Hair highlights involve coloring certain strands of hair to create contrast and visual interest. This technique can be subtle or bold, depending on personal preference. Highlights have become increasingly popular among men as a way to enhance their hairstyles, express their personality, and stay on-trend. Let’s delve deeper into why highlights have gained such popularity among men.
What are Hair Highlights?
Hair highlights are created by lightening specific sections of hair, either by bleaching or using hair color. This creates a contrast between the highlighted strands and the rest of the hair, adding texture and depth to the overall hairstyle. Highlights can be done in various shades and techniques, allowing for a wide range of possibilities when it comes to men’s hairstyles.
Why are Highlights Popular Among Men?
In recent years, highlights have become a popular choice among men for several reasons. Firstly, they offer a way to personalize a hairstyle and make a unique statement. Highlights can add visual interest, break up a solid color, and create a more dynamic look. Secondly, highlights allow men to experiment with different hair colors without committing to a full head of dyed hair. This versatility appeals to those who want to express their individuality while maintaining a professional appearance. Lastly, highlights can help create the illusion of thicker hair, making them a go-to choice for men with thin or fine hair.
Choosing the Right Highlight Color
When deciding on the right highlight color, it’s important to consider factors such as skin tone and the natural hair color. Choosing a color that complements these factors will result in a more harmonious and natural-looking outcome. Let’s explore some key considerations for choosing the right highlight color for men.
Considering Skin Tone
For men with fair or light skin tones, cooler shades like ash blonde, platinum, or light brown can complement their complexion. On the other hand, men with warmer skin tones can opt for warmer shades such as caramel, honey, or golden blonde. It’s essential to find a balance that creates a cohesive look between the hair and skin.
Complementing Hair Color
The natural hair color plays a crucial role in determining the ideal highlight color. For men with dark hair, lighter shades like blonde or caramel can create a striking contrast. For those with lighter hair, darker highlights like brown or burgundy can add depth and dimension. A professional hairstylist can provide expert advice on selecting the right highlight color based on the natural hair color.
Different Highlighting Techniques for Men
Highlighting techniques for men can vary, depending on the desired outcome and personal preference. Some popular techniques include foil highlights, balayage highlights, chunky highlights, and ombre highlights. Let’s explore each of these techniques in more detail.
Foil Highlights
Foil highlights involve wrapping individual strands of hair in foil after applying the highlighting product. This technique allows for precise placement and control over the final result. Foil highlights can create a bold and defined look or a more subtle and natural appearance, depending on the thickness and placement of the foils.
Balayage Highlights
Balayage highlights have gained immense popularity in recent years due to their natural and effortless look. This technique involves hand-painting the highlights onto the hair, creating a soft, sun-kissed effect. Balayage highlights are low maintenance and grow out seamlessly, making them a favorite choice for men seeking a more relaxed and natural appearance.
Chunky Highlights
Chunky highlights involve creating bold, thick sections of highlighted hair. This technique creates a more dramatic and edgy look, perfect for those who want to make a statement. Chunky highlights work well with textured hairstyles, adding depth and contrast.
Ombre Highlights
Ombre highlights feature a gradual transition from dark to light or vice versa. This technique creates a striking contrast and can be customized to suit different hair lengths and styles. Ombre highlights are versatile and can be done with various color combinations, allowing for a unique and eye-catching result.
Popular Highlight Ideas for Men
Now that we have explored different highlighting techniques, let’s delve into some popular highlight ideas for men. These ideas can serve as inspiration when discussing your desired outcome with a hairstylist.
Natural-Looking Highlights
For men seeking a subtle and natural look, natural-looking highlights are an excellent choice. These highlights are usually a few shades lighter than the natural hair color and blend seamlessly, creating a sun-kissed effect. Natural-looking highlights work well for men who want a low-maintenance style that complements their overall appearance.
Blonde Highlights for Dark Hair
Blonde highlights on dark hair can create a striking contrast and add depth. The contrast between the dark base color and the lighter highlights can create a bold and eye-catching look. This style is often favored by men looking to make a statement or add a touch of edginess to their hairstyle.
Silver or Gray Highlights
Silver or gray highlights have gained popularity in recent years, not just among older men but also among younger generations. These highlights can create a sleek and sophisticated look, making a strong fashion statement. Silver or gray highlights work well with various hair colors, adding a touch of maturity and elegance.
Colored Highlights
For men who want to make a bold and unconventional statement, colored highlights offer endless possibilities. From vibrant blues and purples to fiery reds and oranges, colored highlights can add a unique and artistic touch to any hairstyle. This trend is especially popular among those seeking a vibrant and youthful appearance.
Face-Framing Highlights
Face-framing highlights involve placing highlights strategically around the face to accentuate facial features and create a frame. This technique can draw attention to specific areas, such as the cheekbones or jawline, and add a touch of brightness to the overall look. Face-framing highlights work well with various hairstyles and hair lengths.
Hairstyles that Complement Highlights
Highlighted hair can enhance the overall look of various hairstyles. Let’s explore some hairstyles that work particularly well with highlights:
Textured Crop
The textured crop is a versatile and trendy hairstyle that works exceptionally well with highlights. The contrasting tones created by the highlights add depth and dimension to the textured layers, creating a visually appealing and dynamic look.
Slicked-Back Undercut
The slicked-back undercut is a classic and polished hairstyle that exudes sophistication. Highlights can add an extra layer of style to this look by creating visual interest and contrast between the sleek, combed-back top and the shaved sides.
Messy Quiff
The messy quiff is a popular choice for men who prefer a casual and effortlessly stylish look. Highlights can elevate this hairstyle by adding texture and visual depth to the messy layers, creating a more dimensional and eye-catching appearance.