What is the best way to highlight your hair?

[mickeysgal]

Got a question for those of you that are hairdressers and/or for those that highlight your hair. I have dark brown hair (a bit of gray) with fair skin and I've been doing blond highlights. It totally brightens up my face and makes me look younger (mid 40's). The place I used to go to did foil wraps of those sections of hair that they wanted to highlight. Then we'd pick one or two highlighting colors to use for those sections. We since moved, and the place that I go to now, uses a cap in which strands of hair are pulled out. She uses just one color that I never picked out. The color never seems to get close to the roots this way and it fades fast...I mean fast. What is the more correct way to highlight? I don't even know all the questions I should be asking at this point. Should I be getting a full head color to correct everything and highlight every other time? Can someone help me out?

 

[ash&abby'smom]

Where I have my hair highlighted at uses foil. I get two colors on my hair, one is blonde and the other is caramel in color. Personally I like the foil technique much better. I usually get mine touched up every 6-8 weeks sometimes a little longer. I find getting the two colors helps hide the roots a little better. My suggestion is either ask if they can do foil highlights or search for another salon. You could go and get some low-lights put in to take away some of the blonde and next time do both colors. Or you can get a full head color and and get highlights again later.

 

[zalansky]

I have been highlighting my hair for years and they've always been foiled. I have a friend who still goes to a hairdresser who uses a cap and I cannot imagine in this day and age a hairdresser using a cap! I had that done once a LONG time ago and would never allow it again. It rips out hair and there is no way to get close to the root like you can with a foil. My friend who uses the cap, even when she gets her hair done it always has roots. I would find someone who uses foils only. JMO

 

[mickeysgal]

I have been highlighting my hair for years and they've always been foiled. I have a friend who still goes to a hairdresser who uses a cap and I cannot imagine in this day and age a hairdresser using a cap! I had that done once a LONG time ago and would never allow it again. It rips out hair and there is no way to get close to the root like you can with a foil. My friend who uses the cap, even when she gets her hair done it always has roots. I would find someone who uses foils only. JMO

You know, this is what I thought. It looks so old-fashioned and yet this hairdresser is THE place to go here.

What stuff is she using on my hair? We don't pick a color, she just mixes this stuff - it looks purple - and it lightens my hair. Is this just a generic bleach of some kind?

 

[CheshireVal]

I haven't seen anyone with a cap in my salon. Everyone gets foils. Isn't the cap thing called frosting?

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I haven't seen anyone with a cap in my salon. Everyone gets foils. Isn't the cap thing called frosting?

That is what I thought too. My hairdresser uses foil to highlight my hair. I've had the purpleish bleach used before. I had no problem with it but my hair takes bleach very well. It is also odd that she doesn't ask you what color you want. I've had a few hairdressers and they always show me the little samples and ask me which color I'd like to use.

 

[mickeysgal]

That is what I thought too. My hairdresser uses foil to highlight my hair. I've had the purpleish bleach used before. I had no problem with it but my hair takes bleach very well. It is also odd that she doesn't ask you what color you want. I've had a few hairdressers and they always show me the little samples and ask me which color I'd like to use.

I just wanted blonde highlights since my hair was getting so dark. It looks great when I get out of there, bright and shiny, but the roots don't look very covered. I'll tell you, within a week or two, it fades out. I use a shampoo made for highlighted hair too.

Maybe I need a full head coverage and foil touchups every other time??

This hairdresser charges a good penny, EVERYONE in town goes there and she does a lot of pageant work. I just can't figure it out. Is this a lazy, cheaper way of highlighting?

 

[OhMari]

I used to go to JCPenney and they always used a cap. But the cost got to around $75-$80 plus a tip.

I go now to our local salon and she charges me $45 and I give her a $5 tip. She uses the foil. She said I didn't need to go under the hair dryer. She has a new product she uses. I noticed the first week, it looked great and it is starting to fade already, boo.

 

[MickeysMommy]

When I got my hair highlighted it was with foil. My sister-in-law got her done with a cap and it looked horrible. It wasn't close enough to her roots. Didn't know people still used caps.

 

[poohandwendy]

I work in a salon, but I am a manicurist. My observation, over the years, is that caps are only used to highlight very short hair. Usually men or boys.

The reason being that when you pull the strands through the holes, they need to be coming from that part of the scalp in order to have a good result and for the bleach to lighten close enough to the scalp. With medium to long hair, you have no idea where the hair you are pulling through is coming from. It will give an uneven result.

What stuff is she using on my hair? We don't pick a color, she just mixes this stuff - it looks purple - and it lightens my hair. Is this just a generic bleach of some kind?

Yes, that is bleach...used to lighten the hair. Bleach lifts the color from your hair making it a lighter shade. Color dyes your hair, but does not make it lighter. Technically, you are really only bleaching your hair, not coloring it, when they only use bleach for highlights.

When a stylist does foils they can alternate with some hair being bleached and some hair being colored. Then you have your natural color that may or may not be colored with another color. This way gives a more natural result. (For example, some brunettes may get some blond highlights, some red color added for depth and warmth and then their natural brown color is the rest. Or they may need their natural brown dyed a close match to cover grey)

Unless you have very short hair and are only looking for some blond highlights to add to your natural hair, they should not be using the cap on your hair.

I hope my post makes sense, LOL.

 

[poohandwendy]

Oh and as to your questions:

Should I be getting a full head color to correct everything and highlight every other time? Can someone help me out?

It really depends on the condition of your hair. I would strongly suggest that you go to an experienced color stylist for advice. It sounds like at this point you need corrective color. That is something that should be done by someone who is very experienced. And no, not with a cap.

What I would do is stop by a reputable salon, ask for their best colorist (or even the shop owner, if available) to give you their opinion. Then make an appt if you feel comfortable with their advice.

 

[mickeysgal]

Thanks to all for your quick responses. You've all said what I've been suspecting...that this is not the best way to highlight. I'm getting madder by the minute!! My hair is definitely not short - its between my chin and shoulder. For the life of me I can't understand why she's doing it this way especially since she works at the most "in" place here in town and EVERYONE and I do mean EVERYONE goes to her. Its working - ok - at best, and I do get complements on it, but I think it could be better - especially for the price she's charging and the fact it fadies so quickly. I'm definitely going to be looking around for a better salon.

 

[marj11]

I also have been getting my hair highlighted for years - with foils. This year I have noticed that my roots are showing earlier and are much more noticeable. I do not have any grey (yet) so when I have my hair done - I just use a single process. I was so disgusted with my roots and could not get an appointment til next week that I bought nice n easy root touch up - It really works and was pretty easy. I was afraid to go to light and I probably could have left it in a little longer - but I am definitely pleased with the results.


Any suggestions on what to tell my hair dresser the next time I get highlights? I was thinking of doing my hair one color and then highlights but am not sure. I just know I hate having my roots show in 3 weeks.,

Melissa

 

[mickeysgal]

I was so disgusted with my roots and could not get an appointment til next week that I bought nice n easy root touch up - It really works and was pretty easy.
Melissa

I also had to do this one time recently. My roots were showing way to early...only after about 2-3 weeks due to the crazy way my hairdresser is doing my highlighting. I used this product also and was very pleased.