Many modern-day hair salons and barbershops offer highlights for men but the service can be extremely expensive. Cut back on your budget without sacrificing your style. Learn how to highlight a man’s hair at home like a pro.
What’s the difference between lowlights and highlights for men?
Lowlights are artificial hair colors that are darker than your base color. Highlights are lighter colors, and therefore more damaging to your hair follicles. That’s why dying your mane at home can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.
That’s because highlights require you to bleach your hair first. The process strips it of essential oils and minerals, leaving it susceptible to breakage. To prevent damage, only use top-quality dying kits for men and follow the instructions on the package to the letter.
5 steps for at-home hair highlighting
As a man, you want to look and feel as confident as possible. So, don’t mess up your mojo with a bad hairdo. Highlight your hair at home with these 5 easy steps.
- Skip a wash (or two) – The longer you wait to wash your hair, the oilier it will become. Those oils can then protect your follicles from the effects of applying bleach.
- Do a quick spot test – Place a small sample of the hair dye on the skin behind your ear and then wait for 8 hours. Your good to go if you have no allergic reaction. If you do, wash the area thoroughly with warm, soapy water and skip the highlights. TIP: Save time by performing the spot test while your hair gets oily.
- Decide between caps and foils – Cap highlights let you draw out hair in a crown shape for wide-spread coverage. Foil highlights are more distinct and placed more strategically. Choose which one you want ahead of time for best results.
- Pick out your color – Hot hair colors should be at least one shade lighter than your base color. But be cautious of bleaching previously color-treated hair because it could shock your follicles. If your hair is freshly dyed, wait at least 3 weeks before highlighting it.
- Apply the bleach – Put the highlighting mixture on your hair starting at mid-shaft. Work down to the tip. After about 10 minutes, apply the remaining dye to your roots per the mixing and timing instructions on the box.
Tips for making highlights for men last longer
Highlights for men aren’t always permanent but some of the best ones are. Here’s how to make your hot new hairdo last regardless of your lifestyle:
- Wash your hair every other day. Rinse it with cool water on the days in between.
- Avoid overusing styling products, especially if they leave behind a residue on your scalp.
- Use a shampoo that’s formulated for highlighted hair. You can find good products in your local supermarket.
The takeaway
You don’t have to be a hairstyling expert to pull this off. Just formulate a plan, choose your ideal colors, and then execute with vengeance against bad fashion. Always be cautious but never stop being courageous.
