How to Get Hot Summer Highlights

Sun-kissed highlights that appear completely natural have been on my list of summer hair must-haves for quite some time. After experimenting with various products and shade combinations, it is rather easy to determine the best and most flattering summer highlights for each specific hair color.

Black

So, you think it’s impossible to achieve convincing highlights with black hair? Think again. While it may not be dramatic as some, black hair can benefit greatly from dark auburn or medium chocolate highlights.

Avoid colors that are more than three shades lighter than your natural hair color. Platinum blonde highlights in naturally black hair is unnatural and unrealistic.

Dark Brown

Deep shades of brown that are bordering on black look amazing when highlighted with various shades of medium browns. Medium auburn shades can also be used.

Much like black hair, avoid going too light.

Medium and Light Brown

Hair that is naturally medium or light brown in color can be lightened quite a bit and still appear well-blended and natural. Sandy shades of blonde with a light hint of red look the most flattering when combined with medium and light browns.

Avoid highlight browns with other shades of brown, as the colors typically will cancel each other out and fail to create the appearance of slight, natural highlights.

Dark Red

When it comes to highlighting dark red hair, the mistakes often outweigh the successes. Although it may seem tricky, deep reds can be highlighted with medium auburns and appear completely natural and flattering.

Avoid blonde and brown highlights with dark red hair, as the combination simply fails to flatter.

Medium Red
Similar to that of dark red hair, medium reds must be highlighted carefully in order to avoid complete and obvious disaster. Medium reds should be highlighted very slightly with strawberry blondes or light shades of auburn.

Once again, avoid dramatic shades of blonde and all browns.

Strawberry Blonde

Naturally blonde hair with a touch of strawberry appears extremely natural when properly highlighted. Sandy blondes do wonders for most shades of strawberry blondes.

Light blondes and browns should be avoided, as the colors will only wash out one another.

Dark and Sandy Blonde

Dark and sandy shades of blonde are among the easiest to highlight. These colors are simply combined with shades of blonde that are two to three lighter than that of the natural color.

Attempt to stay as close to the natural color as possible without selecting a shade that is too deep.

Light Blonde

Although some may feel that light blonde hair simply does not need highlights, lighter shades can easily be made a bit more sun-kissed by adding the perfect balance of lighter shades, such as subtle platinum.

Avoid shades that are too dark to blend well with the natural color.

Source:
Experience