Highlights

• Highlights are thin or thick strips of hair chemically lightened at least two shades above the client's natural color. The highlighting process is done by coating the hair in a peroxide agent, bleaching it or coloring it. Highlights are commonly blonde, but they do not have to be. If a person has black hair, brown or red tones would also be considered highlights.
  
  

Lowlights

• Lowlights are the opposite of highlights. They are often added to darker hair colors to create depth and drama. Some examples include adding eggplant-colored tones to black hair, or auburn tones to blonde hair.
  
  

Placement

• Generally, highlights and lowlights are added to the top of the client's head and around the face. However, chunky, random highlights and lowlights can be applied for a more edgy look.
  
  

Tri-color Service

• Many stylists recommend their clients receive both highlights and lowlights simultaneously. This is called a tri-color service. Adding highlights to the top of the hair and lowlights underneath creates dimension and depth. This process provides the client with a very natural look while also enriching hair color.
  
  

Application

• Highlights and lowlights are applied to hair by placing a cap on the client's head, pulling the sections of hair through the cap and applying the color treatment. Another method involves painting the color onto sections of hair from the roots and wrapping the painted sections in aluminum foils. The hair is then dried so the color treatment can set properly.