Balayage, babylights ... of all the types of highlights, which one will suit you best?

How eager to let go of the hair again to the wind! Passing, yes, previously through the hairdresser so that they can give it shape and color again. And speaking of color, if you want to be up-to-date, whether you have dyed hair or not, take into account the highlights, which offer an inexhaustible world of inspiration to rejuvenate your look , either without major changes, with a natural finish or, quite the contrary, with more transgressive bets.

Natural highlights

The most recommended and flattering thing if you want a natural result is to use gradients and subtle reflections, such as those offered by the following techniques:

Balayage. Based on a French "sweep" technique (hence its name), a very natural gradient from roots to ends is achieved . Halfway between the Californian and the babylights, they achieve a perfect color transition by blending the two tones. Balayage blurs the roots and doesn't weigh them down, so you don't need to touch up as often. For whom: Its illuminating effect is best appreciated on long, slightly wavy hair, but balayage highlights also look great on short hair.
Babylights . They are highlights that recreate the natural shine of a baby's hair. They try to simulate the effect that the sun leaves on the hair in summer and they manage to give light and movement to the hair in a very subtle way, without saturating it with color. For whom: they look great on blondes, but also on chestnuts, as demonstrated by the new coffee bean highlights, and it's a great choice for women who don't want to go to the hairdresser all the time.
Contouring. They are reflections that play with light and shadow to harmonize the features of the face. What would become the concept of makeup contouring applied to hair coloring. For whom: for all. They can be customized according to the features of the face. On very elongated faces, for example, the upper part is darkened and the hair is brightened with lighter highlights at the cheekbones to widen the oval.
Melting. They are the fashionable highlights. More sophisticated, but with a natural result that is also natural, they blend the hair's own color with other shades, barely noticeable in the transition, offering depth and movement. For whom: for those who want to be fashionable and do not mind going to the salon every month, as the hair tone lightens quickly. Ah! And do not think that it is only for blondes, melting goes wonderfully with all hair colors.
Woodlights. It is a fairly novel technique that combines organic color baths, which provide a lot of shine, with very careful highlights, which are strategically done freehand. The effect is reminiscent of wood grain, which is why they are called by that name. Who is it for: Woodlights are known as "universal highlights" because they don't resist any cut or color.

And if you want to "make" a difference

Then sign up for the revival of well-contrasted highlights :

The Californians. Although we have known them for several years, they still have many followers. It consists of a color gradient from the roots, leaving the middle of the mane to the ends much lighter. For whom: the contrast is much more marked than with the balayage, which is why it prevails especially among the most daring, who love the surfer look, in a "worn" color. See how the Californian highlights look on celebrities and get inspired.
The chunky ones. They are thick wicks, from the roots to the ends, of a color that stands out on the base. They swept through the 90s and have come back into fashion. For whom: for those of us who like to go unnoticed. The most common is to apply them in brown bases and that are of some shade of blonde; but, yes, much better, with straight hair.

And here there is not everything, because the universe of the wicks is continually renewed. Have you heard, for example, of tiger eyes, ideal for chestnuts and brunettes. The shatush highlights or the golden bleach hair? They are taking time to make a dictionary just to classify so much wick …

For now, we have made a compilation so that you can think about what type of highlights you will ask your hairdresser to show off your hair this Spring / Summer . Shall we start?

Natural highlights

The most recommended and flattering thing if you want a natural result is to use gradients and subtle reflections, such as those offered by the following techniques:

Balayage. Based on a French "sweep" technique (hence its name), a very natural gradient from roots to ends is achieved . Halfway between the Californian and the babylights, they achieve a perfect color transition by blending the two tones. Balayage blurs the roots and doesn't weigh them down, so you don't need to touch up as often. For whom: Its illuminating effect is best appreciated on long, slightly wavy hair, but balayage highlights also look great on short hair.
Babylights . They are highlights that recreate the natural shine of a baby's hair. They try to simulate the effect that the sun leaves on the hair in summer and they manage to give light and movement to the hair in a very subtle way, without saturating it with color. For whom: they look great on blondes, but also on chestnuts, as demonstrated by the new coffee bean highlights, and it's a great choice for women who don't want to go to the hairdresser all the time.
Contouring. They are reflections that play with light and shadow to harmonize the features of the face. What would become the concept of makeup contouring applied to hair coloring. For whom: for all. They can be customized according to the features of the face. On very elongated faces, for example, the upper part is darkened and the hair is brightened with lighter highlights at the cheekbones to widen the oval.
Melting. They are the fashionable highlights. More sophisticated, but with a natural result that is also natural, they blend the hair's own color with other shades, barely noticeable in the transition, offering depth and movement. For whom: for those who want to be fashionable and do not mind going to the salon every month, as the hair tone lightens quickly. Ah! And do not think that it is only for blondes, melting goes wonderfully with all hair colors.
Woodlights. It is a fairly novel technique that combines organic color baths, which provide a lot of shine, with very careful highlights, which are strategically done freehand. The effect is reminiscent of wood grain, which is why they are called by that name. Who is it for: Woodlights are known as "universal highlights" because they don't resist any cut or color.

And if you want to "make" a difference

Then sign up for the revival of well-contrasted highlights :

The Californians. Although we have known them for several years, they still have many followers. It consists of a color gradient from the roots, leaving the middle of the mane to the ends much lighter. For whom: the contrast is much more marked than with the balayage, which is why it prevails especially among the most daring, who love the surfer look, in a "worn" color. See how the Californian highlights look on celebrities and get inspired.
The chunky ones. They are thick wicks, from the roots to the ends, of a color that stands out on the base. They swept through the 90s and have come back into fashion. For whom: for those of us who like to go unnoticed. The most common is to apply them in brown bases and that are of some shade of blonde; but, yes, much better, with straight hair.

For now, we have made a compilation so that you can think about what type of highlights you will ask your hairdresser to show off your hair this Spring / Summer . Shall we start?

Super shiny mane with babylights highlights

In this photo, Jessica Biel is the living example of the shiny and luminous hair that we would all like to have. And she has achieved this thanks to the babylights highlights, very fine strands that are lightened with respect to the base tone, at most two or three tones.

For a more vibrant chestnut, babylights

Single color block dyes are not carried away. In hairdressers, they are increasingly betting on shading hair with highlights, such as babylights, because they allow the hair to rejuvenate and the face to soften. Isn't the illuminated chestnut of the Italian model Ana Moya beautiful?

Photo: @anamoyacalzado

The more babylights, the brighter mane

The more babylights, the more luminous mane

The good thing about babylights highlights is that they give a lot of play. If you "abuse" them and cover a large part of your hair, you can get manes as luminous as Alexandra Pereira's in this photo. The latest trend in coloring is to respect the roots, in search of extreme naturalness, and combine tones to give movement and shine , a lot of shine to the hair.

Photo: @alexandrapereira

Get moving with balayage

With this sweeping technique the root is touched, but in a subtle way. Very fine highlights in a less intense tone converge in the middle of the mane. See how spectacular they are in a long and wavy hair.

Balayage also on dark hair

The advantage of balayage highlights is that they are done with a brush and freehand, without the need to wrap the strands in aluminum foil. And, although we are used to seeing them on light hair, they also look great on darker hair, as shown by these chocolate cake highlights made with the balayage technique. We love this bright and vibrant color.

Balayage in red tones

If you are one of those "here I am", this color applied with the balayage technique does not leave you indifferent. These are the raspberry bourbon wicks, which provide reddish hues, which are reminiscent of the berries.

Photo: @jessglazasaloncentric

Contouring highlights for round faces

In makeup, contouring is a technique that combines dark and light tones to enhance or hide the features of the face. Well, with hair you can also achieve this effect, as Selena Gomez does. In his case, to stylize the face, he contours his dark hair with small light streaks in the upper area and also makes the middle and ends lighter, but keeping the inner part of the hair in a dark tone. We tell you all about the contouring highlights that illuminate your hair and rejuvenate your face.

Contouring highlights for elongated faces

Contouring highlights for long faces

In elongated faces, an important point is to keep lighter highlights around the face to frame it, and leave the roots and hair from the area where the ears end with a little darker to make the face appear more oval. Do you want to know what are the haircuts that most favor elongated faces?

Go for naturalness with woodlights highlights

The woodlights highlights, which mimic the grain of wood, consist of applying organic coloring throughout the hair, just after creating the highlights freehand. In this way, much more vibrant colors are achieved . It looks amazing on long hair and, if not, look at the before and after. What a change!

If you want to stand out, chunky highlights

They are not our favorites, but for tastes, the colors … and never better said. The key here is to make very wide highlights in two well-contrasted tones . A very 90s "formula" that is back on trend. Chunky highlights, why not?

Give depth and volume to your hair with melting

If you are one of those who are in a hurry when you go to the hairdresser, melting highlights are not for you, because the process is laborious and long. Marked highlights are made, then color is applied to the roots to lift their dark tone and continues with another lighter color. It mixes well so there is no fringe left and ends with a nuance in the middle and ends. Of course, the result is very sophisticated and spectacular.

Melting also for redheads

Redheads can find the perfect gradient formula with the melting technique to restore the light and depth of their hair without giving up its tone. But if you are brown and what you would like is a coppery touch, without reaching these extremes, you can resort to copper lights.

Photo: @suetyrrellstylist

Melting brownie

Who said chestnut trees go out? This transition between brown and warm blonde is a most flattering look that keeps the color bright. In addition, the honey tone of the front locks softens the features with a rejuvenating effect.

The rebel point of Californian highlights

Californian highlights are the perfect option if you are looking for a casual and summery look , without the need for many touch-ups. The effect is that of a hair from medium to ends visibly "worn" (or lighter), as if it had been given a lot of sun. Of course, keep in mind that to achieve it you need to bleach your hair.

Californians in brown hair? Of course

Who said that California highlights are only for blondes? Here's an example that they can also look great on brown hair … What's more, the contrast, although obvious, is a more "natural" transition to the eye.

Photo: @rocioOsorno