Is it possible to do highlights on colored hair?

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Often, after completely dyeing our hair, due to the capricious nature of women, we have a desire to change the color of our hair or even change our hairstyle. I also want to quickly get rid of overgrown roots that make our appearance sloppy. In our technically developed world, a new solution to these problems has appeared and a unique opportunity to always look fashionable and beautiful - highlighting on colored hair. Many women wonder: is it possible to do highlights on colored hair and will it work on dark or light curls? Experts have come to the conclusion that it is possible, but some rules must be followed. Let's take a closer look at how to properly apply highlights to colored hair so as not to cause much harm to it and give it an ideal look.

Highlighting itself is a very gentle hair coloring procedure, and after two weeks after unsuccessful or ineffective coloring, you can improve your beauty using this technique. Highlighting helps avoid burning and allows you to create a smooth transition from one color to another.

Highlights on dyed black hair

The most difficult thing to do is highlight on jet-black, dyed hair. You can forget about choosing a specific shade, since in this situation only lightening some curls can help you. To change the color of a strand, you must first bleach your hair and only then lighten individual strands. Basically, frequent highlighting is used, and in order to get a truly noticeable result, the process will have to be repeated two or three times with two-week breaks. During breaks, you need to conduct intensive courses of therapeutic restorative masks . They can be purchased in stores or prepared independently from natural ingredients (the second option is more desirable).

Look at the photo taken after applying the highlighting technique to dyed black hair.

I recommend using gray paint, which is fashionable today, to correct unsightly staining. Experts recommend using nut, dark brown, copper and coffee shades for black colored hair. For bold and extravagant women, bright red is a great way to express themselves.

And here is a photo using a gray tint with a smooth transition to white.

Highlighting on colored dark hair

Highlighting colored dark hair is much easier than highlighting black hair, since you don't have to go through multiple lightening procedures. There is a high probability that you will get the desired result after just one procedure. In addition, highlighting on dark curls greatly softens the female image - giving it sensuality and playfulness . Owners of dark colored hair can use several different shades at once, without observing any clear boundaries. An excellent option is to gradually lighten from the dark roots to the very ends, so that there will not be much difference between the colored areas of the hair and the regrown roots.

Photo after highlighting on dyed dark hair.

If you do not want to completely get rid of the dark color, after highlighting you can do coloring, which will look especially beautiful, especially with the right selection of shades. Also, do not forget about using masks to restore and strengthen your curls.

Execution technique

In order for the result of this procedure to be perfect, the experts recommend trusting them and not trying to fix your hair at home. Since, without having the experience, you can only ruin everything.

However, when you have certain skills in this matter, and also have a desire to save money, you can do root highlighting at home. Moreover, nothing special is required to carry it out.

The main mistake of everyone who tries to touch up their roots themselves or use the services of a salon is pre-washing their hair. This is absolutely not allowed! Because the sebum is washed off, which protects the curls from destruction by the chemicals used in the process of coloring the curls. For this reason, before going to a hairdresser or performing the procedure at home, forget about washing your hair two days before.

It is good when root highlighting is performed by the specialist who carried out the main coloring. He can easily repeat the work he has already done.

If the procedure is to be performed at home, then certain rules should be followed. The main thing to remember is that correction will require caution in maintaining the boundaries between the lightenings that were performed previously. Repeated exposure to previously bleached hair can severely burn it.

Root highlighting, performed at home, involves the use of foil (of course, with certain skills you can do without it).

For work you will also need: a lightener (it is better to take a weak one at home), a tinting preparation, a brush for applying paint to the roots, a cape and other products that are necessarily used when dyeing hair. The dye is applied to dry hair.

Further actions assume the following order of their execution:

Comb thoroughly and divide the curls into 3 parts, highlighting the middle and two sides, secure each with a clip.
Decide on the parameters and frequency of placement of strands that can be lightened (you should focus on those that are already colored).
Prepare a lightener - a special powder (it is used mainly on dark hair), which is pre-combined with an oxidizing substance in a certain dosage, or a lightening hair dye. The consistency of the gruel should look like thick sour cream and not leak beyond the foil.
Next, release part of the hair from the clamp and, placing a cut piece of foil under it, apply lightener (painting should begin from the back of the head). When the roots are coated, the foil is wrapped in the form of an envelope.
A similar procedure is performed in all zones.
The product is usually kept for 15-30 minutes (the process can be controlled by slightly opening the foil).
When finished, the foil is removed and the curls are washed using shampoo.

Highlighting on colored blonde hair

Highlighting on light colored hair is considered the easiest, since there is no need to bleach the curls - unless, of course, the color is yellowish. The best option for fair-haired women would be California highlighting , since with its help you will give your hair the effect of burnt hair. To avoid problems with regrown roots, I recommend using a variety of shade that is close to the natural color of the regrown hair.

Experts recommend that ash blondes use “cool colors” for highlighting - silver, pearl, and those with golden curls - caramel or honey, cognac shades.

Photo taken after highlighting on dyed blonde hair.

Sometimes after light dyeing, hair acquires an unpleasant yellowish tint. Before you do highlighting on colored blond hair, you must first get rid of this trouble: use tinted shampoos and special tonics every time you wash your hair until a positive result is achieved.

Highlights for redheads

Women who choose red hair are initially open to everything new and know how to attract the attention of others. Highlighting will become a tool for creating a unique and inimitable image: the color goes well with different shades of blonde, both cold and warm.

For a red base that is close to the natural color, the master will select bright copper shades that will create highlights and shimmer of the strands.
Rich copper and cognac hair colors will sparkle in a new way if you highlight with soft honey shades.
Highlighting using the ombre or balayage technique with a predominance of orange and yellow colors will help add expressiveness to red shades. This coloring will make the image brighter, fiery.

Women who are not ready for bright experiments, but want to refresh their red color, are advised to pay attention to amber, honey and caramel shades when choosing a color for highlighting their strands.

Highlighting on colored red hair

Red-haired women can safely use highlights on dyed hair, but there is one “but” - if you used henna when dyeing, then highlighting is strictly prohibited. Henna penetrates deep into the hair structure and with repeated, even partial dyeing, the curls will be colored unevenly, and as a result you can get a completely unexpected and unpredictable color. However, if you painted with regular red paint, Venetian highlights are ideal for you. Partial dyeing of red hair will only enhance the expressiveness of your hairstyle and significantly refresh your look, making you younger and more interesting.

Photo after highlighting on dyed red hair

To achieve a smooth transition between red and highlighted strands, experts recommend using two shades from the same color scheme.

What happens if you do highlighting at home?

Quite often, women who have extensive experience in hair coloring take on highlighting on their own. This usually ends in disaster for several reasons:

the lightening composition dries out the hair;
difficult to choose the right shade;
Working with your own hair is inconvenient.

If you want to place accents on previously colored strands, you need to contact a professional. The masters know how to carry out the procedure with minimal harm to the hair and get the perfect result.

Reviews about highlighting on colored hair

The largest cosmetology center in our city decided to conduct an online survey among regular visitors to its website about methods of highlighting on colored hair. I was interested in this survey because the famous stylist Alexander Stelmakh . I made a selection of the most interesting and informative answers from the expert.

Marina, 25 years old

I did my own hair coloring and slightly messed up the selection of shades. In addition, I overexposed the paint a little - the color turned out terrible. I turned to a hairdresser I knew for help and was pleasantly shocked by the result after frequent highlighting - I don’t know how he managed to correct my mistakes so well. In case of failure, I advise you to contact a specialist.

Expert's Answer: From what I can tell, you've had contrast highlights done—you look amazing. For those with curly hair, highlighting on your own is practically impossible, so you did the right thing by turning to a professional. Highlighting technology is a universal technique available to hair of any length and any type. In addition, this staining procedure is very gentle and is actively used to eliminate errors during complete staining.

Nina, 26 years old

After unsuccessful coloring, I did highlighting, but again I was dissatisfied with the result. Please tell me, is it possible to re-highlight color-treated hair?

Expert's answer: I would not advise you to do two highlights in a row, especially on previously colored hair. Now you need to undergo a short course of therapeutic masks to restore damaged curls, and only after a month you will be able to try again. Good luck and success!

Oksana, 18 years old

Tell me, what care is needed after highlighting on colored hair?

Expert Answer: When washing your hair, use shampoo made for colored hair and be sure to apply conditioner. Also, make a mask at least once a week to strengthen and restore damaged hair. In addition, try to use curling irons, straightening irons and hair dryers as little as possible. Good luck to you!

Proper care

Of course, if you have already dyed your hair and then decide to bleach it, careful care will be required. If you want your locks to be neat and not stick out like straw, then follow these tips:

Dry your curls with a hairdryer less and do not resort to heat treatment with curlers, curling irons, or flat irons;
choose shampoos “For colored” and “For highlighted hair” that will not wash away the color too much, or try to purchase a product without lauryl sulfate;
Be sure to make restorative masks once a week based on coconut, olive and burdock oils, as well as yolk, honey, sour cream;
after washing, rinse your curls with decoctions of herbs and roots (chamomile, nettle, burdock), which will provide shine;
trim your curls every month;
do not rub your hair with a towel in the desire to dry it quickly, and also do not comb your hair while it is still wet;
cover your hair with a hat in the summer to avoid the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation;
give up uncomfortable metal hairpins and tight elastic bands;
Braid your hair before going to bed to reduce damage to your curls;
Immediately after painting, apply a conditioner, because discoloration removes moisture.

Conditioner or conditioner should be used on slightly dry hair. This simple tip will allow them to become crumbly and acquire a beautiful shine.

Thus, highlighting curls that have previously been colored should be done with caution. The fact is that if the strands were exposed to perohydrol and ammonia, a repeated dyeing procedure can make them lifeless and brittle. But don’t despair too much, because following the technique, ammonia-free dye and proper care after the procedure will allow you to look even more attractive.

Popular hair highlighting products:

lightening cream;
powder (powder) for hair bleaching;
highlighting paint;
hair highlighting kit from L'oreal Preference;
collection for color highlighting Estel play;
tinted shampoos.

Highlighting on dyed hair on video

Unfortunately, there are situations when, after dyeing our hair, we are unhappy with the color we received, or the dyeing itself was unsuccessful. To get rid of a bad mood and negative emotions, I suggest you watch the proposed video. After watching it, you can find out how you can correct unsuccessful coloring using the highlighting technique. Enjoy watching!

Well, it seems that I told you everything I knew about highlighting colored hair. I hope the information will help you make the right decision. If you have any questions while reading the article, ask them, I will certainly answer. Maybe someone would like to share their successes - write to me, I will be very happy to share your joy with you. Good luck and success in achieving your goals!