Partial vs. Full Head Highlights: Which One Is Right for You?

If you’ve ever considered going lighter with your hair, chances are that highlights are an option you must considered.

Highlights are the perfect way to test the waters, trying lighter strands with less commitment. Not to mention, they’re also a great way to add dimension and movement to any hair colour.

Once you’ve decided highlights are the move for you, you may be left with a new question: Should you get partial or full head highlights?

Let me help you settle the partial vs. full highlights debate, explaining what exactly partial highlights are, and sharing a few colour ideas worth trying if you decide to give partial highlights a go.

WHAT ARE PARTIAL HIGHLIGHTS?

Simply put, partial highlights involve partially highlighting your hair. This highlighting technique is focused on one section of your hair. Rather than providing all-over dimension, partial highlights can be used to create a subtle or bold look depending on where they’re placed and the amount of contrast you desire.

PARTIAL VS FULL HIGHLIGHTS: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Of course, the main difference between partial and full highlights is the number of highlights placed throughout your hair. That being said, the two techniques also differ in the results they create. Which one is best for you? Here’s the breakdown.

If you want an all-over colour change…

A full head highlights will be the best option. This is the ideal technique if you want to have an all-over lighter appearance without bleaching your entire head of hair.

If you want natural dimension…partial highlights are the way to go! Ask your colorist for highlights that are one to two shades lighter than your hair color for a subtle, natural appearance.

If you want standout dimension…once again, partial highlights are the highlighting technique for you. By opting for a lighter shade, your colorist can create a high-contrast, dimensional look.

3 HAIR COLOR IDEAS WITH PARTIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Whether you’re interested in partial highlights on brown hair or partial blonde highlights, there’s certainly no shortage of options when it comes to trying this hair highlighting technique. If you need some placement inspo, consider one of the following.

1. Face-framing. One of the most popular options for partial highlights is to brighten your mane with face-framing dimension. As you can imagine, this focuses the placement of your highlights around your face.

2. Mohawk. Another popular placement option for partial highlights, your colorist can concentrate your highlights on the “mohawk” section of your hair. This technique is exactly what you’re likely thinking—sectioning the top, center section of hair and placing highlights throughout, resulting in subtle dimension. And in case it isn’t obvious, no, you don’t need a mohawk hairstyle to rock this look!

3. Top half. For a more all-over look without committing to full highlights, ask your colorist to place partial highlights throughout the top half of your hair. This will result in distributed, even lightness. It’s also a popular option for touch-ups in between getting full sets of highlights.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HIGHLIGHTED HAIR

Now that you know what the deal is with partial and full highlights, you may be wondering how to maintain lightened strands. Here are a few things to keep in mind for taking care of highlighted hair.

Tip #1: Keep the colour safe. Bleached, highlighted hair for the most part can become more easily damaged causing the colour to fade faster, or it would have a tendency to become brassy over time, especially if you’re starting with a dark base color. My personal advice is to combine two different products when it comes down to shampoo & conditioner. A shampoo for coloured hair would provide a gentle cleansing with properties that would keep the colour pigments on your hair for longer and instead of using the conditioner from the same, opt for a conditioner for dry/damaged hair that would propably have more deep conditioning properties restoring hair condition and therefore preventing the colour from fading as well.

Tip #2: Keep up with touch-ups.

Make sure to book appointments with your colorist in advance, having your root touch up every 5-6 weeks is a good option to keep appointments short and with no complications as longer regrowths can be more difficult to lift and match same colour as before. so your highlighted.

Tip #3: Keep it smooth and shiny. Highlighted hair needs a little TLC, and it’s safe to say that no form of hair color looks good on frizzy, dull strands. Show off your partial highlights in all their glory by keeping your mane smooth and shiny with the help of Olaplex No.8 once a week for silkier, shinier, and healthier-looking hair.