highlighting questions

hi, I have shoulder length medium/dark brown hair with some cheek length bangs. I usually part on one side. It is virgin hair. I am interested in a few subtle light ash brown highlights in the front crown section (mainly my bangs) I am planning this around my birthday in July (when I have the money) and am trying to do some research on what method to use and how thick I want them to be, or if I want to risk a home highlighting kit. Can anyone recommend any online photos to give me some ideas? any general suggestions would be greatly appreciated, and by the way, if you have seen kelly clarkson in her video, Breakaway, doesn't her highlights look fabulous?

Thanks,

Wendy

This is from a few months back, not a great pic, and the lighting is bad (it is at night) but gives you some idea. I just got a major trim so it looks almost identical to this photo now, except about 1 inch longer, and my bangs are a tad longer but still have the same gradual sweeping motion. This is my standard every day style I love and have had since the summer, but wanted a little something else to experiment withfor both every day and special occasions. I love my overall color so I don't want too much different, just a subtle change. any advice at all to add more pizazz is appreciated. I may not wait all the way to July, but want to wait at least til spring break cuz I'd like my hair a little longer before I color. I like this length just below the shoulders, but the highlights are too warm and too much blonde for me:

as always, any advice appreciated!

Wendy

Thank you that helps a lot especially the price estimate!

Wendy

"I want very thin subtle ones and only in front around my face. If anyone has any ideas please let me know, and I am thinking a light blondish brown or brown sugar like color, deffinitely no blonde blonde or reds"

You know what I would do if I were you?  I'd strand test a green based dye (for sure you are going to pull RED) Miss Clairol, try the 57D
Coffee Brown mixed with 32D Moonhaze.  (STRAND TEST PRIOR TO DOING IT ALL)

http://www.clairolpro.com/dispensary/swatches/mc_swatches.ht ml

--stay away from Chestnut though it has a lot of red--use a 20 vol. and pick very thin subtle highlights around your face where you want them.  Pull the rest of the hair back in some fashion.  Apply dye to the thin strands and process 45 mins. 

I really think this would lighten your hair just enough to make it look like you had some highlights--of course it all sounds good in theory, only a strand test will tell.  I do think you could do this yourself too. Sounds like you know just where you want those highlights to be.  Good luck and I hope this helps!