning:
- gentle, lasts about a month on the hair;
- light, after the next shampooing it will wash off;
- intense, lasts up to 8 weeks, suitable for changing hair color by 1 tone of lightening or darkening.
The most suitable shades for toning will be those close to the original hair color, but you should not choose a shade that is more than 3 tones different. When toning, you can mix shades of the same colors. As part of the paint for toning there is no ammonia and it is considered harmless, and due to the keratin in the composition, it has a positive effect on the hair.
Benefits of the procedure:
- nourishes hair with moisture;
- the structure of the hairs is not disturbed;
- a huge selection of shades;
- evens out hair color;
- unsatisfactory results can be easily washed away.
Disadvantages:
- periodically it is necessary to update the color;
- washed out pretty quickly;
- does not hide gray hairs.
It is recommended to tint your hair a few days after the highlighting procedure. To achieve an even hair color, you must apply the product to all hair.
How to choose the right colors
Using tinting products after highlighting, the woman's color type should be taken into account. For brunettes with dark skin and brown or green eyes, shades of warm colors are suitable: brown, chestnut or honey. For owners of light skin and blue or gray eyes, toning with colors of cold gray or brown shades would be an ideal solution.
The video tells how to highlight damaged hair:
The correct selection of a color scheme for highlighting dark hair has its own nuances. Considering the color of the skin and eyes at the same time:
- for owners of light skin and eyes, shades of light tones of caramel and walnut will be suitable, and an ashy shade will be an ideal and more advantageous option for such women;
- for women with gray eyes, whose skin is pinkish and has an olive tint, shades of wheat are most suitable;
- for women with green and blue eyes and yellow-beige skin, shades of red will be suitable: copper, chestnut, caramel;
- for women with porcelain skin color, cold shades of paints are suitable;
- shades of red and chestnut will be suitable for brown-eyed women with dark skin.
An ashy shade is suitable for young women, and it ages older women even more.
In adulthood, it is better to choose highlighting in light tones. With the help of highlighting, you can gradually move from one color to another. For example, from a dark shade to blonde. Bright red contrasting strands will add personality and brightness. For more extreme highlighting, paints of bright and colored shades are used.
Varieties of highlighting on dark hair
Frequent highlighting on dark hair will suit any woman. Each type of artificial lightening is different from each other, so a woman will be able to choose the appropriate procedure based on her preferences.
| Types of highlighting | Description | Effect for different hair lengths |
| Classic | Hair strands are discolored along the entire length and the thinner they are, the more natural the look of the hairstyle in general | Natural effect on fine strands. Will add freshness to the image. This method is not recommended for damaged and dry hair. |
| Zonal | Strands undergo bleaching along the top of the hair | The effects can be achieved very different, as well as burnt curls under the sun |
| Bronding | More than one paint color is used. Darker top and lighter shades towards the ends. Maximum shading, no clear boundaries for discoloration of strands | Natural effect, soft transitions and play of tones, a unique shade |
| Ombre | Slightly blurry or clear boundaries of transitions from one shade to another. Gradient along the entire length of the hair. A wide variety of colors will do. Part of the hair is highlighted, bottom or top | The effect of regrown burnt hair. The hairstyle is natural and voluminous. Not suitable for very short haircuts, for example, if the haircut is made using "pixie" technology |
| Coloring | Lightening and dyeing individual strands in different colors or close to the natural hair color, which can be quite a lot. Strands in thickness may be different | Vivid effects from juicy and variegated to natural shades |
| Blonding | A smooth transition from native dark to blonde. You will need to go through this procedure more than once. | Blond hair effect |
| Partial highlighting | Partial coloring of the strands, that is, they highlight some part of the hair. For example, only the bangs, the bottom layer of the hair, or only the crown | Burnt strand effects, illusion of flame or illumination effect when coloring the lower layer |
| Balayazh | The emphasis is on the ends of the hair | Smooth transitions, overflows and play of shades. Looks especially impressive on short hair. The burnt-out effect is only suitable for short haircuts. |
| Shatush | Apply the most suitable shades to the natural color. Lightening of individual curls and their subsequent toning | Natural effect. Thanks to smooth transitions, the illusion of burnt strands is created. Not suitable for too short haircuts, because it is not possible to make a smooth transition of shades |
| Venetian | Strands of hair of unequal thickness are colored several tones lighter than the base color. To achieve glare on the hair, randomly taken strands are colored in several shades at once | The effect of burnt curls. Increases volume and shine to the hair. Hair that is too long requires the use of many shades to achieve the desired result
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Features of the choice of technology:
- For owners of long hair absolutely all types of highlighting are suitable, with the exception of the balayage technique, since only the ends of the hair are colored.
- For medium hair it is possible to use not only different types of highlighting, but also the use of a wide variety of paints. The balayage technique is considered not the most successful, but possible.
- For short haircuts techniques that emphasize contrasting transitions are suitable. Smooth color transitions are no exception.
Paint selection
Frequent highlighting on dark hair implies a competent attitude to the choice of paint. To obtain the desired shade, the paint must be of good quality, preferably purchased from professional stores to avoid unpleasant results.
Expensive professional paints are thick in consistency, perfectly adhere to the hair and have a hair-friendly composition. When choosing a color, you must consider the native hair color. For highlighting yourself at home, it is recommended to purchase ready-made compositions.
If you buy everything separately, you need to properly mix all the ingredients, having previously studied the mixing proportions.
The types of dyes are divided into:
- Powdered mixtures, the purpose of which is to lighten the pigment from the strands.
- A brightening paste designed for gentle highlighting. It contains minerals and vitamins that prevent hair dryness and brittleness.
- Ammonia-free paints. Suitable for home use.
- Paints based on oxidizing agents with a creamy, non-spreading consistency. Manufacturers also offer ready-made sets of such paints. The numbers on the box from 1 to 10 indicate the tone. These numbers may differ for each manufacturer. The percentage of oxidant for dark hair is quite high, ranging from 6%. The main color is the second digit.Additional shades mean numbers 3 and 4. The obligatory presence of blue and violet pigments.
- A brightening ready-to-use cream that slightly lightens curls.
Before applying paint to curls, you should carefully study the instructions for the correct mixing of the components.
Home technique
To color your hair yourself, you will need dye and an oxidizer, a mixing bowl, a special cap or hairdressing foil, combs, a brush or applicator, and disposable gloves. Caps are of 2 types: disposable (not dense) and reusable (denser).
Method using a hat:
- Wearing disposable gloves, dilute the paint according to the instructions.
- Put the cap on dry hair.
- Using a comb, draw out the strands of hair with a sharp end. You can also do this with a regular crochet hook.
- Apply the paint with a brush or an applicator to extended strands, starting from the forehead to the temples and back of the head.
- Cover dyed hair with plastic and wait for the required time specified in the instructions.
- Wash off the coloring agent and moisturize hair with balm.
- Remove the cap from the back of the head very carefully.
If desired, apply and fix highlighting with toning agents. The cap option is especially suitable for short to medium-length hair. A more complicated method using foil. The length of the prepared sheets should be wider and slightly longer than the strands of hair.
- At the end, turn each piece of foil by about 1 cm.
- Divide the hair into zones and pin up with hairpins, start dyeing at the temples and finish with the back of the head.
- Dilute the paint first.
- With the sharp end of a comb, evenly select the strands in a checkerboard pattern and lay them on foil.
- Without touching the hair roots, apply the dye composition to the strands with a brush.
- Fold the foil on the sides and form an envelope, securing it with a hair clip.
- Use the same scheme to highlight the rest of the hair.
- After waiting for the time indicated by the manufacturer, remove the foil in the same sequence as the paint was applied.
- Wash off the paint and apply the mask.
Used when you wish to tint your hair for a more uniform shade. This highlighting option is suitable for long hair.
What to do with a bad result?
Sometimes the result is not satisfying expectations.
In this case, a number of tips are given:
- Uneven colored strands or too much distance from the roots. It can be hidden by re-staining insufficiently worked out areas.
- The yellowness of the strands can be masked with the help of special tonics, which include purple or blue pigment.
- If your hair has become brittle and lifeless, lamination will help.
- Not satisfied with the resulting shade - several hair toning procedures will help.
Follow-up care
Any impact on the hair impairs its structure, therefore, proper care for colored hair will prolong the grooming, beauty of highlighting and hair in general.
- Wash your hair with special shampoos for colored hair, use shampoos with a UV filter in summer, they will help protect dark hair and colored curls from the sun.
- Moisturize and nourish hair with keratin, which is found in masks and gel fluids.
- The use of special masks for colored hair based on natural oils have a beneficial effect on weak hair without washing out the color.
- Saturate hair with moisture and periodically renew hair ends.
- Minimize the use of appliances such as hair straighteners, hair dryers, or various curling irons.
- For a stronger fixing of the paint, do not wash your hair for several days.
To update the image, frequent highlighting is an excellent option, especially if a woman does not want to radically change her hair color. Dyeing individual dark strands looks especially impressive.
Author: Zhmurko Alina Sergeevna
Article design:E. Chaikina
Useful video on highlighting for dark hair
Video about Venetian highlights on dark hair: