Girls: Need advice re: highlights!
 

Hi!

I really want to get highlights (just ask tridelta4ever or AlphaGam1019 LOL). I just wanted to get your opinions/advice on some things: (You don't have to answer every question...even one answer would be appreciated!)

1) Do you guys prefer subtle highlights or more dramatic highlights? I think I like more stand-out highlights (not skinny highlights), but I know they're a pain to maintain, since the roots will be more prominent.

2)I need advice on this one really badly: I am Asian-American and want highlights, however most highlights look kinda bad on Asian-Americans (OK, I know, I sound mean...by the way, this is my own humble opinion, I'm sure others think differently). For example, most highlights don't look good on Asians (again, my own opinion) b/c they are too brassy, too blonde, too orange, etc. Do you guys know of any colors that would look good on an Asian-American and not be thought of as "fobbish"?? I'm afraid to highlight my hair mainly because of this reason. I hope I haven't offended anyone...

3) Do you guys think highlights look better when done a certain way (foiling method, bayalage, cap highlights, etc.)?

4) Are highlights a pain to maintain (how many times should I expect to go in to do the roots)?

5) Do you know of any trusted stylists in San Francisco that won't ruin my hair but do not cost a fortune?? (I don't want to pay more than $150.) Most of my friends either do single-process color only or prefer stylists out of the City.

Any other advice you could give about highlights would be wonderful, too :). Sorry for so many questions!

THANKS!

If you're hair is naturally dark, I'd suggest getting a copper color highlights. And, keep it subtle. I personally like foiling. The only problem is sitting with it on your head under a heat lamp for 30 minutes....the smell of the amonia makes me gag! I get my roots done every three months but that's because I've got subtle highlights and my hair is already a dark blonde color. If you have darker hair and more dramatic highlights, you'll probably have to get your roots touched up more often.
As for hair salons in San Francisco...can't help you there! :)

I think that highlights are the most fun thing, ever!

Personally, I get "chunky" highlights, especially on top. They are pretty wide and not really natural looking. I think they are fun, but they do need to be touched up more often -- I get mine done every 8 weeks, but could probably go longer without looking too awful. :) My natural hair color is dark blonde, but I get really blonde highlights. If you're trying to decide between chunky and more natural highlights, you may also want to consider your haircut -- I have a very simple, straight, chin length bob, so I think the color works with that -- because the cut is so simple, the color makes it more interesting without being too much. I wouldn't have chunky highlights with, say, a layered cut or hair that is very long. Also, if you do get chunky highlights, you can always make them look more subtle by messing up your hair a little.

I always get foil -- I had the cap once when my hair was super short (the stylists I go to only do the cap if your hair is too short for foil) and it HURT. I hated it, and I don't think the results are as good because the stylist can't get the color as close to the roots, in my experience.

Unfortunately, I don't have any suggestions for you in terms of color, or SF stylists. Let us know what you end up doing!! :)

Chunky highlights are the cutest in my opinion and theyre the most popular too. I would go for goldish/brass colored highlights. I think those would look great!! :D


Nichole

You may also want to consider that the darker the hair you have, then the lighter you go with the highlights will ruin your hair more eventually. But only if you repeatedly get them :)

I'm asian too, so I definitely know the distress of highlighting black hair. I've only done it once, and I got chunky copper highlights all over. I would definitely suggest using foil to highlight. However, I'm not very high-maintenance so I got frustrated after two months when my roots started to show and died my hair back to black.

Another thing that I did in high school, which I thought was cool was one big streak in the front of copper. It was definitely fun, but my dad threatened to cut it out of my hair!:eek: He said chinese people don't have orange hair. lol

Keep us updated on what you decide to do.

Melanie

I'm a fan of frosting!

I would definitely say the foil method.

I kind of like the red/burgundy/purple colored highlights on black hair.

#1 Foil is the way to go

#2 I have dark, dark brown hair with caramel highlights but are about to move to a new reddish color this month. Do something that you can see, I hate spending money on color that you can only see on the beach in direct sunlight!

#3 I have short hair that requies every 3-4 week trim so I keep mine updated often, I don't think it's a pain, I love going to the Salon.

Good Luck

Definitely go with the foil; the results are so much better than just doing streaks.

One of my Asian friends had caramel and chocolate highlights done (that's how she described them to me. Think rich color, not brassy or reddish) They look beautiful, but they're definitely not subtle. As she put it, black hair doesn't naturally highlight so everyone will know it's not natural anyway so why not have fun with it and do something bold!

Can't wait to hear what you end up doing!

Thanks!!
 

Wow, thanks so much girls for your advice! :)

I will definitely go with foiling then, as that seems to be the consensus around here.

Tracy, boy does that sound beautiful...caramel and chocolate! I will definitely ask the salon about that. Thanks so much for the rec!!

I also am reading a lot about copper highlights...I will also ask the salon about that.

AOIIBrandi, I used to use Feria a few years ago and have had my share of red, burgundy, and plumish highlights. Unfortunately, though my friends oohed and ahhed over them, I personally did not like the look on me! But thanks for your rec...I really appreicate it :).

RedHotChiO, haha I know exactly what you're talking about! I had a disastrous experience with Sun-In three years ago. Aah! What WAS I thinking back then?! My parents thuoght I looked like a disgrace to the Chinese community. LOL

Valkyrie, I have long, thick, layered hair, so I wonder what I should do. I don't really want subtle, can't-really-see-it highlights, b/c I don't want to spend all that money on something you can barely see! However, I don't know if I really want chunking either...I guess I want a happy medium? :) I have an old issue of InStyle, however, where they have a section of highlights (they recommend auburn for black hair) and they had a model with black hair get auburn highlights. I loved the "dramatic look" on her but I'm afraid my parents will kill me!! :eek:

Oh well, I'm planning to get these highlights very soon...as soon as I figure out which salons are good and which are bad!

I will definitely keep you all posted!! Thanks so much girls! :D :)

Oh, I have another question...hoping you girls can help! :)

B/c I have ruined my hair due to dying my hair over 30 times :eek: :eek: (using drugstore box haircolors), my hair isn't its original black hair color anymore. More like a dark brown with some auburn flecks left over (my black roots are showing though).

Before I get my highlights, I want my overall hair color to return to its natural black, since that way the highlights will be MUCH easier to maintain.

My question is...do you think I should get my hair back to its natural color by using at-home haircolor, or I should I just go to a stylist to do it? I'm just afraid of how much it might cost at a salon (because I want highlights TOO), but also am worried that if I use at-home color it won't exactly match my natural black!

:confused:

Thanks so much girls!!

AAAIIIII!!! DO NOT do it yourself!! OMG, I turned my hair GREEN once from coloring it too much myself.

If I were you, I would go in and get highlight and lowlights. That's what I did after I had been doing all blonde but wanted to get back to highlights. That way, the stylist will only darken the parts of your hair that will not be highlighted, you know? You don't need to color all of your hair only to have parts of it highlighted then -- that's just going to fry it more. Lowlights are the way to go, for sure.

Additionally, a stylist will be better able to match your natural haircolor. Color always fades, so you will probably need to go even darker (if that's possible) than your natural color. My stylist did an amazing job matching, and I would've never have been able to do it on my own.

LOL!

Thanks valkyrie!! :) Here's the thing though...do you think lowlights would still be suitable for my hair? My hair has VERY noticeable black roots (I was supposed to get highlights in November!), but then the rest of the hair is like a brownish/auburnish color. I wonder if my hair is too complicated to do lowlights?

I know what you mean...I'm afraid of getting my hair fryed again! Before coloring my hair 30+ times (LOL) I had this beautiful silky, smooth raven black hair. Well...you can prolly guess, but I had REALLY dry, parched hair for a period of time after dying it so many times. I have only recently gotten my hair back to good condition (God bless the makers of the Redken All-Soft System! :)).

Can you give me an estimate of how much lowlights + highlights will cost? (I have long, layered hair.) Thanks so much valkyrie!! :cool:

I have hair similar to valkyrie's but it is longer. I have to do highlights and low lights too b/c my hair doesn't hold color and bleaches out to white blonde fairly easily.

Carolyn, I would let the people at the salon die your hair back to black before highlighting it rather than doing it yourself. They have much better products for single process color than what is sold at the drug store. The problem with drug store color is that it either uses hydrogen peroxide or bleach to remove all natural color from your hair. There are drug store veggie colors but they are risky b/c they have to have the right toner combinations to not turn your hair green.

One of my closest friends is vietnamese and she has blonde highlights that are SOOOO cute. They are a mix of chunky and thin throughout the top layer of her hair. She has a cute shaggy bob type cut and I LOVE her hair. I think that with black hair it is really important to have a good stylist and colorist if you are highlighting. I will email a couple of friends for you and see what I can come up with in SF. I also have the Moxly Beauty Guide for Los Angeles. It is like a Zagat guide to spas and hair places. Too bad it doesn't cover SF. I'll email you if I get any good references.

Thanks so much Laura!! :) I will definitely go to teh stylist then. I don't want even more damage on my hair!

Hey, you guys, I was on icompact.com (beauty messageboard) and I was reading a post and I saw this picture in someone's post! It's a pic of a model with highlights. I love it! Except I don't really like the streak on the bottom, left-side of her hair (from our perspective, it's on our right). I'd also probably get a LITTLE more dramatic highlights. Here is the link! Tell me what you think (I don't think I'm gonna get blonde highlights though)!

BTW, scroll down to see the pic.

http://www.icompact.com/cgi-bin/ulti...&f=12&t=002639

Hi Bridget! I forgot to ask..what is frosting?

Newbie -- I like her combination of thick and chunkier highlights. Cute picture!

Newbie, I like the picture, also, but I agree with you that something slightly more dramatic would be fun.

I think that where I go, highlights and lowlights plus a trim would run me about $150 (before tip), but that's in a suburb of Chicago and so is probably cheaper than where you are. Of course, there are places in the city where it would easily be over $200. I think there are many salons with websites now, so maybe you could find some in your area; they might list prices. Good luck! :)

I can't explain it. Can someone else explain "frosting" to her? It's really cute. :)

I *THINK* that the difference is that frosting has mica in it which is shimmery and makes your hair look kind of incandescent (sp?). Highlights just lighten or add color streaks.

My entire life I was surrounded by girls who had your hair - black or dark brown and IMHO beautiful. I always admired, envied really, that type of hair. I had wavy (frizzy) short red hair which was very unpopular in my neighborhood. Now, thanks to better hair products and years of therapy ;) , I have long, curly hair and I am over the hair thing. I came to the conclusion a long time ago that people never like what they have and want what other people have, and I am no different. Before you change your hair, know that someone (in New York) would love to have what you have. Good Luck!

Hi everyone!

I'm getting my highlights done tomorrow!! I'm really excited, but on the other hand, REALLY scared :eek: . I hope it turns out nicely! (B/c it is so expensive.)

The colorist said she'd do a black tint all over to get my hair back to its original color, and then do highlights. I haven't decided which colors to get, but am thinking about caramel or chestnut highlights. I hope that the colorist will help me decide (and I hope that she knows what she's doing!).

I'll keep you guys posted! Thanks for all your suggestions everyone!!

Caramel or chestnut highlights sound tasteful, Newbie. Good luck with your colorist. My biological sister is a colorist and stylist, so I always sport reddish brown hair with copper highlights. :)

i have dark brown hair and have full highlights. i always tell her to go two shades lighter than my color. so it's not an actual color that is put in, rather, it is like a slow acting "bleach" that strips the color. sounds strange but looks great!

i always get compliments. which is why i don't mind spending big $$$ every 2 months.

good luck!

Thanks for the good luck wishes, girls! :) :)

Cash78mere, I wonder what black hair would look like if it was 2 shades lighter??

hmmm...no idea really! ;)

it's not as dramatic as it sounds. it stands out, but in a really good way. my stylist is the one who suggested i do a shade lightener and not a color.

ask your stylist. she does this everyday and has probably seen some good and bad choices in her day!

hey All, kinda funny I have never ever seen this thread or so I don't remember , but ironically enough , past week or 2(really longer then that) I had been thinking about highlights. So I finally went out to get them done(Professionaly) but anyway my I got dark blonde highlights ( I have dark brown hair) and it looks really good. Like i was really neverous about doing the whole color thing cause I don't do the whole hair dye thing, but anyway the person who does my hair(the person I always go to) gave me some tips for others who want to get highlights or color done:
1. Bring a Pic of the color you would like or are aiming for
2. Sit down and discuss the color , cause the hair salon might have some better options for your hair.
3. Take the hair samples the one you would like to get and ask them to show you the hair samples outside cause the colors look different in inside and outside light
Thats all I can remeber so hopefully that will help anyone who wants to get highlights :D
DGP~Honey~

I had the best experience!
 

Hi all!

I'm gonna try to make this quick - going to a late party - but anyway, I just wanted to tell you all how psyched I am for my new highlights! ;) Well, first of all, I was really annoyed to wake up Thurs. morning b/c my father came to my room and told me that my colorist was sick. I was so excited to get the highlights and I was thinking, "Oh man...I've waited since November to get them (never had the time) and now, of all days, she's sick! :(" I knew she had no power over being sick or not so I wasn't mad at her, just sad I couldn't get those longed-for highlights. So, being that i have to go back to school next week, and usually don't have much time when in school, I called the salon and asked them if by any chance they had any room for me for Friday or Saturday. Luckily, they had one spot open for Fri afternoon so I grabbed it!

So I went to the Salon fri afternoon after getting lost in my own city :eek: and having to ask someone where "85 Carl" is. Before that, I wound up in the 400s section of Carl St and was like, "OMG where the heck am I?!" Turns out that 85 Carl is on this adorable strip of town that I've passed by frequently but have never stopped and noticed! (It is right where the turn is to head downtown.)

So I go in and am 15 minutes late. The colorist that I had on Fri was an absolute sweetheart. He was so awesome and so friendly and we both have a love for major league baseball ;) :D. So we settled on caramel highlights and I love it so much! He also did an awesome job of getting EXACTLY what I wanted...dramatic, high contrast highlights. My highlights looki EXACTLY like the ones I showed him from my In Style mag pics. They are so not natural, but on the other hand, one can't get highlights on black hair and look natural, so who cares, right? :) I love how they look...and even better, no damage is on my hair! He used ammonia free color and used his method of piecing so my hair looks really cool with a black base but with dramatic pieces of caramel. Oh, he also used a lightener to get the highlights caramel, instead of bleach (which he said is way too harsh).

Anyway, if any of you are ever in San Fran, definitely look up the salon of Vierra and Friends and ask for Rory. He is awesome...and best of all, the whole thing was so inexpensive! I thought I was supposed to pay at least 150 dollars (that's what they told me over the phone) but when it came time to paying it was about half that amount! Even with the black tint that perfectly matches my real hair color! (I could never do that with drugstore box color.) Anyway, I'm so happy with it that I gave him a 30 percent tip...I know, kinda overboard, but hey, gotta reward exceptional service, right? And best of all, that day I got about 10 compliments on my new hair color :).

OK gotta run- - just wanted to say thanks so much for all your advice and support -- am so glad I finally got them done!

Changing my hair...again!
 

Hey all!

Pretty soon I'm gonna get a single-process color done, just in time for my graduation, of course. I liked the highlights, but have realized it's not totally me...my style is very classic, and the highlights were a tad bit too dramatic for me!

I'm thinking of a rich brown color...I do like highlights still and might ask for some more natural ones woven in. This time I think I'll stick with browns, and stay away from the blondish or reddish tones!