Hair Beauty Tip

How To Do At-Home Highlights



How To Do At-Home Highlights
Jessica Alba’s beachy highlights brighten up her look.
Want to give your hair color a few sun-kissed streaks, but don't want to spend a lot of time and money in the salon? Today's at-home highlights are pretty easy to use, especially if you listen to Marcy Cona, Clairol's Creative Director for Color & Style. Here, she shares some key tricks that you won't find on the back of the box. (Of course, you must follow those how-to's too!)

1. Style your hair first. "Always apply highlights on dry hair and make sure your hair is styled the way you typically wear it." says Cona. This way, you'll know exactly where to place your highlights so that they'll be visible and complement your hairstyle.

2. Color outside the lines. "Highlights don't have to go down the entire strand of hair," she says. To mimic the way the sun would naturally bleach your hair, you should be consistently inconsistent. Paint different widths of highlights (from about ¼ inch to ½ inch) and make some more prominent on the roots and others on the ends.

3. Practice with hair conditioner. Before you reach for the bleach, put some conditioner on the applicator and paint a few fake highlights. Work on areas where you don't plan to place real highlights. Once you feel comfortable wielding the color wand, then you're ready to use the real thing.

Looking for a highlight kit? Check out our product reviews.


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cruzca wrote: Wed, 2008-07-30 15:53

You can also use lemon juice to enhance your natural highlights...all you do is use your favorite conditioner and squeeze about 2 lemons into a container. You want to mix well and paint onto wet head...sit out in the sun for about an hour and walla...you got natural looking highlights.


roxmysox99 wrote: Thu, 2008-08-07 22:54

thanx! i think ill use this tip becuz i do have natural highlights and i really want to make them show!


beautymaven wrote: Mon, 2008-10-20 15:46

Did you try this? How did it go?


celebertygirl_1993 wrote: Sat, 2009-05-23 14:05

yoyu should try it first!! Tell me how it goes


celebertygirl_1993 wrote: Sat, 2009-05-23 14:04

thats great idea


Lamira wrote: Tue, 2009-08-18 23:32

WOW I THINK THAT IS A GREAT THING I THINK I WILL GIVE IT A TRY THANKS FOR THE GREAT ADVICE
LUV SHARONDA FINCHER COLUMBUS GA


siren1055 wrote: Thu, 2008-07-31 10:24

does anyone know how can I get this black off my hair withput using bleach. I would luv to e a honey blond but dont want my hair to fall off


c.welch... wrote: Mon, 2008-08-04 09:31

See the comments I posted earlier. You can use a Color Remover or a product called "Color Oops". I've used both. Several times in fact. Never had any damaging effects. I use the products just to give my hair a color change when I want a slight change in color. I also use it to create "natural" hightlights by combing the product through my hair only on the sections I want to lighten.

Most colorists will tell you to have only colorists use a Color remover or color corrector. That's hogwash! The products are as easy to use as at home hair color kits. The only thing I don't recommend doing yourself is bleaching. That is damaging and should be done by a professional!


beautymaven wrote: Mon, 2008-10-20 15:49

You should add these products to the Product talk section!


roxmysox99 wrote: Thu, 2008-08-07 22:55

sry but i dont no anything about that! hope u find sum1 who does!


shithair11 wrote: Tue, 2008-08-19 04:28

shampoo with pert or prell.. strips the color right out.. worst shampoo ever, for color sake anyways.


celebertygirl_1993 wrote: Sat, 2009-05-23 14:08

I know what to do, use verhy strong shampoo to take it use a hair primer (selld at ulta)then dye it blond. Im sure it will work let me know how it went?


celebertygirl_1993 wrote: Sat, 2009-05-23 14:08

I know what to do, use verhy strong shampoo to take it use a hair primer (selld at ulta)then dye it blond. Im sure it will work let me know how it went?


sasha113 wrote: Thu, 2008-07-31 17:32

use conditioner and lime juice for darker highlights, i use it all the time on my clients, and they love it!


hehe_246 wrote: Fri, 2008-08-01 02:30

so is it lemon juice & conditioner for lighter highlights & Lime juice & conditioner for darker highlights?
That's cool im going to try them out
Thanks =]


monique_93 wrote: Fri, 2008-08-01 05:16

Hmm.. I'm a bit scared of the lemon thing.. My family says lemon juice reduces dandruff, I think it does, but I think it might not do well if you've got split ends? I'm afraid it might dry my hair out of something.. I don't want my hair breaking! Can someone shed some light on the goods and bads?


gordon2401 wrote: Sat, 2008-08-02 21:54

How does lemon juice reduce dandruff, by putting it on your head or by drinking it?


smokeygirl49 wrote: Wed, 2008-08-06 13:39

I do believe that is why she said to use some conditioner first, I may be wrong, but it sounds right.


roxmysox99 wrote: Thu, 2008-08-07 22:56

yea! how does it reduce dandruff?


celebertygirl_1993 wrote: Sat, 2009-05-23 14:11

If you are scared of split ends , use a hair mask. let me know how it goes


celebertygirl_1993 wrote: Sat, 2009-05-23 14:11

If you are scared of split ends , use a hair mask. let me know how it goes


tayswift79 wrote: Mon, 2009-07-06 01:09

lemon juice over time will break down hair and also can cause damage becuase of the acids in it but if you use it once in a while you should be fine


Lamira wrote: Tue, 2009-08-18 23:36

I THINK YOU SHOULD JUST DO THINGS YO WAY AND DO WAT U THINK
TYPE ME BACK


frozen waffle wrote: Sun, 2008-08-03 12:32

is there any way that i could make my hair look darker without dying it er damaging it cuz i aint allowed to dye my hizzair..makes ur mind take a tumble doesnt it??


c.welch... wrote: Mon, 2008-08-04 09:54

Here are some suggestions. I've done all of these with great results.
1.) You can make your hair darker and/or change the tone of your hair without using dye by using a color shampoo and conditioner. L'Oreal Professional Colorist Shampoos and Conditioners are fantastic. They come in a variety of colors and tones. I use them just to change things up. They work great!
2.) You can always use a semi-permanet (usually washes out in 12 to 27 shampoos) or demi-permanet (lasts a little longer than semi but in no way permanet)color or gloss. You can use just about any professional color and make it a semi-permanent by mixing it with only 10% developer OR tossing out half of the developer in a kit (toss 1 ounce) and adding 1 ounce of water. Distilled is better but I've used tap water several times with no problems. Just depends on your water quality.

10% developer will only activate the color and allow the color to apply "over" the existing hair. It is not powerful enough to penetrate the hair shaft and change it permanently. If you don't like the color....Color Oops will completely lift the color in a few mins. without damaging your hair.

I'm a level 2 natural brunette with extremely healthy hair. Hair dressers always comment on the health and color of my hair. I have bleached it to a level 6 Red, color oopsed and made it strawberry blond. I've colored it Dark Auburn, Medium Red, Medium Auburn, Black and even Medium Blond (that was not for me!) But when it's too dark or I want to make a slight change....I Color Ooops. Sometimes all over, sometimes just pieces. I've had 6 different shades of red in 2 weeks just because I could. I never damaged my hair and everyone always liked the results. Don't be afraid to experiment. But study up on color combining so that you will not how hair colors are affected by your natural pigments and how hair color typically reacts with other hair color!


roxmysox99 wrote: Thu, 2008-08-07 22:58

try using lime juice mixed with ur fave conditioner! it should work!


celebertygirl_1993 wrote: Sat, 2009-05-23 14:12

try getting some sun. let me no how it goes.


c.welch... wrote: Mon, 2008-08-04 09:26

1.) You can remove dark hair color without bleach by using a product called Color Oops or going to the beauty suppy store and getting a box of "Color Remover". I've used them several times to correct color or completely remove it. It will only remove permanent hair color dyes. It will not remove natural pigments from your hair shaft at all and I've not had any damaging effects.
2.) Lemon juice lightens hair, will not damage it but it will provide "Warmer" results. Not necessarily pretty if you want "Cooler" highlights!


calicutie369 wrote: Mon, 2008-08-11 20:58

thanks these will really help when i highlight my best friends hair since i have no clue what to so! thanks a bunch! =D


fofagoia wrote: Mon, 2008-08-18 15:09

does she know you have no clue?