There is a particular magic in hair that looks as though it has been touched by the sun—hair that possesses a multi-dimensional depth, movement, and a natural-looking radiance that can’t be achieved with a single colour. This is the art of hair highlighting. At Features Hair & Beauty in Ilford, we view highlights not as mere strips of colour, but as a technique of painting with light. Our expert colourists are masters of various highlighting methods, from the subtle to the striking, using their skill to hand-craft dimension that enhances your base colour, brightens your complexion, and brings an overall vitality to your look that is both modern and timeless.
Beyond the Strip: Understanding Highlighting Techniques
The term “highlights” encompasses a range of techniques, each with a different visual outcome and maintenance level. During your consultation at our Ilford salon, we will help you determine which method is perfect for you.
- Balayage: The French word for “sweeping,” this hand-painting technique creates the most natural, sun-kissed effect imaginable. The colour is applied freehand, typically focusing on the mid-lengths and ends and the surface layers of the hair, resulting in a soft, graduated grow-out with no obvious regrowth lines. It is the ultimate low-maintenance highlight.
- Foil Highlights: This technique offers maximum control and lift. Sections of hair are woven out and coloured within foils, allowing for precise placement and significant lightening. We use foils to create everything from fine, delicate Babylights (ultra-fine highlights for a subtle, all-over brightness) to Bold Lights (thicker, more contrasting slices of colour for a dramatic effect).
- Lowlights: The sister to highlights, lowlights involve weaving in shades that are darker than your base colour. This technique is used to add depth, richness, and dimension, and can help to tone down an colour that has become too bright or brassy.
The Features Hair & Beauty Highlighting Process: A Tailored Approach
Our process is meticulous and personalized. We don’t believe in a standard “package”; we believe in creating a custom plan for your hair.
- The Vision: We discuss your desired level of contrast, your lifestyle, and how much maintenance you’re comfortable with. A balayage might be ideal for someone who visits the salon 2-3 times a year, while a full head of foils may require touch-ups every 8-10 weeks.
- The Application: Our colourists are artisans. Whether they are meticulously weaving fine sections for foils or using a painter’s eye for balayage, every placement is intentional, designed to frame your face and enhance your haircut.
- The Toning Magic: After lightening, the hair often needs to be toned to achieve the perfect shade—be it a cool platinum, a warm honey, or a neutral beige blonde. This is the step that transforms raw lift into a polished, professional, and beautiful colour.
Why Invest in Professional Highlights in Ilford?
While at-home highlighting kits are available, the results are rarely comparable. A professional service ensures:
- Even, Consistent Development: Our colourists understand how different sections of your hair process colour, ensuring an even result from root to tip.
- Preserved Hair Health: We use professional lighteners and bond-building additives to minimize damage during the lifting process.
- A Cohesive, Multi-Dimensional Look: We see your hair as a whole canvas, ensuring the highlights blend seamlessly with your base colour for a natural, multi-tonal effect.
- A Flattering Finale: The colour is tailored to complement your skin tone, making you look brighter and more refreshed.
Maintaining Your Ilford Highlights
To keep your highlights looking fresh and vibrant, we recommend:
- Purple or Blue Shampoo: For blonde and silver highlights, these shampoos neutralize brassy, yellow tones.
- Deep Conditioning Treatments: Weekly masks help replenish moisture lost during the lightening process.
- Heat Protectant: Always essential, but especially for colour-treated hair.
- Regular Gloss Treatments: A clear or tinted gloss at the salon can refresh your tone and boost shine between colour appointments.
Ready to Illuminate Your Look in Ilford?
Let the artists at Features Hair & Beauty paint a masterpiece with your hair. We will guide you to the perfect highlighting technique to bring light and dimension to your style.
Visit us at 350A Ilford Plaza, Ilford, London, IG1 2LX. To book your highlighting consultation, call +4407568561199.
Our Opening Hours:
- Monday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 07:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM – 05:00 PM
Book Your Appointment: You can walk into our Ilford salon or schedule an online appointment easily through our website.
See our highlighting work and learn more at: www.featureshairandbeauty.com
Let us bring out your inner light. Book your highlighting service at Features Hair & Beauty today!