How to Make Highlights Last on Brown Hair
Today I’m sharing my best tips, tricks, and favorite products for making highlights last on brown hair. I am someone who goes into the salon and tells my stylist to do whatever, and she has lightened my hair quite a bit over the years (for more on how she cuts and colors my hair, click here). Even still, I prefer low maintenance hair and try to stretch the time between my appointments as far as possible. I’m currently going in every 10ish weeks, but most color touchup appointments are scheduled every 6-8 weeks. Here’s how I make my highlights last even longer on my brown hair:
how to make highlights last on brown hair
Ask for lived-in color.
While my hair is very bright and light, my stylist and I always prioritize lived-in color - this is the “abracadabra” magic phrase of eating your hair done. Communicate with your stylist how often you want to come in for touch-ups, and they’ll work to give you the best color for you and your situation specifically, as opposed to replicating your reference photo.
Ask for babylights.
Babylights, or very thin highlights, are much more subtle than the chunky streaks that were popular in the 90s. The thinner your highlights are, the more natural they’ll look, and you’ll get better grow-out, too. I personally get a partial babylight (as opposed to full), but your stylist will do what’s best for your hair. For more on partial vs full highlights vs balayage, click here.
Ask for a root smudge or root/ color melt.
This is a game changer, and something I didn’t know about until I switched stylists a few years ago. A root smudge is very different from a root/ color melt, but your stylist will pick the right option for you. Essentially, either technique helps to blend your highlights to your natural hair at the root better. You get a seamlessly blended look right away, and this makes such a difference in helping my hair grow out better. There’s no harsh lines, and I personally think it adds an extra 2-3 weeks to how long I can go between appointments.
Use high quality products.
This is so par for the course and almost annoying to hear, but getting highlights means you have color-treated hair, and using the right products will keep your hair healthy, vibrant, and properly toned. Avoid sulfates, which fade your hair color quicker. I stick to a hydrating shampoo, which I get from the salon (or Nordstrom), and then use a simple hair mask instead of conditioner.
Keep your hair hydrated with a hair mask.
While I use a hair mask every time I wash my hair in replacement of conditioner, that can be too heavy for some hair types. In those cases, it’s still important to add hydration back to your hair with a weekly mask. This one is my favorite for adding softness and shine, but I also love this option as a cheaper option. It’s only $10 and works just as well as the pricey one. I’ll probably switch back to the cheaper one after I finish what I’m using; it really is just as good and helps save money.
Use a heat protectant.
Heat damages your hair, and the more you use hot tools, the duller your highlights can get if you don’t use a heat protectant. I never thought much about this until I saw photos of me before and after incorporating a heat protectant - my hair was so much shinier, and the highlights were as vibrant as when I first got them done. I love this heat protectant as a clean-beauty option that feels like nothing in your hair. I don’t like the feeling of heavy hair product, and this one doesn’t leave a residue or film. If you struggle with frizz, I love this leave-in conditioning spray, which also works as a leave-in conditioner. It eliminates frizz, smooths your hair, and adds hydration that lasts all day.
Tone your hair at home.
Maintain your hair color in between appointments by using a toner. Most of the time, I prefer toning conditioners over shampoos; they’re gentler on your hair but give you the same results, and I find they last a little longer than shampoos do, so it’s also slightly cheaper. Brown hair typically does better with blue toners, which cancel out the orange brassy tones; purple shampoos cancel out yellow, so they’re more ideal for blondes (for more on that plus photos that compare the results of each on brown hair, click here).
I’m personally using a purple conditioning toner right now because it’s hydrating, brightens my hair, and easy to use. In the past, I’ve used this blue shampoo and gotten similar results.
Protect your hair from the sun.
If you spent a lot of time outside, the sun can also fade your hair color. Wear a hat if you can. I also like this powder sunscreen for your roots; it’s lightweight, doesn’t clump, and protects your hair without messing with your hair color. The leave-in heat protectant I mentioned above also helps to protect your hair from the sun and other environmental pollutants.
Check your water quality.
Hard water is no joke! You can do everything right, and hard water will still wreak havoc cancel out all your hard work. Hard water can lead to mineral buildup , hair loss, and split ends while also fading your hair color. There are simple tests you can do to test your water quality, and if you do have hard water, I recommend installing a filter. You’ll notice a drastic change, and it’s worth the extra step.