American highlighting on dark hair: secrets, before and after photos

What is American highlighting?

There are three types of American highlighting:

Californian, unlike American, has smooth transitions between shades;
red _ This species got its name because all shades of red, red, and copper tones are used for it;
“crazy colors” are a mixture of bright, contrasting shades.

These methods are combined into one, due to the presence of 2 or more shades in all, as well as the play of highlights, which creates additional fullness and thickness of the hair.

This is a gentle type of highlighting, as it does not require strong lightening and involves the use of dark shades - about 2 shades lighter. In the classic version, from 2 to 4 tones are used . This results in luxurious thickness and shine.

The peculiarity of this type is that the color is applied only to small strands.

Advantages of this technique

American-style highlighting has a number of very important advantages:

It has no age restrictions and looks great on both young girls and older ladies;
Suitable for both curly and completely straight hair;
Works great on strands of any length, even very short ones;
Makes the hairstyle voluminous and gives it the desired volume;
Does not affect the roots and is considered gentle;
For the same reason, you don’t have to visit the hairdresser every month - the regrown roots simply won’t be noticeable. The procedure can be repeated no earlier than after 3 months;
In most cases, American highlighting looks very natural.

Types of American highlighting
Experts distinguish several types of American highlighting. Interestingly, the technique for performing them remains unchanged. The only difference is in the shades, which are selected depending on the original hair color.

Classic American

Initially, this look was intended for girls with dark locks. When performing it, 3-4 shades are used, which create natural highlights and give the hair a stylish glossy effect. The main advantage of standard painting is its soft effect. The fact is that the dye is applied only to the top layer of hair, but the bottom layer remains in its natural color. Recently, another new trend has emerged in this direction, involving dyeing individual curls in lighter colors. As a rule, they are taken from the chestnut palette. This solution allows you to revive your hair and give it a bright shine.

The classic version of American highlighting can be seen on Hollywood actress Jessica Biel, after UN goodwill Angelina Jolie, Victoria's Secret model Lily Aldridge and top model Chrissy Teigen.

Californian

Unlike the previous version, California highlighting can only be performed on light hair - blond or light brown. For this option, golden, wheat, beige, sand, honey and caramel are relevant. They are ideal for those who want to achieve the effect of sun-bleached strands.

The California highlighting technique is considered one of the most difficult. During the dyeing process, a special paste based on beeswax is used. The strands are not wrapped in anything, allowing the dye to come into contact with undyed hair, and the composition itself is carefully stretched along the entire length of the hair. The result is a very soft transition from darkened roots to highly lightened ends.

American California-style highlighting can be seen on many world celebrities - Gisele Bündchen, Jennifer Aniston, Karlie Kloss, Fergie, etc.

Red

But this type of highlighting can be done exclusively on dark hair. For its implementation, bronze, red, red, brick, burgundy and brown shades are used. This is an ideal way to dilute dark hair with bright strands without using harmful lightening compounds.

Crazy colors

This type of American highlighting is considered universal - it can be used on strands of any color. Coloring in the Crazy Colors style is incredibly popular among extraordinary girls who dream of adding bright and bold colors to their image. It completely denies naturalness and involves the use of truly eccentric and crazy colors - green, blue, pink, purple, etc. The selected shades may belong to the same color palette, or they may contrast with each other. As a rule, Crazy Colors are performed using a non-persistent gel, which is washed off after about 2-3 weeks. You can safely do it while on vacation, and then return to your original color again.

Photos before and after

Advantages

Gives hair the effect of sun glare and beautiful tints.
Creates visual volume and density.
Suitable for any hair length and hairstyle.
Looks equally good on both curly and straight hair.
Huge selection of color palettes.
With the right choice of shade, you can successfully highlight your skin color.

How to choose a color?

The basis for the correct selection of paint shades is the classification of color types. A good color will make your appearance brighter and more expressive, emphasizing your strengths and hiding your flaws. And tones that do not match the type can ruin the image.

Choice of shades for dark-haired people:

For black hair, you will have to heavily condition your hair to get light strands, or use shades that are close to your natural color. Girls with black hair are naturally of a cold color type, so the choice of shade should be appropriate. Suitable:
copper;
bronze;
coffee;
Brown color.
For brunettes and brown-haired women. Gentle highlighting with sparse strands is ideal for brown-haired women. They can choose:
chocolate;
caramel;
chestnut;
honey shades.
Girls of a cold color type have ash-blond dark hair. If your skin is light, then silvery blonde strands will look attractive in your hairstyle. If the woman is dark-skinned, then it is better to choose warm colors.

Who can do it?

This method implies the absence of smooth transitions from color to color. This achieves the effect of fullness of hair. But not everyone will like this type of coloring or show it.

Great for:

thick normal hair;
painted at least 2 months ago;
natural hair color;
girls in good health.

It is undesirable to use it for:

dull, split and damaged strands;
damaged scalp;
girls with allergic reactions;
during pregnancy, lactation or menstruation;
on those painted with henna or basma.

Before performing American highlighting, you need to treat your hair with special products in the form of gels, masks and balms. Only after such procedures will the lightening result be desired.

You should not highlight immediately after dyeing. This will cause even more stress to the hair that has undergone tinting.

Peculiarities

In addition to the advantages and disadvantages, this method has the following features:

coloring is done only with foil, since there should not be smooth transitions between shades;
for a more effective result, it is recommended to use a maximum of 4 shades;
Only the top layers are lightened and colored. The lower ones remain the base color.

For dark hair

American highlighting is a suitable solution for brunettes and brown-haired women.

Any technique can be used on dark hair, regardless of the nature of the hairstyle and age. The choice of palette is also more varied than for owners of blond hair.

When highlighting strands, caramel shades are used. When choosing a rich palette, take into account your skin tone and natural hair color.

You can choose a warm woody color scheme, or go cold - plum, blueberry.

When choosing a paint, keep in mind that the shades of the dyed strands should not differ from each other by more than 3 tones. Otherwise they will look rough.

The process of performing American highlighting requires accuracy, selection of colors, alternation of shades, width and frequency of dyed strands. This is difficult to do at home.

Leave American highlighting to a specialist. He will choose the right shades and place accents.

American highlighting for dark hair

Before carrying out the procedure, you should take into account the nuances.

There is no need to highlight hair that has recently been dyed with henna or bright colors. Shades may not be as expected.
Severely damaged hair should be treated first.
It is not recommended to perform highlights on hair that has been permed.
If you have dark hair color, the strands will need to be heavily bleached to achieve the effect, which will cause damage to your hair.

The use of professional products by an experienced master will allow you to get the desired result with gentle coloring.

Although highlighting does not cause serious harm to the hair, still choose care products. This way your hair will remain healthy and look even more luxurious.

American highlighting well “refreshes” the image and allows you to get radically different effects: a natural, natural look and, on the contrary, an extravagant one. Each of you will be able to create your own unique style.

girls tend to use gentle hair coloring products. French highlighting was invented especially for supporters of harmless coloring. What it is? Read on our website.

Read about the types of hair highlighting in this material. Advantages and disadvantages of this type of staining.

How to choose the right shade based on your appearance?

Correctly selected combinations of shades will bring gorgeous results. There are three main criteria by which you can choose a suitable palette with up to 95% accuracy: eye color, skin color, color type.

For brunettes and brown-haired women there are classic, unchanging tones:

cognac;
copper-red;
chocolate;
coffee;
caramel;
nut;
honey.

Since American highlighting implies a reddish-red palette, you need to focus on brighter and more saturated colors.

Tone selection criteria

Eyes:
gray with shades of wheat, nutmeg, almond and copper;
blue eyes are in harmony with a honey, nut, chocolate palette;
green color prefers coppery-red tones, nutty, caramel and ocher shades.
Leather:
marble-white color needs pale and calmer colors 2-3 tones lighter than the base;
neutral skin color is universal.
Color type:
coffee, blonde, cinnamon, milk chocolate, honey, nutmeg are suitable for winter
autumn ones look great with wheat, red, caramel, cinnamon, ocher, cognac palette and the like.

The color of each strand should be 2 shades lighter than the eyes, skin and 3 shades lighter than the main shade of the hair.

Strand Definition

For American coloring you need a special separation of curls:

separate the lower and middle parts at the back of the head;
distribute them into strands;
do the same on the top of the head;
separate the side strands at the temples on both sides.

American highlighting: characteristics and types

As already mentioned, several paint colors are used for American highlighting. However, professional stylists can work with a wide range of colors.

The color palette used in this highlighting is typical for such types of coloring as “California highlighting”, “Red highlighting”. This also includes dyeing in different colors, called “Crazy Colors”.

All types and subtypes of American highlighting are designed to create a combination of colors that will allow the curls to look shiny and vibrant, giving additional volume to the hairstyle.

California highlighting.

Dyeing dark hair strands in colors that are closest in tone to the bulk of the curls. In this way, stylists create the effect of sun-burnt hair. This gives the hair volume and saturates it with the warmth of a sunny summer day. This type of highlighting is done even on light curls.

Red highlighting.

Option for brunettes. The stylist will complement the look with reddish-colored strands so that they look absolutely natural, without causing contradictions. At the same time, the hairstyle looks surprisingly stylish and bright.

Coloring with contrasting colors Crazy Colors.

Creative, bright and confident girls should definitely try this type of highlighting on themselves. The name of the species contains the word “crazy”. A truly crazy, unexpected and surprising combination of colors will create a bright and unique style.

American highlighting of any type is perfect for all hair types of any length. However, it is worth noting that strands of blond hair dyed in bright colors look unkempt. Therefore, it is better to consult a stylist.

To work, the master definitely needs special foil of different colors. This is done in order to see the sequence of use of each of the colors of the selected range.

In essence, American-style highlighting is coloring. In addition to this technique, tinting and coloring are also used.

Even if you know the technique of traditional highlighting at home, this type of hair coloring is very complex. It is best to contact a salon for help.

Contraindications

There are no contraindications for any specific types of highlighting.
There are a number of contraindications to all methods of dyeing individual strands.

Categorical contraindications:

pregnancy, lactation, menstruation;
allergic reactions;
damaged hair;
damaged scalp;
recent dyeing of strands.

Dyeing dark hair at home

Experts recommend lightening individual strands according to the American type in salons, as this is a complex procedure. Its difficulty lies in the inconvenience of determining the width of the strands, since they are not visible from behind. But if you sit between two mirrors, you can get an excellent result at home.

This type of highlighting involves coloring only the top layers.

Required tools:

baths for diluting color;
application brush;
paint of various shades (depending on how many colors there will be on the strands);
multi-colored foil;
comb;
hairdresser's cape;
clamps;
disposable gloves.

Foil of different colors is needed so as not to get confused where and what shade is applied.

Put on a cape or blanket.
Wear gloves.
Dilute the desired colors in different bowls.
Separate the lower and middle parts at the back of the head.
Secure each with a clamp.
Break the top part into strands.
Place pieces of foil of the same color under each one.
Apply dye of the main color to each strand.
Fold the foil up and secure.
Starting from the temple, divide the hair into strands, going down and do not touch the central ones.
Place foil under each and apply the desired color, alternating with the main one, and fix the foil.
Do the same on the other side.
Then divide the remaining dark hair into two parts in the center and secure one with clips.
Divide the loose one into strands.
Color them along the lower parting with the main color.
Continue the process towards the crown, alternating shades.
Do the same with the rest of the hair.
Leave for the time indicated on the package.
Remove the foil.
Rinse hair thoroughly with warm water.
Apply a color-fixing mask or balm.

It is necessary to rinse your hair correctly. Dark and bright shades are washed first, and then lighter ones . This is necessary so that the colors do not mix and a beautiful combination is obtained. You shouldn’t lighten your hair, as highlighting your natural color will look more natural. The highlights will look brighter and more voluminous.

Shades need to be alternated in a checkerboard pattern so that all areas have an even amount of a certain color.

Long hair coloring

When dyeing long hair, you can experiment and combine different variations of technologies.

The most popular types of highlighting are:

Classic highlighting is the most common. This technique involves uniformly coloring the strands along the entire length. Often foil is used for lightening. Suitable for hair in any haircut, and after lightening it is recommended to use a tinting base to eliminate yellowness.
American way. This method does not use foil or thermal paper, so it is the most gentle to read. It creates the feeling of sun-bleached strands.
Multi-tone coloring. This type of painting creates a glare effect. And you can use a wide variety of shades: from natural to bright and extravagant colors.
Reverse highlighting. It is already used if regular highlighting has been done many times and the owner wants to return her original color.

How long does it take to repeat?

Dyeing individual strands in the American style on dark curls lasts about 2.5-3 months . Experts do not recommend repeating the entire procedure, since during this time only the roots will grow and the color will fade a little. To update the shade, you just need to tint the roots and wash your hair with a tinted shampoo.

Any procedure involving a change in hair color under chemical influence has a negative impact on its condition. Highlighting affects only the upper layers of the hairstyle, but if they are damaged, the appearance of the hair will be ruined:

they will be brittle and dry;
will lose their natural shine;
the ends will split.

To prevent such consequences, highlighting should be carried out as rarely as possible. No more than once every 2-3 months.

Which hat is better - store-bought or homemade?

Of course, it’s easier to buy a highlighting cap in a store.
But not everyone can afford it and not every locality can find it. So, for example, a similar device is unlikely to be found in a village store. But everyone certainly has packages. If we talk about durability, then a rubber cap is in no way inferior to store-bought ones. The polyethylene one is not as strong, but it will definitely be enough for one time.

The most difficult thing is to carefully make the holes so that they do not tear or are too large. In addition, all holes should be the same size, unless the goal is to make different strands.

When painting a house, you need to be as careful as possible, especially with a cap from a bag. Any wrong movement can tear the material or create a gap between the holes, which can cause an awkward stain to appear on your hair.

It is also important to ensure that dyed strands do not come into contact with undyed ones. Otherwise, the “drawing” will go wrong, and the result will not be what you expected

Rubber caps are suitable for reusable use. The main thing is to check the hat before each dyeing to ensure that it is intact and in good condition. If something about your hat bothers you, it’s better to replace it, because no one wants to risk their appearance. A hat made from a plastic bag should definitely not be reused. Most likely, it will already lose its shape, and it will be difficult to secure it as tightly to your head. In addition, the cost of the package is so low that it is better to buy a new one than to suffer with the old one.

A highlighting cap is a simple and affordable way to create a fashionable hairstyle. It's much more convenient than painting with foil, and cheaper than going to a salon. The main thing is to show patience and accuracy, and then in an hour you can turn a boring hairstyle into a fashionable coloring yourself and without the help of specialists.

Probable errors and their consequences

It happens that despite following all the steps of the instructions, the result is not what we would like. For example:

the color turned out washed out . This happens if the foil is poorly fixed or the strands are washed at the same time. First you need to rinse the more saturated tones, and then the lighter ones;
sometimes bright, sometimes dull . If there are contrasting shades, it is better to apply the darker ones first, and then the lighter ones. While dark or bright strands are washed, lighter ones will be colored better;
transitions have formed . This is possible if the foil is not properly fixed or washed incorrectly. If the pieces of foil are poorly secured, then paint from one curl may get onto another;
my hair became like straw . Overexposure of color or very aggressive paint.

In order to avoid this, you need to memorize the instructions well, understand and fully understand the process. You need to be very careful when choosing a shade. It happens that you like the colors, but they don’t fit well with each other or don’t look good on the length of your hair. All details must be taken into account:

color type;
competent combination of shades;
hairstyle;
hair length;
face shape;
color quality;
learn how to properly wrap foil and apply tint;
Wash your strands properly.

To keep your hair looking healthy longer and less damaged, it is better to use ammonia-free dyes or tint mousses.

How to fix?

Mistakes could not be avoided. There are two ways to correct the situation: go to a specialist or do it yourself. Of course, the master will do everything correctly and competently, but he will charge a certain fee for it.

At home, the following option is possible: washing . Use a special product to wash off all shades and apply a single color dye or leave as is and give your hair a rest.

It is important to wash off the shade from each strand so as not to stain the natural color with a mixture of several colors. Everything is washed off in a row.

It is best to dye your hair not with dye, but with ammonia-free tint products . After rinsing, be sure to apply a caring balm or mask to the strands. This will protect them and start the recovery process.

Execution technique

The dye is mixed immediately before application to the hair. For gentle coloring, take 1 part paint to 1.5-2 parts oxygen. To make the color brighter, paint and oxidizing agent are mixed in equal proportions.
The easiest way to dye your hair is through a cap. Individual strands are crocheted through the holes. The more there are, the more frequent the highlighting will be.
If preliminary lightening is intended, a mixture of bleaching powder and oxygenator is applied to the strands. A strip of foil is placed under the strand, an even layer of paint is applied on top, the foil is folded and rolled up. This technique allows you to make the color brighter. Foil is also used when using single-phase paints containing brighteners and tint pigments. It allows you to apply different shades to the strands and does not allow them to mix.
The drug is kept for at least 30 minutes. For dense dark hair, the exposure time is doubled. If the strands are damaged by frequent dyeing, keep the product for no more than 20 minutes.
After the required time, the foil is unrolled and the paint is washed off with running water. If several shades were used, the curls are unrolled and washed one at a time, this will preserve the purity of the color.
Finally, the head is washed with shampoo. When using toning preparations, it can not be used. The final stage is applying a nourishing balm.

American highlighting can be done differently.

For California coloring of long hair, they are tied with elastic bands into thin ponytails.
The dye is distributed throughout the hair without staining the roots.
The product is kept on the curls for 40-50 minutes, constantly wetting them with a new portion of paint.
The drug is distributed starting from the middle and moving to the ends. This technique creates the effect of naturally burnt hair, the strands get a different shade, and the transition is very smooth.
After 40-50 minutes, the paint is washed off, then the elastic bands are removed from the hair and the hair is washed again.

After lightening, the strands need to be tinted. The drug is selected in natural or bright colors. Adding a booster will help make it brighter; for bed coloring you will need a transparent colorless corrector.

Reference! Mixtures with correctors are applied only to damp hair; regular toners can be distributed over dry strands.

Rules of care

The essence of American highlighting is no different from any other type. Recommendations for caring for such curls are the same:

To prevent the strands from becoming brittle, dry and lifeless, it is advisable to carry out highlighting on healthy hair and choose the right dye (ammonia-free or tinted colors);
mandatory use of gel fluid. This composition is created specifically for damaged and colored hair. The molecular formula penetrates the hair structure, restoring it and saturating it with amino acids;
After the procedure, you need to cut the ends of your hair. This will make your hair look more well-groomed;
You need to use not only shampoo, but also nourishing masks, balms, and serums. They can also be made at home;
Use hair dryers, tongs, curling irons, and straightening irons as little as possible.

Taking care of your curls is easy. Their healthy appearance, silkiness and shine are only in your hands. The American method of highlighting is very popular among brown-haired women and brunettes, as it stays on the hair for a long time and gives a chic volume. The process is not complicated and you can do it yourself. A chic well-groomed look, luxurious shine and incredible volume of curls after dyeing using the American method will win any hearts!

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What is required for coloring?

To ensure that highlighting goes smoothly, you need to purchase accessories and coloring products in advance. Everything you need can be found in specialized stores for hairdressers. To work you will need:

lightening powder or paint;
oxygen of the required concentration;
earthenware, glass or plastic mixing bowl;
peignoir with Velcro to protect clothing;
gloves made of thin plastic;
petrolatum;
a comb with a long pointed handle (learn how to use a comb correctly when highlighting yourself here);
hairdresser's or food foil (you can learn from this material how to do highlighting on foil yourself and what paint application technique is used);
a cap with holes (we told you how to properly use a cap for self-highlighting at home here);
brush for spreading paint;
mild shampoo;
nourishing balm.

The brush can be replaced with a children's toothbrush. It carefully colors every hair and is suitable for processing the finest strands.

When choosing paint, you need to consider the technique. For Californian or classic highlighting, semi-permanent paints that do not contain ammonia are suitable. It is advisable to choose preparations enriched with keratin, vitamins, and nourishing oils. For coloring you will need 2-3 harmonizing shades of different saturations.

For red highlighting, tinting paints included in the range of some professional brands are suitable. Very interesting bright colors can be found in the special Matrix and Estel collections. For crazy style options, gels or paints are suitable, which do not mix with oxygen and are applied to the hair directly from the tube. Original options can be found in the Wella or Loreal lines.

Paints for American highlighting should not differ by more than 3 tones. Too sharp contrasts are not suitable for this technique.

The choice of oxygenator depends on the condition of the hair.

For thin and fragile ones, a 1.9% oxidizing agent is suitable.
Normal strands of medium density are treated with a product with a concentration of 3 to 6%.
Stronger eulsions should not be used, they are very damaging to the hair. The only exception is the hair of Asian women, which can be lightened with 12% oxygen.

The drug should not come into contact with the scalp to avoid burns.