Are you thinking about changing your hair look, but confused about hair lowlights and hair highlights?
So don’t be confused that you are not alone, who is stuck between these two hairstyle options. No doubt that these two can completely change your style, but they work differently. Choosing the right one can be a bit tricky, due to the variety of shades.
Here we are going to debate hair lowlights vs hair highlights, along with top trending hair colors. This debate will definitely help you to make an informed decision that suits your personality, skin tone, and lifestyle perfectly.
What are Hair Highlights?
Hair highlights are a popular coloring method that is used to highlight selected hair strands, adding contrast, brightness, and a stunning sun-kissed effect. It highlights specific parts of strands while preserving the base color, instead of coloring the entire head.
What are Hair Lowlights?
Hair lowlights are a coloring technique in which a darker shade is applied to the specific strands of hair. It adds depth and contrast, unlike highlights that brighten and lighten strands. This method adds richness and volume by introducing dark tones, which gives your hair a more vibrant and textured appearance.
Trending Shades
Selecting the right color depends on your base hair tone and the amount of contrast you want to achieve. You can enhance your style by choosing between hair lowlights and highlights or blending in hair extensions to create a dramatic change.
The difference between hair lowlights vs highlights on the basis of the most popular shades are:
| Highlights Shades | Lowlights Shades |
| Caramel | Chocolate Brown |
| Honey | Chestnut |
| Ash Blonde | Espresso |
| Platinum | Deep Auburn |
Hair Lowlights vs Hair Highlights: Explore the Techniques
Hair highlights and lowlights both often use similar methods of application, but the color choice and purpose make a huge difference. The commonly used application methods are:
- Use of Foil: This is a classic method in which foils are used to isolate the selection of hairs. It allows a controlled application that defines more contrast. The process is similar for both hair lowlights and hair highlights.
- Balayage Technique: It is a free-hand coloring technique that blends lighter tones seamlessly into the hair. It offers a creative and natural look that is easy to maintain. On the other hand, if you prefer lowlights, then it colors deeper shades to each strand, which creates a sophisticated and multi-dimensional style.
- Babylights: It is ultra-fine hair sections that are colored with lighter shades in highlights and darker shades in lowlights. It is a technique that offers a soft, fresh, and youthful look to the hair, just like the sun lightens children’s hair.
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Quick Comparison: Highlights vs Lowlights
The comparison table below will help you choose the right option for your hairstyle. Here’s a quick breakdown for your guidance:
| Features | Hair Highlights | Hair Lowlights |
| Purpose | To create light effects and brightness that lift the overall tone | To create contrast, depth, and give a full, rich appearance |
| Visual Effect | Golden strands catch light, giving a voluminous and youthful effect | Adds shadow and contrast, making hair appear thicker and more dimensional |
| Longevity and Maintenance | If light tones are not toned, they fade to a yellow/brassy shade, which needs touchups every 6-8 weeks | It fades slowly due to the dark tone and typically needs low maintenance. It requires touch-ups every 8-12 weeks. |
| Texture Impact | It may make very fine or thin hair look flatter if overused | Helps fine or limp hair look fuller and more textured |
| Damage Level | Higher because of bleaching. It requires hydrating treatments and bond repair | It has minimal effects and mostly deposits only color, and doesn’t strip hair |
| Ideal for Skin Tone | Cool blondes for cool undertones, warm gold and caramel for warm skin tone | You want richness, low-maintenance contrast, or to tone down overly light hair |
Define Your Style With the Right Color
In the beginning, we have cleared the difference between hair lowlights vs hair highlights. Now it’s time to dive into the details of how to choose the right one that suits your style and brings out your best feature.
Know Your Hair Tone
Deciding between hair lowlights or highlights starts with the basic knowledge of your natural hair color and undertones. The highlights give brightness and depth to the hair with lighter strands. It gives the best results, especially on light to medium hair tones. If you have natural dark hair or curly hair, then lowlights help to boost your color by layering in darker tones that enrich without taking over your style.
Understanding your undertones, whether it is warm, cool, or neutral, is also helpful in the selection of the right color. For warm undertones, golden or caramel highlights create a stunning effect, whereas ash or beige lowlights beautifully suit cool undertones.
Complement Your Skin Tone and Eyes
If you are interested in creating a natural, balanced, and polished look, you must match your hair color to your skin tone and eyes. For example, people with warm skin tones and hazel or green eyes often look shiny with caramel or honey-toned highlights.
If you have a cool undertone with blue or grey eyes, then choose the cool-toned lowlights. It provides richness and depth without making the skin appear pale. The right balance of color brings out your natural charm, allowing your features to shine without being dominated.
Create A Unique Look
Talking about hair lowlights vs highlights, both show the reflection of your personal style. If you want a bold and vibrant look, highlights bring a bright, natural glow that keeps your look amazing and youthful. To create a soft look, then lowlights add richness and texture without overpowering your natural tone.
Hair Health Matters
It’s essential to know the cons of hair lowlights and highlights on the health of your hair before choosing between them. Highlights often need a hair bleaching process that removes the natural color of hair. It can be more harmful for those with fine or previously colored hair, which may lead to dryness, breakage, and split ends if not managed carefully. To maintain the moisture, botox and keratin treatment are often recommended post-highlighting.
On the other hand, lowlights is a less damaging choice for hair, as no bleaching is involved in this process. It helps to preserve hair health while making it look healthier and more dimensional.
Try Both Depth and Glow
Mixing highlights and lowlights plays a great role in creating a seamless mix of light and dark tones in your hair. It provides natural depth and dimension, resulting in textured hair that looks smooth and noticeable.
It is ideal for those who want soft contrast with natural shade, as this technique keeps your hair looking stylish and natural. It complements every hair color and texture, and is a versatile way to achieve a personalized hairstyle.
Professional Tips:
- Must know the natural base of hair color. It will help you determine if highlights will enhance brightness or lowlights will increase depth.
- When we talk about the difference between hair lowlights vs hair highlights, a patch test is necessary for both for 48 hours before the process. Apply a tiny amount of the mixed dye behind your ear or on your inner elbow to check for redness and itching.
- Take a hair protein treatment 7–10 days before coloring. Then, delay another treatment 7–10 days post-color to strengthen hair.
- Try to manage your bleach sessions every 6-8 weeks to allow hair to recover. The strands get weakened by constant bleaching.
- Stay within two shades of your natural color for a seamless, blended look as this approach adds depth without harsh contrasts.
Final Thoughts
Deciding between hair highlights and lowlights depends on the hairstyle you desire. Highlights can brighten and add dimension, while lowlights offer depth and richness. If you’re in Dubai and want to seek professional home salon services, along with hair services i.e. Keratin Hair Treatment, then feel free to contact Mauve Beauty!
FAQs
- What is the difference between hair lowlights vs hair highlights?
Highlight is typically better for thin hair, as it adds contrast and dimension to the hair, which gives visual fullness. Lowlight gives a soft touch to the thin hair involving darkening your hair strands.
- Does highlighting and lowlighting damage the hair?
Yes, both can cause some damage to the hair. But highlights have a harsh impact as they often require a bleaching process, which cuts down the natural hair tone.
- Can I do hair highlights and lowlights by myself?
It is a bit challenging to do these hair processes at home. But for the best results, you need a professional, especially when it is your first experience.
- Can I cover grey hair with lowlights?
Yes, lowlights are a great way to blend and soften grey hair, which makes it less noticeable. It creates a more dimensional and natural look.
- Is bleaching essential in hair highlighting?
Yes, bleach is needed in case you need prominent lighter highlights. However, some shades work with high-lift colors alone as well.
