As the shadows lengthen, the days shorten, and a refreshing chill settles in around New York, many of us begin to think about changing our look to match the season. As some of the most popular hair treatments available, highlights and lowlights are often at the top of the list when re-evaluating your look. But what are the differences between the two? And what hair colors do they each complement best? Let’s take a dive in to your autumnal hair-coloring options.
What are Highlights?
Highlights are a look defined by lightened strands of hair that are often separated from the base, darker hair color and then have some sort of lightener applied using foil. Highlights are named so because of the contrast that they provide against your natural color, and are excellent for a more solid and brighter look.
Ideally, highlights are 2-3 shades brighter than the surrounding hair, which means that they range from “honey to golden to caramel for brunettes; for redheads, something in the strawberry blonde category is usually gorgeous, and for blondes, they air on the side of bright-blonde and platinum.”
While you can certainly highlight your hair for the fall, highlights do impart a sun-kissed effect on hair and have a brightening effect, which makes them more popular in the summertime. That said, you’ll also stand out in the fall should you opt for the more rare flaxen locks-look.
What are Lowlights?
Lowlights are dyed sections of hair that are darker than your base color. As with highlights, a hair treatment (in this case, a dye) is applied, typically with foil. The result is generally added dimension or depth, as the darker strands of hair create a shadowed effect. When it comes to lowlights, the darker colors are typically spread throughout the hair more evenly, which adds more subtlety to your overall look, as opposed to highlights. Lowlights are often 2-3 shades darker than your base color.
What Hair Colors and Situations Are Lowlights Best Suited To?
Generally speaking, lowlights tend to be more popular in the autumn and winter because the depth, darker tones and more subdued feel of the season is mirrored by the style. While bright highlights are evocative of the sun, dying your hair darker – in segments – gives a more warm but still playful autumnal feel to your appearance. Whether you want to make a post-summer statement with highlights, or blend in with the fashion-forward crowd as the days grow short, you can do so at either of Fabio Scalia’s NYC salons!
Where Can I Get Highlights & Lowlights in New York?
Fabio Scalia is an upscale hair salon with locations in SoHo and Brooklyn that offers a full complement of luxury salon services including haircuts, styling, highlights, lowlights, balayage coloring extensions, and Japanese hair straightening. They offer intimate consultations and can custom tailor your look to incorporate your newly-straightened hair into your style. The SoHo location is at 311 West Broadway and can be reached at (212) 343-0523, or book at the Brooklyn Heights location at 148 Montague Street at (718) 855-5777 for your new look, today!