YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls!

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls! https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/touching-up-high-and-lowlights-advice-needed-pls Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:39:24 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php lyn67 on "Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/touching-up-high-and-lowlights-advice-needed-pls#post-603605 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:41:38 +0000 lyn67 603605@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You Girls are so great! Thanx Sarah and Velvety for your time to answer my questions. I do really fully appreciate this. I will consider all these, and see what can be done in my case. Thanx again. velvetychocolate on "Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/touching-up-high-and-lowlights-advice-needed-pls#post-602761 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:52:01 +0000 velvetychocolate 602761@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I moved to an area where the water was much harder than I was used to. First, I bought products for the dishwasher, something called "Lemi-Shine" - it solved those problems, and no more spots on cutlery and so on. My hair started going darker, dryer, and just all-around unhealthy. Did some research, and here are the things I learned: 1. If you rinse your hair at the end of shampoo/condition with some vinegar - this will restore softness, shine and bounce. Sounds weird, but it *does* help. Add a tablespoon or two of white vinegar (can use apple cider vinegar if you have darker hair) to half a bottle of bottled water. Suggestion: don't use a bottle of water from the fridge - not fun to put cold water on your head after showering. So, room temperature bottled water (not the hard water from the taps), with some vinegar in it. Pour over your head and do not rinse. The vinegar smell will completely go away once your hair is dry. People who live in hard water areas and don't have a water softener often use vinegar to clean off hard water deposits on their faucets and so on. It works for hair too - just use a tiny bit (tablepoon or two) diluted in some bottled water though. 2. I started looking at the ingredients in that Lemi-Shine stuff for dishes - citric acid. Also looked into what to do to fix hair that is damaged from hard water - the magic combination is citric acid and ascorbic acid. Now, you don't go putting this stuff on your hair, but you can find shampoos with these ingredients. Most "clarifying" shampoos have at least one of these ingredients. Two products in particular (Malibu Wellness) and Sally Beauty's ION Hard Water shampoo have both these ingredients. Also, there are little packets of powder that you mix with water to do a deep de-mineralizing treatment. Some salons even do this. Here's one of the shampoos: <a href="http://www.sallybeauty.com/hard-water-shampoo/ION12,default,pd.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.sallybeauty.com/har.....lt,pd.html</a> Here's the little envelope/sachet of special de-mineralizing treatment: <a href="http://www.sallybeauty.com/clarifying-treatment/SBS-302208,default,pd.html?green=1B160E73-9071-5E4B-BFB1-2BC750017CD5&cm_vc=MYBUYS" rel="nofollow">http://www.sallybeauty.com/cla....._vc=MYBUYS</a> Interestingly - I see that the de-mineralizing treatment is also used as a 'prep' before colouring hair. Now, I don't colour my hair, but I did notice that when my hair was damaged/discoloured from hard water, it just wouldn't style as easily - curling irons, flat irons, and so on didn't work! Styling products didn't work as well either. I think this is because the minerals bond to the hair over time. It makes sense then, that perhaps hair colour wouldn't 'take' as well on hard-water damaged hair. Meanwhile, clarifying shampoos can be drying - so be sure to use a good conditioner. Here are a couple more shampoos that have at least one of these 'magic' de-mineralizing ingredients: BB Sunday Shampoo: <a href="http://www.sephora.com/sunday-shampoo-P280564?om_mmc=esv103203-GG&om_kwpur=341494141&ppc_crid=8926920977&site=us_search&esvcid=S1335273865_ADOGOB_AGI4015291_CRE8926920977_TID341494141_RFDd3d3Lmdvb2dsZS5jb20%3d" rel="nofollow">http://www.sephora.com/sunday-.....ZS5jb20%3d</a> Some great reviews on MakeupAlley re: Joico Chelating Shampoo: <a href="http://www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemId=100554/Chelating_shampoo_%28k-pak_line%29/Joico/Shampoo" rel="nofollow">http://www.makeupalley.com/pro.....co/Shampoo</a> I posted that last one in there so you could read what people had said about how hard water can affect one's hair. I have not yet tried the little packets of de-mineralizing treatment powder. I bought some, but I've found that within just a few days, using the ION Hard Water shampoo, my hair is bright and back to life again. ***Disclaimer: I do not know how these shampoos or the treatment stuff affects coloured hair, so be careful. I think trying the vinegar rinse might be ok. Maybe ask your hairdresser about a de-mineralizing treatment (they use the same powder that you mix with water - it turns into a gel). Here are some reviews/testimonials re: Malibu brand Hard Water shampoos/treatments: <a href="http://malibuc.com/solutions/cn/38/Hard-Water" rel="nofollow">http://malibuc.com/solutions/cn/38/Hard-Water</a> Ok - this has gotten really long, and I hope it's not too confusing. I threw all this in here because if you're finding that your hair colour isn't 'the same' and you're also experiencing dull/limp hair, plus too much dryness/breakage - it's possible that you live in a hard-water area and that this is affecting your hair. Sarah on "Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/touching-up-high-and-lowlights-advice-needed-pls#post-602755 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:44:39 +0000 Sarah 602755@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi lyn67, I got your comment on my blog. :) My stylist cuts and highlights my hair every 6-8 weeks. He pulls new strands every time. After he does the highlight, he does a wash over my entire hair to brighten it all. In between my highlights, he does a process where he lightens the base. Essentially the same wash he does post highlight. It keeps my roots covered and the color fresh. I'm very lucky, I think I have an exceptional colorist in my stylist. My hair feels better since he's started working on it. I think it's a combination of the color he uses and the products he has me use. I use Davines shampoo and conditioner (I can get the exact name of the shampoo if you want, but the conditioner is Love). I only use Moroccan oil as a styling "cream", and only shampoo my hair every two to three days. I use a dry shampoo between (Suave, it's awesome!) to keep it fresh. Gray hair is different for sure. If I were you, I'd find a new stylist. You shouldn't have to fight with your hair. Good luck! lyn67 on "Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/touching-up-high-and-lowlights-advice-needed-pls#post-602690 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:13:10 +0000 lyn67 602690@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thnax girls (Merredith, Mary K, Steph), for sharing your own rutine and experiences, so I will do my homework on the youtube, and google, too. Velvety, your post made me thinking...yes, maybe the water is hard here, too-but never tought it will also show up in my hair :-(. I wellcome any of your suggestions. Thanx so much. Meredith1953 on "Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/touching-up-high-and-lowlights-advice-needed-pls#post-602339 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:58:44 +0000 Meredith1953 602339@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ As a lady sporting silver hair, I can't really offer any advice but I do know that touching up only the root regrowth is the healthier alternative for your hair. MsMary on "Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/touching-up-high-and-lowlights-advice-needed-pls#post-602064 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:36:51 +0000 MsMary 602064@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My hair is mostly gray and my routine is simple: I go every three weeks, like clockwork, to have the roots touched up with the base color. I have highlights done about 3 times a year and when she does them, she redoes the whole thing from scratch -- no touching up of the highlights. velvetychocolate on "Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/touching-up-high-and-lowlights-advice-needed-pls#post-601973 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:55:01 +0000 velvetychocolate 601973@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This isn't totally related to your question, but just thought I'd throw it in here in case it's useful for you. I have naturally blonde hair and have never coloured it. Thing is? When I moved to another area, my hair started going darker in colour (more ashy) and it became dryer and just all around fussier. It didn't look healthy and my normally very light blonde colour was going weird. It turns out to be the water here. Very hard water, and gooping on all kinds of conditioners and styling products didn't help. I don't have a water softener here either. But guess what? I did some research and there are special shampoos for hard water. I bought some at Sally Beauty Supply (their ION brand "Hard Water Shampoo") and the difference was amazing. Back to bright blonde and hair is fluffier, shinier and healthier. Do you by chance live in an area that has very hard water, or are you using well water? If so, I can post back and give you some suggestions to try. If you're not sure, one of the ways to tell is if you get a lot of spots on your cutlery or dishes after coming out of the dishwasher or if all of your faucets in the house end up coated with white scaly looking, powdery looking residue. This is a good indicator of hard water. I'll leave the hair colour advice to the experts mrseccentric on "Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/touching-up-high-and-lowlights-advice-needed-pls#post-601965 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:48:37 +0000 mrseccentric 601965@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hullo lyn!! first of all, i agree that if there's any way you can find a better stylist (one who will listen to you, explain what she's doing, etc.) go for it!!! Second - there is a TON of advice and how-to's on coloring your hair online and on youtube. I've been cutting my own hair for a couple of years, doing my own foils for about a year now, and have begun cutting my husband's hair. If you only have to learn how to do one or two style it's not that challenging. This lady, Tammy Favata, explains things well and shows how to do a bunch of different coloring techniques: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/7ocnm2x" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/7ocnm2x</a> in this video she does her own foils and explains how once you have bleached hair you DO NOT bleach it any more! it will just damage your hair and fry it until it breaks off! just put in 'how to color your own hair' in the youtube search and you'll come up with all type of videos. Some presenters are clearer than others, so look around some. Here's 'How to highlight your own hair with foils': <a href="http://tinyurl.com/744g8ns" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/744g8ns</a> Foils have the advantage of making a dramatic effect whilst only coloring a small amount of hair. But there's a bunch of different techniques and products out there, spend some time researching and you'll have a solid idea for what will work for you. Best of luck!!! steph lyn67 on "Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/touching-up-high-and-lowlights-advice-needed-pls#post-601866 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:33:52 +0000 lyn67 601866@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ sorry double posting:-( lyn67 on "Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/touching-up-high-and-lowlights-advice-needed-pls#post-601865 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:32:36 +0000 lyn67 601865@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanx Y'all Ladies and bumping for more, pls!! I am curious what other blonde girls (MaryK, Deborah, Amyreh, Kristen, Sarah or others including fabulous hairstylists like Taylor will say, if they hear me?:-) Claire, LOL-are you working for the FBI, or what:-) I've trully forgot about that confession, thanx for beeing here and speaking up to my rights!!:-)) Now, this is a small place where I live, so I pretty much tried some of the local stylists :- ) but none was giving me the cuts I liked, plus cuts and dying are always done by the same person. My problem is, that I am mostly pleased with the cuts and blowdries she gives me, thus not so much with the colourrings -that"s why I committed to ask for your advice Back to color: thanx Texstyle it was a great help to see how others are doing it at home and like Suz said, maybe it's time to dye all my hair-but then I would like it lifted at least 2 shades (not my own natural colour!) as my hair is thin and so, the scalp will not show through+ some lowlights in a dark brown. Now I am really wonderring which colour to choose, and how to do it. I wouldn't let her to bleach it anymore, rather to use a colour like for ex. L'Oreal Excellence(very popular here) in a very or lightest blonde(I've heard this will do a great job for grey coverage and lifting 2 shades in one step, and also has no ammonia or peroxide so it is supposed to protect the hairs(?), too-thus my hairdresser didn't really confirmed that for me, yet...(unfortunatelly she doesn't like to speak about how and why she's doing what she's doing at all:-(() So I am almost planning to take my fate in my own hands, and buy this colour in the store end then gave her to do the job. Shall I tell her strictly to dye only the roots for the first time when doing this? I am a bit controversial on how it will blend with my actual existing high-and lowlights? I know this is a very personal thing,not much connected to clothes, but feel you're my trusty friends, and I value all your thoughts. Thanx again. Anonymous on "Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/touching-up-high-and-lowlights-advice-needed-pls#post-601794 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:11:34 +0000 Anonymous 601794@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lyn, as you know I don't color my hair, but even I know that a colorist should just touch up the roots of the highlights. What your stylist is doing, plus what she said to your about your hair thinning (you mentioned in an older post) makes me think you need to find a new hair stylist! Your hair should be getting healthier under her care, not more damaged. The same goes for your self esteem! Scarlet on "Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/touching-up-high-and-lowlights-advice-needed-pls#post-601792 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:06:42 +0000 Scarlet 601792@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I only got my highlights touched up once and now they are growing out, but she did only the roots. texstyle on "Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/touching-up-high-and-lowlights-advice-needed-pls#post-601598 Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:44:24 +0000 texstyle 601598@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ If you plan to keep having this done by someone you should definitely find someone who will only touch up the roots! I have light blonde hair also about 25% gray and I do my own all over color using Garnier Nutriesse Natural Blonde (closest match to my own shade) and then if I want some lighter highlights I use a highlight kit or use Sun-in on a cotton ball to apply to some small chunky strands. Sun- in is basically like 3% hydrogen peroxide - it works for me for this purpose, but I leave it in all day since it's only a few streaks and I get out in the sun too. I usually do this on a Sunday when I'm going to be just hanging out at home. The highlighting can be done on a different day than the other color so you have a chance to see how the the other color is doing first. My low lights usually happen naturally, meaning some of the dyed hair doesn't seem to "take" quite as much and after a week or two I seem to have pretty natural looking low and high lights. Lifting out color is always drying so I only do the above maybe 2 times in a year. And I don't wash my hair for several days after and then condition, Condition, CONDITION! My hair doesn't grow incredibly fast and my roots are usually not too noticeable but if they are, that's when I'll do the highlight and focus on the root area with my streaks to help blend it in. Hope that helps! Suz on "Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/touching-up-high-and-lowlights-advice-needed-pls#post-601595 Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:41:48 +0000 Suz 601595@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lyn, my hair has quite a lot of grey now...I'm not sure how much. It's not enough so that I can go salt-and-pepper (or so my hairdresser tells me...though that could be self-interest talking, now that I think of it!) but it's enough that I have had to resort to all-over colour plus highlights. I do it this way - highlights only once every four months or so. Colour on the roots only every 6 to 8 weeks. It seems to work. But my hair is thick and fairly forgiving. annagybe on "Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/touching-up-high-and-lowlights-advice-needed-pls#post-601578 Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:20:42 +0000 annagybe 601578@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Um, I think you need a new hairdresser. Mine only highlights the roots. Although she does pull low lights throughout the hair strand. lyn67 on "Touching up high-and lowlights, advice needed, pls!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/touching-up-high-and-lowlights-advice-needed-pls#post-601549 Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:12:23 +0000 lyn67 601549@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ To begin with: I have natural dark ash blonde, now25% grey hair. You surely can see in my profile pictie that I have lots of very thin strands of very high(bleached)lights, and some lowlights in dark brown all over my hair. Fellows platinum blonde, or those with high-and lowlights, can you advice me about how to touch/refreshen them up without damaging hair? Is your hairdresser picking up always the same strands for high-and lowlights, and touches up the roots only? How often do you do that? As my hair is going more grey I find myself toying with the ideea on colouring my all hair (lightest blond) and then ask for some lowlights for contrast. Will this be a better option for more healthly hair?(I find my hair is very thin and broken from bleached highlights-as my hairfresser doesn't only touch up my roots, but put the bleach on the all length of my hair, every 2,5 months or so...My hair is already so thin I wouldn't risk to go thinner, but I like it lightest blonde(almost platinum). Thanx for advicing.