Choosing the right hair color can be a fun but sometimes challenging process. When it comes to brown hair, adding highlights can be an excellent way to add dimension and depth. This guide explores how to choose the right highlights for different skin tones and face shapes.
Why Highlights?
Highlights are a popular choice for many reasons. They can add a sun-kissed look, create depth and dimension, and even give the appearance of thicker hair. Highlights can also be a fun way to change your hair color without committing to a full-dye job.
Skin Tones and Hair Color
Your skin tone plays a significant role in determining which hair colors will look best on you. Generally, skin tones can be categorized as fair, medium, or dark, and each has its ideal range of hair colors.
Face Shapes and Hairstyles
Face shapes also impact which hairstyles and highlights will look best. Common face shapes include round, oval, square, heart, and diamond. Each face shape has certain haircuts and styles that can enhance your features.
Brown Hair with Highlights
Brown hair provides a versatile canvas for highlights. Depending on the shade of brown, you can choose from a range of highlight colors, from caramel to honey to ash tones. These highlights can be subtle or bold, depending on your style.
Highlights for Fair Skin
If you have fair skin, lighter highlights tend to work well. Think of warm tones like golden blonde or honey. These colors complement fair skin and add a touch of brightness without being too harsh.
Highlights for Medium Skin
Medium skin tones can handle a broader range of highlight colors. Caramel and golden tones are excellent choices, as they add warmth without clashing with your skin. If you prefer a more dramatic look, you can also experiment with copper or auburn highlights.
Highlights for Dark Skin
For those with dark skin, deeper tones work best. Rich caramel, toffee, and chocolate highlights can create a stunning contrast with dark brown hair. These shades enhance your hair’s natural beauty without overwhelming your skin tone.
Face Shapes for Short Hair
When it comes to face shapes and short hair, it’s all about balance. For round faces, consider adding height at the crown to elongate the face. Heart-shaped faces can benefit from highlights that frame the face, softening the angles.
Face Shapes for Long Hair
Long hair offers more flexibility with highlights. For oval faces, pretty much any style works. For square faces, consider softening the jawline with layered highlights. Diamond-shaped faces can benefit from highlights that add width to the temples, balancing the narrow forehead.
Popular Highlight Styles
There are many popular styles of highlights for brown hair. Balayage is a hand-painted technique that creates a natural look. Ombre involves a gradient from dark roots to lighter ends. Babylights are tiny, subtle highlights that mimic the look of sun-kissed hair. Each style has its appeal depending on your desired level of subtlety or drama.
Maintaining Highlights
Maintaining highlighted hair requires some extra care. Use sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners to preserve color. Consider using a purple shampoo to keep blonde highlights from turning brassy. Regular deep conditioning treatments can keep your hair healthy and shiny.
At-Home vs. Salon Highlights
Deciding whether to do highlights at home or in a salon depends on your comfort level and budget. At-home kits are more affordable but require careful application to avoid uneven results. Salons offer professional expertise and a wider range of color options, but they come at a higher cost.
Cost of Highlights
The cost of highlights can vary widely. At-home kits can be as low as $10 to $30, while salon highlights can range from $100 to $300 or more, depending on the complexity of the style and your location. Consider your budget and desired results when deciding.
Conclusion
Brown hair with highlights is a fantastic way to add depth and dimension to your look. Whether you have fair, medium, or dark skin, there’s a highlight color that can suit you. Consider your face shape when choosing a hairstyle, and decide whether to go with at-home or salon highlights based on your budget and comfort level.
FAQs
1. How often should I touch up my highlights? Touch-ups are usually needed every 6 to 8 weeks, but it depends on how quickly your hair grows and the type of highlights you have.
2. Can I go from dark brown to blonde with highlights? Yes, but it usually takes a few sessions to avoid damaging your hair. Gradually lightening is safer for your hair’s health.
3. Will highlights damage my hair? Highlights can cause damage if not done correctly or if you don’t maintain your hair. Use conditioning treatments to keep your hair healthy.
4. What’s the best way to prevent brassiness in highlights? Use a purple shampoo or toner to keep blonde highlights from turning brassy. Avoid excessive heat styling, which can accelerate brassiness.
5. Can I do highlights at home without professional help? Yes, but it requires careful application and patience. It’s usually safer to have a professional do it, especially if you’re new to highlighting.