How do foil highlights work? If you have brown hair, is it bleach?

I thought only way to turn brown hair blonde (medium to dark) is to bleach.

How do foil highlights work? If you have brown hair, is it bleach?

Hello, I have been a professional hairstylist for over 17 years, there are different kinds of highlighting techniques, and different kinds of chemicals you can use on the hair to lighten it.

First thing I would do is determine what level your natural color is and then figure out what level/color highlights you would like. (assuming that you don't have any other color on your hair) You can lighten hair with permanent hair color up to 4 levels lighter than your natural color.

If you want your highlights to be more than 4 levels lighter, the stylist will have to use bleach to lighten your hair. In either case remember that hair color will change the texture of your hair a little bit and that you will have to use a shampoo and conditioner that is really gentle and is made for color treated hair.

I would call your stylist and make an appt. for a consultation, (this should be free) look thru some magazines and cut photos of hair color you like, and show them to the stylist. Then if you like what they suggest then go for it. Remember to write down all of the questions you might have, no question is too stupid.

Something to consider before you go, the lighter the color and the more foils that are placed in the hair, the more often you will have to go and more expensive your highlights will be. How noticeable do you want your highlights to be? Highlighting can be really subtle or really bold. I hope that helps. Take Care!

~Natalie

How do foil highlights work? If you have brown hair, is it bleach?

When I got foil highlights a few weeks ago, I also had brown hair at first. Well, My hair was bright blonde in the finish, I liked it, but if you want bleach blonde mixed with brown, Go for it!

How do foil highlights work? If you have brown hair, is it bleach?

Foil highlights are still bleach highlights.

The bleach is brushed onto the hair and then folden into the foil to protect the other hair around it from getting bleach on it, and the foil keeps the bleach from drying out under the dryer.

How do foil highlights work? If you have brown hair, is it bleach?

It is the same as any other dye (yes it is bleaching). The difference is that the hair strands that get the dye applied to them are wrapped in foil, so only some of the hair gets bleached. Then you get highlights instead of a total color job.