The Best Method To Highlighting Your Own Hair

The impulsive decision to do your own hair at home is a familiar feeling among many of us. If it’s your way to have control when something is going awry, or if you just don’t have the time to go to the salon and sit in a chair for a few hours, you might’ve thought to yourself “I can do it myself, how hard can it be”. Trust me, when you’ve got the tools in your hand and no experience doing hair, reality hits you and it’s the biggest weight on your shoulders not to screw their hair up. And when it comes to doing it yourself, it’s like the devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. The devil is feeding on the impulsive energy and cheering you on to cut or color your hair. And the angel is causing you to hesitate, to think if it’s really wise to do to it yourself. Oh it’s so hard to choose which one to listen to. And most of the time it’s a “Screw it, I’ll just take my time and be careful”. Before you pick up just any kit at the store and start bleaching your head, take the time to read through this article to find out what products to use and how to best do your hair yourself. So, when you can’t make it to the salon and insist on having your hair done, here is the best method to highlighting your own hair without it looking like a disaster when you’ve finished.

How It’s Done

Highlighting is done with bleach, which can be damaging to your skin and hair if not done correctly. We want to avoid hair falling out, obviously. When you use bleach, it gets sort of tricky. See if your hair is naturally light, it should be relatively simple to do one process of bleach to get it too the desired level. But if your hair is darker, it will probable take two tries to get it to where it should be, it depends on the color of highlights you want, really. Realistically, from my own experience anyway (remember I am not a licensed cosmetologist) if you have black hair, when you bleach it, it’s going to turn orange. Keep this is mind for those who want super light blonde highlights in your dark hair.

Bleach Vs. Toner

After you bleach your hair, which strips out the color, it’s time to use toner. So bleach will take out the current shade your hair color is, and toner will apply the color that you want it to be. Toner gets rid of the brassiness of the bleach. Nod your head if you understand.

What You’ll Need

Go to a beauty store, like Sally’s, and purchase everything you will need. This includes bleach, peroxide, foil, gloves, a comb, a mixing bowl, and color brush. When choosing which peroxide to get, follow this safe practice. If your hair is naturally light, use one that is ten volume. And for darker hair, use a 20 volume. Don’t get the highest volume because you think that it might work better, this will cause your hair to fall out.

Before You Start

Before you do anything, put on clothes you don’t care about getting bleach on. One drop and it will stain. Then, you’ll want to put on gloves. When bleach comes in contact with your skin it will burn and also the smell will last for hours, if not a day. What a headache that causes.

A good rule of thumb is to have clean, recently washed hair so that the product you use will be more affective. When your hair is dirty, the natural oils, and hair styling products will interfere with the chemicals, leaving it to work it’s best.

Mix

In the mixing bowl, add the bleach and peroxide, making sure to mix until it is well combined together. Like following a baking recipe. If your just touching up your hair, then you should only be doing the roots that have grown out with your natural hair color.

Get To Work

Now it’s time to get to highlighting. Section your hair into three or four sections. This will help you stay organized, allowing yourself to focus on one section before moving on to another. When you’re highlighting your own hair, please take your time. While there is the option to getting it fixed after, you’ll want to give the hair stylist something to work with. 

See Also

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Start with one of the front sections to get comfortable working your hands with the tools in you hair. Remember to have the other sections parted away from the one you are working on so it doesn’t get in the way. You can leave the hair down and by taking your comb, you’re going to part a thin,thin,thin section, weaving out a few strands and then placing a foil underneath these hairs, holding it in place by pulling on the ends of the hair. This will keep the hair tight and easy to work with. Next, brush on the bleach mixture, making sure to saturate it well. When you’re done doing this, fold the foils to cover the hair. When highlighting your hair, from what I’ve read, it’s easier to just do touch ups, but if you insist on doing them everywhere on your cranium, it’s possible. Stay calm, and patient as you work through each section of hair. Just remember the steps. In each section of hair, use your comb to make a smaller section, holding this with your hand, you’re then going to use a comb to weave through that piece, pulling out that hairs that you will be highlighting. Put the foil on as close to the scalp as you can, and then brush the bleach on to your hair, folding the foils closed when you’re done. The back might be tricky since you can’t see it, so maybe you can have a friend or family member help you out. Or feel your way through this difficult part.

Finishing Up

When you’re done with this process, check to see how the first foil has lightened. If it’s looking like it’s lightened to your desired level, you should just have to wait ten minutes for all of the hair to process. Once it’s time, take out the foils and then wash your hair. You can then apply the toner all over your hair, leaving this to process for another ten to fifteen minutes. Then you can shower, using shampoo and a moisturizing conditioner. Blow dry your hair and hopefully the results are just how you wanted it!

Besides reading this article, perhaps watch a video too, or speak to a hair stylist you may know for further instruction. Good luck and be careful highlighting your hair!