The world of hair coloring can be a confusing maze of terms and techniques. From balayage to ombre, it’s easy to get lost in the jargon. One particular highlighting method, the face frame highlight, has gained immense popularity in recent years, and for good reason. It’s a versatile and effective way to brighten your complexion and add dimension to your hair without committing to an all-over color change. This comprehensive guide will explore everything you need to know about face frame highlights, including what they are, how they’re done, who they’re best for, and how to maintain them.
Understanding the Face Frame Highlight Technique
At its core, a face frame highlight involves lightening the strands of hair that directly frame your face. These highlights are strategically placed around your hairline, typically starting from the temples and extending down to the chin, to illuminate your features and create a flattering, brightening effect.
The goal is to draw attention to your face, enhance your natural features, and add a touch of radiance. Unlike traditional highlights, which are scattered throughout the hair, face frame highlights are concentrated in a specific area, making them a less time-consuming and more subtle option. They are a fantastic way to test the waters if you’re hesitant about a full head of highlights or want a low-maintenance color solution.
The Magic Behind Placement
The placement of face frame highlights is crucial. A skilled colorist will take into account your face shape, skin tone, and hair texture to determine the optimal placement and tone of the highlights. For example, someone with a round face might benefit from highlights that are slightly angled upward to create the illusion of length, while someone with a square face might prefer softer, more diffused highlights to soften their jawline.
The colorist will also consider your natural hair color and desired outcome. The highlights should be a few shades lighter than your base color to create a noticeable but natural-looking contrast. The tone of the highlights, whether warm or cool, should complement your skin tone.
Different Types of Face Frame Highlights
While the general concept remains the same, face frame highlights can be customized in several ways to suit individual preferences and hair types. Here are some popular variations:
- Chunky Highlights: These are bolder and more defined, creating a high-contrast look. They work well for those who want a more dramatic effect.
- Babylights: These are extremely fine and subtle, mimicking the natural highlights that children often have. They are perfect for adding a touch of brightness without a drastic color change.
- Money Piece: This is a more concentrated and vibrant highlight that focuses on the very front strands of hair, creating a strong and eye-catching effect.
- Ribbon Highlights: These are slightly thicker than babylights but more blended than chunky highlights. They add dimension and movement to the hair.
Why Choose Face Frame Highlights?
There are numerous reasons why face frame highlights have become so popular. Here are a few of the key benefits:
- Brightening Effect: They instantly brighten your complexion and make you look more radiant.
- Low Maintenance: They require less frequent touch-ups than all-over highlights, making them a more budget-friendly and time-saving option.
- Versatile: They can be customized to suit any hair color, texture, and face shape.
- Subtle: They offer a more subtle and natural-looking alternative to all-over color.
- Easy Transition: They are a great way to transition into a lighter hair color gradually.
The Process: Getting Your Face Frame Highlights
The process of getting face frame highlights typically involves several steps, from consultation to aftercare. Understanding these steps can help you prepare for your appointment and ensure that you achieve the desired results.
Consultation
The first and most important step is a consultation with a skilled colorist. During the consultation, you’ll discuss your desired outcome, hair type, and skin tone. The colorist will assess your hair’s condition and determine the best technique and color for your face frame highlights.
Be sure to bring inspiration photos to show the colorist what you have in mind. It’s also important to be realistic about what can be achieved with your hair. The colorist will explain what is possible and what will look best on you.
Preparation
Once the consultation is complete, the colorist will prepare your hair for the highlighting process. This may involve washing and drying your hair or applying a protective serum.
The colorist will also section your hair to isolate the strands that will be highlighted. This is a crucial step to ensure precise and even application of the lightener.
Application
The lightener is then carefully applied to the selected strands of hair. The colorist will use a brush or foil to apply the lightener, taking care to avoid getting it on your scalp. The application technique will depend on the type of face frame highlights you’re getting. For example, babylights require a very delicate and precise application, while chunky highlights can be applied more boldly.
The lightener is left on the hair for a specific amount of time, depending on the desired level of lightness and the condition of your hair. The colorist will check the hair regularly to ensure that it’s lifting properly and to prevent damage.
Toning
After the lightener has processed, it’s rinsed out, and a toner is applied. The toner is used to neutralize any unwanted undertones, such as yellow or orange, and to create the desired final color.
The toner is left on the hair for a few minutes and then rinsed out. This step is essential for achieving a polished and natural-looking result.
Finishing
Finally, the hair is washed, conditioned, and styled. The colorist may use a special shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair to help protect and nourish your locks.
The hair is then blow-dried and styled to showcase your new face frame highlights. The colorist will also provide you with tips on how to maintain your highlights and keep them looking their best.
Who Benefits Most from Face Frame Highlights?
The beauty of face frame highlights lies in their versatility. They can be adapted to suit a wide range of hair types, colors, and face shapes. However, certain individuals tend to benefit most from this technique.
Those Seeking a Subtle Change
If you’re looking for a subtle way to brighten your complexion and add dimension to your hair without a drastic color change, face frame highlights are an excellent option. They provide a noticeable but natural-looking result that enhances your features without being overwhelming.
Individuals with Darker Hair
Face frame highlights can be particularly striking on individuals with darker hair. The contrast between the dark base and the lighter highlights creates a beautiful and eye-catching effect.
People with Fine or Thin Hair
Face frame highlights can add the illusion of thickness and volume to fine or thin hair. By strategically placing the highlights around the face, you can create the appearance of more fullness.
Those with All Face Shapes
As mentioned earlier, face frame highlights can be tailored to flatter any face shape. A skilled colorist can use the placement and tone of the highlights to create a more balanced and harmonious appearance.
Maintaining Your Face Frame Highlights
Once you’ve achieved your perfect face frame highlights, it’s important to take proper care of them to keep them looking vibrant and healthy. Here are some essential maintenance tips:
Use Color-Safe Products
Invest in high-quality shampoos, conditioners, and styling products that are specifically formulated for color-treated hair. These products are designed to protect your color from fading and to nourish your hair.
Limit Heat Styling
Excessive heat styling can damage your hair and cause your color to fade more quickly. Try to limit your use of heat tools, such as flat irons and curling irons, and always use a heat protectant spray before styling.
Avoid Sun Exposure
The sun can also cause your color to fade. Wear a hat or scarf when you’re spending extended periods of time outdoors, and consider using a UV protectant spray on your hair.
Schedule Regular Touch-Ups
To maintain the brightness and vibrancy of your face frame highlights, you’ll need to schedule regular touch-up appointments with your colorist. The frequency of touch-ups will depend on how quickly your hair grows and how much contrast you want to maintain between your base color and your highlights. Typically, touch-ups are needed every 6-8 weeks.
Deep Condition Regularly
Highlighting can sometimes dry out the hair, so regular deep conditioning is essential. Use a deep conditioning mask once a week to replenish moisture and keep your hair healthy and strong.
DIY vs. Professional Face Frame Highlights
While DIY hair coloring has become increasingly popular, attempting face frame highlights at home can be risky. Achieving the precise placement and tone required for a natural-looking result is challenging, and mistakes can be difficult to correct.
Here’s a comparison of DIY vs. professional face frame highlights:
| Feature | DIY Face Frame Highlights | Professional Face Frame Highlights |
|—|—|—|
| Precision | Difficult to achieve precise placement and even application. | Precise placement and even application by a skilled colorist. |
| Color Matching | Difficult to match the right color and tone to your skin tone and hair color. | Expert color matching and customization to suit your individual needs. |
| Damage Control | Higher risk of damaging your hair due to improper application and processing time. | Lower risk of damage due to the colorist’s expertise and use of professional-grade products. |
| Results | Inconsistent and unpredictable results. | Consistent and predictable results that meet your expectations. |
| Cost | Lower upfront cost, but potential for costly corrections if mistakes are made. | Higher upfront cost, but long-term value due to superior results and reduced risk of damage. |
While DIY face frame highlights may seem tempting as a budget-friendly option, the risks involved often outweigh the benefits. Investing in professional face frame highlights ensures a beautiful, healthy, and long-lasting result.
Conclusion: Embrace the Radiance
Face frame highlights are a powerful tool for enhancing your natural beauty and adding a touch of radiance to your look. Whether you’re seeking a subtle change or a more dramatic transformation, this versatile technique can be customized to suit your individual needs and preferences. By understanding the process, benefits, and maintenance requirements of face frame highlights, you can make an informed decision and achieve a stunning, confidence-boosting result. So, embrace the radiance and let face frame highlights illuminate your features and brighten your world.
What exactly is a face frame highlight?
Face frame highlights, also known as money piece highlights, are strategic highlights placed around the front hairline to brighten and accentuate your facial features. They typically involve lightening the strands closest to your face, framing it with a brighter, lighter shade. The intention is to create a visually impactful effect that draws attention to your eyes, cheekbones, and overall complexion.
Unlike traditional highlights which are dispersed throughout the hair, face frame highlights are concentrated near the front. This targeted placement creates a high-contrast look with minimal effort and processing. They can be subtle or bold, depending on the desired level of brightness and contrast with your base color, and can be customized to suit various skin tones and hair colors.
What are the benefits of getting face frame highlights?
One of the major benefits of face frame highlights is their ability to instantly brighten your complexion and add a youthful glow. By placing lighter shades strategically around your face, these highlights reflect light onto your skin, diminishing the appearance of dullness and shadows. They can also enhance your natural features, making your eyes appear brighter and your cheekbones more defined.
Furthermore, face frame highlights are a low-maintenance way to refresh your hairstyle without committing to a full head of highlights or color. They require less frequent touch-ups compared to all-over color, making them a convenient option for busy individuals. This also means less potential damage to your hair, as only a small section is being processed. They’re a great way to experiment with lighter shades and add dimension to your existing color.
What hair colors and skin tones work best with face frame highlights?
Face frame highlights are incredibly versatile and can be adapted to complement a wide range of hair colors and skin tones. For those with cooler skin tones and darker hair, opting for cool-toned blonde or ash blonde highlights can create a beautiful contrast. Conversely, warmer skin tones often pair well with golden blonde, caramel, or copper highlights that enhance the warmth in their complexion.
The key is to choose a highlight shade that harmonizes with your natural coloring. Consultation with a professional colorist is crucial for determining the ideal tones that will complement your skin undertones and existing hair color. They can assess your complexion and hair type to create a customized look that enhances your features and creates a flattering, cohesive result.
How do I choose the right shade for my face frame highlights?
Selecting the right shade for your face frame highlights depends heavily on your skin’s undertones and your existing hair color. To identify your skin’s undertones, consider if you look best in gold or silver jewelry; gold typically complements warmer undertones, while silver flatters cooler undertones. Once you’ve identified your undertone, you can start to narrow down shade options.
For warm undertones, think about shades like honey blonde, caramel, or copper. Cooler undertones often benefit from ash blonde, platinum, or even cool-toned browns for a more subtle effect. It’s best to keep the highlight shade within a few levels of your base color for a more natural, blended look. Consulting a professional colorist is always recommended to ensure the shade is perfectly tailored to your individual complexion and hair color.
How often do face frame highlights need to be touched up?
The frequency of touch-ups for face frame highlights depends largely on how quickly your hair grows and the level of contrast between your highlights and your base color. Generally, you can expect to touch up your face frame highlights every 6-8 weeks to maintain their brightness and prevent a noticeable line of demarcation as your hair grows out. This is significantly less frequent than a full head of highlights.
To extend the life of your face frame highlights, use color-safe shampoos and conditioners specifically designed for highlighted hair. These products help to prevent fading and maintain the vibrancy of the color. You can also use a toner or gloss in between touch-ups to refresh the color and keep it looking its best. Remember that excessive heat styling can also contribute to color fade, so use heat protectant products whenever possible.
Can I do face frame highlights at home?
While it may be tempting to try face frame highlights at home, it’s generally recommended to have them done professionally. Achieving the desired result requires precise application and a good understanding of color theory to ensure the highlights blend seamlessly with your base color and complement your skin tone. Improper application can lead to uneven color, harsh lines, or even hair damage.
A professional colorist has the expertise to assess your hair’s condition, select the appropriate lightening products, and apply them strategically to achieve the desired look. They can also correct any potential mistakes and ensure that your hair remains healthy throughout the process. While DIY kits are available, the risk of damage and unsatisfactory results is significantly higher compared to a professional service.
How do I care for my hair after getting face frame highlights?
Proper hair care is essential for maintaining the vibrancy and health of your hair after getting face frame highlights. Start by using a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner designed for color-treated hair. These products are gentler on the hair and help prevent color from fading. Additionally, incorporate a deep conditioning treatment or hair mask into your routine once a week to replenish moisture and strengthen the hair.
Protect your hair from heat damage by using a heat protectant spray before styling with heat tools such as straighteners, curling irons, or blow dryers. Limit your exposure to direct sunlight, as UV rays can also cause color to fade. Consider using a leave-in conditioner with UV protection. Finally, regular trims are important to remove split ends and keep your hair looking healthy and polished, further enhancing the appearance of your face frame highlights.