If you want to get highlights on your hair, then you probably think that you’ll need to go to a salon, get your hair dyed and that’s how the job is done. Well, there is another way in which you don’t even have to dye your hair? You can add highlights to your hair by getting extensions from a hair extensions salon. Here is everything you need to know about it.

Fake Highlights With Hair Extensions

Highlights are usually achieved by coloring some sections of hair in a completely different or light/dark color and then blending those strands with the rest of the hair.

The result is a beautiful symphony of colors on your plain hair and it just looks amazing.

Well, if you love highlights, but you don’t want to get your hair dyed just yet, then don’t worry because there is a way to get your hair done without having to make it go through the painful torture of chemical hair dyes and even bleach.

You can use hair extensions to create an illusion of hair highlights and you can do so by hair extensions that are very slightly lighter or darker than your natural hair color.

Using hair extensions as highlights is known as fake highlights and this is all the rage right now, which is exactly why you can try it out too and see if you like it for yourself or not.

How To Choose The Right Hair Extensions For Highlights?

When it comes to choosing hair extensions as highlights, there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind.

The Bonding Method

You want to choose hair extensions that are somewhat permanent. Since you’ll be rocking highlights for some time, you’ll need hair extensions that aren’t temporary. You want to choose either tape-in or sew-in hair extensions, because those will stay on your hair the longest and you won’t have to worry about the extensions falling off.

The Right Color

The next thing you want to take care of when going for hair extensions as your fake highlights is to choose the right color. If you have lighter hair, then you want to select hair extensions that are at least 4 to 5 shades darker than your natural hair.

If you have darker hair, then you want to choose lighter hair extensions. Those will pop on your hair the most and they will look like the real deal, which is exactly what you want at the end of the day.

The Length

Another very important thing to go over is the length of the hair extensions. Usually, you want to choose something that is the same length as the hair when you apply it to the mane. The extensions can’t be too short or too long, otherwise the whole thing will look fake and that is not what you’re going for.

Real hair highlights have the same length as your natural hair, so you want to capture that illusion perfectly with hair extensions. If the extensions are too long, then you can trim them after the application, so that you can better match the length with your natural hair.

The Hair Type

Lastly, you want to figure out which type of hair you want to go for when it comes to hair extensions. There are fake and real hair extensions and they both have their merits and demerits. Fake hair extensions are usually a lot cheaper, but finding the right texture and even color is super hard. The fake hair is sometimes too shiny or it’s just too off-putting.

Real hair extensions are usually a perfect match, but they can run a bit more expensive, even more expensive than getting highlights done on the hair, so it is a decision that you have to make. If don’t mind dyeing your hair, you can visit a balayage salon Potomac for hair highlights.

How To Apply Hair Extensions For Instant Highlights

So, now that you know how to choose a specific hair extension type and color for your fake highlights, here is how you can apply them to the hair seamlessly.

First, you want to start with freshly washed and dried hair. You won’t be able to wash the hair, especially if you’re going for tape-in or sew-in extensions, so this step is a must.

The next and most important thing to do is make sections. You want to make the sections very meticulously. This is not a regular hair extension application. You want to choose different places in your hair and then make deep sections for the extensions to hide in. This is going to give the hair extensions a real look and the extensions will look more and more like highlights.

Then, you want to take your extensions and apply them evenly on the hair. You want to keep the extensions parallel with your natural hair and that is how the extensions won’t have that weird bump in them and you’ll be good to go.

Lastly, you want to brush all of your hair out and you’re done. Now you have highlights in your hair without actually damaging it with dye or bleach.

How To Take Care Of Fake Highlights?

So, now that you have fake highlights, here are some things you need to do to ensure that the extensions as well as the hair stay put in the scalp and don’t get ruined.

Avoid Sweat

You want to avoid letting the extensions get overly sweaty. It is natural for everyone to sweat, but if you let your sweaty scalp and hair be for too long then it can cause the hair extensions to unravel and loosen which is bad especially if you want the extensions to last long in the hair.

Sulfate-Free Shampoo

The next thing you want to do is use a sulfate-free shampoo on your hair as well as extensions. Sulfate-free shampoos don’t have suds in them, so they won’t cause the extensions to unravel and fall from your hair which is a huge plus. Also, sulfate-free shampoos tend to clean your scalp better and they don’t dry your hair out, so your hair will be healthy for longer.

Reduce Heat And Chemicals

You want to seldom get your hair exposed to heat and chemicals like hair dye. While you can dye your hair after getting fake highlights, you still want to be careful that you’re not overdoing it because the hair extensions as well as your natural hair can only take so much damage. So, make sure that you’re leaving heat tools and chemicals for special occasions.

Avoid Tight Hairstyles

You want to avoid tying your hair too tight. This can cause your hair to rip and that is not good at all. Try to keep your hair loose and if you want to get the strands out of your face, then loose ponytails are a godsend.

Conclusion

Highlights without dying your hair? This sounds too good to be true. But it is true. So, the next time you want to change your hair up, don’t forget about checking the hair extensions route first. Contact salons that do hair extensions Potomac for advice and help.