Men often seek ways to enhance their natural hair. Whether it’s straightening curly hair, perming straight hair, or experimenting with hair color, one popular choice is hair highlights. Highlights are used to replicate the natural, sun-kissed lightening effect that occurs from sun exposure. However, it’s not just about achieving a lighter hue; highlights also introduce various tones to create depth and the illusion of thicker, voluminous hair.
Adding highlights to your hair is a fantastic way to change up your look and add depth and dimension to your hairstyle. It’s not just for women; men can also rock this stylish trend. Whether you’re looking for a subtle sun-kissed appearance or bold, chunky highlights, there’s a highlight style for every man. In this article, we’ll explore ten stylish ways to get hair highlights for men.
Easy DIY Steps to Get Hair Highlights For Men
Here’s our alternative to a salon for achieving beautiful icy blonde partial highlights. You’ll need a few essential products for this process:
Products Required:
- Foils (cut in half lengthwise)
- Developer (I prefer a mix of equal parts 20 and 30, creating a 25-volume developer)
- Bleach
- Toner (mix with 20-volume developer)
- Mixing Bowl
- Brush
- Highlighting Comb
- Hair Clips
Now, let’s walk through the steps, although some parts can be a bit challenging to explain without visuals:
- Prepare the Bleach: Mix the bleach and developer in a mixing bowl according to the instructions on your bleach. A common ratio is 60mL of each.
- Section the Hair: Divide your hair into four sections using a highlighting comb. The top section is split into front and back sections, and the sides are sectioned about an inch behind the ear up to where they meet the top section. Secure each section with clips.
- Highlighting: Start with the top-front section. Take a thin slice of hair, clip the remaining section again, place a foil tightly against the scalp underneath the slice, and paint the hair against the foil with mixed bleach. Make sure to cover only the hair you want to highlight, avoiding overlap if your hair is already highlighted. Focus on bleaching new growth and a bit beyond to blend.
- Weave, Release, Weave, Highlight: After highlighting the first slice, weave another thin slice of hair, release it (or “throw it down” as Aaron calls it), weave a second slice, clip the remaining hairs in the section again, and highlight that slice only. Continue this process until you complete the entire top section.
- Highlight the Sides: For the sides, it’s effective to have the slices and foils go almost vertically, slightly at an angle from front to back. Start by bleaching baby hairs in the sideburn area and face-framing hairs. Weave a vertical section and bleach. Then follow the same process as before: weave, release, weave, bleach. Continue toward the back until you finish the section. Do the other side the same way.
- Let It Process and Check: The bleach will have recommended processing times. Instead of using heat to speed up the process, which can be damaging, wait it out. The cream bleach should process faster than the bleach powder. You’ll learn to recognize when it’s ready, usually when your hair appears almost white under the bleach. If it still looks yellow, leave it in. Check a few areas in each section, and remove foils as they are ready. Typically, it takes around 45 minutes to achieve the desired shade.
- Shampoo and Condition: Rinse your hair under warm water for 3-4 minutes. Wash with your regular shampoo to ensure all bleach is removed. Follow with a second wash using purple shampoo, leaving it in for less than 60 seconds. Finish with your regular conditioner. Toning is not necessary.
- Style and Enjoy!
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Best Hair Highlight Options For Men
Highlighting options range from subtle, sun-kissed effects to bold, bright streaks. The choice of highlight color also plays a crucial role in achieving the desired look.
1. Classic Foil Highlights
Traditional foil highlights are a tried-and-true method of achieving precisely controlled lighting effects in your hair. This technique involves carefully selecting specific strands of hair to be highlighted and then wrapping them in foil.
The foil serves multiple purposes: it isolates the highlighted strands, preventing the bleach or color from spreading to neighboring hair, and it enhances the processing by trapping heat. This controlled approach ensures that the highlights are sharp, distinct, and beautifully defined. It’s a versatile method, suitable for a wide range of hair types and styles, and it’s favored by many because of its ability to create a polished and tailored appearance. Whether you’re seeking subtle accents or bold statements, traditional foil highlights offer a versatile solution to meet your hair color goals.
2. Balayage Highlights
For a naturally sun-kissed look, balayage is the go-to technique. This involves skilled hand-painting of highlights onto your hair, creating a seamless and effortless effect. Balayage offers a subtlety that mimics the natural way hair lightens in the sun, making it ideal for men seeking a relaxed, beachy vibe.
The process allows for a personalized touch, ensuring the highlights are strategically placed to complement your features and hair texture. It’s a versatile approach, suitable for various hair lengths and types, giving a soft and blended appearance without harsh lines. Whether you opt for a subtle enhancement or a more pronounced change, balayage grants you that sun-kissed allure while maintaining a distinctly natural appeal.
3. Babylights
Babylights are a hairstyling technique that achieves a subtle and natural effect. These highlights are exceptionally fine, mirroring the natural hair color of youth. The purpose of babylights is to infuse your hair with a delicate touch of brightness without creating a striking or dramatic change.
This method is particularly popular among those seeking a gentle contrast and a more understated transformation. Babylights are versatile and can be tailored to different hair types and lengths. The fine, strategically placed highlights create a seamless and blended appearance, making them a fantastic choice for those who want to enhance their hair’s natural radiance while keeping a low-key, authentic look.
4. Chunky Highlights
Chunky highlights offer a bold and striking alternative for those seeking a more dramatic transformation. These highlights involve thicker strands of lightened hair, creating a strong contrast against the base color. This technique is perfect for individuals who want to make a statement with their hairstyle and stand out from the crowd.
Chunky highlights add depth and texture to your hair, making them a popular choice among those looking for a more pronounced effect. They are particularly suitable for those who embrace a bolder and more eye-catching style. Whether you opt for a few chunky highlights or a full head, this technique allows you to make a distinctive and fashion-forward statement with your hair.
5. Ombre Highlights
Ombre is a stylish and distinctive coloring technique that produces a gradient effect, with darker roots seamlessly transitioning into lighter ends. This approach allows you to achieve a trendy and fashionable appearance that has gained popularity in recent years.
The beauty of ombre lies in its adaptability, as you can personalize the contrast between the root and tip colors according to your individual preferences. Whether you opt for a subtle, natural shift or a more pronounced, eye-catching contrast, ombre offers a versatile and on-trend look. It’s a fantastic choice for those who want to experiment with color while maintaining a chic and low-maintenance style.
6. Sunkissed Highlights
Sunkissed highlights are all about creating a natural, sun-kissed glow for your hair. These highlights focus on the hair’s surface and the ends, replicating the way the sun naturally lightens your hair after spending time outdoors. The result is an effortlessly relaxed look that’s perfect for those who want to evoke the feeling of days spent basking in the sun.
This technique offers a subtle and understated way to brighten your hair, providing a fresh and youthful appearance. Sunkissed highlights are versatile, working well with various hair lengths and styles. Whether you have short or long hair, these highlights can give your locks a touch of that carefree, beachy vibe, making them a popular choice for those seeking a laid-back and natural look.
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7. Peekaboo Highlights
Peekaboo highlights are a delightful twist in the world of hair coloring. These highlights are strategically placed underneath the top layer of your hair, creating a subtle surprise when they peek through. This technique adds a touch of creativity and allows you to experiment with color without making a bold commitment.
Hidden highlights offer a playful and mysterious element to your hairstyle, making them an excellent choice for those who want a hint of color without going all-in with a full head of highlights. Whether you choose vibrant or more subtle shades, peekaboo highlights can be tailored to suit your style and preferences. They’re a unique way to add a pop of color that’s revealed when you want to showcase it, giving your hair a sense of intrigue and fun.
8. Textured Highlights
Textured highlights are a fantastic choice to elevate your hair’s natural texture and infuse it with dimension. These highlights work by embracing the existing texture of your hair, whether it’s curly, wavy, or straight, and enhancing it to create a more dynamic and visually appealing hairstyle.
One of the key benefits of textured highlights is that they add depth and character to your hair, making it look multi-dimensional and full of life. This technique allows you to play with the interplay of light and shadow in your hair, resulting in a visually interesting and captivating look. Whether you opt for subtle, sun-kissed strands or bolder highlights, textured highlights can be customized to suit your hair type and style, providing a versatile and trendy appearance.
9. Face-Framing Highlights
Enhance your overall look by strategically placing highlights around your hairline, creating a brightening effect that frames your face. Face-framing highlights are a clever way to draw attention to your facial features and add a touch of radiance to your hair.
These highlights work by lightening the strands of hair that are closest to your face, giving you a fresh and vibrant appearance. By brightening this area, face-framing highlights can make your complexion appear more radiant and your eyes sparkle. This technique is incredibly versatile and complements various hair lengths and styles, from short bobs to long, flowing locks. Whether you’re seeking a subtle and natural glow or a more dramatic transformation, face-framing highlights can be customized to suit your preferences, adding a youthful and alluring dimension to your look.
10. Low Maintenance Highlights
Choose low-maintenance highlights to achieve a stylish look that doesn’t demand frequent touch-ups. Subtle babylights or a scattered placement provide an excellent option for those who prefer a natural regrowth blend.
These highlights are designed to mimic the way hair naturally lightens over time, making them a great choice for men who want a fashionable appearance without the hassle of regular salon visits. The subtlety of babylights or strategically scattered highlights ensures that as your hair grows, the regrowth appears seamless and blends effortlessly with the highlighted areas. This means you can enjoy your highlighted style for longer periods, reducing the need for constant maintenance. Whether you opt for the gentle glow of babylights or the scattered placement technique, low-maintenance highlights offer a practical and stylish solution.
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Which hair types look good with highlights?
Men’s highlights are a versatile choice suitable for all hair lengths, textures, and styles. They provide a way to refresh your appearance without opting for a full hair dye transformation. The beauty of highlights lies in their adaptability, allowing you to customize their intensity to your preference.
What makes highlights even more appealing is their ability to blend naturally as they grow out. This means you can enjoy your stylish look without the hassle of frequent root touch-ups, saving you both time and trips to the salon. Whether you desire a subtle change or a bold transformation, highlights offer a solution for every man.
Final Words
Incorporating hair highlights can be a stylish and easy way for men to update their look and add dimension to their hair. Whether you prefer subtle sun-kissed highlights or bold streaks, there are various techniques to achieve the desired effect at home. Experimenting with highlights allows you to customize your hairstyle, brighten your complexion, and create the illusion of fuller hair. With the right products and techniques, achieving hair highlights at home is within reach for every man looking to enhance his hairstyle.
FAQs
While anyone can attempt hair highlights at home, it’s important to consider your natural hair color and the desired result. If you’re unsure, consulting with a professional stylist is a good idea.
To highlight your hair at home, you’ll need hair bleach or lightener, developer, foil or plastic wrap, a mixing bowl, a brush or applicator, and gloves. The specific products you choose may depend on your hair type and the effect you want to achieve.
The ideal highlight color depends on your natural hair color and your desired look. For a subtle effect, choose a shade a few levels lighter than your base color. For a bolder look, consider contrasting colors or bright streaks.
Maintaining hair highlights at home involves touch-ups every few weeks to cover new growth. The ease of maintenance depends on your chosen highlight style and the contrast between your natural color and the highlights. More noticeable highlights may require more frequent touch-ups.