Fashion for naturalness, light negligence has gained popularity not only in clothing design, makeup, but also in hair care. The fame of the California highlighting on dark hair is due to the fact that it fully meets these needs.
Features of the California highlighting technique
When coloring in the style of California highlighting, the principle of gradual lightening of the tone is used. The dark shade at the top of the head fades into a lighter color at the ends. Thus, the effect of "burnt-out" hair from the "ever-scorching California sun" is created.
Advantages and disadvantages of technology
California highlighting has gained popularity due to its obvious benefits - it is perfect for any age and face shape.
Also, its advantages are:
- Versatility. The technique can be applied to hair of different structure, length, color, model.
- Sparing impact. Coloring is not done from the hair roots, so the hair follicles are not damaged.
- Practicality. Since the application of the dye does not affect the roots, regrown hair does not affect the appearance of the haircut. There is no need to paint frequently.
- Possibility of phased hair dyeing in the desired color. California highlighting allows smooth transition from dark to light color without damage.
- Visual increase in hair volume.
- Disguise of gray hair. The presence of bleached strands makes gray hair unobtrusive.
- Attractive appearance of the hairstyle. The play of color in casually highlighted strands gives the hair a unique beauty. The strands look especially beautiful in braids and bundles.
With all the advantages, convenience and practicality, sometimes difficulties arise when highlighting in the Californian way.
This is due to the subtleties of color selection, technical features:
- Color matching requires the professionalism of the performer. Since the main task of California highlighting is the effect of burnt-out tips, it is necessary to achieve such a selection of colors when painting so that the transition from one shade to another is invisible.
- Difficulty doing staining at home.
- The high cost is due to the need to purchase several packs of paint. For California highlighting, from 3 to 6 types of dyes are used.
How is it different from other techniques?
There are various techniques for highlighting hair: classic, bronding, shatush, ombre, balayazh.Each technique has its own characteristics, preferences associated with the original color, hair condition, skin type.
California highlighting differs from the technique:
- classic highlighting. With California highlighting, staining is not used from the roots. Each strand has several shades. Clarification takes place without the use of foil.
- booking... Californian highlighting provides for highlighting any hair color within 3 - 5 shades. In booking, 2 tones are enough. Bronding is recommended for light hair;
- shatush. "California" highlights the entire length of the hair, in contrast to the Shatush technique, which provides for selective highlighting of the ends. Shatush suits brunettes with long and medium hair;
- balayage... Californian coloring is deeper than balayage. Both the upper, external, curls and the strands located in the depth are exposed to highlighting. Balayage style provides for continuous application of paint with superficial strokes and is more suitable for light hair;
- ombre... "California" implies a smooth lightening border. Ombre style assumes a continuous clear transition from light to dark tone.
How long does the color last?
The practicality of California highlighting on dark hair lies in the natural selection of tones and the natural color of the roots. The regrown hair is not conspicuous, the washed off paint does not change the overall color composition.
Dyeing medium and long hair allows you not to go to the salon for 2 - 3 months.
An experienced stylist will correct the already colored strands by repeating the previous drawing.
Do you often have to dye your hair at the roots?
If used before highlighting the dye, you should choose a tone that matches the original color. This procedure requires special skills and is best left to a professional. Short hair needs more frequent correction.
in order not to change the contour of the haircut, it is recommended to tint individual strands, or just the bangs.
How to avoid yellowing?
Yellowness on the hair is associated with various reasons: poor-quality paint, a chemical reaction of the interaction of a natural pigment with a dye, poor-quality water.
It is not recommended to lighten black hairas the dark pigment is dominant. Combination with a light color dye will result in an unnatural yellow tint. To avoid such a nuisance, step-by-step discoloration should be performed.
Regular discoloration can damage the cellular structure of hair follicles. The result can be negative, even after repeated efforts. Stylists and hairdressers are advised to abandon the drastic change in dark color..
If the desire to get light strands becomes irresistible, it is necessary to lighten it in stages, in a hairdressing salon. The master will determine the individual characteristics of the hair structure, color, select the necessary dosage of the bleaching agent, the duration of the procedure.
Does this dye spoil the hair?
The main feature of California-style highlights on dark hair is its gentle property. Applying the dye to the hair with an indent from the roots up to 5 cm allows the hair follicles to avoid the aggressive effects of chemicals.
Frequent use of bleaching agents, numerous corrections can significantly weaken the hair. To avoid such problems, contact with dyes should be minimized. Correctly selected color allows during correction to process not the entire length of the hair, but only selected strands
Can Californian highlights be done on pregnant women?
Californian highlights on dark hair are allowed for pregnant women. The absence of contraindications is due to the gentle effect of this technique.The main danger during pregnancy is the toxic effect of chemicals on the skin of the expectant mother. Once in the placenta, they can cause defects in the development of the fetus.
In this technique, there is no contact of ammonia compounds with the skin.
How does it work with a perm?
When planning a California highlight, you should prepare your hair for the procedure. The natural effect depends on their initial state. Perm is a serious test for hair. To get the desired effect, it is recommended to give them a break for several months.
Another way to avoid a negative result can be the elimination of the effects of perm - removing overgrown ends or a haircut.
Does it add visual density to hair?
Californian highlights are a good way to visually add volume to fine, weakened hair. The combination of 4 - 5 tones in one strand can achieve the effect of shimmering highlights on the hair. By nature, dull strands are noticeably revitalized, becoming brighter. When braiding highlighted hair, the play of shades creates volume in braids and buns.
Why use a bleaching oil?
Very dark or dull hair does not blend well with light ends. The use of a bleaching oil can give a smooth transition of shades. It is able to gently lighten hair by 2 - 3 tones without damaging their structure. The oil gives the curls natural shades from light, caramel to dark honey. Oil-based preparations lighten dark overgrown roots to a dark blond color.
Depending on the type of hair, oils of different percentages of the oxidizing agent are used.
Is it possible to carry out the procedure at home?
The California highlighting procedure requires not only the artistic taste of the hairdresser, but also high technique, a clear sequence of the process. The confident skill of the performer, a sense of proportion in the choice of colors, allow you to paint yourself at home.
The technique of the Califoria style facilitates these tasks due to the absence of a strict approach to the choice of strands, the purity of the paint application. The contact of two tones on a curl is not important; it only creates the effect of naturalness.
The disadvantage of highlighting at home is the purchase of 3 - 5 types of paints. A small amount of substance will be enough to dye the strands. The shelf life of the remaining paint in the open form expires within a month, which leads to an increase in the cost of the procedure.
What paint should I use?
Trading networks offer a wide range of hair dyes.
Their main differences are in the presence or absence of active substances.
- Permanent... Ammonia and hydrogen peroxide give long-lasting coloration while lightening hair color. Such paints eliminate gray hair, remain bright for a long time.
- Semi-permanent (tinting paints). The absence of hydrogen peroxide makes them safer. They are able to change the basic tone by 2 - 3 shades. Tinting paints are unstable and not suitable for lightening.
- Semi-resistant. They contain a minimum amount of ammonia. Provide the softest coloring, give hair an even, calm tone. Not suitable for painting gray hair.
- Shading. Does not contain ammonia. Used to maintain natural tone, refresh color. Does not affect hair structure.
For test staining, it is better to use unstable paint. If the purpose of coloring is to give the hair additional brightness, freshness, you should use ammonia-free preparations. The desire to change hair color should not conflict with individual characteristics. Too dark tones are not suitable for fair-haired girls.
It is preferable for brunettes to stay within "their" shades: chestnut, chocolate.
Coloring technique depending on hair length
The principle of dyeing Californian highlights does not depend on the length of the hair.
The execution technique involves a smooth flow of one tone into another for any length of the strand.
- Short strands do not allow using the maximum number of shades. For lightening, you will have to use 2 - 3 light shades. Short lengths require more frequent corrections by lightening individual strands or bangs.
- Medium hair maximally emphasize the style of California. Long strands make it possible to trace the process of smooth transfusion of colors, the play of halftones.
- Long hair beautiful in their femininity.
Flowing “burnt-out” strands are especially good for long curls that do not require frequent correction.
The subtleties of coloring modern haircuts
Californian highlights are a creative addition to modern haircuts. It is impossible to imagine hairstyles where this style would look out of place.
Features of milling the most common hairstyles:
- A bob is usually created from smooth, thick hair. The front and side lines are highlighted. The bangs are colored according to the shades of the side strands. The lightened strands set off the skin color, conceal the irregularities of the facial features.
- "California" on an elongated square allows you to emphasize the smoothness of lines, hair density. Short bangs are lightened along with the rest of the strands. Long bangs can be completely lightened, or only on the sides.
- "Cascade" is considered the best model for highlighting. For such a haircut, the thickness of the hair does not matter - "California" will visually add volume to any hair. Highlighting each strand vertically takes time and money. However, it pays off with the stylish look of luxurious flowing hair.
The difference in applying highlights to your hair and dyed hair
Natural hair color is easier to lighten than dyed hair. "Own" hair does not need preliminary leveling of color, bleaching. The exception is too light hair, to which it is difficult to add appropriate shades.
Hair that has previously been exposed to chemically active substances can behave unpredictably during highlighting. Strands may turn yellow, not "take" the color, distort the intended tone. You should first use a wash or decolorizing agent.
Features of coloring depending on hair color
California highlighting, unlike other techniques, is able to decorate hair of any shade.
On black hair
Highlighting on black hair is fraught with danger, since you will have to discolor the roots and strands. The procedure must be carried out in several stages.
The bleaching composition should be maintained depending on the desired shade. Even so, the final result will be visible in a few weeks. Light brown strands look great on black hair.
To consolidate the effect, masters advise using toning.
On dark hair
When dyeing dark hair, it is permissible to leave the root zone not lightened. The consequence of this will be an extensive palette, providing a change of 4 - 5 tones.
The main task of the stylist - hairdresser when lightening dark hair, will be to ensure a smooth transition from one tone to another. It is useful to use hair toning after a few days.
Dark blond hair
Dark blonde hair gives the most natural and safest result when dyed. Hair color is ideal to leave the root zone uncolored. A natural shade when highlighting light brown hair will be a golden, wheat shade.
Highlighted hair care
Highlighted hair care requires constant attention.Even with the right technique and the use of high-quality dyes, the hair is stressed during the procedure.
Care tips for colored hair:
- If possible, the correction should consist in lightening the root zone, not affecting the entire length of the strands.
- You should give your hair a rest, cut off the regrown discolored ends in time.
- Do not perm after highlighting.
- In case of dissatisfaction with the result, the subsequent highlighting should be carried out no earlier than 2 weeks later.
- To strengthen your hair, you can use highlighted hair care products.
Homemade hair masks give hair a healthy look, nourish, and restore hair follicles.
For example, the effectiveness of a mask made from cognac, honey and yolk is based on the vasodilating effect of cognac, the antioxidant properties of honey and the nourishing, softening effect of the yolk.
Expert recommendations
California highlighting requires high-quality professional performance. With certain skills, it can be done at home.
For the result to meet expectations, it is important to follow the basic rules:
- it is advisable to start experimenting with lightening with light shades. Such tones are easier to correct and recolor dark;
- eyebrow shade can determine the true hair color. As a rule, the eyebrows should look 1 - 2 shades darker;
- skin type, facial features is closely related to hair color. Therefore, you should not neglect your individual characteristics;
- thin strands are colored faster. For clarification, they should be kept slightly less than indicated in the instructions. Dark tones, at maximum exposure, can give an intense, "acidic" color;
- to neutralize the aggressive effects of active substances, staining is necessary 24 hours after shampooing.
Looking at a girl with Californian highlights on her dark hair, memories of the sun, salt on her skin, grains of sand in her hair arise in my memory. The original lightening technique allows you to emphasize the dignity of the haircut, the individuality of the appearance.
To obtain a visible effect, you must use the services of a professional stylist - hairdresser. He will help with the choice of technique, the selection of colors, take into account all the subtleties of the procedure.
Useful videos about the California highlighting technique
Coloring video tutorial: How to make California highlights:
Master class of California highlighting from Olga Rey: