All You Need to Know About Highlights

If you’re after brighter, more dimensional hair without committing to an all-over colour, highlights are a brilliant choice. They lighten selected strands to add contrast and glow, giving your hair a lifted, healthy look while still feeling like “you”. Here’s a clear, no-nonsense guide from the Kutting Korner team to help you choose the right approach for your colour, cut and lifestyle.

What are highlights?

Highlights are sections of hair that are lightened to sit a few shades brighter than your base. The aim is to create depth and movement, so hair looks fresher and more reflective. Done well, highlights can make fine hair appear fuller, soften strong haircuts, and frame the face for a natural, sun-kissed finish.

How do highlights work?

Your stylist applies a lightening product to chosen strands, processes for a set time, then rinses and tones. The toner is key: it refines the shade so you land exactly where you want to be, whether that’s warm honey, cool beige, or icy platinum.

Two core techniques

Foil highlights
Foils wrap the coloured strands to control lift and keep everything neat and even. Think crisp, brighter results with a more uniform pattern. Great if you want a bolder blonde or high contrast on darker hair.

Balayage
Balayage is painted freehand for a softer blend with a lived-in feel. It mimics how the sun would naturally lighten your hair, keeping depth at the root and brightness through the mid-lengths and ends. Ideal for low-maintenance glow and seamless grow-out.

(We often combine methods—foils at the hairline for pop, balayage through the lengths for softness.)

What to consider before you highlight

• Hair condition: Lightening can remove some natural oils and proteins. If hair is fragile or very dry, we may recommend strengthening treatments first and pair your colour with a bond-builder and a hydrating mask at home.
• Skin tone and eye colour: Warmer tones (golden, caramel, honey) flatter warm complexions; cooler tones (beige, ash, pearl) complement cooler skin. Face-framing pieces can be tailored a shade lighter to brighten your features.
• Lifestyle and maintenance: Foils generally need refreshing every 6–10 weeks to keep roots blended. Balayage can stretch to 10–16 weeks as the grow-out is softer. Gloss toners between visits keep your shade fresh and shiny.
• Cut and texture: Placement changes everything. Fine hair suits micro-foils for the illusion of fullness; curls love balayage ribbons that enhance movement without harsh lines.

The appointment step-by-step

1. Consultation: We discuss your hair history, end goal and maintenance preferences, then agree a shade map and technique.
2. Application: Precision sectioning for foils or freehand painting for balayage, with extra attention to face-framing areas.
3. Process and rinse: We monitor lift carefully to protect the hair.
4. Toning: This is where we perfect the shade—cool, neutral or warm—and add shine.
5. Finish and plan: We style your hair so you can see the dimension, then map out your at-home care and next visit.

Keeping your highlights healthy

• Use a sulphate-free shampoo and a moisturising conditioner to protect tone and softness.
• Add a weekly mask and a heat protector before styling.
• Limit very hot tools and consider a cool-rinse to help close the cuticle for extra shine.
• Book a gloss toner between colour appointments to refresh brightness and neutralise brassiness.

Highlight services at Kutting Korner, Wolviston

We offer a full menu so you can choose the coverage and maintenance that suits you:

• Full Head Highlights – maximum brightness and even coverage from root to tip.
• Half Head Highlights – great for regular maintenance or balanced brightness on the top and sides.
• Part Head Highlights – subtle refresh where you need it most.
• T-Section Highlights – quick maintenance for parting and hairline.
• Full Head Highlights + Semi Colour – bright dimension with a glossy all-over tone.
• Full Head Highlights + Tint – lift plus root coverage for greys or darker regrowth.
• Semi Colour with Partial Foils – soft overall tone with pops of light.
• Root Tint with Partial Foils – blend regrowth and add fine ribbons of brightness.

Whether you want high-impact blonde, sun-lit brunettes, or gentle caramel ribbons, we’ll tailor the shade, placement and technique to your hair and routine. Ready to plan your perfect highlights? Book a consultation with our Wolviston team and we’ll create a look that’s bright, flattering and easy to live with.