For a long time, hair highlights have been a favorite among people who want to give a little dimension, brightness, or even a small change to their hairstyle. Throughout the years, I have highlighted several times, and still I am still being asked quite frequently: Do hair highlights damage hair? Based on my personal experience, there has been a huge difference in hair health by going to the best hair stylist in Dubai and getting the desired look.
In this article, I will share my personal experience, some knowledge from the practical end of things, and tangible tips to get you through highlighting while still keeping the health of your hair intact.
Understanding Hair Highlights
During hair highlighting, hair strands are lightened by using bleach or hair color. The natural pigmentation is lifted, thereby giving a contrast against the base hair color. Depending on the style you desire, highlights may be very subtle or more pronounced-like sun-kissed highlights.
Are Highlights Damaging?
The short answer is: yes, highlights will indeed hurt the hair somewhat, but not to an extreme extent. Hair is made of keratin, a protein that maintains its strength and elasticity. Bleaching and coloring temporarily weaken the hair’s structure by stripping the hair of natural oils and proteins.
From my experience:
- The first set of highlights made my hair a little dry and the ends brittle.
- Frequent touch-ups without proper care worsened breakage and frizz.
But with the right approach, one could keep the damage to a minimum. Here are my takeaways:
Factors Influencing Damage:
- Precoloring condition of hair: Healthier, well-nourished hair tolerates highlights better.
- Strength of the chemicals: Stronger bleach or high-lift dyes increase the risk.
- Regularity of application: More regular touching-up causes more dryness and breakage.
- Application technique: Professionals with experience apply highlights with a degree of strategy for reducing stress on hair.
Minimizing Hair Damage from Highlights
In my years of learning, here are actionable strategies for keeping hair healthy while enjoying highlights:
1. Choosing a professional stylist
Although doing highlights at home seems budget-friendly, professional colorists know how to:
- Use protective treatments during coloring.
- Selective application of bleach.
- Avoid overlapping previously colored strands.
2. Gentle Formulas
- Colors that are ammonia-free or low in ammonia.
- Bond-building treatments such as Ol,aplex during coloring.
3. Hair Care is Number One
- Treat the hair after getting the highlights:
- Deep conditioning on a weekly basis to restore moisture.
- Sulfate-free shampoos that will prevent color and oil stripping.
- Avoid heat styling for breakage control.
4. Proper Planning of Maintenance
Having maintenance sessions every 8-12 weeks as opposed to 12-14 weeks is a good idea to prevent overwhelming the hair with chemicals and to prolong the natural effect of your highlights. Speaking from experience, working with professionals offering hair coloring in Dubai always keeps the two-stranded hair on the safer side: within color and health maintenance.
Personal Tips to Maintain Health and High-Volume Highlights
From my years of experimenting with hair color, here are my tried-and-true tips:
- Regular trims to remove split ends due to bleaching.
- Use leave-in conditioners or serums for extra moisture.
- Sleep on a silk pillowcase to reduce friction.
- Drink lots of water and consume protein-rich food to nourish hair from the inside.
Conclusion
Do hair highlights cause any damage? They certainly can, but usually, such damage is temporary and manageable with the right precautions. Highlights do not always signify dry or lifeless strands: a good stylist and gentle formulations, combined with a good hair care routine, make it possible to have healthy, vibrant highlights. Still torn with which method is best? Full Hair Color vs. Highlights: Which One is Right for You? will point you in the right direction.
Are you considering highlights? Remember my experience: being prepared, taking care, and gaining professional experience are the keys to achieving chic and strong hair.
