You’ve probably heard the term “lowlights” before, but what are they and what is their function? To create lowlights, your stylist will add a color a few shades darker than your base color using aFoil strand techniqueor even apply a balayage. The difference between highlights and lowlights is that the colored strands are either darker or lighter than the base color. Mixing light and dark highlights creates contrast and dimension, resulting in a beautiful color change. Read on to learn all about hair lowlights and see the best examples of how to amp up your hair color with highlights.
When are lowlights in your hair a good idea?
There are various reasons why you should get lowlights done in your hair. Sometimes you just want to add dimension to your lightened, highlighted hair. In this case, the light highlights will be better highlighted with a darker color. That's with themmodern, dimensional hair colorsvery common.
Check out this example of blonde hair without lowlights in the picture to the left. It looks more monochromatic and has less dimension. The example on the right shows how lowlights add depth to the hair color and make the highlights shine.
Another case where a colorist would advise lowlights is to refresh the hair color after summer when the hair has become very light or brassy due to the sun. Lowlights can help you remove some of the brass and get a nice natural look for your mane.
Even women who frequently bleach their hair and have new highlights done about every three months may want to return to the dimension it had when it started. If this is the case for you, you can use lowlights to bring back some of your natural hair color.
Examples of well-placed lowlights in hair
Now check out the best highlights and lowlights looks you might want to recreate! Styling your hair with waves or curls will also show off your lowlights better than if you wear your hair straight.
1. Highlights and Lowlights on Brown Hair
Balayage should look natural, as if your hair was lightened in the sun in the summer. Adding dark highlights adds dimension to the hair. This look is a classic balayage on brown hair with highlights and lowlights added.
2. Dark brown highlights
If you have highlightswork into brown hairlowlights help keep the look natural. To achieve this lighter blonde on brunettes, use the foilayage technique. The lowlights really make the blonde shine!
3. Karamellfarbene Lowlights
Caramel lowlights are a great fall hair color option. You can add a warm brown lowlight and darken your highlights for fall/winter to create that beautiful caramel look.
4. Ice blonde highlights and lowlights
Blondes should add lowlights to make bleached highlights stand out even more! For brunettes, it may take several sessions to get their hair this light. If you are naturally brunette and really want to be blonde, adding lowlights andShadow RootsAchieve depth and make the color easier to care for.
5. Natural redhead with lighter red lowlights
If you spice up your naturally red hair with highlights and lowlights, your extraordinary hair will come into its own. Redheads often have a beautiful natural auburn hair color, but sometimes it lacks dimension. Adding lighter red highlights along with golden blonde highlights will really make the hair pop.
6. Burgundy lowlights with copper highlights
Burgundy and copper tones are great for brunettes, especially those with olive complexions! The combination of these two hair colors makes brown hair look really elegant.
7. Lowlights on blonde hair for more depth
When bleaching highlights on naturally blonde hair, it is important to leave dark areas at the bottom. For natural blondes who want to go lighter, the word “lowlight” may sound scary. But when you add this depth, your blonde highlights in the top hair actually appear lighter! So don't be afraid!
8. Ash brown lowlights for cool hair colors
If you are a cool brunette, you can opt for an icy blonde combined with a darker ash tone. It's important to ask your colorist to add dimension and maintain a cooler overall look to avoid as much warmth as possible. This can be achieved with cool-toned highlights and brown lowlights.
9. Contrasting highlights around the face
You’ve probably heard the term “Money Piece” means strongly lightened highlights that beautifully frame the face. One of the most important places the colorist should place a lowlight is directly behind these face-framing highlights. This gives you a strong blonde tone right in the foreground.
10. Highlights and lowlights hide gray hair
Another way to use lowlights is forGrey Blending. To disguise the gray, add cool-toned highlights and a lowlight that's close to your natural color. This look requires frequent toning treatments at the salon, but you can use a purple shampoo 1-2 times a week to avoid yellowing and extend the time between treatments.
