Hair highlights: ideas to lighten hair without damaging it

To change the look, ensure a brighter look to the face, to become subtly blonde… There are many reasons that lead women, of different ages and styles, to highlight their hair.

Déa Chaves, colorist at Werner Coiffeur, explains that highlights are light strands (blonde) made in the hair. “They can be made with ammonia or without ammonia, depending on the type of hair,” she adds.

The method pleases most people, because, in addition to giving a special touch to a woman’s beauty, it does not pose any major problems to the hair. That is, it doesn’t damage the wires as other methods would.

“Lighting is less damaging to the strands compared to other methods such as, for example, coloring that takes the entire hair. On the other hand, the lights, as they are made in some strands, damage the wires less”, explains Déa.

Christianne Abila, 26, says she has been doing lights since she was 19. “At the time, I decided to radically change the look. On the recommendation of my hairdresser, I waited a year for my hair to grow back (it was dyed black) so I could cut and change it. I opted for the lights so as not to shock the appearance too much. And also because I wanted a method that wouldn’t damage my hair too much,” she explains. “After that, I never gave up on them. I see that blonde hair requires a lot of care and, with highlights, maintenance is more relaxed than with dye, for example. I don’t get the roots so marked when it’s time to redo them, which is great,” she adds.

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Root retouching is usually done between two or three months, depending on the pace of hair growth for each person.

Tatiana José, 31, also opted for highlights to avoid having to dye all her hair. “I’ve been doing highlights for over 10 years, because I like to have light hair, but without being too artificial, like I would if I dyed my hair blonde”, she says.

Photos: Hair with highlights

Get inspired by the diva hair of bloggers and celebrities to make the effect on your strands and make them light in a subtle and natural way. And remember: always listen to the advice of your hairdresser, he will know which shade will match your hair and which effect will favor you the most.

Can highlights be done on any hair?

Colorist Déa explains that highlights can be done on all types of hair, that is, on women who already have lighter hair, on brunettes, etc. “It really depends on the person’s taste. But it is worth noting that, in light and blonde women, for example, it is possible to pull off very light, platinum highlights. Already in brunette women, it is more common to move towards the honey tone”, she says.

Fernanda Duran, 36, says that she kept her hair in its natural color, dark brown, until she was 35 years old, then she decided to do highlights and was very successful. “When I decided to make a change to the look, I opted for the lights. Everyone loved it and commented that I looked younger,” she says.

Can the lights be made at home?

Nowadays, it is possible to find all kinds of information on the internet. And not only professional hairdressers, but also people in general, are free to post videos on the web in which they show how they light, color, cut and other hair procedures.

It is not difficult to find other videos like this one on Youtube (below), in which a blogger, in this case, teaches how to highlight hair at home:

However, professionals in the field are unanimous in saying that making lights at home is totally risky.

The best option is always to look for a hairdresser you trust, who has experience in doing this type of work. It is interesting to check with the professional, too, how to keep the hair healthy after the procedure, getting product tips, informing yourself about the need for hydration or other treatments.

frequently asked questions

Below, professional Déa Chaves answers other common questions that many women have or have had about lights:

Can all women lighten their hair? Even those who already have another type of hair chemistry?

Déa Chaves: Many women, for example, have a permanent brush in their hair and we have to pay attention to that. We should always do the strand test to see if the hair will withstand the discoloration and if it won’t defrize (in this case, if you don’t leave the strands sensitized, the highlights can be done with ammonia-free products).

What are the risks of making lights at home without the help of a professional?

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Déa Chaves: The threads can break, the locks can be uneven and with a different color. I don’t recommend ever making lights at home!

After doing the highlights, do women need to take special care of their hair? Which?

Déa Chaves: Yes, always. Treatment at home and cauterization in the salon. Use a good shampoo, mask for colored hair and leave-in. On the same day that the lights are made, the cauterization can be done. If you need to return, the space is 20 days.