The great big guide to highlights

If you’re unfamiliar with highlights, the concept can be a little overwhelming. And just as there are thousands of shades of red lipstick, the different results you can achieve with highlighting are countless. With so many choices, where do you start?! To help you get the exact look you want, we asked RAW Salon Hair Colour Director Stella Greenwood for a rundown on highlights.
From dark to light and everything in between, here’s what you need to know before you book that appointment.
Figure out what works
Colour trends are forever changing, and with new names popping up (ecaille tortoiseshell ombré, anyone?), it’s important for stylists to educate their clients about what is going to suit them best. “Every day, I give advice to my clients in the chair on which colour tones suit them best; depending on their skin tone and what complements them”, says Stella.
It’s a good idea to bring in photos of what you like and don’t like - just be sure they don’t get mixed up! Lastly, consider your cut before your colour. After all, you want your colour to work with your cut. Plus, what’s the point of chopping all that beautiful new colour off?!
Salon etiquette
Skip the root concealer touch-up on the day of your appointment. Trying to cover up any regrowth or greys hinders the colourist more than it helps. They need to see the true base colour so go on, put your roots on show. Don’t worry too much if you arrive with dirty hair, but be kind to your colourist and skip the post-gym sweatiness. Salon etiquette is real, people.
What to do in between visits
It’s important to keep your hair in the best possible condition between salon visits, so listen to your colourist! Blondes, try not to overdo it on the purple shampoo. Do, and you’ll be responsible for over-toning your hair, and dulling the pretty flecks you worked so hard to achieve in the first place. Anyone with balayage needs a cocktail of products: something to give the roots volume and lift, and a conditioning treatment to repair the ends.
bh recommends: Oribe Bright Blonde, Redken Colour Extend Magnetics Deep Attraction, ELEVEN Australia's 3 Minute Repair Rinse Out Treatment
The different types of highlights
Foils
Foil highlights are more noticeable than balayage, specifically at the roots and middle part of the hair. But despite what most people think, they’re not just for blondes or those wanting to go a lot lighter. Stella says they’re the most popular variation of highlights, and can be applied to any hair colour (even fiery reds!): “Every client is different, but you can still keep your natural hair colour which will look softer once it grows out.”
Balayage
Hair-painting, balayage, ombre… Call it what you want, but it’s extremely popular and ideal for girls with a low-maintenance approach to their hair. It creates an effortless sun-kissed look with lightness on the ends of hair, so growing it out isn’t an issue. And if life gets busy and you forget to book in a colour appointment for a little while, that’s fine too. This is the look that made regrowth cool.
Ecaille
Also known as ‘tortoiseshell’, this is the ‘it’ hair trend of 2015. “The foils give soft lightness that frames the face, and then blends in with the lighter sun-kissed ends. It’s a combination of doing both foils and balayage together,” says Stella. And if you need convincing, just turn to the likes of Blake Lively, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Gisele Bündchen.
Blondes
Stella says highlights are the way to go for blondes. She suggests opting for two to three different shades of blonde: a slight cool tone and a warm tone for “beautiful contrast.” “I find they complement one another and leave you with a shimmer though your hair”.
Brunettes
Ecaille is a no-brainer for brunettes. It’s a tortoiseshell look with highlights around the face for that honey-biscuit tone, and balayage on the ends. While ombré is really heavy on the ends, ecaille brings the lightness higher as well as around the face for a softer effect.
Redheads
As for redheads, Stella says to play up strawberry and peachy tones. To break up the block red colour, go for soft highlights throughout your mane, or balayage for a natural finish.
Dark Hair
As a general rule, dark hair has an underlying red pigment that comes through when the hair is lightened. Play up these warmer tones, because they already suit you best. “If you’re dark and don’t mind visiting the salon every four weeks, then go for gold”, says Stella. It works especially well on olive skin tones.
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55 Member Comments
I love the dark look!
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I hate foils on my hairline, makes regrowth too obvious. .
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Done well and to suit the person highlights can be wonderful. Done badly they're disastrous.
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I love the tortoise shell highlights for brunettes
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I do like some of these looks & since my hair is dark I might change my look up a bit I like the sound of the gold in it that would be a bit different for me.
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I have my hair coloured every 6-7 weeks and foils done every second visit but my hairdresser varies the shades so I don't have the same colour all the time.
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Love this! Finally found the word for what I have been doing past 20ish years off and on: Ecaille (weird word?)
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I don't think I can pull off highlights ever
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I love foils it looks fantastic - however I have to find 3 hours each time I want to get colour and foils done in a salon!
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I always DIY, takes fraction of time, plus I get way better results with zero damage. In salon they always fry my hair and cut too short, plus my natural shine just gets destroyed!
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I've had balayage for way to long I think it's time to let it go and try something new. The ecile looks so gorgeous.
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Have never heard of Ecaille until now! Definitely something I will be trying in the future! :)
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Thanks for the explanations! I was getting quite confused there.
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Really not a fan of baylage, hope that trend disappears it looks like 6 months of regrowth! My colourist is wonderful, barely blinked when I said I want to go from black to blonde and she did a great job!
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I've never seen it that way... but now that you mention it... I CAN'T UNSEE IT!! Oh gosh I used to love admiring balayge hair. Not anymore hahaha
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I wonder if it would look as good on straight hair.
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lots of pretty styles and great colours
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so many different way s to change you rlook
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It has been a long time since I had foils, but this article has shown me some lovely inspiration
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Looks lovely and very flattering
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I used to love having blonde and copper foils in my hair. Now I don't dye my hair as I'm concerned about the chemicals.
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I recently dyed my hair for the first time and it's definitely scary if you don't know if it'd suit you. Ended up with something like ecaille and I couldn't be happier!!
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All very pretty, from the blondes to the reds
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