Adding highlights to short hair is an easy way to update your style.Since shorter hair requires less time and product to highlight, you can do it at home and save money.For a gradual, natural highlight, use natural products or choose a kit for a more dramatic look.
Step 1: The day before you highlight, do a deep conditioning treatment.
Highlighting can cause damage to your hair.If you want to protect your hair, do a deep conditioning treatment 1 or 2 days before you apply the highlights.
Step 2: On a small strand of hair, test your highlighting solution.
It is a good idea to do a strand test to make sure you like the color.To apply the highlighting solution to a small strand of hair, follow the instructions in your kit.Wait for the amount of time listed in your kit's instructions before washing it out, and fold a piece of aluminum foil around it to keep the bleach away from the rest of your hair.You can see how long it will take to get the color you want with a strand test.You should wait at least a few hours after the strand test to make sure you like the color.After washing and drying, hair color can change.
Step 3: You don't mind getting bleach on old clothes.
It is very likely that a highlighting solution will end up on your clothes.If you want to keep bleach out of the area around you, you should put down old towels or newspapers.
Step 4: Use a product to protect your skin.
While you should not apply the highlighting solution near your hair, drips or loose strands can bring the bleach into contact with your skin, which can be harmful.Before you start highlighting, make sure to apply a thick layer of moisturizers around the edges of your face, neck, and ears.
Step 5: Use clips to divide your hair.
If your hair is more than a few inches long, you may want to divide it into front, back, and side sections and secure them with rubber bands or clips.This will keep strands out of the solution when you don't want them to.If you have thick hair, you can divide it into eighths.
Step 6: Cut several pieces of aluminum foil to size.
The foil will keep your hair moist while the color develops.The highlighting solution should be used as soon as possible after mixing if you want to cut the foil out ahead of time.
Step 7: The highlighting solution should be prepared according to the instructions.
The solution will most likely be mixed with developer.Before starting the process, you should read the instructions that come with your kit.
Step 8: Put a thin section of hair on top of foil.
Since the back or the bottom layer of your hair is the least visible, you should start with it.Start by applying the solution to the ends of your hair.Make sure to stop the solution from touching your hair by brushing it up towards your roots.If you have short hair, you may want to hold the ends of your hair in place while you brush the solution upwards, but be sure to put on rubber gloves first.It is best to do small, alternating sections for a natural look.Each section should be no thicker than a few strands, and about 0.25 to 0.5 inches wide, or slightly wider in the front.To get the same look, you can weave the sections together.
Step 9: The foil should be folded around the highlighted section.
Once the highlighting solution has been applied to a section, take the foil that you laid on top of and gently fold it around the section so that it is enclosed in foil.The edges should be folded another 1 or 2 times.If you have trouble securing your hair with the foil, you can use plastic hair clips or bobby pins.
Step 10: On alternating sections, repeat the process.
If you divide your hair into fourths, work on one fourth at a time and keep the others secured with clips.You can get the most natural effect by spacing small highlighted sections out between larger un-highlighted sections.If the highlighted sections are even, it will look more natural.
Step 11: 35 minutes is what the instructions suggest.
To find out how long it will take to develop, check the instructions that came with your kit.If the color is starting to show, you should check your hair every 15 minutes.You can rinse it out early if it appears to be lightening quickly and has reached the color you want before the time is up.While you wait for your hair to grow, stay in aventilated area, as the highlighting solution may stain fabrics and other surfaces.
Step 12: If you have to, rinse your hair thoroughly.
If you want to see the color of your hair, let it dry and look at it.If the color appears a little too bright, brassy, or orange, you can purchase a blue or purple cleanser to modify it.At most hair care suppliers, you will be able to choose one that is designed for the type of color treatment you want.The first time you wash your hair, use an old towel.The bleach in your hair can stain fabrics.
Step 13: For a subtle highlight, mix 1 part apple cider vinegar and 6 parts water.
It's a good way to clean your hair by breaking down oils and lightening it in the sun.Before you go out in the sun for a subtle, all-over highlight, you can put this solution in a spray bottle and coat your hair thoroughly.After you apply this solution to your hair, it may smell like vinegar.Once you rinse out the solution and condition, this will go away.
Step 14: Natural highlights can be achieved with a honey-cinnamon paste.
Cinnamon works as a natural bleach because of the trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide in honey.Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes with honey, cinnamon, and olive oil.Using foil to separate and secure the hair if necessary, apply the paste to the pieces of your hair you want highlighted.It should be left on for at least 4 hours.
Step 15: To make a lightening rinse, brew chamomile tea.
The tea bags should be placed in 3 cups of hot water.Wait until the water is comfortable to touch, then use it as a rinse after washing your hair.This will highlight your hair when it is exposed to the sun.You can put the tea in a spray bottle, which will distribute it more evenly than pouring it over your hair.
Step 16: To lighten with the sun, squeeze lemon juice into a leave-in conditioner.
Lemon juice is used to highlight hair.Lemon juice can be squeezed into water to make a rinse or spray, but if you want to highlight specific areas, you can add 3 parts lemon juice to 1 part leave-in conditioner and apply the mixture.Lemon juice can cause your hair to dry out, so it's a good idea to use a conditioner.Lemon juice can be used to lighten highlights if they're too dark for your taste, as well as being a useful way to highlight short hair.
Step 17: Sea salt can be used to lighten hair.
Put the sea salt solution in a spray bottle and mix it with a cup of water.Before you go out in the sun, make sure to coat your hair with the spray.Sea salt spray can add texture to your hair.