Highlighting Hair: How to Highlight Your Hair at Home - StyleList

Learn how to highlight your hair at home, like a pro. Photo: Peter BuckinghamLet's face it: highlights are expensive. At any given salon, you can spend upwards of $100-200 dollars for a head-full. It's no wonder, then, so many women are hitting the box (of highlights, that is) and doing it themselves at home.A few strategically placed highlights can work wonders. They can make you look younger and more radiant (it's amazing what a little sun-kissed color can do). Plus, notes celebrity stylist and Hair Basics expert, Ted Gibson, they create dimension, and make the hair look and feel more full. "The hair shaft expands when it's highlighted, creating the appearance of thicker hair," he says.Thankfully, gone are the days of frantic phone calls to the 800-number on the back of the box (help, my blonde hair turned orange and feels like straw!). New and improved at-home formulas are now available and offer healthy, natural-looking results.The most essential step in home highlighting is picking the right shade. "If you have darker hair, you want to choose a more neutral color. If you have medium-toned hair, you can go a little lighter, maybe even golden or sun-kissed," says Gibson.The rule of thumb when selecting a shade: one to two shades lighter than your natural base color is always a safe bet.Placement of the highlight is equally as important. "When you're highlighting, always think about what feature you want to bring out and highlight it," says Gibson. "If you have bangs, highlight them so that you bring emphasis to your eyes. If you have a little bit longer bang, or a side sweep, make sure to highlight in the front so it can bring out the chinese remi cheek bone," he adds.When applying the formula, start a quarter-inch away from the scalp using thin, fine strokes (chunky highlights can look unnatural.) Apply conservatively, too. Overdoing it is a dead giveaway you colored your hair, whereas a few strategically placed highlights will make it look more natural.Post-processing (most take about 15 minutes), shampoo, condition and style. If you think the color is not light enough, give it time. Highlights evolve with every washing, which means they'll get lighter and lighter over time.For a step by step on how to create the most-natural looking highlights at home, watch our how-to video, above, or follow the step-by-step gallery, below.\Peter BuckinghamHair Basics: Highlighting 101Home highlighting has come a long way. Gone are the days of orange hair that looks and feels like straw. New formulas, with nourishing ingredients, offer healthy, natural-looking results. The key to achieving gorgeous color? Shade selection and placement. Here, celebrity stylist and Hair Basics expert, Ted Gibson, offers tips on how to achieve salon-worthy results at home.Hair Basics: Highlighting 101Shade selection can make or hair bulk break your hair color. As a general rule, choose a shade that's one to two shades lighter than your natural base color. "If you have dark hair you want to stick with more of a neutral color and if your have medium toned hair you can go a little bit lighter," says Gibson.Hair Basics: Highlighting 101Where you place the highlights is essential. Start by looking at your cut. "Hair color is a great way to highlight a hair cut," says Gibson. "Always think about what feature you want to bring out and highlight it. So if you have bangs, highlight them so that you bring emphasis to your eyes. If you have a little bit of a longer bang, make sure to highlight in the front so it can highlight the cheek bone," he adds.Hair Basics: Highlighting 101Start applying in the front first, painting thin, delicate strokes from root to end. Move to the sides next and finish with the back. The back of the hair is the hardest to highlight-not a bad idea to enlist a friend. When applying, remember less is more. A few strategically placed highlights look most natural, and you can always add more later.Hair Basics: Highlighting 101Start the application 1/4 inch from the scalp. "You don't want the highlight to look like it's coming directly from the scalp," says Gibson.Hair Basics: Highlighting 101When applying the formula to the ends of the hair, you can paint it on a little thicker. Because the sun tends to lighten the ends the most, this creates a sun-kissed look that bulk hair feels and looks more natural.Tip: Highlights make the hair look thicker. "It actually expands the hair shaft," says Gibson, creating the appearance of fuller locks.Hair Basics: Highlighting 101When application is complete, allow the hair to process. Most kits have a 15-minute processing time.Post-processing, shampoo and condition the hair thoroughly, then style.Hair Basics: Highlighting 101Soft and natural-looking, highlights create beautiful dimension to the hair and add a sun-kissed radiance.Hair Basics: Highlighting 101TIP: Your highlights will lighten over time. Make sure to use color-saving shampoos and conditioners to keep your color truer, longer.Hair Basics: Highlighting 101