Light brown hair is a versatile canvas that can be elevated with the right highlights. Whether you’re looking to add dimension, brightness, or a pop of colour, the options can be overwhelming. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of highlights and explore the most flattering colours that suit light brown hair.
Understanding Your Skin Tone
Before we dive into the world of highlights, it’s essential to understand your skin tone. Your skin tone plays a significant role in determining which colours will complement your light brown hair. There are generally three skin tone categories: cool, warm, and neutral.
Cool Skin Tone
If you have a cool skin tone, you’ll look best with highlights that have a blue or pink undertone. This is because cool skin tones tend to have a pink or rosy hue, and blue-based highlights will help to neutralize any sallowness. Some popular highlight options for cool skin tones include:
- Ash blonde highlights
- Platinum highlights
- Icy brown highlights
Warm Skin Tone
If you have a warm skin tone, you’ll look best with highlights that have a golden or honey undertone. This is because warm skin tones tend to have a yellow or golden hue, and golden-based highlights will help to enhance this natural warmth. Some popular highlight options for warm skin tones include:
- Honey blonde highlights
- Caramel highlights
- Golden brown highlights
Neutral Skin Tone
If you have a neutral skin tone, you’re lucky! You can pull off a wide range of highlight colours. Neutral skin tones tend to have a balanced mix of pink and yellow undertones, making it easy to experiment with different highlight options. Some popular highlight options for neutral skin tones include:
- Natural blonde highlights
- Subtle brown highlights
- Rich auburn highlights
Popular Highlight Colours for Light Brown Hair
Now that we’ve covered skin tone, let’s explore some popular highlight colours that suit light brown hair.
Balayage Highlights
Balayage highlights are a popular choice for light brown hair. This freehand highlighting technique involves painting the highlights onto the hair in a sweeping motion, creating a natural, sun-kissed look. Some popular balayage highlight colours for light brown hair include:
- Soft, honey-blonde highlights
- Rich, caramel highlights
- Subtle, ash-blonde highlights
Foil Highlights
Foil highlights are another popular choice for light brown hair. This traditional highlighting technique involves weaving the hair into foils and applying the highlights in a more precise manner. Some popular foil highlight colours for light brown hair include:
- Bright, platinum highlights
- Warm, golden highlights
- Deep, auburn highlights
How to Choose the Right Highlight Colour
With so many highlight colours to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide on the right one. Here are a few tips to help you choose the perfect highlight colour for your light brown hair:
- Consider your natural hair colour: If you have light brown hair, you’ll want to choose a highlight colour that complements your natural colour. If you have a cool skin tone, look for highlights with a blue or pink undertone. If you have a warm skin tone, look for highlights with a golden or honey undertone.
- Think about your personal style: If you’re looking for a bold, statement-making look, consider a brighter highlight colour like platinum or auburn. If you’re looking for a more natural, subtle look, consider a softer highlight colour like honey-blonde or ash-blonde.
- Don’t forget about maintenance: Highlights require regular maintenance to keep them looking their best. Consider a highlight colour that will be easy to maintain, such as a subtle, natural-looking colour.
Highlighting Techniques to Enhance Your Light Brown Hair
In addition to choosing the right highlight colour, there are several highlighting techniques that can enhance your light brown hair.
Babylights
Babylights are a subtle highlighting technique that involves weaving small sections of hair into foils and applying a lightener or colour. This technique is perfect for creating a natural, sun-kissed look.
Ombré Highlights
Ombré highlights are a popular technique that involves gradating the highlight colour from dark to light. This technique is perfect for creating a bold, statement-making look.
Sombré Highlights
Sombré highlights are a softer version of ombré highlights. This technique involves gradating the highlight colour from dark to light, but in a more subtle manner.
Conclusion
Choosing the right highlight colour for your light brown hair can be overwhelming, but by considering your skin tone, natural hair colour, and personal style, you can find the perfect hue. Whether you’re looking for a bold, statement-making look or a natural, subtle look, there’s a highlight colour out there for you. Remember to consider maintenance and highlighting techniques to enhance your light brown hair. With the right highlights, you can add dimension, brightness, and a pop of colour to your look.
| Highlight Colour | Skin Tone | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|
| Ash Blonde Highlights | Cool | Those with cool skin tones looking for a natural, subtle look |
| Honey Blonde Highlights | Warm | Those with warm skin tones looking for a bright, sunny look |
| Natural Blonde Highlights | Neutral | Those with neutral skin tones looking for a versatile, easy-to-maintain look |
By following these tips and considering your individual characteristics, you can find the perfect highlight colour to enhance your light brown hair.
What is the best way to choose a highlight colour for light brown hair?
Choosing a highlight colour for light brown hair can be a bit overwhelming, but there are a few things to consider to make the process easier. First, think about your skin tone and eye colour. If you have cool skin and blue or green eyes, look for highlight colours that have a blue or purple base. If you have warm skin and brown or hazel eyes, look for highlight colours that have a golden or honey base.
It’s also a good idea to consider your natural hair colour and the level of maintenance you’re willing to commit to. If you have very light brown hair, you may want to choose a highlight colour that’s only one or two shades lighter to avoid looking too drastic. On the other hand, if you have darker light brown hair, you may be able to get away with a more dramatic highlight colour.
What are the most popular highlight colours for light brown hair?
Some of the most popular highlight colours for light brown hair include honey, caramel, and golden blonde. These colours complement the natural warmth of light brown hair and can add a lot of dimension and depth. If you want to try something a bit more trendy, you could also consider rose gold or subtle lavender highlights. These colours can add a fun and playful touch to your look.
It’s worth noting that the most popular highlight colours can vary depending on the season and current trends. For example, during the summer months, you may see more people opting for lighter, brighter highlight colours, while in the winter months, people may prefer deeper, richer colours.
Can I get highlights if I have previously coloured or damaged hair?
Yes, you can still get highlights if you have previously coloured or damaged hair. However, it’s a good idea to talk to a professional stylist before making any major changes. They can assess the condition of your hair and recommend the best course of action. In some cases, you may need to do a treatment or use a special product to repair your hair before getting highlights.
It’s also important to be realistic about what you can expect from highlights if you have damaged hair. Highlights can be damaging, especially if you’re using bleach or other harsh chemicals. If you have very damaged hair, you may want to consider a gentler highlighting option, such as balayage or babylights.
How do I maintain my highlights to keep them looking their best?
To keep your highlights looking their best, it’s a good idea to get regular touch-ups. This can help to maintain the colour and prevent it from fading. You should also use a colour-protecting shampoo and conditioner to help lock in the colour and moisture.
In addition to regular touch-ups and colour-protecting products, you can also take a few other steps to maintain your highlights. For example, you can use a colour-depositing mask once a week to help keep the colour looking vibrant. You can also avoid using hot water, which can cause the colour to fade faster.
What is the difference between foils and balayage highlights?
Foils and balayage are two different techniques that can be used to achieve highlights. Foils involve weaving small sections of hair into foil packets and applying the highlight colour. This technique can be a bit more damaging, but it can also produce very precise, uniform results.
Balayage, on the other hand, involves painting the highlight colour onto the hair in a sweeping motion. This technique can be less damaging and can produce a more natural, sun-kissed look. However, it can also be more expensive and may require more maintenance.
Can I do highlights at home, or do I need to go to a salon?
While it’s possible to do highlights at home, it’s generally recommended to go to a salon. A professional stylist has the training and experience to help you choose the right highlight colour and apply it correctly. They can also help you to avoid any mistakes or damage to your hair.
If you do decide to do highlights at home, make sure to follow the instructions carefully and do a strand test before applying the colour to your entire head. This can help to ensure that the colour turns out the way you want it to and that you don’t damage your hair.
How long do highlights typically last?
The length of time that highlights last can vary depending on a few different factors, including the type of highlight colour you choose and how well you maintain your hair. On average, highlights can last anywhere from 4-6 weeks before they start to fade.
To make your highlights last longer, it’s a good idea to get regular touch-ups and use colour-protecting products. You can also try to avoid using hot water and minimize your use of heat styling tools, which can cause the colour to fade faster.