Learning how to highlight hair at home makes sense financially, but it's something you need to seriously consider before attempting. Highlighting isn't like just dying your hair, where you follow the directions and wait for the outcome. You choice of highlighting color and where you place the color in your hair can have a huge impact on how your highlights turn out.

The Case for Going to a Professional

Unless you have experience as a stylist or colorist, it's going to be difficult for you to determine what shade of highlight best compliments your base hair color, eye color, and skin tone. Additionally, unless you're experienced with using dyes, you won't be certain how any particular color will interact with you base hair color and what the resulting color will be. Finally, it will be difficult for you to determine how to best position the highlights in your hair to flatter you face shape. An experienced stylist will be able to guide you in your color choice, predict how dyes will interact with your hair, and steer you toward highlighting strategies that will enhance your natural beauty.

Doing It Yourself

If you're determined to save money by skipping the stylist and highlighting your hair yourself, you're best off using one of the prepackaged highlighting dye kits that contain specialized brushes to help paint the highlights onto you hair. To figure out what shade of highlight you should go with, study pictures of celebrities with highlights with whom you share skin tone, eye color, and natural hair color. To figure out where to place the highlights in your hair, study photos of celebrities with highlights who have face shapes and hair styles similar to you own. Before you apply the dye, comb through your hair several times to eliminate any knots or snags. When applying the dye with the dye brush, begin at the root of the hand, and travel down the length of the shaft with a swift stroke. If you miss a portion or veer off course, don't try to correct your work. Routine imperfections will actually make your highlights look more natural.

Maintaining Highlighted Hair

To prolong the time between touchups by preventing fading, wash your hair as infrequently as possible using only color-safe shampoos and conditioners. If your hair looks damaged, treat yourself to weekly deep conditioning treatments.