Will full highlights help my hair?

[Anonymous]

I have very dark hair with gray hair on my temples and along the front of my hairline. I also have one side on the front that’s basically a white streak.

Most of the back and sides are still dark. But the contrast up front looks really bad. I don’t want to get caught in the cycle of root touch ups every few weeks right now.

Will getting a full set of highlights or babylights help by just lightening all over to decrease the contrast? I’ve never had highlights, how much upkeep is involved? I’ll probably need at least 2 sessions to significantly lighten my hair.

[Anonymous]

Because my natural hair is dark, when I went light all over, it washed me out. Was not a good compromise and the new gray growth still showed without helping much.

[Anonymous]

It did not work for me. I got baby highlights and then after a few sessions, I needed low lights. It ended up being a lot to keep up with.

I am intrigued by this result. Right now I am growing out my former color - but I may do this with a heavier root so it grows out better.
https://www.tiktok.com/@becky_miller01/video/7114131962935233838?_t=8V4VH0C1lWs&_r=1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have very dark hair with gray hair on my temples and along the front of my hairline. I also have one side on the front that’s basically a white streak.

Most of the back and sides are still dark. But the contrast up front looks really bad. I don’t want to get caught in the cycle of root touch ups every few weeks right now.

Will getting a full set of highlights or babylights help by just lightening all over to decrease the contrast? I’ve never had highlights, how much upkeep is involved? I’ll probably need at least 2 sessions to significantly lighten my hair.

Why not just gloss to understate the gray? I have very dark hair and use a gloss (hue or john frieda) that i do myself. The gray is still there bit hard to notice as it looks like a highlight. This is easier for me too since I do it at home once every 6 weeks or so. It's 20 minutes rather than a trip to the salon. Plus the rest of my hair is super shiny.

[Anonymous]

I don't think highlights will prevent the roots from growing in on schedule. Either way you are touching up the roots, so just do that it. It's an easy DIY.

[Anonymous]

I have similar hair and have given this a lot of thought. I think the sensible approach is a single process color plus touchups every 4 weeks. You’re going to have roots no matter what, and touching up highlights most likely has to be done as frequently if you have a lot of grey at the temples.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have very dark hair with gray hair on my temples and along the front of my hairline. I also have one side on the front that’s basically a white streak.

Most of the back and sides are still dark. But the contrast up front looks really bad. I don’t want to get caught in the cycle of root touch ups every few weeks right now.

Will getting a full set of highlights or babylights help by just lightening all over to decrease the contrast? I’ve never had highlights, how much upkeep is involved? I’ll probably need at least 2 sessions to significantly lighten my hair.

Why not just gloss to understate the gray? I have very dark hair and use a gloss (hue or john frieda) that i do myself. The gray is still there bit hard to notice as it looks like a highlight. This is easier for me too since I do it at home once every 6 weeks or so. It's 20 minutes rather than a trip to the salon. Plus the rest of my hair is super shiny.

what type of gloss? gloss makes my greys a gross orange color.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have very dark hair with gray hair on my temples and along the front of my hairline. I also have one side on the front that’s basically a white streak.

Most of the back and sides are still dark. But the contrast up front looks really bad. I don’t want to get caught in the cycle of root touch ups every few weeks right now.

Will getting a full set of highlights or babylights help by just lightening all over to decrease the contrast? I’ve never had highlights, how much upkeep is involved? I’ll probably need at least 2 sessions to significantly lighten my hair.

Why not just gloss to understate the gray? I have very dark hair and use a gloss (hue or john frieda) that i do myself. The gray is still there bit hard to notice as it looks like a highlight. This is easier for me too since I do it at home once every 6 weeks or so. It's 20 minutes rather than a trip to the salon. Plus the rest of my hair is super shiny.

what type of gloss? gloss makes my greys a gross orange color.

I use Hue Dark Brown or John Frieda (this isn't as good for very dark hair). There absolutely no orange. If anything my hair looks a bit richer dark brown, which I LOVE!

https://www.dphue.com/pages/gloss-plus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because my natural hair is dark, when I went light all over, it washed me out. Was not a good compromise and the new gray growth still showed without helping much.

Me too -- ugh. I went to a new stylist who persuaded me to do a dark brown semi-permanent all over color, with a gloss and a few very subtle highlights. My hair is shiny and looks great. I can go 6 weeks between salon visits, though you'd have to go more frequently if you really can't tolerate seeing even a little grey.

[Anonymous]

Depends on your stylist. First stylist gave me yellow blond highlights that looked cheap. Second stylist stripped the brassy out of my brown, added ash toner and gave me icy highlights to match my gray. It looks so much better and I get lots of compliments to the point of having inspired others to do the same. I know longer worry about roots and go in every three months vs three weeks.

[Anonymous]

I just got all over highlights yesterday and the effect is much lighter than I anticipated - basically went from brown to blonde. It looks good but just, not the blending I expected. We'll see how they grow out but I don't think I'd do it again or recommend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just got all over highlights yesterday and the effect is much lighter than I anticipated - basically went from brown to blonde. It looks good but just, not the blending I expected. We'll see how they grow out but I don't think I'd do it again or recommend.

My hair stylist told me that heavy highlights are the first step to going blonde.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP. Curious if you ended up doing highlights. I am contemplating partial babylights or partial balayage to cover/blend gray but not sure which is best.

[Anonymous]

I’m not op. But I did this. I was so tired of going to the salon all the time. I did partial highlights on dark brown hair. My hair is much lighter and blends in with the gray. It’s not so stark like the dark brown was when I started showing gray. I am going in this week to redo it again…it’s been 10 weeks since I had it done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not op. But I did this. I was so tired of going to the salon all the time. I did partial highlights on dark brown hair. My hair is much lighter and blends in with the gray. It’s not so stark like the dark brown was when I started showing gray. I am going in this week to redo it again…it’s been 10 weeks since I had it done.

Thanks for the insight. I think I am going to do the same. Nice to hear you can go 10 weeks. That is right up my alley.