How long does it take to highlight hair?

Kinds

A huge number of paints for partial tinting can be divided into types, depending on how deeply the dye penetrates and how durable the color will be.

• Lightening (bleaching). The dye radically washes out the pigment, and can turn even a burning brunette into a platinum blonde. Does not wash off, extremely durable.
• Temporary coloring. Does not change the structure of the hair, lasts until the first wash, and practically does not contain peroxide.
• Semi-permanent. Most often these are ammonia-free dyes, which, without damaging the hair structure, are washed off about a month after the procedure. An excellent choice for those who decide to dye for the first time.
• Permanent. It is highly durable, changes color to several tones, and covers gray hair perfectly. Most women who want to change their image resort to this type.

Mixtures for hair coloring differ not only in strength, but also in their structure. So, in salons or specialized stores you can find powder, oil or cream paints.

TIP: Powders are popular because they apply easily and don't smudge, but they can cause irritation so be sure to test before use. If applying a substance to an open area of ​​skin causes burning and redness, it is better to avoid this method of staining.

Oil types have a huge advantage - they do not contain ammonia, so they color the hair very carefully without damaging its structure. At the same time, the likelihood of allergic reactions when using them is much lower.

Cream paints are the most common due to their simplicity and effectiveness. They perfectly pigment the hair, penetrating deeply into its structure, and provide natural shades.

Step-by-step instructions for using supra

1. To protect your lovely hands, wear thick rubber gloves.
2. To avoid irritation of the skin of the neck and face that is adjacent to the scalp, lubricate them with moisturizer, but in such a way that it does not come into contact with the hair.
3. Throw a cape or apron over your regular clothes.
4. In a plastic or ceramic bowl, dilute the bleach and white henna in a 2:1 ratio. Use a wooden stick to stir the powder.
5. To dye all strands evenly, you need to prepare a mixture in an amount slightly larger than that calculated for your hair length. If you are using supra for highlighting, make the composition a paste-like consistency so that it cannot leak from under the foil and highlight unnecessary curls. If painting is done in the fresh air, the composition should be more liquid, as it dries very quickly.
6. Apply the dye to dry, oily, dirty curls from ends to roots (they are more likely to be dyed) with a brush or wide-toothed comb. Place a shower cap on your head or wrap it in cling film. Wrap a towel on top. Depending on how much tone you need to bleach your hair and what concentration of peroxide you used, the product is left on the head for 25-40 minutes. If you exceed this period, scalp burns and damage to hair follicles are possible.
7. Rinse off the composition with plenty of non-hot water, then rinse your hair with shampoo and protective balm.
8. Then gently pat dry with a towel, do not rub, and allow your strands to dry on their own in a draft-free area. If you have brown or light brown hair, find a gentle supra that contains more natural substances
9. It can be applied even to freshly washed hair.
10. If you have brown or light brown hair, find a gentle supra that contains more natural substances. It can be applied even to freshly washed hair.

If the coloring result is not the best, tinting is recommended.

The interval between the perm and lightening with supra should be at least two weeks.

Before you begin the process of changing your appearance at home, be sure to conduct an allergy test. To do this, apply a pinch of powder to the inside of your forearm and behind your ear.

If after 10-15 minutes you do not feel itching, burning and the skin does not turn red, the supra can be used without fear.

Practical recommendations for DIY coloring

To work, you need to choose the oxide and paint of the same brand. There is a particularly rich selection in professional lines:

1. Matrix;
2. London;
3. Estel;
4. Loreal.

You can highlight your hair in 2 ways.

• The strands are lightened using a mixture of bleaching powder and oxide. For the procedure, an oxygenate of 3% - 9% is used, the exposure time depends on the manufacturer’s recommendations and hair type.
  To do frequent fine highlighting, it is convenient to use a cap, from the holes of which curls of the desired width are taken out (how to make a cap for highlighting yourself?). Long hair is highlighted by tying it with elastic bands into ponytails or backcombing. This method is good for simulating hair that has been naturally bleached by the sun.

  After washing off the remaining mixture, the strands are washed with shampoo. Toning with ammonia-free paint mixed with a low concentration of oxidizing agent will help give bleached curls the desired shade. Gentle formulations enriched with nourishing oils are suitable. They cover keratin scales and provide long-lasting shine.

  Strands should be treated immediately after lightening; toners are applied to damp or dry hair and washed off after 10-30 minutes.

• Strands are highlighted with a single-phase preparation for intense toning. It contains brightening and coloring components. For such a mixture, oxides from 3% to 9% are used.

  The darker the initial hair color, the stronger the drug will be required. Paint mixed with an oxidizing agent. Distributed over strands and left for 20-40 minutes. After rinsing, the hair is treated with balm; there is no need to rinse it with shampoo. Toning is more gentle; the method is suitable for weak, brittle, dry hair.

To carry out the procedure at home, you may need thermal paper, a spatula or other combs to color your strands. You will learn about these and other tools, as well as means and methods of highlighting in separate articles. We also recommend reading materials about choosing paint and highlighting kit.

Oxides are an indispensable product for salon or home highlighting. By changing the proportions of the drug and its concentration, you can achieve the ideal effect and select a composition suitable for a specific hair type and shade.

Is it possible to highlight your hair at home?

Highlighting strands is not as complicated a procedure as many imagine. Thanks to a variety of highlighting methods, you can choose the appropriate coloring method. Using a comb or rubber bands, highlighting your locks is easy. But for other techniques you will need an assistant or an additional mirror with which you can look at the back of the head.

The difficulty of an independent procedure lies in the inconvenience of coloring the strands on the back of the head, even with the help of a mirror. Pulling and applying the product to selected strands is a rather labor-intensive process. Your hands get tired quickly from this position. But when experience comes, it will not bring any inconvenience. Moreover, home highlighting is much cheaper than a salon procedure.

Basic highlighting

Classic highlighting, as well as its two-color varieties, involve partial or complete lightening of the selected strands. In addition, it is often complemented by tinting. Accordingly, to perform the procedure, you first need a lightening composition.

Clarifiers

The Estelle brand offers the following products for bleaching curls:

1. Estel Only BLOND OSB is a super soft gel, suitable even for very thin and weakened hair. It contains moisturizing components, thanks to which the curls remain smooth and silky even after such a rather aggressive procedure. But the product can only lighten them by 4 tones. Order on Ozon >>
2. Estel Love BLOND L/BL is an oxidizing cream that can remove up to 5 tones. Contains components that are beneficial for hair, maximally preserving its structure during bleaching. Often used as a wash. Also suitable for light and fine strands. Order on Ozon >>
3. I choose Estel 11/05 light - another brightening gel, from a different line. It can lighten hair by 6 tones, with virtually no residual yellowness. Special protective components reduce the porosity of curls and help maintain their strength. Order on Ozon >>
4. Estel Ultra Blond powder is a very popular and high-quality lightening powder that allows you to work with any type of hair. Its strength depends on the selected concentration of the oxidizing agent. With the right choice, the curls remain soft and shiny after the procedure, and the product does not irritate the delicate scalp. Order on Ozon >>
5. Ultra Blond De Luxe Powder is a lightening powder recommended by the manufacturer for professional use. It should be noted that today they work in many prestigious salons. Allows you to remove up to 7 tones in one session without severe harm to the hair. Order from Professionhair >>

The big advantage of all Estelle lightening products is that they are concentrated enough so that they do not spread through the hair or transfer to adjacent strands, even with open methods of highlighting.

Oxidizing agents

The company also offers oxidizers for powder with concentrations from 3 to 12%. Professionals can obtain intermediate concentrations, mixing them together if necessary. I do not recommend doing such experiments at home.

The percentage of activator is selected mainly depending on the structure and current condition of the hair:

3% – for thin, previously bleached and prone to hair loss curls, can be used as a wash; 6% is the most commonly used percentage of oxidizing agent, suitable for light brown, brown and curly hair, used for lightly lightening black hair; 9% – requires great care, fine hair can be seriously damaged, used on very curly, dense and gray hair; 12% – professionals recommend using it only on Asian-type hair; it severely destroys light hair and leaves a yellow tint on black hair.

Remember also that the oxidizing agent is irritating to the skin, so when working with 9-12% activators, try to avoid contact with them. The most convenient way to order them is on Ozon.

Precautionary measures

Despite the presence of nutritional, protective and anti-inflammatory components, Estelle highlighting paint remains a fairly aggressive composition and requires certain precautions to be taken. It is better to avoid using it if:

• the presence of open wounds and abrasions on the head;
• dermatological diseases in active form;
• tendency to severe allergic reactions;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• very brittle, thin, burnt hair.

Professionals recommend not to lighten or dye your hair with permanent dyes during menstruation and 2-3 days before and after it. If a perm was performed, then it is better to wait at least 2-3 weeks until the loosened keratin scales recover a little.

Mode of application

Each highlighting product has its own instructions, which describe in detail the step-by-step process of working with it. I highly recommend studying it thoroughly before the procedure and strictly adhering to it to avoid severe damage to your curls.

The general scheme for lightening strands looks like this:

• any product is applied only to dry hair;
• the powder is diluted with an activator immediately before use;
• separate the required strands one by one;
• apply a bleaching agent to them;
• maintain the required time;
• rinse thoroughly with running water.

After this, depending on the chosen coloring style, paints of additional shades, tinting balm or neutralizer are applied if necessary.

Types of paints

The result of highlighting greatly depends on the correct choice of paint. A good composition minimally damages the hair and immediately neutralizes the unpleasant yellow tint that is often obtained when dyeing it yourself, especially on naturally light brown and red hair.

In modern stores there are several types of lightening dyes, among which are practically harmless to hair, since they do not contain ammonia. But there are also quite aggressive compounds that only a professional hairdresser can use correctly. At home, if the dyeing technology is violated, they can burn your hair in just a few minutes.

Depending on the type and condition of your hair, as well as the desired result, you can use:

• Toning shampoo. It does not have lightening properties at all, but is only able to give naturally light or bleached hair the desired shade. Silver shampoo is designed to neutralize unpleasant yellowness.
• Brightening foam. A light and well-distributable composition that does not contain ammonia and can only slightly change the natural shade. Perfect for California highlighting on light and brown hair. On dark colors, the effect is almost unnoticeable.
• Professional ammonia-free gel. Can be used as a wash, including on hair dyed with natural dyes based on henna or basma. It is also used for open highlighting, when lightening up to three tones is required on light hair and up to two on dark hair.
• Lightening permanent paints. They are now in the palettes of all leading manufacturers. They provide long-lasting, rich color and allow you to completely cover gray hair. High-quality hair highlighting dye provides protection and care even during the coloring process. If you strictly follow the recommendations outlined in the instructions, damage to your hair will be minimal.

Features of the drug Loreal Glam Lights

Préférence Glam Lights are a promising new product in the field of home hair lightening. The product is easy to apply and allows you to get a salon effect when highlighting yourself.

ATTENTION: Only 2 shades are available for sale. Glam Lights No. 2 is intended for highlighting light blond and dark blond strands, Glam Lights No. 3 is suitable for dark blond and chestnut of all shades. The paint is very easy to mix, the homogeneous, moderately thick composition is easily distributed over the strands, lightening them up to 4 tones

After treatment, the hair becomes very soft, but elastic, acquires a silky shine and is easy to style.

The paint is very easy to mix, the homogeneous, moderately thick composition is easily distributed over the strands, lightening them up to 4 tones. After treatment, the hair becomes very soft, but elastic, acquires a silky shine and is easy to style.

The set includes a lightening cream in a convenient plastic bottle with a long and thin dispenser spout. It is proposed to distribute it using an innovative comb made of durable plastic.

All the little things are provided: a comfortable bend, a wide and flat handle that does not slip out of the palm. To dye strands, 2 types of cloves are used. Short internal ones contribute to quick and even distribution of paint, long external ones comb the hairs, providing smooth color transitions. We wrote in more detail about the types and functions of combs for coloring strands here, and here you will learn about highlighting kits from other manufacturers.

The kit is completed with an active dye in powder form, a mixing bottle, protective gloves and a deeply nourishing shampoo with nutriceramides.

What are the best products to use to color your hair?

To dye individual strands at home, you need to prepare a lightening agent, as well as a number of tools that will be needed for the procedure:

Pros of ammonia-free hair dye

Protects curls

If a woman very often uses permanent hair dyes with ammonia, then very soon they will become dull, brittle, and begin to fall out a lot. Ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, which are contained in large quantities in dyes, are to blame for this hair condition.

Ammonia is a colorless gas that consists of nitrogen and hydrogen and has a very unpleasant, pungent odor. In order to penetrate the hair, it destroys its top layer. Then hydrogen peroxide begins to act on the curls. It almost completely destroys the natural pigment, so that later it can be replaced with a color that differs from the natural one. Together, these two components destroy and then change the structure of the hair, which allows you to get a very lasting color after dyeing. But in the end result, a woman gets not only the desired color, but also weak, dry hair.

Ammonia-free hair coloring is much better, because such dyes do not contain ammonia, and the amount of hydrogen peroxide is reduced to a minimum. This dye is gentle on the hair, because the pigment is enveloped and not destroyed. The paint does not penetrate deeply into the structure of the curls and does not injure them.

Restores hair

Dyes that do not contain ammonia not only very carefully color curls, but also treat them. Most modern paints contain vitamin complexes, large amounts of B vitamins, and plant extracts. Most often you can find millet extract, walnut shell, birch or grape seed extract as additives. With their help, ammonia-free hair coloring allows you to retain the right amount of moisture in the structure of your curls. Also, such dyes protect hair from ultraviolet radiation. Unlike permanent paints, these cosmetics also take care of the scalp - they tidy up the functions of the sebaceous glands, blood circulation noticeably improves, and the root bulbs become several times stronger. Accordingly, the condition of the curls improves.

Makes hair color look fresher

Many stylists claim that ammonia-free hair coloring is the best restorative remedy for dull or too thin hair. Due to the large number of natural additives in the dye and vitamin complexes, you can quickly restore shine and silkiness to your hair. At the same time, the natural color of the curls will become more saturated.

Allows you to experiment with color

If you like to experiment and often change your appearance, then ammonia-free hair coloring is perfect for you. Paint that does not contain ammonia washes off quite quickly. If you don't like your new hair color, it will completely wash off in just 2 months. If you don’t want to wait, you can correct the color with a different shade of paint without ammonia.

The big advantage of ammonia-free hair dyeing is that the dye is washed off gradually and therefore there is no noticeable boundary between the dyed hair and those that have already grown back. If you use ammonia-free dye of only one shade, then over time the pigment will begin to be absorbed into the hair and it will be enough to only tint the roots after they grow out.

How to avoid mistakes?

If you do not want to paint over the highlights in the salon, you need to pay attention to the following points:

• It is very important to consult with a professional hairdresser who, seeing the color and condition of the hair, will be able to advise which paint to choose and how to dye it.
• It is worth buying only professional dyes that will provide not only a beautiful color, but also proper hair care.
• Strictly follow the dosage when preparing the dye mixture, control the time the dye is left on the hair.
• Hair that has been highlighted and then dyed can become brittle and dull. Therefore, it is extremely important not to skimp on quality care after coloring (shampoo, conditioner, mask, leave-in hair spray - the minimum care kit).

The procedure for coloring highlighted hair is quite complicated even for experienced hairdressers. Therefore, to get a reliable result, it is better to have the procedure done by a professional. At home, it is only possible to use light tinting agents that give short-term results.

Recommendations for selection

Dyeing your hair at home is not difficult, the main thing is to choose the right product to get a shade without yellowness. The choice of composition depends on how many tones you want to lighten your curls. Highlighting does not always turn out immediately white, more often a wheat shade.

If you don’t want to lighten your hair too much, then you should choose natural dyes. If this is the first coloring and a woman is not sure that she will like the result, white henna is the right choice. It has minimal impact on the hair. If more intense lightening is required, then it is worth using paint with ammonia or in powder form with an oxidizing agent.

The first time highlighting on dark hair never turns out white, but then you can additionally use a toning shampoo to neutralize the yellowness. The darker the natural hair color, the darker the blonde dyeing. It will be possible to achieve a lighter shade only after several procedures.

In strong dyes, ammonia and peroxide work together to remove the natural pigment from the hair. Such compositions have the most negative effect on curls, so they require subsequent careful care.

Lightening cream is the most gentle composition for whitening hair. This effect is less intense, but it is not always possible to achieve the desired shade the first time, only after several procedures.

If a girl has very dark or black hair and dreams of being platinum blonde, perhaps it's time to reconsider her plans and take a more realistic look at the possibilities of modern dyes. Even a professional hairdresser will say that sharply lightening your curls by more than 6 tones is too risky. The result could be disastrous. There were cases when girls burned their hair and it simply fell out.

The first time you need to lighten your curls by several tones. If previously they were painted black, then two will be enough. Gradually, the dark shade will go away, and the curls will acquire the desired highlighting, however, you will probably have to cut off the ends, since intense coloring will lead to split ends.

If you are purchasing a highlighting composition for the first time, then it is better to choose paint:

• from a famous brand;
• without ammonia, if you do not need to intensively lighten your curls;
• with vitamins and minerals;
• It is better if it is a cream base, since the powder is difficult to work with and it is necessary to mix the components correctly.

It is worth mentioning separately about paints that need to be diluted with hydrogen peroxide. They also have a strong effect on the scalp; they can burn it and cause a severe allergic reaction, especially if the composition is made from low-quality products.

Depending on the natural shade of the hair, hydrogen peroxide is selected in a certain percentage. Optimal is 6%, but for dark curls 9% is more often used, and very rarely 12%. The latter composition is very harmful, it has such a negative effect on hair that thin and weak hair simply cannot withstand it and falls out.

If this is not a professional composition, but a product like “Blondex”, which can be found in any specialized store, then it already comes with an oxidizing agent in accordance with the proportion required for the available weight of paint. Professional products are sold in very large containers, and the oxidizing agent comes in the same containers. The hairdresser chooses the proportion individually for each client and his hair type.

You can highlight your hair yourself at home and still achieve high-quality results if you choose a good dye

It is very important to look at the expiration date of the purchased product, because if it has expired, then the product cannot be used. In the best case, nothing will happen, in the worst case, instead of highlighting, you will get an unusual shade of green, blue or another color

Girls rarely think about this and suffer as a result. If you are afraid of making a mistake, then you should go to a beauty salon, where a specialist will help you create the desired effect, and at the same time select the right coloring composition and its proportions. Sometimes this is exactly the option that allows you to save nerves, money and time.

Reviews of hair highlighting products can be heard in the video below.

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How to care for root highlights

Overgrown highlights require constant care, which consists of following several important rules.

Rule 1. Wash your hair with shampoo for highlighted hair.

Rule 2. After each wash, use balms, conditioners or masks. It is advisable that they be the same brand as the shampoo. Please note that you can only care for highlighted hair using store-bought cosmetics. Home remedies, especially oil-based ones, will give your hair an unattractive yellow tone.

Some of the best brands include:

• L'Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Lumino Contrast is a shampoo for highlighted hair that restores damaged structure and normalizes lipid balance. Does not weigh down the strands, does not dry out the ends, adds shine to the hair, and maintains elasticity;
• L'Oreal Professionnel Lumino Contrast is a leave-in gel fluid containing silicones. The product envelops every hair and makes the hair smooth, soft and shiny;
• John Frieda Frizz-Ease Rehydrate Intensive Deep Conditioner is a conditioner for dry hair that has strong nourishing and moisturizing properties, and also promotes easy and painless combing;
• Illumi Lights Schwarzkopf Professional is a moisturizing shampoo that is in great demand among famous hairdressers. Provides very good care to the strands, makes them silky;
• Lifetex Color protection Wella Professional is a budget shampoo that nourishes the roots of strands and preserves color.

Rule 3. From time to time, use tinted cosmetics that neutralize the yellow tint. Silver or purple tonics, balms or shampoos are ideal for these purposes.

Rule 4. Choose a high-quality comb that will not damage your hair while combing. Opt for wooden combs with rare teeth, brushes with natural bristles, or fashionable combs Macadamia No Tangle Brush and Tangle Teezer, which in an instant will untangle tangles, smooth out the scales of strands and make your hair smooth and very beautiful.

Rule 5. To ensure that the highlighting result pleases you for a long time, protect your hair from chlorinated water and direct sunlight. They not only dry out the strands, but also contribute to the rapid appearance of an unsightly yellow tint.

Rule 6. Regularly apply fluids, serums or sprays to the ends - they prevent their delamination.

Rule 7. Don’t forget about the root zone - pamper it with strengthening masks once a week.

Rule 8. To restore the structure and strengthen your hair, take a course of vitamins.

Rule 9. Do not comb wet hair - this will cause it to stretch and begin to break.

Rule 10. Do not carry out the procedure too often - you need to grow at least 5 cm. As a rule, the interval between dyeing is from 3 to 6 months, but, of course, it all depends on the speed of hair growth.

How long will it last?

Since highlighting erases the hair pigment, it will last for a long time. This depends on many factors: on the shampoo and its composition, on the characteristics of the curls and how quickly they grow, as well as on exposure to sunlight on them. Therefore, experts recommend carrying out the procedure once every two to three months so as not to harm the hair. When answering the question of how often you can highlight, it is better to tint the regrown part of the strands, and not the entire length.

Every girl and woman can have her hair highlighted outside a salon if she studies the recommendations of professionals and strictly follows the instructions. The technique and coloring composition must be selected taking into account the color and length of the hair. After selective dyeing, the strands also need proper care: it is better to use sulfate-free products and regularly make nourishing and restorative masks.