We have a lot of clients questioning whether men’s highlights are in fashion, and the answer is yes – they’re making a comeback! After a huge surge in popularity in the 90s, thanks to the boy bands of that era, it seems as if men’s highlights are set to have their moment in the 21st century. However, just because highlights were popular back in the 90s, doesn’t necessarily mean that they were done well – think Justin Timberlake’s stringy highlights. Eek! But men’s highlights shouldn’t be written off! Men’s highlights can elevate your style!
We’ll go through the types of highlights, different colours, maintenance tips, and more in our ultimate guide to trendy highlights for men – all with the help of RUSH’s expertise in men’s highlights.
Types of Men’s Highlights
Highlights are no longer exclusively for women – men’s highlights are making a comeback, and we can completely understand why! Highlights are a perfect way to switch up your look just in time for the summer months, adding a sun kissed glow to your locks, whilst keeping you completely on trend. Highlights are a great option for men who want to spice up their look without dyeing their entire head, as highlights can be as noticeable or subtle as you’d like!
Men’s Highlights: What To Know
If you’re considering getting highlights, there are a few things to know before you take the plunge. Highlights can be any shade, as long as they’re lighter than the base hair colour – looking great on a variety of hair lengths, textures, and styles. Another benefit of highlights is that if placed strategically, they will grow out gradually with a natural looking appearance. As with any hair colour, a certain level of commitment is required to maintain the look, meaning that if you’re looking to keep your highlights looking fresh, you’ll be required to make a trip to the salon every 8 to 10 weeks.
The most popular highlighted hairstyles are about keeping it natural, whilst adding dimension and depth to the hair. The highlighting process can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, depending on your hair type, and gives the stylist time to place the colour and allow it to process. As with any bleaching treatment, a certain level of damage can be caused to the hair. We’d recommend chatting with your stylist before proceeding if you suffer from thinning, damaged or fine hair.
Foil Highlights
Foils are the most common method to highlight the hair – with your stylist strategically placing the bleach to seamlessly blend the highlights throughout your locks. Once the bleach is placed, it’s. then wrapped in a sheet of foil to allow it to develop. This process separates each highlight for a more seamless look, whilst speeding up the lightening process by trapping the heat. This processes the bleach faster and when the foils are closes, this pushes the pigment deeper into the hair. Foils have been used in salons for years – being best known for the amazing results they produce every time.
Choosing the Right Highlights
When choosing the right highlights, it’s essential to take into consideration things like face shape, undertones, personal style, and your commitment to the look, to make sure you’re choosing the right colour. For example, natural sun-kissed highlights would complement men who have a warm undertone – instantly brightening their appearance. Whilst subtle lowlights can add depth and dimension for men who have a cool undertone – deepening their appearance, so it’s essential to take these things into consideration when choosing!
Trendy Hair Highlights for Men
Highlights are no longer exclusively for women – men’s highlights are making a comeback, and we can completely understand why! And don’t panic, were not talking about the awful boyband highlights of the 90s! We’re talking highlights which illuminate the face without being too in your face. They’re the perfect way to switch up your look just in time for the summer months! This could be adding a sun kissed glow to your locks or adding shadow and richness to your hair with lowlights – we’ll be talking about the trendiest hair highlights for men that will refresh your look.
Natural Sun-Kissed Highlights
Natural Sun-Kissed Highlights are a blend of light blonde and golden tones to achieve a beachy, summer look. This look is great for men who are wanting to complement their tanned skin in the summer – brightening and refreshing their whole look in time for summer!
Face-Framing Highlights
Face-framing highlights are ideal for men with sharper features and a square or long shaped face as they accentuate and draw attention to their striking facial features. Face-framing highlights instantly brighten your complexion and your overall appearance!
Chunky Blonde Highlights
You heard it here first…chunky blonde highlights are back in fashion. And no, we’re not talking about those awful block highlights of the 90s. We’re talking highlights that blend seamlessly with a darker base to create dimension and moment to what is sometimes flat looking hair. The 90s are back!
Grey/Silver Highlights
Grey and silver highlights are a perfect way to compliment men who have a cooler complexion and undertones. This look takes a lot of work to maintain, but they add a certain edge to your look so once you get them, you’ll be hooked!
Balayage Highlights
Balayage highlights are a subtle change to the hair, but that doesn’t mean their impact is any less! This type of highlights is scattered throughout the hair, to add emphasise to the texture and layers of the hair and give the hair a more naturally brightened appearance than dyeing the entire head.
Contrasting Colour Highlights
This highlight trend is up-and-coming for 2024 – involving the highest highs and the lowest lows being blended throughout to create a bold look!
Subtle Lowlights
This look is great for men who are wanting to add a subtle change to their look whilst still drawing attention to their features, especially if you have darker hair. Subtle lowlights can add a depth to rich dark hair and require minimal visits to the salon – a bonus for those who struggle with finding the time to go to the salon!
Caramel Highlights
Caramel highlights are a mix of honey blonde, golden brown and red – being the perfect type of highlights of men with a neutral or warm undertone, that are more slightly olive or yellow. These highlights will soften the face’s feature, whilst adding warmth. Alongside this, these highlights will grow-out well without a demarcation line.
Blended Highlights
Similar to balayage highlights, blended highlights are meant to blend seamlessly throughout the hair, but blended highlights are supposed to be more natural. Blended highlights require less bleach and will not be as noticeable – but if placed strategically, they will completely brighten your look.
Ashy Highlights
Ashy highlights are a perfect option for men who want to brighten their hair without going to blonde. We’d recommend getting a few different tones of ash highlights to add texture and depth to the hair – think bluely or purple tones!
The Highlighting Process
Step 1 – Begin with dry hair, sectioning the hair into 4 sections.
Step 2 – To ensure that the highlights blend in seamlessly with the base colour, the colour must be applied in rows. With the lower parts of the hair that have been sectioned off, you’ll need to create horizontal rows. In the top parts of the hair that have been sectioned off, you need to create vertical rows.
Step 3 – Begin the highlighting process in the lower sections, using a tint brush to weave through the row, keeping each weave no thicker than 1 to 2 cm.
Step 4 – Place a foil underneath the hair and apply to colour. Once completed, fold your colour in the foil and move onto the next row, using the same application technique until you finish each section of the hair.
Step 5 – When moving on to the top sections of the hair, you’ll change from horizontal to vertical, creating rows that will work their way down to the ear.
Aftercare and Maintenance Tips
Achieving and maintaining the perfect highlighted tips is down to how well you look after them after your visit to the salon. For those who have had their hair bleached for highlights, we’d recommend using shampoos that do not contain sulphates. Hair that has been lightened by bleach has already been weakened by the harsh chemicals found within the bleach, and shampoos that contain sulphates further damage the hair’s compromised state.
Sulphates strip the hair of its natural oils, exposing the hair to damage and dehydration, leading to dull-looking blondes. Regular trims every 8 to 10 weeks are another essential for keeping highlights looking fresh and healthy, helping to seal the ends and prevent further breakage or damage caused by the harsh chemicals found within bleach.
Book Your Hair Appointment Now
Are you ready to take the plunge and start your highlighted hair journey? Book your hair appointment with one of our skilled stylists at Rush.co.uk or find a hairdresser near you to embark on a personalised hair journey. Our experts are here to bring your hair dreams to life.
FAQ's
What are hair highlights for men?
Highlights are no longer exclusively for women – men’s highlights are making a comeback, and we can completely understand why! Highlights for men are exactly the same as women’s highlights – a great way to brighten and spice up your look!
Can I get highlights if I have short hair?
Highlights are a fabulous addition for short hair – adding a bit of edge, depth, tone and texture to a shorter crop.
How long do highlights last?
As with any hair colour, a certain level of commitment is required to maintain the look, meaning that if you’re looking to keep your highlights looking fresh, you’ll be required to make a trip to the salon every 8 to 10 weeks.
How can I make my highlights last longer?
Achieving and maintaining the perfect highlighted tips is down to how well you look after them after your visit to the salon. For those who have had their hair bleached for highlights, we’d recommend using shampoos that do not contain sulphates and getting regular trims!
Will highlights damage my hair?
Bleaching treatments can cause a high level of hair damage. This could be in the form of dryness, brittle texture, frizz, split ends and breakage.
Are there any side effects of getting highlights?
As with any bleaching treatment, a certain level of damage can be caused to the hair. We’d recommend chatting with your stylist before proceeding if you suffer from thinning, damaged or fine hair.
Can I choose the colour of my highlights?
Yes, you can choose the colour of your highlights. We’d recommend chatting with your stylist to find your best shade.
Can I get highlights if I have grey hair?
Yes, grey hair can be highlighted. Highlights are a great way to cover up greys and create a seamlessly blended finish.
Can I remove highlights from my hair?
As with any bleaching treatment, the only way to get rid of highlights is letting them grow out or having colour applied over them in the salon. We’d recommend leaving it to the professionals!
Are highlights suitable for all hair types?
Highlights work well on all hair types, especially for those who have thin or fine hair as the colour will plump the hair, adding edge, depth, tone to fragile- looking hair.
How do I choose the right highlight colour for my hair?
This will all depend on your desired look – we’d recommend chatting to your stylist at RUSH who will be able to give you their expert advice on choosing the right highlights for your base colour!
Can I get highlights if I have dark hair?
When getting highlights, it’s essential to keep your natural hair colour in mind. We’d recommend starting smaller and working your way up, gradually lightening the hair. The experts at RUSH would begin by going two or three levels lighter as a starting point.
How long does it take to get highlights done?
The highlighting process can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, depending on your hair type, and gives the stylist time to place the colour and allow it to process.
Will highlights look natural on men's hair?
Highlights are a perfect way to switch up your look just in time for the summer months, whilst keeping you completely on trend. Highlights are a great option for men who want to spice up their look without dyeing their entire head, as highlights can be as noticeable or subtle as you’d like!
Can I get highlights if I have curly hair?
Highlights are a great addition to curly hair, adding even more depth and definition to already defined hair.
Do highlights require special hair care products?
We’d recommend investing in a shampoo and conditioner that will focus on hydrating the hair to maintain and brighten your highlights. Want to find out more about hair care for men? Read our guide on 40 Expert Haircare and Styling Tips for Men.
