The first proper highlighting technique was developed in the ’60s, where clients wore a rubber caps with holes on. Locks of hair were pulled through using a hook (which looks pretty terrifying, but apparently never hurt) and isolated for bleaching.
The ’80s saw the introduction of the popular foiling method, where slices of hair were painted with colour and folded up into little strips of foil. The painting of the hair is still the most popular technique today, where stylists mix together different two or more different shades of colour to create the most natural-looking blonde highlights.
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According to Pattara, “With the use of different lightening products and gloss, I am able to add dimension and texture creating a ‘lived-in’ colour. This multi-tonal technique makes even the finest of hair look full and volumised. It’s a simple way to create low-maintenance hairstyles, even on the worst of bad hair days you will still look effortlessly chic.”
What are the different types of blonde highlights and colour techniques?
Full head of highlights
Pretty much what it says on the tin, where colour is applied to sections across your entire head.
Half head of highlights
This is normally spread over the crown and side, and usually the top layer of hair. A half-head is usually recommended for those with shorter or finer hair.
Babylights
Babylights are when superfine strands of hair are coloured. It’s a technique that makes the hair appear multi-dimensional because of the gentle wisps of colour that are so micro, they’ll have everyone thinking you were born with it. No need to tell them otherwise.
Balayage
Balayage is when colour that is painted on with a brush and paddle board to create natural, sun-kissed looking highs and lows – giving the hair beautiful dimension.
Root stretch
Pattara offers this treatment at Salon64 which promises to ‘transform Nineties highlights to a seamless natural look by adding a fake root and melting it into multiple blonde, brunette and even bronde tones so the colour ‘just happens’ almost as if you are using a blending brush to blur a smokey eye.’