Highlights are a common hair treatment that women get to enhance their looks. Usually, highlights cost between $60-$100 & they can last for 8-10 weeks. After that, you will start to see new hair growth from the scalp, so the highlights will not look good. But don’t worry, that grown-out hair can be blended with highlights; it’s called highlights touch-ups. But the real question is, how often should you touch up highlights?
You should get highlights touch-ups every 8-10 weeks or 2-3 months. This will elongate the time cycle for getting full highlights & even protect your hair from damage of full highlights. Let’s get to know more about this topic.
Can you touch up highlights & Why?
Yes, totally Yes! You can get touch up highlights & it is actually great for the hair & your pocket to get highlights touch-ups. The highlights touch-ups are done when your hair starts to grow from the roots. The hair from the roots starts to look different from the color of the highlights.
So instead of getting the full highlights & incurring money on them, you should get highlights touch-ups. It is also known as root touch, where your root hair is colored as same as other hair.
If some of your highlighted hair has different shades from highlighted hair, then also you can get highlights.
There are a lot of different techniques to get highlights touch-ups like the foil highlight method, root melt method, etc.
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How often highlight touch up?
Generally, it is eight to ten weeks to get highlights touch-ups. Because hair grows at 1/2 inches per month, it will be all right to get them highlighted after 1 inches growth.
The frequency of highlight touch-ups typically depends on individual hair growth and the desired look. Generally, highlights start to show noticeable root growth after 6-8 weeks. For those seeking a seamless and consistently fresh appearance, a touch-up every 6-8 weeks is recommended. However, some may opt for a longer interval of 10-12 weeks between touch-ups to allow for more natural blending and minimize potential damage from excessive chemical treatments.
Factors such as hair growth rate, contrast between the natural hair color and highlights, and personal preferences play a crucial role. Balayage or softer, blended highlights might allow for longer intervals between touch-ups due to their more natural-looking regrowth.
How often should you touch up balayage highlights?
Balayage highlights need more time to get touch-ups. The balayage highlights need to be touched up every four months. This time is double the time required to touch up the standard highlights.
The frequency of touching up balayage highlights depends on personal preference and how seamlessly you want to maintain the look. Unlike traditional highlights, balayage offers a more natural, blended effect, allowing for longer intervals between touch-ups. For a low-maintenance approach, touch-ups can be scheduled every 3-6 months, as the color seamlessly grows out, creating a softer regrowth line compared to foil highlights. This longer duration between touch-ups allows for a sun-kissed, lived-in appearance and reduces the need for frequent salon visits. However, some may prefer a more polished look and opt for touch-ups every 2-4 months to maintain the vibrancy and defined contrast of their balayage.
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How to retouch highlights regrowth?
Retouching highlight regrowth involves applying color specifically to the new growth areas where the natural hair color has emerged, blending it seamlessly with the existing highlights. Here’s a general process:
Sectioning
Dividing the hair into manageable sections is crucial for a systematic and organized approach to hair styling or coloring. To start, tilt your head forward slightly and comb through your hair to remove any knots or tangles.
Mixing the Color
To prepare the hair color or lightener, follow the guidelines provided by the product’s manufacturer. Typically, this involves mixing the color or lightener with the developer in the specified proportions. Ensure accuracy in measurements and thorough mixing for a uniform blend.
Matching the color to the existing highlights is crucial for a seamless finish. If the existing highlights are still vibrant, use a color that matches them closely.
Application
When applying the color to the regrowth, it’s essential to use a small brush or applicator for precision. Begin at the roots where the natural hair color has grown in, ensuring the color is applied directly to these areas without overlapping onto the already highlighted sections.
Blending
After applying the color to the regrowth, the next step involves blending it downwards into the existing highlights for a natural and seamless transition. To achieve this, gently feather the color downwards from the regrowth towards the already highlighted sections.
Using a delicate touch, lightly drag the color down the hair strands, allowing it to subtly merge with the existing highlights.
Processing Time
Adhering to the recommended processing time specified by the product instructions is crucial to ensure optimal color development and blending with the existing highlights. This designated duration allows the color to work its magic uniformly throughout the hair.
Rinsing and Conditioning
This set of instructions revolves around hair color treatment. After allowing the color processing time, rinsing the hair thoroughly is essential. Following this, applying a conditioner specifically designed for colored hair helps retain the vibrancy of the color while safeguarding the overall health of the hair strands.
While these instructions provide a general guideline, achieving optimal results often requires precision and expertise, especially concerning the application and blending of hair color. Seeking assistance from a professional hair stylist is highly recommended.
Bottom Line
Determining the frequency of highlight touch-ups depends on personal preferences, hair growth rate, and desired appearance. Generally, touch-ups are recommended every 6-8 weeks to maintain a consistent and fresh look. However, longer intervals of 10-12 weeks can be opted for a more natural blend and to minimize potential damage from frequent treatments. Balayage highlights, offering a softer regrowth line, can be touched up every 3-6 months for a low-maintenance approach. Consultation with a hairstylist is key to determining the ideal touch-up schedule based on individual hair type, color contrast, and overall hair health.
FAQs
Generally, touch-ups for highlights are recommended every 6 to 8 weeks to maintain their vibrancy and prevent noticeable root growth.
Yes, the interval might differ based on your hair’s growth rate and texture. Fine hair might need more frequent touch-ups compared to thicker hair.
Stretching the time between touch-ups is possible but might result in a more noticeable contrast between new growth and existing highlights.
Opting for a technique like balayage or a root smudge can help achieve a softer, more blended effect, reducing the need for frequent touch-ups.
Yes, using color-safe shampoos and conditioners, along with occasional toning treatments, can help extend the life of your highlights between touch-up sessions.
