Traditional Highlights vs. Lowlights: Which Should You Choose?

Changing your hair colour is like giving yourself a new lease on style.

Yet, when it comes to choosing between traditional highlights and lowlights, things can get a bit confusing.

Each option offers distinct benefits and aesthetic results, so it's essential to understand the nuances before diving in.

What Are Traditional Highlights?

Traditional highlights involve lightening sections of hair to add brightness and contrast.

By using foil highlights, the stylist isolates strands of hair from root to tip. The technique creates a sun-kissed look that can make your hair appear fuller and more dynamic.

How Do Highlights Work?

Highlights are achieved by applying a lightener or hair dye onto sections of the hair. These strands are usually lighter than your natural colour, creating an appealing brightness effect.

The result is also influenced by the base colour of your hair, as lighter bases yield more vibrant highlights.

Regardless of your chosen shade, highlights add dimension and depth.

Advantages of Traditional Highlights

One key benefit of traditional highlights is their ability to make fine hair appear thicker. The added brightness can create the illusion of more volume, which is particularly advantageous for those with thin hair.

Additionally, when done correctly, highlights can blend seamlessly with your natural colour, offering a subtle yet striking look.

How Are Lowlights Different?

Lowlights involve darkening sections of hair rather than lightening them. This technique uses a similar approach to highlights but aims to create depth and shadow instead of brightness.

Lowlights: What Do They Involve?

Unlike traditional highlights that lighten micro-strands of hair, lowlights offer a darker tone compared to your base colour. Your stylist applies darker shades onto specific sections of the hair, creating depth and dimension.

The darker hues complement lighter tones, making the overall look more balanced.

When to Opt for Lowlights?

Lowlights are perfect for adding richness and dimension to the hair without making dramatic changes.

If you're looking to update brown hair or deeper hues without completely altering your natural look, lowlights could be the way to go.

Lowlights work wonderfully for individuals aiming to cover grey hairs or add depth during winter months when darker tones are often favoured.

Comparing Highlights and Lowlights: What's the Difference?

While at a glance, highlights and lowlights seem quite similar, they serve different purposes in the world of hair colouring techniques. Understanding these differences will help you choose the best option for you.

Brightness vs Depth

Highlights add brightness to the hair by incorporating lighter shades. This creates an eye-catching look that's especially effective for those wanting a sun-kissed effect year-round.

In contrast, lowlights add depth by using darker colours, which enriches the existing hue and offers a more mature and sophisticated appearance.

Different Hair Types

Various hair types react differently to highlights and lowlights.

• Fine hair benefits immensely from highlights as they offer thickness and volume.

• On the other hand, thicker or curly hair might benefit more from lowlights that create additional texture and definition.

Maintenance

The maintenance required can be a deciding factor for many people.

• Highlights generally require frequent salon visits to maintain their brightness and tone.

• Lowlights tend to have lower maintenance needs since they aim closer to your natural shade.

Balayage and Babylights: Where Do They Fit In?

You might have heard terms like balayage and babylights thrown around at salons. Let's break these down.

Balayage

Balayage involves freehand painting sections of the hair with a lightener to create a natural sun-kissed look. Unlike traditional foil highlights, balayage gives softer appearances with less noticeable regrowth lines.

Babylights

Babylights mimic the subtle highlights seen in children's hair, naturally lightened by the sun. This technique involves highlighting very fine strands of hair to achieve an incredibly delicate outcome that blends flawlessly with your base colour.

Personal Style Considerations

If you're inclined towards trendy looks, balayage might be your go-to method. Conversely, if simplicity with minimal upkeep is your preference, traditional foil highlights or lowlights would suit you better.

Remember also that your natural skin tone should guide your choice of shade; warm skin tones pair well with golden hues, while cooler undertones match ashier shades more effectively.

Consult Your Stylist

Before deciding between these techniques, consult your stylist regarding what would suit you best based on your existing colour and desired result. A qualified professional can assess whether you need added brightness through subtle highlights or enhanced dimension via lowlights or balayage.

Moreover, every person's hair has unique characteristics, including texture, curl pattern, and thickness. All these factors influence how colouring techniques will manifest once applied.

Caring For Coloured Hair

Regardless of whether you choose traditional highlights or lowlights (or even specialties like balayage), maintaining coloured hair requires consistent care routines aimed at preserving colour integrity and preventing damage.

Investing in quality sulphate-free shampoos helps minimise colour fade-out over time, while conditioning treatments ensure hydration remains intact post-colouring appointments at salons.

Conclusion

Deciding between traditional highlights and lowlights, or even exploring options like balayage and babylights, boils down to understanding your personal style and hair characteristics.

Each technique brings something unique to the table, offering you the versatility to achieve your desired look.

Don't let indecision stand in the way of your hair dreams. At All About Salon, our skilled stylists are ready to guide you through this exciting journey.

From consultation to application, our team will ensure that your new hair colour not only complements you but also enhances your natural beauty.

Ready to transform your hair? Schedule an appointment today, and let us bring your vision to life!

FAQ

Our Services

Check Out Our Instagram