10 Best At-Home Highlighting Kits Of 2024, Cosmetologist-Approved
Make your hair look absolutely breathtaking without spending too much in the parlour.
Lindsay Loo is a cosmetologist who has spent 10 years behind the chair in a storied salon in Chelsea. She is a certified Wella Master Color Expert and also has experience backstage at New York Fashion Week. She has a private studio and loves to make her clients feel amazing and welcomed.
Read full bio of Lindsay Loo
Experience: 4 yearsShiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor, she guides her team members on the best practices to create crisp and authentic content.
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
Experience: 5 yearsAditi Naskar has a postgraduate degree in English literature from Presidency University, Kolkata, a bachelor’s degree in education from WBUTTEPA, Kolkata, and a diploma in health and wellness. She is an associate commerce editor with 5 years of experience and specializes in reviewing fitness and health products.
Read full bio of Aditi Naskar
Experience: 11 yearsRamona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal.
Read full bio of Ramona Sinha
Image: StyleCraze Design Team
You can get a completely new look any time you want with only one thing: the best at-home highlighting kit! All you need to do is strategically place a few highlights on your mane, and your entire look is transformed. Highlights can not only brighten your face, but if you do them well, they can add dimension as well as depth to your hair. But because getting highlights at the salon can be quite expensive, a DIY highlight kit is the best option.
Speaking of options, we have a list of the 10 best at-home highlighting kits for you to choose from.
In This Article
How Can I Highlight My Hair At Home?
Here are a few ways you can highlight your hair at home:
- Use aluminum foil.
- Try hair painting.
- Use a cap and hook.
- Use the applicator provided in the box.
Whichever option you choose, you will need the basics: rubber gloves, a mixing bowl, an applicator, plenty of hair sectioning clips, and an old T-shirt you don’t mind getting color on.
Let’s now look at the top 10 at-home highlighting kits you can consider buying.
10 Best At-Home Highlighting Kits For A New Look At A Low Cost – 2024
1. Best Non-Drip Formula: Garnier Nutrisse Multi-Lights Highlighting Kit – H2 Golden Blonde
The Garnier Nutrisse Multi-Lights is a non-drip highlighting kit that helps you create subtle contrast and highlights in your hair. It contains a triple oil blend of avocado, shea, and olive oils that locks in moisture and nourishes your hair to make it soft and silky. This user-friendly kit also comes with a grape seed oil ampoule that you can snap and add to the color before applying. The luxurious crème formula makes the color seep in better and stay on longer.
This product has a quick-drying formula that penetrates deep into your hair fibers and nourishes and conditions them from within while coloring. The shade H2 Golden Blonde looks gorgeous on natural hair between dark blond and light brown. This product is formulated with color boost technology and can color even the darkest of hair. The bleach-free kit comes with an applicator brush that offers ultimate control. Try out this low-maintenance at-home highlighting kit for effortless upkeep! It also has multiple unbiased positive reviews on Amazon that will further convince you to test out this excellent product.
Pros
- Non-drip formula
- Easy to use
- 100% gray coverage
- Foil-free application
- Comes with gloves
Cons
- May cause an allergic reaction.
"This highlighting kit covers my grays without staining my scalp. I like how it softens my hair and does not leave behind any greasy residue. It has a strong smell that does not linger for a long time. Overall, I think I like this kit because it makes highlighting my hair easy and effortless."
Pro Tip2. Best Chemical-Free: Manic Panic Amplified Flash Complete Hair Lightening Kit – 40 Volume Cream Developer
This kit by kit by Manic Panic was initially designed for pre-lightening the hair before using permanent hair colors. However, it also works wonders as a highlighting kit. It is especially suitable for darker hair colors and contains everything required to lighten your hair.
The 40 Volume Cream Developer is prepared with the perfect ratio of developer and bleach powder to give you consistent and even results. This kit will give you dark blond to platinum white hair, depending on how long you keep it on and what color your tresses are. It promises to lift your hair color up to seven levels, allowing you the freedom to create customized highlights. This easy application kit is ideal for achieving high-lift hair lightening on light brown to medium brown hair and gives quick and visible salon-quality results. Test it out now and bedazzle everyone with your new look!
Pros
- Vegan
- PETA accredited
- Cruelty-free
- Ammonia-free
- PPD-free
- Paraben-free
- Phthalate-free
- Gluten-free
- Resorcinol-free
Cons
- Damages the hair
- Causes itching and burning in the scalp.
3. Best Ammonia-Free: Revlon Color Effects Frost & Glow – Platinum
This highlighting kit by Revlon provides gorgeous, trendy, salon-like customizable highlights at home. The product is formulated with Keratin Moisture Complex, and it deeply penetrates the hair to moisturize, nourish, and protect it. It makes your hair silky and healthy-looking.
This ammonia-free kit is suitable for natural, permed, or color-treated hair and is perfect for those with lighter hair colors. Bonus – it comes with a pull-through LightZones Cap that allows you to customize your highlights for salon-inspired results. Use the cap to add highlights to the front of your hair for a face-framing effect or the middle area for dimension. If you have blonde to light-brown hair, this color will add depth and dimension to your tresses. Test it out now!
Pros
- Ammonia-free
- No damage
- Easy to use
- Comes with a highlighting cap
- Budget-friendly option
Cons
- Not for dark hair
"This at-home highlighting helps me achieve that subtle warmth to my hair. The result of the product is quite salon-like. The kit also includes tools, which allows for proper and easy application."
Pro Tip
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It has received 6,160 reviews on Amazon and is a popular choice among shoppers.
| Garnier Nutrisse Multi-Lights Highlighting Kit – H2 Golden Blonde Best Non-Drip Formula | Manic Panic Amplified Flash Complete Hair Lightening Kit – 40 Volume Cream Developer Best Chemical-Free | Revlon Color Effects Frost & Glow – Platinum Best Ammonia-Free | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color | H2 Golden Blonde | - | - |
| Dimensions | 2.46 x 6.5 x 6.25 inches | 2.4 x 5.1 x 5.1 inches | 3.88 x 3 x 6.44 inches |
| Weight | 10.41 Ounces | 1.06 Ounces | 8.47 Ounces |
| Number of Items | - | 1 | - |
| Hair Type | - | Dry | - |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 25,341 | 18,059 | 6,160 |
| Price | $15.94 | $12.99 | $6.98 |
4. Best Easy To Use: L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect By Excellence Layered-Tone Flattering Color – 9N Light Natural Blonde
This hair highlighting kit by L’Oreal caters to those with mature, gray hair. It is formulated with Layered-Tone Technology, which helps it create natural highs and lows in your hair. The result? Awesome multi-tonal hair!
This hair highlighting kit by L’Oreal caters to those with mature, gray hair. It is formulated with Layered-Tone Technology, which helps it create natural highs and lows in your hair. The result? Awesome multi-tonal highlights!
This product contains the restorative Pro-Keratine Complex that replenishes hair from within. If you have 70% or more gray coverage, use this kit for amazing blond highlights. It also adds volume and shine to your hair with long-lasting results. This natural blond color suits those who either have gray hair or blond streaked with natural grays.
Pros
- Comes with a brush applicator
- Easy to use
- Long-lasting color
- Value for money
- Adds volume
Cons
- May impart a darker shade than expected.
- Will not work on previously colored highlights.
"This at-home hair color fully covers my white hair while maintaining a natural look. It adds volume and shine to the strands and does not cause any damage. It can cover grays with ease and offer a long-lasting color."
Quick Tip5. Best With A Toner: L’Oreal Paris Frost & Design Hi-Precision Pull-Through Cap Highlights For Longer Hair – H85 Champagne
If you have long hair that goes past your shoulders and have been dying to get highlights, this product by L’Oreal Paris is perfect for you. It colors your hair in a classy champagne color.
The kit comes with a hi-precision pull-through cap with styling hooks to let you customize your look and create subtle or bold highlights. It also includes a toner that you can use as a rinse post-application to eliminate brassy undertones and impart shine. This L’Oreal product has a non-drip formula, which makes the highlighting process easy and mess-free. The kit comes with a mixing tray and gloves. Multiple reviewers vouch for the product’s effectiveness and great results. So what’s stopping you from testing it out? Go ahead and add it to your cart stat!
Pros
- Comes with a toner
- Includes a cap, hooks, mixing tray, and gloves
- Non-drip formula
- Easy to use
Cons
- Uncomfortable cap
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Almost 5,920 happy users have mentioned the value and quality of this product.
6. Best Natural: Sun Bum Blonde Lighten And Tone Kit
If you are looking for a safe and effective at-home highlighting kit for all hair types, check out this product by Sun Bum. It uses the power of heat – from the sun or a hairdryer – to give you awesome highlights. It is formulated with Costa Rican pineapple and Meyer lemon and is perfect for those who are afraid of chemicals yet pine for hair with highlights.
The Hair Lightener amplifies the lightening effects of the sun, and the Toner removes the brassiness and brings out cooler blonde tones. This hair highlight kit is created specifically for women with blonde hair gives a natural-looking color with a sun-kissed look. It also protects your hair from humidity, frizz, UV oxidation, and dullness. The product is suitable for both natural and color-treated hair and comes in an easy to use spray bottle. It is also not tested on animals, making it a good option for conscious consumers.
Pros
- Natural
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- Paraben-free
Cons
- May turn the hair brassy.
"The lightening spray and toner has enhanced my at-home highlighting process. It brightens my hair up to two shades and has even worked well on pre-highlighted locks. The good part is it does not dry out the hair but adds subtle hydration along with a pleasant scent."
7. Best Long-Lasting: L’Oreal Paris Touch-On Highlights – Iced Champagne
The L’Oreal Paris Touch-On Highlights delivers radiant, dimensional highlights to your hair with your fingertips. It comes with a Control-Touch Finger TIP applicator that gives you precise control for achieving even highlights from the roots to the tips.
Whether you want subtle or dramatic highlights, this long-lasting at-home highlighting kit for vibrant highlights can help you. It is perfect for a DIY session and requires neither a cap nor foils. It is a classy color that looks great on medium-blonde to dark-blonde hair. It may also work on dirty blonde hair, provided you go for thinner wisps of hair. Ensure to perform a patch test before using the product to avoid any potential allergic reactions.
Pros
- Comes with a fingertip applicator
- Easy to use
- Long-lasting
- Works on dark hair
Cons
- May leave the hair brassy.
"I've been using this highlighting kit for quite some time because it is easy to use. It is perfect for achieving those natural blondes. The product is high-quality and quick to use."
8. Best For All Hair Types: ‘N Rage White Out Kit
This is a godsend for those with very dark hair as it can lift color from any hair. The 10-minute bleach formula can be activated by using the 40 Vol Peroxide. If you are using this kit to highlight blond hair, you can go up to stark white highlights. The kit comes with a conditioning toner that eliminates brassy tones. If you want funky highlights – pink or green – you can lift your natural hair color using this product and then apply the funky colors. This kit is suitable for any hair texture or color and is an affordable option for dark-haired beauties. All the more reasons for you to test it out now and fetch endless compliments!
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Long-lasting
- Suitable for all hair types
- Works on all textures
Cons
- Can damage the hair.
9.Best Coloring At Home:L’Oreal Paris Frost and Design Pull-Through Cap Highlights
The L’Oreal Frost and Design Pull-Through Cap offers high-precision highlights. It is ideal for long hair past the shoulders and complements at-home coloring in under 20 minutes. This kit lets you select the exact strands of hair you want highlighted using a salon-inspired cap that comes with two hooks to provide a customized look that can be precise or bold. You can also try hand painting your hair with this shade of highlight color for thicker highlights.
It is perfect for first-time DIY highlighters as it has a no-mess application. The box includes a mixing tray, special non-drip formula, gloves, hooks, and an overcap. It also includes a conditioning shampoo and color toning rinse that infuses the hair with a healthy shine and reduces brassiness, helping the hair’s health.
Pros
- High-precision highlights
- Conditions the hair
- Offers customization
- Anti-brassiness
- Non-drip formula
- Affordable
Cons
- Not suitable for thick hair
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
With 5,920 positive reviews on Amazon, this product has become a bestseller.
10. Best Vegan: SplaT Complete Kit – Lightening Bleach
This highlighting kit by SplaT is a semi-permanent color kit that promises to stay fresh up to 30 washes. If you have virgin or dark hair, it will impart rich hints of color to your mane. On the other hand, if you have lighter-colored hair or bleached tresses, it will provide vibrant color to your hair. This product is formulated with conditioners and panthenol that increase your hair’s moisture retention abilities, making it suitable for dry hair. The kit includes a pair of gloves, Complete Shampoo, and Deep Reconstructor Conditioner to help balance the overall hair pH after lightening.
Pros
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Easy to apply
Cons
- Not long-lasting
"This at-home hair dye gave me vivid, yellow-blonde results, which made for an excellent base for adding color. It is quick and lightens the hair easily without causing any dryness."
Achieving salon-like results at home has never been easier or more affordable, thanks to the growing selection of at-home highlighting kits. If you are looking to add some brightness and definition to your tresses, but aren’t sure where to start, read our guide to find the best at-home highlighting kits.
Things To Look When Purchasing An At-Home Highlighting Kit To Style Your Locks
Hair Type:
This is probably the most important factor to consider when choosing a hair kit! If you have fine, delicate hair, avoid kits that are too harsh or aggressive and go for gentle, moisturizing formulas. On the other hand, if you have thick, coarse hair, you may be able to handle a more intense kit. Whatever you choose, ensure to conduct a patch test beforehand.
Ingredients List: Many at-home highlighting kits use peroxide to bleach the hair, so if you have a sensitive scalp, be sure to choose a kit that is peroxide-free and dermatologist-tested. Use kits that come with gentle and nourishing ingredients like walnut oil and argan oil that cater to your shiny hair and smoothness. Some other natural ingredients in at-home highlighting kits for gentle hair care include avocado oil and aloe vera.
Natural Hair Color: Another important factor to consider is your current natural hair color. If you have dark hair, choose a highlighting kit with slightly lighter colors or shades so that the contrast is not too drastic. If you have lighter shade hair, you can choose just about any shade for your highlights. If you are looking for a more natural look, maintain a shade difference of two levels from your base/natural colour. If you are looking for something more bold, no rules apply.
Application: There are three main methods of highlighting, namely, foil, cap, and hand-painting. Foil highlights are the most common type that you can do with at-home kits. Cap highlights are best if you want more control over where the highlights are placed, and hand-painting is the right kind of highlighting method if you’re looking for a more natural look.
Make sure that the hair highlight kit comes with everything you need for a successful application, including gloves, a brush or comb, and easy-to-follow instructions.
Infographic: How Can You Highlight Your Hair At Home?
If you wish to transform your look, start by revamping your hair. Highlights are a great option as they frame your face and add a dash of color to the tresses. Unfortunately, frequent visits to the salon are inconvenient as they are time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, the best option is to dye your hair using a versatile at-home highlighting kit for various highlighting techniques. Check out the infographic below to learn the step-by-step method of highlighting your hair.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The Bottom Line
That was our list of the best hair coloring kits available on the market for highlighting your hair at home. They are a convenient and cost-effective way of achieving stunning highlights without taking a trip to the salon. With the right technique and a little practice, you can create mesmerizing hair looks and turn heads wherever you go. The Garnier Nutrisse Multi-Lights Highlighting Kit – H2 Golden Blonde conditions the hair and comes with an applicator brush and gloves for precise application. The L’Oreal Paris Frost & Design Hi-Precision Pull-Through Cap Highlights For Longer Hair – H85 Champagne comes with a toner that helps eliminate brassy undertones, while the Sun Bum Blonde Lighten And Tone Kit protects the hair from humidity and dullness and is ideal for women with blonde hair. However, always ensure to do a patch test before topical application or opt for expert-recommended highlighting kits that are suitable for sensitive skin. So, no matter what your hair color and type is, there is something for you! Pick your favorite kit, and have fun coloring your hair. Happy highlights to you!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you use a home highlighting kit?
Choose your highlight color kit and gather the supplies you may need. Decide on what method you want to use and section your hair into even chunks. Start applying the color on each section evenly maintaining at least two inches distance from your roots. Leave the dye to settle and wash it off with a mild color-protecting shampoo. Finish the process with a toner and a deep conditioner.
Can you use foil with home highlighting kits?
Yes, you can use foil with highlighting kits. In fact, the foil method is one of the most common methods of highlighting hair.
Can I use a highlighting kit to dye all my hair?
It is best to avoid using highlighting kits as a regular hair dye because most highlighting kits contain lightning agents that can fade your hair’s natural color.
How do you touch up roots without ruining highlights?
You can either use a root concealer as a temporary fix or try out the T-technique, where you middle-part your hair into two sections and apply color on the visible part. This will ensure the color does not come in contact with the current highlight.
Can you highlight your hair right after coloring?
Yes, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to get the best results.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Shiboli Chakraborty, loves experimenting with hair colors. This at-home hair highlighting kits list provides direct and unbiased information to help our readers pick the best product for themselves. The colors last longer, the ingredients are safe, do not cause hair damage, keep the hair strands soft and shiny, and add dimension and depth to make the user’s tresses look gorgeous
Read full bio of Lindsay Loo
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
Read full bio of Aditi Naskar
Read full bio of Ramona Sinha
Community Experiences
Join the conversation and become a part of our empowering community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with other beauty, lifestyle, and health enthusiasts.