Alright, so I finally took the plunge and did some brown color highlights on my black hair. Let me tell you, it was a whole process, but I’m pretty happy with the results. Thought I’d share how it all went down.
First things first, I did my research. I spent a good chunk of time scrolling through Pinterest and watching YouTube tutorials. I wanted to get a good idea of what shade of brown I wanted and how to actually do the highlighting without completely frying my hair. Settled on a caramel-ish brown, figured it would look nice against my dark hair.
Next up was gathering all the supplies. I went to the drugstore and picked up a highlighting kit, some gloves, a mixing bowl, a brush for applying the color, and of course, some toner. Toner is key, people! It helps get rid of any brassiness. I also grabbed a deep conditioner because I knew my hair would need some serious TLC afterwards.
Now for the fun part (or so I thought). I started by sectioning off my hair. This is crucial, otherwise you’ll end up with a hot mess. I used clips to keep the sections separate. Then, following the instructions in the highlighting kit (read them carefully!), I mixed up the developer and the color. The smell was strong, so I made sure to open a window.
Then came the actual highlighting. Using the brush, I carefully applied the color to small strands of hair, starting from the roots and working my way down. I tried to be strategic about where I placed the highlights, aiming for a natural, sun-kissed look. Let me tell you, this took forever! My arms were aching by the end of it.
Once all the highlights were in, I waited the recommended time (again, follow the instructions!). Then, I rinsed out the color really well. My hair felt a bit like straw at this point, but I wasn’t too worried because I knew the deep conditioner would help.
After rinsing, I applied the toner. This is where things got a little scary. The toner turned my hair a weird purple color! But I knew that was normal. I left it on for the recommended time and then rinsed it out. Thankfully, the purple disappeared, and my hair was a much nicer, cooler tone.
Finally, I slathered on the deep conditioner and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Then, I rinsed it out and blow-dried my hair. And…voila! Brown highlights on black hair. The color was a bit more subtle than I expected, but I actually liked that. It looked natural and blended well with my dark hair.
Lessons Learned:
- Patience is key. Don’t rush the process.
- Sectioning your hair properly is essential.
- Don’t skip the toner!
- Deep condition, deep condition, deep condition!
Overall, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It was a bit of a learning experience, but I’d definitely do it again. Maybe next time I’ll try a different shade of brown.
