The Magic of Partial Highlights: Lighten Up Without Full Commitment

Partial highlights are a popular hair coloring technique that focuses on adding lighter strands to specific sections of the hair, usually around the face or crown, rather than throughout the entire head. This subtle approach to highlighting has grown in popularity as more people seek low-maintenance yet stylish ways to refresh their look. Unlike full highlights, which involve lightening most or all of the hair, partial highlights allow for a softer contrast and a more natural sun-kissed effect, making it a great option for anyone looking to experiment with color in a subtle, effortless way.

What Are Partial Highlights?

Partial highlights are a hair coloring technique where only certain sections of the hair, typically around the face, crown, or top layers, are lightened. Unlike full highlights covering the entire head, such highlights focus on specific areas to create a more subtle, natural look.

Ask An Expert: Do you prefer soft, sun-kissed highlights or bold, contrasting streaks for a standout look?

Sue Tyrrell

Expertise: Hair Color Specialist, Educator

I prefer a soft transitional color because it creates a seamless blend that enhances the natural beauty of the hair. This approach allows for a gradual shift between tones, offering a more sophisticated and low-maintenance result. I love using this technique because it provides clients with a subtle, dimensional look that grows out beautifully, ensuring longevity and effortless upkeep. It’s all about creating harmony in the color that feels natural and timeless.

Benefits of Partial Highlights

• Low maintenance - Since fewer strands are highlighted, the regrowth is less noticeable than full highlights. This means fewer trips to the salon for touch-ups, making it a lower-maintenance option.

• Subtle change - Partial highlights typically focus on just the top layer or specific sections of the hair, providing a more natural, sun-kissed look.

• Healthier hair - By highlighting fewer sections, there's less exposure to bleach and chemicals, which can be beneficial for maintaining the overall health of the hair.

• Cost Effective - Partial highlights cost less since you’re not highlighting your whole hair.

• Versatile - You can choose where to place the highlights to frame your face, add depth, or create dimension, making it a personalized option.

Popular Partial Highlighting Techniques

To create partial highlights on your hair, there are a few ways to go about it depending on what look you’re aiming for.

Balayage Partial Highlights: This free-hand painting technique is perfect for those interested in a more natural, sun-kissed effect. Your stylist paints the highlights directly onto the hair without using foils focusing on specific sections of the hair (usually the top layer or face-framing pieces).

Foil Highlights: With foil placements for partial highlights, sections of hair are placed in foil packets and the color is applied, which helps to intensify the color and provide a more controlled result. Partial foil highlights focus on certain areas, such as the crown, sides, or bangs.

Stylist about this look: "Painted ribbons isolated with foil for maximum lift, utilizing the natural warmth to create the perfect cool caramel"

Face-Framing Highlights: Face-framing highlights are typically applied only around the face, illuminating the front sections of the hair to enhance facial features. This is a form of partial highlighting, targeting specific strands.

How Partial Highlights Work for Different Hair Types

Partial highlights work differently depending on the hair type and color. Here's a breakdown:

Blonde Hair: Partial hair highlights on blonde hair can create a soft, sun-kissed look by enhancing the natural blonde tones. Partial blonde highlights like platinum or ash blonde, are typically applied around the face, crown, or the upper layers of the hair.

Brunette Hair: For brunettes, partial highlights on brown hair or partial highlights on black hair add warmth and dimension without a dramatic contrast. Common highlight colors include caramel, honey, or golden brown shades. These highlights brighten the complexion and create a rich, multi-dimensional look.

Curly Hair: For curly hair, especially partial highlights on dark brown hair, add depth and movement to the curls, enhancing the texture and giving the curls more visual interest. The highlights can be strategically placed to emphasize individual curls or ringlets.

Straight Hair: On straight hair, partial highlights add structure and definition, making the hair appear thicker and more voluminous. Highlights are often placed around the face or on the top layers for a more noticeable effect.

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Maintenance Tips

• Sulfate-free shampoo: Although partial highlights require less upkeep than full highlights, it is still recommended to use sulfate-free shampoos as they are gentler on colored hair.

• Deep Condition: Highlighted hair can be prone to dryness so use a deep conditioner treatment once a week.

• Avoid UV Rays: UV rays can fade highlights, so wear a hat or use hair products with UV protection when you’re out in the sun for extended periods.

• Purple Shampoo: If you have blonde or light highlights, using a purple shampoo once a week can prevent brassiness and keep your highlights vibrant.

• Moisturizing Mask: Treat your hair to moisturizing masks to counteract the drying effects of the highlighting process, especially if your hair feels brittle.

Before and After Inspiration

According to Sue Tyrell the creator of this style:

“Highlights focus throughout the mid-lengths and ends keeping it subtle and soft around the crown with maximum depth.”

Unlike before, the highlights have better harmony and look more natural.

Again Sue Tyrell creates a beautiful look with these partial blonde highlights expertly highlighting the undertones and skin tone. You can keep yours styled straight or incorporate loose waves for a summer look.

When placed correctly, partial highlights can change your hair game and give you a new look. With this blonde face-framing highlights, the new look has more dimension and depth, giving the hair a complete new look.

Changing the length of your hair is also a way to make your highlights pop better. You can ask your stylists for extensions that blend perfectly with the rest of your hair. For the coloring technique, face framing highlights are perfect to draw more attention to your facial features. Hair Stylist Frances Gonzalez talking about this new look says:

“We did some Face Framing highlights and added 22 inch k-tip extensions.”

FAQ

Partial highlights offer a versatile and customizable way to enhance your hair's natural beauty. Whether you're looking for a subtle sun-kissed look, added dimension, or a way to experiment with color without a full commitment, partial highlights can provide the perfect solution. They work well for all hair types and can be tailored to complement your unique style and goals. To achieve the best results, consult with your hairstylist, who can guide you on the most flattering highlight options based on your hair type, texture, and overall vision.