Babylights Can Add a Subtle Pop of Color to Your Hair, According to Colorists

Any hairstylist will tell you that highlights are the easiest way to add dimension to your hair. These days, there are many techniques a colorist can use to give your hair a more vibrant look. One of our favorites? Babylights. "Babylights are ultra-delicate highlights that [give your hair] a bright and natural look," hairstylist Cyd Charisse says. "It's a subtle and versatile hair coloring technique that adds vibrancy to your hair. Babylights create a beautifully blended, natural look, illuminating the overall background without dramatic contrast."

Often referred to as "playground highlights,"' babylights offer a low-key, low-maintenance way to enhance your color while staying true to your natural shade. Stars like Hailey Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Aniston, and Beyoncé have proven that the look works on all hair types and skin tones. Ahead, learn more about the coloring technique.

How to Achieve Babylights

"Babylights are thin highlights painted throughout the hair," hairstylist Cassandra Olivia explains. "They are delicate and very thin. The goal is to make them look like the hair was naturally lightened by the sun."

Creating the look requires a combination of painting and foiling—almost as if balayage and traditional highlights had a baby. However, babylights differ from your usual balayage in that they start right at the scalp (balayage typically starts a few inches down and gets lighter toward the ends to create an ombré effect) and are finer and more subtle than other highlight styles. As Charisse puts it, babylights are painted throughout the hair, from the root to the tip, then applied with foils to create "smaller and closer sections for a seamless blend."

The Benefits

Stylists say the most significant benefit of babylights is that they create maximum dimension with minimal upkeep. "Babylights bring the vibrancy without the upkeep drama," Charisse says. "They are low-maintenance, requiring fewer touch-ups."

This seamless blending allows babylights to grow out in a natural way, meaning that you can stretch the time between touch-up appointments without worrying about a line of demarcation. "Babylights are also a more low-maintenance highlight option since the color is so fine all over," Olivia says. "It looks very natural and doesn't look as stark against the rest of the hair when it grows out."

In addition to adding dimension to strands, babylights come with the bonus of helping you fake more fullness. "I recommend babylights to clients with finer hair who want the illusion of thicker hair," Olivia says. Another plus? "Babylights also tend to cause less damage due to quicker processing in thin sections," Charisse says. 

Hair Type and Color Considerations

Generally, Charisse says babylights can work for anyone who wants a delicately highlighted look, but there are a few things to keep in mind. "This technique can be used on multiple hair colors and lengths," Charisse says. "However, they work best with fine hair types because they deliver impact without a chunky, heavy-highlighted look."

For best results, Charisse recommends opting for babylights on the crown and hairline and leaving the sides and back of the hair darker, which can create an illusion of depth and thickness. Regarding shades, our experts say that brown hair looks best with a smattering of golden-brown strands; blonde works best with cooler, brighter blonde babylights; and red becomes more dimensional with deeper tones threaded throughout. 

How to Maintain Babylights

Though babylights are far lower maintenance than other types of highlights, as with any type of hair color, they require proper upkeep and a thorough at-home routine. Lathering up with the right shampoo and conditioner can make a world of difference in keeping your babylights vibrant for as long as possible. Color-safe, moisturizing products—like Leaf + Flower Instant Damage Correction Shampoo ($37) and Conditioner ($39)—will cleanse your hair without stripping the color and will infuse strands with the hydration and nourishment they need.

Additionally, using a purple shampoo once a week can help keep your babylights looking bright instead of brassy. "Purple shampoo is crucial for blondes, as the purple hues will counteract the brassy tones and keep the highlights vibrant," Charisse says. She recommends using Hairstory's Purple Color Boost to maintain the color and health of your babylights. 

Products aside, certain hair care practices can help you care for your babylights. "Use cooler water temperatures when washing your hair, as it will help retain color," Charisse suggests. "You should also try to reduce the frequency of hair washing and rely on dry shampoo between washes." She also suggests applying styling products that will protect your strands from heat and UV damage, like Oribe's Invisible Defense Universal Protection Spray, and minimizing your hot tool use as much as possible. 

Finally, be sure to keep up with your salon appointments. "Stay consistent with your touch-up appointments with your stylist to keep your babylights at their freshest," Charisse says. "Keep in mind that regular trims will also be helpful to eliminate split ends and support hair health, preserving your color for longer."

The Final Takeaway

Babylights are one of the subtlest ways to add highlights to your hair. The technique—which involves adding small, close sections of color to the hair—instantly adds vibrancy to the hair and requires less maintenance than other highlighting techniques. If you're considering getting babylights, our experts say it's incredibly important to communicate your goals with your stylist. "Start with a consultation and share your hair history, current color, and desired babylight goals," Charisse says.
"I always suggest bringing images you do and do not love to offer additional insight on what you're looking for."