Do I DARE attempt to highlight at home?????
Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: Hair Talk
Forum Name: Hair Color
Forum Description: The tricks and tribulations of changing your hair color
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=62117
Printed Date: July 29 2025 at 1:42pm
Topic: Do I DARE attempt to highlight at home?????
Posted By: Elissa
Subject: Do I DARE attempt to highlight at home?????
Date Posted: August 09 2008 at 6:04am
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I have been thinking about this...as I've a lot of experience coloring (even cutting!) at home. My hair is in great condition, I air dry and have been for years and years. My natural color is warm medium brown and I'm very grey in the sides, my sides are 75% grey and the rest of my hair isn't really grey (little bit in the crown). I color roots only with med. ash browns (level 5) to keep my roots from getting too hot. My hair looks more like a level 4 (dark brown) to the naked eye indoors from color accumulation (even roots-only, some gets an inch or so lower etc etc even though I don't pull through.)
So I am thinking about getting some very mild highlights...only maybe a shade lighter...to frame my face, just to add some interest. I don't want to lift a lot of color. Years ago I frosted and did other lightening stuff and my hair dries out very quickly from product (why I don't use heat!). It's thick and wavy. I really don't have the $$ to go to the salon and I want something I can upkeep easily at home as well. My skin is pale white and my eyes are blue-green. I look good in both cool colors and warm, though my eyes tend to pop the most with darker hair...I just need a change and I just can't stop looking at other ppl's beautiful highlights. So, do I try a kit like Loreal Couleour Experte, or just buy a level 6 brown and paint it on where I want my highlights? Will the developer in any boxed permanent color be %volume enough to get the lift I need since my hair is so dark? I will def. paint rather than use a cap, but I want to know what product to try...I'm nervous as I haven't done anything like this in so many years. Of course I will DEF strand test...Let me see if I can dig up a pic of my hair. Hope you can see this...pls ignore pregnant belly!  -------------  [/url]
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Replies:
Posted By: julesyjul88
Date Posted: August 09 2008 at 10:13pm
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I think you look very lovely in your picture! If I were you,I would stick with the color you have been using and paint on highlights. May I suggest a product called Color Breaks by Garnier? Probably in kit number 3 for medium to dark hair.
It says to leave it on for 20 minutes,but I would do a strand test first,because I often find I only need it for about ten to get it the color I want it.
Also,if you think you can cut your hair the way you want,go for it! I usually cut the front of mine and ask my husband for help with the back.just be sure to use a good,sharp pair of scissors.
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Posted By: Rebwil
Date Posted: August 12 2008 at 11:53am
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I've used L'Oreal Excellence Creme lights for adding a few soft highlights for years with awesome results. Do a strand test first. I always style my hair in its normal way and then decide where I want to add a few foils of bleach. Most times it takes me a few days to get all the highligts added where I want them. Good luck and hope this helps.
Rebekah
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Posted By: fakeizme
Date Posted: August 13 2008 at 12:03pm
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Really cute pregnant pic! Thanks for posting.
I suggest (and agree) that you should probably use a highlight kit or buy a tub of bleach (like Wella Wellite) and 20 vol. peroxide so you can paint on your highlights. Colour won't lift colour. You have to cut through the colour you have on your hair. Make sure to place the highlights around your face in a controlled manner so that when you go back to retouch you can find them and retouch ONLY those hairs. Most people keep adding highlights every two months or so and go too light eventually.
You only need to leave the bleach on for about 30 to 40 minutes (or watch carefully) until it reaches a light reddish colour. Depending on the tone of those lightened pieces, you could then tone it with a light brown colour so it's not too brassy. Depends whether you want to stay warm or have more neutral highlights.
Also, remember that if you hair has buildup of colour, it may take a bit for the bleach to eat through it. Make sure after you do your highlights, that you condition really well. Hope everything goes well for you!  ------------- Love clip-ins and tape! |
Posted By: Elissa
Date Posted: August 14 2008 at 4:53am
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Thanks everyone...and glad to see you Fakeizme, was hoping you would reply.
I ended up trying a strand test yesterday before reading Fakeizme's reply(attached to my head! on a sliver of my bangs) using a level 6 light ash brown...left it on for 30 minutes...and got... NOTHING! Guess I forgot color doesn't lift color, but I thought I could get one shade lighter with a single process (going from level 5 to 6)??? So, do I try again leaving it on longer (box said 25 min - 45 min max)? Or do I save my time and just bleach/tone? (going for ashy light brown, nothing too drastic) ------------- [/url]
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Posted By: Sophia1
Date Posted: August 23 2008 at 11:15pm
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Hi Elissa...I have highlighted many times before, so I suggest probably go ahead and lighten and tone....sounds like a bit more effort, but believe me from experience this will work better and faster than trying to lift with lighter deposit colors. Probably isn't going to happen. You are actually adding layer upon layer of color, which is only compounding your problem.
And I don't think the amount of time you left it on makes a big difference in this case.
And when bleaching just make sure to do your strand test for sure ! It's so easy to get it too light, or not light enough. Everyone's hair is a bit different. I highlighted recently for only 10 minutes... did nothing.... so put it on another 10 and it was perfect ! You are on the right track,,,good luck !
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