Top 4 Best Highlights to Rock on Your Mane This Fall

Looking for the best highlights to rock on your beautiful hair? Here are the top natural-looking highlight styles you can try on your mane.

We've come a long way from the chunky highlights of the early 2000s. Even Kelly Clarkson has said goodbye to her stripes. Lightening hair has become an art of its own, and gone are the days of slapping some bleach onto foil and hoping for the best.

Read on to learn about the freshest trends (that are probably here to stay) and the best highlights that you can absolutely rock this fall. 

1. All About That Balayage

Best highlights this fall: the Balayage

Balayage is a French term meaning "to sweep" or "to paint." This hair dye game changer is hand painting color onto your hair. Hair stylist, Evelise Batiz, brings the shine to clients at her salon, Feathered by Evelise, in Temecula, California, and says when it comes to trends in highlights, balayage is queen.

People love the results of this hair highlight technique because it emulates sun-kissed hair. Batiz explains, "It's lighter toward the bottom, and it gets darker as it goes to the top, which is what hair normally does in the sun...so it's more of a natural highlight."

Pasadena, California-based hairstylist, Maggie Manley agrees, "Natural color will always be in, and balayage is a great way to achieve a low maintenance natural look."

There's also a hybrid hair highlight technique, foilyage. Foilyage beautifully unites the subtlety of hair painting (balayage) and the power of foil. Foilyage is generally seen as the most effective route for darker manes.

It can give them the lighter hues they're looking for, but not as harsh as traditional highlights. "For brunettes, a little goes a long way. Don't over highlight, so you keep the dimension and sparkle," says Manley.

Batiz always recommends a deep conditioning treatment, like our Mane Goals Deep Repair Hair Mask, for clients who come in for highlights. She also suggests using a protein bond builder product.

When you use any color, it has to create holes in the surface of the cuticles. The bond builder fills in those holes like spackling on a wall.

2. Slay with Ombré and Sombré

Next on our list of the best highlights to rock this fall is the famous ombré.

According to the professional colorists consulted by Elle UK, "Ombré means to shadow, and it's seamless graduation from darker to lighter." Batiz clarifies that ombré isn't necessarily in the same genre as highlights. "I wouldn't consider that a highlighter.

The bottom is completely light as it moves up into the dark, so it's a whole separate technique." With an ombré dye, all the hair's ends are impacted. Also, the transition between deeper roots and lighter ends are not very long.

Let's not forget the baby sister of ombré, the sombré. Sombré is the less intense version of the ombré. This natural-looking highlight hair style is a softer, more subtle transition of color from roots to tips.

With either natural-looking highlight hair style be sure to keep those tips hydrated with a formula designed to combat dry ends, like our NuMe Seal The Deal End Sealer.

3. The Lowdown on Lowlights

When talking about the best highlights this fall, we can't forget to mention the lowlights.

"If you ever feel flat or one dimensional ask for lowlights!" says Manley. While highlights are a shade or two lighter than your natural hair color and are used to soften and brighten up the overall head of hair, lowlights are at the opposite end of the spectrum, being a shade or two darker than your natural base color.

They add depth and dimension, making hair look thicker and more voluminous.

Batiz sticks to lowlights "mainly on light brunettes, to deepen their hair color and make it richer." But the lowlight magic can work for blondes too. Manley believes lowlights "are a great way to add depth to a blonde.

It will also make the blonde pop again!" Add even more subtle shine to this natural-looking highlight hair style with a tiny dose of the NuMe Gloss Boss Serum.

4. Pop of Colorful

Blue or pink strands are becoming more popular than ever. Batiz says the key with these natural-looking highlight hair styles is, for example, "mixing up colors and not doing a solid blue or solid pink". "They're doing the colors with different variations of that color, and making it look...like a balayage, but with blue hair."

In particular, "younger kids between nine and 13 are utilizing a lot of color—leopard, flowers on their head, pictures, tie-dye..."

While ombre was the go-to technique for adding non-traditional color to hair for a while, it's not uncommon for clients to now ask for the balayage version, if not full-on color.

There's never been a better time to achieve natural looking highlights or even natural looking non-traditional hair colors.

And thanks to the 'gram, it's easy to see the work of so many stylists so you can find one that you vibe within your area. For more highlighting trends, and all things hair, be sure to follow us on Instagram @NuMeHair.

Sign up for our NuMe Rewards & Loyalty Program to earn points so that you'll be on your way to achieving gifts, products, tools, and even tickets to exclusive NuMe events.

5 tips to care about your highlights

Now that you are up to date with the best highlights for this fall, keep in mind that it's also important to take a good care of them - not only because they will last longer, but also because it's important to keep your hair healthy and shiny.

Let's take a look at our tips on how to care about your highlights:

1. Use a hydrating shampoo 

Invest in a high-quality, all-natural shampoos designed to provide nourishment and hydration for the hair, such as the NuMe Vegan Tourmaline Shampoo.

It will help you lock in color and prevent fading. Choosing a sulfate-free option is essential as sulfates can strip away color - the NuMe shampoo contains only natural ingredients such as amino acids, tourmaline powder and hydrolyzed quinoa to smooth and hydrate your hair. 

2. Limit sun exposure

Prolonged sun exposure can cause your hair color to fade faster. If you're going to be in the sun for an extended period, consider wearing a hat or using a UV-protective hair spray to shield your highlights.

We recommend the NuMe Watch Me Werk Thermal Heat Protectant to ensure that your hair has proper UV protection at all times.

3. Adjust your washing routine

Washing your hair too frequently can strip away natural oils and color. Try to wash your hair less often, and when you do, use lukewarm water instead of hot water, as hot water can open the hair cuticle and accelerate color loss.

4. Deep conditioning treatments

Keep your hair moisturized and healthy with regular deep conditioning treatments. This helps prevent dryness and damage, which can make your highlights appear dull.

Consider using a deep conditioning mask or treatment, such as the NuMe Vegan Tourmaline Hair Mask, once a week.

5. Avoid heat styling

Heat styling tools, such as flat irons and curling irons, can contribute to color fading if you are applying excessively high temperatures - or using low-quality products.

For this reason, we recommend opting for a tourmaline-plated flat iron with adjustable settings, like the NuMe Megastar Flat Iron - its proprietary negative ion conditioning technology ensures that moisture has been locked in for effective results without the damage.

FAQ

What are the four basic types of highlights?

The four basic types of highlights are foil highlights, balayage, ombre, and chunky highlights. Foil highlights involve wrapping sections of hair in foil for precision. Balayage creates a natural, sun-kissed look with hand-painted highlights.

Ombre features a gradual color transition from dark to light. Chunky highlights involve thicker, more noticeable streaks for a bold and contrasting effect. Each technique offers a distinct result, catering to diverse preferences and styles in hair highlighting.

Do highlights damage hair?

Highlights can potentially damage hair due to the use of chemicals in the coloring process. Bleaching agents strip natural pigment, leading to dryness. Overprocessing or improper care may cause breakage.

However, with proper maintenance, like using quality products and minimizing heat styling, the risk of damage can be reduced.

Consulting with a professional colorist helps tailor the process to your hair type, minimizing potential harm while achieving the desired highlighted look.

Should highlights be darker or lighter?

Whether highlights should be darker or lighter depends on personal preference and desired outcomes. Lighter highlights, like blonde or caramel tones, create brightness and dimension.

Darker highlights, such as rich browns or auburn, add depth and contrast. Consider your base color, skin tone, and the overall look you want to achieve.

Consultation with a colorist can provide expert guidance, ensuring the chosen highlights complement your features and style, whether opting for a subtle enhancement or a more dramatic contrast.

Ultimately, the decision between darker or lighter highlights is subjective and should align with your aesthetic preferences and lifestyle.

How should I take care of hair with highlights? 

To care for highlighted hair, use color-safe products, limit sun exposure, and adjust your washing routine to prevent color fading. Incorporate deep conditioning treatments for moisture, and minimize heat styling to prevent damage.

Regular trims help maintain health, and consulting with a stylist ensures tailored care for your specific highlights, promoting vibrancy and longevity. Consistency in a gentle care routine will preserve the integrity of your hair, keeping your highlights looking fresh and vibrant.

Looking for more hair inspo? Check it out here & here!

Author: Mary Patterson Broome