So, I’ve been rocking plain black hair for years, but I saw this Instagram post with those light brown highlights, and man, it looked super chic. I thought, “Why not give it a shot? I can do this at home.” I’m all about simple hacks, so I grabbed a kit and dove in. Here’s my whole journey, from start to finish, in just 5 easy steps. I screwed up a bit early on, but it all worked out fine.
Step 1: Pick Up the Kit and Get Ready
I hauled my butt to the drugstore and snagged a highlighting set meant for dark hair—I went with light brown ’cause it seemed safest. I also grabbed some cheap gloves, an old towel I didn’t mind ruining, and a timer. Back home, I cleared the bathroom sink area, slapped on an old T-shirt, and laid out the kit. It felt like prepping for a mess, but hey, no pain no gain, right?
Step 2: Part the Hair Like a Pro
After shampooing my hair without conditioner, I towel-dried it until it was damp. Then I grabbed a comb and sectioned it all out. I made small, thin parts, starting from the bottom, and clipped them up with hair clips. I focused on the top and sides ’cause that’s where highlights pop most. Took me ages to get it even—one side was wonky at first, but I re-did it fast.
Step 3: Slather on the Bleach Stuff
I mixed the bleach powder and developer liquid together as per the kit instructions—it smelled nasty but whatever. Then I squeezed into the gloves, took the tiny brush, and painted the mixture onto the highlighted sections. I did quick strokes from root to tip, trying not to overlap. It felt messy, like frosting a cake but with hair. Took maybe 15 minutes, and my arms got tired, but I kept going.
Step 4: Sit Back and Wait Forever
Once everything was coated, I set my phone timer for 30 minutes—the box said 25-35, but I played it safe. Sat on the toilet seat, scrolled through TikTok, and watched my hair turn weird orange shades. Started second-guessing myself halfway, like, “Oh crap, did I use too much?” But I held off checking, ’cause rushing ruins it. After the beep, I rinsed off a tiny bit to peek, and it looked good.
Step 5: Wash It All Out and Style Up
I hopped in the shower, rinsed out the bleach thoroughly with lukewarm water until it ran clear—took forever ’cause bleach sticks. Then I used the toner stuff included to cool down the brassiness, massaged it in, and left it for 10 minutes. Another rinse, then deep conditioner to soften things. After blow-drying with a round brush, my hair had these soft brown streaks against black. Looked amazing! Finished with a quick spritz of hairspray.
And there you have it—my new look is a total win. It cost next to nothing and only took a couple hours. The highlights aren’t perfect; one chunk got too light, but it gives it character. Seriously, if I can do this clumsy job, anyone can. Give it a whirl if you’re bored with your hair!
