Highlights are really great. They’re an amazing way to add that sprinkle of uniqueness to your hair. But sometimes, highlights can turn out to be really light and it looks like a botched job. Well, here is everything you need to know about why it happens and how you can fix it. However, going to a hair color correction specialist is the best way to deal with it.
Causes Of Too Light Highlights
Hair highlights are meant to look like beautiful, colored streaks on the hair. They can be dark or light, depending on what your natural hair color is, but if the highlights don’t turn out the way you want them to, then you’ll be stuck. Here is why it can happen.
Wrong Hair Color
Sometimes, the reason for highlights being lighter than you originally intended can be something as simple as a wrong hair color choice. If you want to go for highlights, they have to be a couple of shades lighter than your natural hair color.
But you don’t want to go too light either, otherwise your hair won’t look good. So, if you’re not choosing the right color, then maybe that’s why your highlights are turning out like this.
Done By An Amateur
Highlights, even though they sound simple, can be a very daunting technique. The amount of hair that is taken for each strand of highlights, the way the color is applied, the way they are foiled, and how they’re washed speak volumes when it comes to the end result.
So, if you don’t want your highlights to look like they’ve been whitewashed, then you need to hand over your hair to someone professional. You can’t expect amateur hairstylists to give you the same results as a professional would.
Wrong Toner Was Used
When you’re going for a specific color for highlights, some hair stylists will also use a toner. It is just something that comes with having darker hair and going lighter all of a sudden. You can use a toner to ensure that the color you want on your hair stays enriched and exactly as you desire.
A toner is kind of like that magic elixir that eliminates the brassy and orange tones in your hair. It is seriously an amazing thing. But, like hair dyes, you have to use the right toner too. Use the wrong one and the result will be ghastly white highlights.
Left On For Too Long
HAIR highlights are definitely a technique. They need to be left on for a certain period of time before they have to be washed. If you’re going for a particular color and want the results to be precise, then you have to take care of the developing time for the dye.
You can’t leave it on for too long, otherwise, the color will turn very light, and that will lead to light highlights too, which will essentially ruin the look you want to go for. So, time is literally of the essence.
Bleach Wasn’t Washed Properly
If you have really dark hair and you want to go really light for your highlights, it will be a hard thing to do. It won’t exactly be impossible, but it will require bleach your hair to cut down your natural hair color. Well, when you’re washing the bleach off, you have to make sure that it is completely off the hair.
If even a little bit of bleach is left behind, then it will alter the color, and it’ll turn – you guessed it – light. So, if you don’t want to ruin your hair in any way, then you have to wash out all of the bleach.
How To Fix Highlights That Are Too Light?
Well, you can’t expect the highlights to just look like they do and live with it. You have to fix them. Here are all of the ways you can do just that.
Use The Right Toner
This might go without saying, but you need to use the right toner for your hair. The percentage, the concentration, everything matters when it’s about your hair. You don’t want to make the mistake of just choosing whatever toner you reach. This is going to lead to detrimental results.
So, whenever you’re trying to go for any type of highlights like Balayage, babylights, lowlights, etc., make sure that the stylist chooses the right toner that will lead to those perfect results you want. It might take a bit of back and forth, but you will love the results and the hard work will be worth it in the end.
Use A Color Corrector
Just like how color correctors are used on the face to cancel out all of the undesirable hues, the same can be used for the hair. It is kind of like a toner meets a color remover and a color corrector. It will ensure that the light colors of your hair highlights become darker.
This is applied in the same way as a toner is, and if you can get your hands on creams that can be left in the hair, then that is even better. The results will be amazing.
Follow The Instructions
Hair dyeing is a total science. It’s even harder than baking, because if you mess up, you’ll have to deal with the consequences and there is so little that you can do to rectify the situation. So, whenever you’re getting highlights done, make sure that you do a patch test first and see how the color looks. Is it too dark? Too light? Do you need more developer or dye to get the desired color?
Once you know the perfect concentration and mixing techniques, you’ll be good to go and the hair will look beautiful – just how you want.
Change Gradually
If you’re going very light for highlights on your naturally dark hair, then it is something that will be done in a couple of sessions. You can’t just sit in the chair and stand up in an hour or two and be done with the highlights that have the perfect color. For darker hair, the more gradual the process, the better results you get in the end.
So, don’t rush this process, because it is your hair on the line. If you rush things and can’t commit to the process and its sweet time, then you’ll be left with highlights that aren’t the perfect color.
Use Hair Gloss
You can also darken the lighter hair highlights with a hair gloss. It is not a permanent solution, but it sure will help with the appearance, especially if the hair looks really bad. Hair glosses are applied like a hair mask and you can focus the dark cream on the strands where your highlights are.
The hair will definitely look darker in no time and you can get the gloss off after a couple of washes, so there’s no need to worry about anything. You’re good to go.
Conclusion
Hair highlights are supposed to be lighter on darker hair, but sometimes, the results will be out of place and won’t look good at all. Well, now you know how to fix it. But if you want flawless results, visit a hair color correction hair salon Rockville.