Highlights Vs. Lowlights: Which One To Get & Styling Ideas

People who love to color their hair and experiment with getting that extra oomph often go for any of the two of the most popular and accessible options – highlights and lowlights. We all know that there are endless options for coloring the hair, and highlights have become a well-worn tradition. But what about lowlights? In this technique, a few sections of hair are colored in a darker than natural shade. If you are wondering how both are different from one another and how to choose the perfect shade, we have the answer. Keep scrolling to know more about highlights and lowlights.

Before You Get Started

• Get reference pictures and ask for a test application on a few strands before proceeding. It also works as a patch test to check for allergic reactions to the product.
• Mix both coloring styles to give your tresses depth, dimension, and a pop of color. It looks great especially during the grow-out process.
• Highlights and lowlights show up better in curly hair than in straightened hair.
• Use a sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo, and conditioner, and apply hair masks once a week. Ask the stylist to recommend any other hair products for the maintenance of color.

What Are Highlights?

Highlights are hair sections or strands dyed one to three shades lighter than your original hair color. The main purpose of highlighting is to brighten up the overall hair color and add softness and dimension.

For example, if you have jet black hair, your highlights should be a shade of dark brown or reddish-brown. Brunettes can go for copper or caramel hues, and blondes may opt for a lighter shade of blonde or platinum.

There are two ways to highlight your hair. You can get them hand-painted into your hair (which is now the famous ‘balayage’ technique), or you can go the more traditional foil route. In the latter method, aluminum foil pieces are used to separate the highlighted hair sections and warm up the product for a better color payoff. This prevents the color from getting on the surrounding hair and gives you the look you are aiming for. In the modern balayage technique, the highlight is done in a sweeping motion down the hair, creating a natural color-melt effect. Check out our article on balayage vs. highlights for visual examples that show how both techniques can have distinct final results!

Quick Tip

The ancient Greeks may have tried to add highlights to their hair as early as 4 B.C. A person would coat their hair with an ointment composed of pollen, olive oil, and gold flakes before spending hours in the sun. Although it wasn’t particularly effective, this method was employed for a very long time.

What Are Lowlights?

Lowlights are the opposite of highlights. In this technique, the hair sections are colored one or three shades darker than your actual hair color. Lowlights add depth and dimension to your hair, making it look thick and full.

People usually go for lowlights after highlighting their hair a few times to add some of the colors back to their overly lightened strands.

Lowlights uses the same coloring techniques as balayage and tinfoil techniques. The result may look like “highlighted hair,” but it may not be so. Now that we know what highlights and lowlights are, let’s look at how you can differentiate between the two. Scroll down to find out!

Highlights Vs. Lowlights: What Is The Difference?

In many ways, these two hair color techniques are the opposites of each other. Let’s look at some of the significant differences between highlights and lowlights:

• Highlights generally look better on dark hair (like shades of brown and black), and lowlights have a more prominent effect on lighter hair (like shades of blonde and light brown).
• This may be a dampener on your hair coloring dreams, but highlighting damages your hair as it involves bleaching to lighten your hair color. Lowlighting, however, requires depositing color onto your hair to dye it the shade you want.
• Though both highlights and lowlights add dimension to your hair, highlights add more movement to it and give it a sun-kissed effect, while lowlights are great for adding depth and volume to your tresses.
• When you should be sporting highlights or lowlights also depends on the season. Highlights usually look better with summer styles as they give your hair that perfect sun-kissed look. On the other hand, lowlights work better during the winter due to their darker coloring.

Now that you know the difference between lowlights vs highlights, let’s figure out in the following section which one you should get.

Highlights Or Lowlights: Which One Should You Get?

You can get highlights or lowlights depending on two things:

• Your Original Hair Color: If your original hair color is dark (black, red, auburn, shades of dark to medium brown), go for highlights. If it’s blonde, go for lowlights.
• If Your Hair Is Colored: If your hair is bleached to a lighter shade and you want to add depth to it, go for lowlights. If your hair is colored darker than your actual hair color, go for highlights to add dimension and movement.

Eva Gutowski, a food, fashion, and beauty blogger, shares her tips on lowlighting hair extensions if one is hesitant to color their own hair. “My advice to you if you’re lowlighting extensions or even your own hair is to never overestimate your product. I got some pretty dark colors for going from blonde to dark brown, and when I put the product on my extensions, [it] turned a deep brown/black color. But when the product is washed off, it’s not nearly as dark as when the product coated it. My hair took two rounds of lowlighting (i),” she observes.

But is it necessary to choose either one of them? Find out in the next section.

Can You Mix Highlights And Lowlights?

Yes, you can! Rather, your stylist may mix two styles to make your hair look voluminous and trendy for much-need hair enhancement. If you want a multi-dimensional hair color with multi-colored highlights, your colorist will use various hair shades to highlight and lowlight certain sections of your hair. The result? Effortless pizzazz that looks fabulous on everybody. Celebrity Stylist Nick Arrojo adds, “A great hairstyle becomes even better when it’s complemented by great color. If you want to look more polished, more pulled together, and more modern, then great hair color does that for you. It’s an opportunity to brighten up your best features. Hair color tends to draw more attention to your face, especially the eyes. Color creates magic.”

If you have not jumped off your chair/couch yet, here are a few hair styling ideas for highlights and lowlights that will certainly get you moving towards the nearest hair salon. Scroll down!

Top 8 Styling Ideas For Highlights

1. Auburn Highlights For Brown Hair

Add auburn highlights to your brown hair or go a shade or two darker than your base color to effectively get lowlights on brown hair for a completely captivating look. You’ll end up with a shiny mane. The auburn highlights add a bright sun-kissed orange hue to regular brown hair. Amp up the attractiveness to new heights with layers and waves.

2. Soft Blonde Highlights

Now, here’s a great highlight idea for all you ladies with blonde hair. Brighten up your global honey blonde color by highlighting it with a light golden blonde shade. Cut and style it in a long wavy bob to transform into a total beach babe.

3. Milk Chocolate Highlights

If you have medium brown hair, these highlights will do wonders for you. Go for a light milk chocolate brown shade of highlights to complement your brown tresses. Curl the lower half of your hair to enhance the movement and dimension already created by the highlights.

4. Caramel Highlights

Here’s a gorgeous highlight style that you won’t be able to get enough of. Caramel highlights have a richness to them that cannot be recreated by any other shade. Go for this shade on mahogany brown hair and slay everyone with your gorgeous hair game.

Quick Tip

For an effortlessly elegant style, try a shag with caramel highlights. The shag haircut is achieved by cutting shorter layers on long hair to give you volume and texture.

5. Bronze Balayage Highlights

Remember the balayage technique? That’s what’s been done here to create this stunning hair look. Highlight the lower half of your auburn hair with a beautiful bronze to create this gorgeous contrasting style.

6. Sun-Kissed Highlights

A great thing about having jet black hair is that no matter what shade you highlight it with, it is bound to look awesome. These dull gold highlights look like they were molten and dripped down her dark tresses to create a mysterious and sultry effect.

7. Peek-A-Boo Highlights

Burgundy peek-a-boo highlights on dark brown hair inject a bold and sultry dimension into the overall look. These rich, wine-colored accents add depth and warmth, creating a striking contrast against the dark base. The subtle peek-a-boo placement ensures a touch of mystique, allowing the burgundy tones to playfully emerge with movement. This style is a sophisticated way to embrace vibrancy and individuality while maintaining the allure of dark, luscious locks.

8. Ombre Highlights

Ombre highlights, a chic trend, blend blonde hues seamlessly into brunette locks, creating a captivating transition. This sun-kissed effect adds depth and dimension to the hairstyle, embodying a timeless and effortlessly stylish look that suits various lengths and hair textures with minimal maintenance.

Like you have so many options to experiment with hair highlights, there are multiple options for lowlights. Here are our top 5 picks.

Top 6 Styling Ideas For Lowlights

1. Light Ash Blonde Lowlights

Lowlights increase contrast, bringing out the best in the blonde hair. The light ash blonde highlights add dimension to champagne blonde hair, making it look thicker and shinier. For a busy lifestyle, this low hair maintenance color in any length is ideal.

2. Dark Gray Lowlights

When going for lowlights, you don’t need to stick to the spectrum of your base color. Experiment with shades of multiple contrasting colors. These dark gray lowlights, for example, amp up the movement and dimension of her brown hair to the core.

3. Coffee Brown Lowlights

Tired of your same ol’ light blonde hair? Break the boredom by opting for some lowlights to change your look. Go for some sandy brown lowlights right at the top and around the crown of your head to add some serious depth and color to your monochrome blonde tresses.

4. Mahogany Lowlights

An excellent way to add some fun texture and volume to your ginger hair is to go for some seriously dark lowlights. A deep mahogany shade will work like a charm in making your ginger hair look super thick and full of life.

5. Night Black Lowlights

While you are not supposed to go more than a couple of shades darker than your base color, some rules are meant to be broken. For instance, you could go for some super dark lowlights (almost black) on your light blonde hair to create a luscious and super multidimensional hair look.

6. Transcending Dimensions Lowlights

Seldom do you come across a hair color that you keep thinking about. Multi-colored lowlights are one of them. If you have blonde hair, you can try multi-colored lowlights without damaging your hair. Your stylist will take sections of your hair and deposit various colors, ranging from dark brown and ash to violet and pink. Wash it off at the right time to give your hair depth, volume, and an enigmatic transdimensional look that is tough to look away from.

Getting highlights and lowlights is like giving your hair a splash of artistic flair; it is all about dimension, contrast, and some salon magic. But let us be real, it takes some serious TLC to maintain that fresh, vibrant look. Your highlights and lowlights can lose their luster faster without proper aftercare. So, buckle up, because we are diving into the golden rules of keeping your locks radiant and healthy in the following section.

Aftercare Tips For Highlights And Lowlights

It is essential to adopt a proper aftercare routine that keeps your color-treated hair healthy and vibrant. Here are some practical tips:

• Opt for sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners specifically designed for color-treated hair. These products help preserve your color while minimizing damage and dryness caused by harsh chemicals.
• Restrict the number of times you wash your hair to retain the natural oils that support the hair color. Wash your hair 2 to 3 times a week with warm water to protect the hair cuticle while gently removing impurities.
• Go for a high-quality hair mask or deep conditioning treatment at least once per week. Products like Olaplex help repair broken bonds while hydrating masks replenish water content in damaged hair.
• Avoid the use of heat-styling tools, such as blow dryers or curling irons, as excessive heat can make color-treated hair dry and brittle. If heat styling is a necessity, always apply heat protectant spray before every session.
• Use products that offer UV protection to shield your hair from sun exposure, which can fade color. Additionally, consider wearing a hat when spending extended time outdoors.
• Sleeping on silk or satin pillowcases can reduce friction, helping maintain the integrity of your hair and prevent breakage.
• Visit the salon every 6 to 8 weeks for touch-ups if your hair grows fast. Opt for balayage or ombre techniques, which make the regrowth look softer without much maintenance.

Treating your highlights and lowlights with love ensures you can turn heads and spark compliments wherever you go. It is surely an investment; happy hair equals happy you. Therefore, keep it up, and follow these tips and your highlighted or lowlighted hair will be looking vibrant and healthy with minimal damage in the long run.

Infographic: Picking The Perfect Color For Highlights Or Lowlights

If you have thought about getting highlights or lowlights but aren’t sure which color to choose, keep reading. When picking highlights or lowlights, consider your skin tone and undertone.

Depending on the hair color you choose, you may highlight or soften your facial features. You can also pick a color based on your eye color, the current season, your regular makeup look, and your wardrobe colors.

Check out the infographic below to know more about choosing the best highlight or lowlight colors for your hair.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I blend highlights and lowlights for a more dynamic look?

Of course, you can mix highlight and lowlight techniques for dynamic and attractive effects! This gives your hair multi-faceted dimension and texture, making it look fuller and more colorful. It also allows for a more natural and almost-seamless grow-out.

Which is better: hair color or highlights?

It depends on what style you are going for. Highlights add a subtle dimension to your natural hair color, as opposed to changing your hair color completely. Highlights are also cheaper to get, easier to maintain, and cause lesser hair damage.

Is it better to highlight or color gray hair?

It is better to highlight gray hair rather than coloring it. It allows the gray hair to blend with the base color and imparts a natural look to the tresses.

How long do highlights and lowlights last?

On average, highlights and lowlights last for around 3-4 months. But the longevity also depends on the hair texture and haircare routine.

Can you color your hair if you have a sensitive scalp?

Yes. You will have to prep your hair well, choose the right products, and look for ingredients that could deal with your sensitive scalp.

Are highlights and lowlights hard to maintain?

Since lowlights blend well with the natural hair color, they need comparatively low maintenance than highlights do. Highlights need more attention and care to last long.

Are highlights and lowlights permanent?

No, highlights and lowlights are not permanent. These add a temporary hue to the hair that might not last for very long to be called a permanent color.

Do lowlights make hair healthier?

Lowlights can help make hair healthier because they do not require a pre-lightener. This makes the strands less prone to breakage and dryness.

Illustration: Highlights Vs. Lowlights: Which One To Get & Styling Ideas

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Learn the difference between lowlights and highlights and how to explain to your hairdresser your desired hair styling requirement in the video below. Get tips on how to get the perfect look.

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Nick ArrojoHair Stylist

     

Nick Arrojo is a celebrity stylist, author, and the owner of one of America's biggest indie beauty brands. He is the inventor and pioneer of a creative, precision-based razor-cutting method that shapes fashionable, beautiful, and wearable cuts while offering creative freedom and versatility to stylists.

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Arshiya SyedaCo-Editor-in-Chief

 

Arshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.

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