9 Types of Highlights to Inspire Your Next Hair Transformation

Traditional Highlights

"These are the OG of highlights," says Paglionico of traditional highlights, which are versatile and timeless. "The weave is natural but not fine. It creates depth and dimension and works great on all hair types." Thompson adds that classic highlights start at the scalp and require "slightly more upkeep than balayage or some of the other styles on our list, as they distribute color all over the hair (and therefore roots tend to be more obvious)."

All our experts agree that the best way to maintain your highlights is to use a color-safe shampoo and sulfate-free conditioner. Paglionico's pick is IGK Legendary Shampoo and Conditioner, followed by the Milbon Restorative Blowout Primer for a heat protectant before styling.

Babylights

The most natural-looking option, babylights are highlights woven very fine and close together for a natural look. "Babylights are meant to make hair look slightly sun-kissed. They can be harder to detect as a standalone highlight, but they give the hair more of a shimmer or glow," says Thompson. "Babylights add subtle dimension to your hair and look especially good on natural blonde(s)," adds Paglionico.

Rivera emphasizes the importance of using a professional color shampoo and conditioner that will not only "hydrate and strengthen the hair, but it will also help maintain the longevity of your color." She adds: "I also recommend using a purple shampoo for blondes as this will help combat any unwanted yellow."

Balayage

Balayage means "to sweep" in French, so it's no surprise that this technique refers to the motion of creating a seamless blend. "A lot of the times you see this in open air painting; however, it can be done within foils as well," says Thompson, who says that balayage often gets confused as a "look," but is actually a technique of painting by freehand using a sweeping motion.

"You will look like you have been on the beach for three months," says Paglionico. "This technique is great for someone who is low-maintenance. The grow-out is seamless and tends to look better over time. 

Rivera adds that since balayage is used without foil, it creates a softer and more natural effect without harsh lines of color. Bonus: This technique works for any air color, light or dark.

Foilayage

As the name states, foilayage combines foil and balayage and uses the same sweeping motion of the latter. This is a good option if you're looking for more of a lift in color than hand-painted balayage because the foil allows the hair to get lighter while it's wrapped inside. 

"This is a great technique for someone who loves the look of a traditional foil highlight but wants the ends to pop like balayage. You get the best of both worlds," says Paglionico.

Ombré

"Ombré is a look where the hair color goes from one color to another in a gradient or a shadow tone," says Thompson. This is another low-commitment look, as you can go a while longer between salon visits (roots are key here, so even if they grow out, you won't have to race in for a touch-up).

Rivera adds that ombré transitions from darker roots to lighter midshaft and even lighter ends, which "gives the hair a bit more contrast between colors without heavy lines between shades."

"It's gradual, but the root is darker and fades into lighter ends. The hair around your face will remain darker as the lightness usually begins at the ear area," adds Paglionico.

Sombré

Sombré is the combination of "subtle" and "ombré," explains Thompson, and is exactly what it sounds: a subtle blend of a darker shade at the root to a light shade at the ends. 

According to Paglionico, sombré is the subtle version of ombré. "It usually starts at the eyebrow line, and the blend from dark to light is much softer. The overall look is more natural and goes with many skin tones," she says.

Face-Framing

Face-framing highlights focus the lighter color on, naturally, the hair that frames your face. The resulting look helps to open and brighten your face and is among the most natural because it lightens the hair where it would be naturally lightened by the sun. Plus, as a bonus, it requires much less upkeep than a classic, overall highlight, and looks natural even as it grows out.

"Face-framing highlights are hair sections that are woven into foil for a lighter effect around the face. This is a great technique if you're not fully ready to commit to overall color," says Rivera of the highlight that adds a pop of color around your face.

Paglionico adds that this highlight "brightens you up and is great for those who wear their hair back."

Dimensional

Dimensional highlights offer more contrast (think dark brown with lighter highlights). In other words, you're adding dimension to the hair via color. This can create the illusion of a thicker mane and looks great on those with curls or waves.

"Dimensional highlights are great if your client wants highlights with two or more shades to create more dimension," says Rivera. "This technique is often used for those who feel they have gotten too light and miss having contrast," adds Paglionico.

Chunky Highlights

Celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton gave Jennifer Lopez these chunky highlights in a throwback to the early '00s, when highlights were bold and thick. "It's an edgy look that stands out for a more dramatic look," says Paglionico.