How often can I have my hair highlighted?

Question

I just had it done 2 weeks ago, it's finally NOT black anymore but brown with different streaks in it. The gal who did it used the cap method. I am trying to get it lighter and lighter, eventually I want to be blond again.
Thanks!

Answer 1

It sounds like you would be better off to have your hair highlighted using foils instead of a cap. With the foils the stylist can specifically place the highlights/foils where you want them, as heavy or as light as you want them and she can take small weaved sections so if you want natural looking or larger weaved sections for a chunky look. There should be a pretty good consultation between you and the stylist so she fully understand what you want not to mention you get what you are paying for... Since you say you want to be blonde again- then have your stylist do a *heavy* all over foil highlight. She could use 2-3 different blondes do give you dimension or depth with the color- you don't want to be just one solid blonde-that never looks quite right. Any way the frequency depends on how fast your hair grows as to how often you would do a re-touch (make sure the stylist only puts color on the new growth!) --->if she puts the color on hair that has already had color, you will have major damage and breakage, and I know you don't want that! The average time between a retouch of highlights can vary between 6-8 weeks.

So what I'm saying is make sure you have an experienced stylist that knows *a lot* about coloring and highlighting!

Good luck!

Answer 2

Well there could be several answers to this question that could be correct. Any experienced hair stylist will tell you it is a mutiple step process. If you are doing it on your own, my suggestion to you is to stop. Being that you hair is dark, and dark hair has a tendency to turn red/or brassy you will require toning. Also, being that your hair is dark/ you will have to do it gradually and it is best to use foils instead of caps for several reasons. You can do a larger area of your hair and get more coverage. As well as caps are more damaging because you have to pull it through and then pull the cap off which will damage the already processed/damaged hair. I have dark hair naturally and it has taken a good 5-6 times within 8 week intervals between each process. It is also important that you condition your hair well and not wash it every day so that you folicles can rejuvinate the natural oils already lost in your hair. Also, make sure that you are keeping up on trimming the ends. Hope that some of this information is useful to you and good luck. Also remember "Patience is Virtue" don't try to rush it, do it in steps you will be more pleased with your results.

Answer 3

I've had highlights on two different occasions and I would get the highlights retouched about every two to three months. I also believe the foil method is better than the cap method because the cap method pulls more of the hair out.

It varies from person to person, depending on how often the hair is washed, out in the sun, etc. If your highlights start to look dull to you and you have a lot of dark roots showing, then it is time to get them retouched.

Also, deep conditioning the hair helps. Deep conditioning is putting on conditioner after shampooing, placing on a plastic processing cap and sitting under a hooded dryer for about 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinsing it out. This will keep the hair from being damaged from the chemical processing.

Answer 4

As a stylist of 21 years, I can suggest that the next time you get a foil highlight. That way they can concentrate on the new growth and also the areas that the other stylist missed doing the cap. What you want to try to avoid is putting the lightener over the same areas every time. This in the long run creates damage to your hair. You should wait until you have at lest 1 inch or more of new growth for the stylist to work with. Also, if you find someone who foils real good, it will get the highlights closer to the head then the cap method. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

There is no specific time frame. Basically your roots will tell you when it is time. Everyones hair grows a bit differently so one person may need to go every 2 months but that may not apply to you. Watch your root you will see when it is time - it is the best indicator. Highlights are not like full colors (4 weeks between applications) with highlights you can tend to go anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks. Jade Former stylist.

Answer 6

The way I do my hair is.... about every 2 months.... alternate color with highlight, and give your hair a break from the bleaching in between.

Right now, my hair is a medium brown, with like 2 or 3 diff streaks of highlight going through it.... I think it looks great, and I get compliments all the time!

Answer 7

All I'm saying is to BE CAREFUL and to do what seems right to you and not what some "professional" tells you. Make sure to get a swatch test done. Ask a "pro" to do the strand test on your hair, even if you have to pay for this. I've never heard of anyone doing this, but, read on.. here's why I say get the strand test first from the pro..

I had exactly the same dark hair and desire to be a blonde that you have ;> I had my hair done by a "professional" and my hair was burnt beyond all recognition. I told her that I wanted to be blonde, but that I was willing to do it in stages- in as many stages and taking as much time as necessary- but she said, "oh, no! you don't have to wait and go through all of that trouble!" and so I believed her, because hair coloring was supposedly her craft.. and voila.. when she was done, I had bright, NEON YELLOW, BRITTLE THREADS for hair. It was awful.. and once you strip the color to make dark hair light, it seems the hair has a hard time holding onto ANY color, so it even had a hard time holding on to the original neon color and only got worse from there with each passing day, turning orange.

I ended up doing what the guy above me suggested. I cut all of my hair off and I started over. My hair has been growing out for two years and I still want to be blonde, but I will ask the colorist to do swatch tests first. If they get offended, then they won't get my business.

Answer 8

Wait at least 4-6 weeks or ask the person who does your hair what they reccommend. You will be alright as long as you don't highlight more often than every 4 weeks. Trust me, I speak from experience. I've been highlighting for years.

Answer 9

You should not highlight/color your hair more often than every 4 or 5 weeks.

Answer 10

I just got my hair highlighted finally... I let it all grow out. My hair dresser says u should wait a while before doing more color to ur hair esp. after u first have done so. I mean if u dye it to much ur hair will fall out.. lol Its not really funny but, its true. Give it at least a month or two before u drastically change it again. Ur head can only take so much of the chemicals.