Highlights can be a great option for those who want to experiment with going lighter but don’t want to commit to an all-over hair color change. There are a few different types of highlights to choose from, but partial highlights and full highlights are the most popular options. Both coloring techniques can help brighten and add dimension to your mane, but they produce very different end results, with partial highlights being more subtle than a full set.
If you’re not sure which approach is right for you, keep reading. Here, we're helping you settle the partial vs. full highlights debate, explaining what exactly partial highlights are and how they differ from full highlights. We’ll also share a few hair color ideas worth considering if you’re ready to give partial highlights a go.
Partial highlights refer to a hair coloring technique that involves highlighting a portion of hair—usually, the sections framing the face—rather than the entire head. Like traditional highlights, the look is versatile and can easily be customized to suit different needs. If you want a super subtle change, consider babylights, a type of partial highlight designed to mimic the way your hair might look after a summer spent in the sun. Chunkier partial highlights, meanwhile, can produce a more pronounced, noticeable brightening effect.
The key difference between partial and full highlights is the number of highlights placed throughout the hair. As mentioned, partial highlights involve only coloring a few face-framing strands, while full highlights are woven throughout the entire mane.
Because of the different techniques, partial and full highlights yield different end results. Full highlights tend to be more pronounced and are ideal for those seeking a noticeable change without having to dye all of their hair. Partial highlights, meanwhile, are subtler and often result in a more natural-looking, sun-kissed effect. They’re also, in many cases, easier to maintain than full highlights—but we’ll get into that later.
Before deciding between partial highlights vs. full highlights, there are some things you may want to keep in mind. Ahead, we’re breaking down the top considerations to weigh before committing to either approach.
Both partial highlights and full highlights can work well with any hair texture. However, the density of your strands—in other words, how thick or thin your hair is—may make one approach more appealing than the other.
If you have thin strands, full highlights can help add dimension and make your hair appear fuller and thicker. Full highlights can work well on thicker hair, too, though the more hair you have, the longer it’ll take to color. If you’re not up for a full day in the salon chair, you may want to consider opting for partial highlights instead.
If you're rocking darker hair or haven’t experimented much with hair color, partial highlights can be a good way to ease into a lighter hue. Because the change is subtler, you won’t have to worry about bleaching too much of your hair or committing to a completely different look.
Your hair’s current condition, matters, too. If your hair is heavily processed or damaged, it’s typically best to keep any additional processing to a minimum. Partial highlights can give you the change you’re looking for without needing to bleach a significant amount of hair. If you do decide on full highlights, be sure to update your routine with reparative haircare products to help strengthen and reinforce your strands against future damage.
If you want a more subtle change and a natural look, opt for partial highlights. This pared-back approach adds depth and dimension without appearing too obvious or dramatic (especially if you opt for thinner partial highlights like babylights).
Those seeking a more dramatic, noticeable color change will likely find that full highlights are the way to go. This technique involves lightening strands around your entire head, creating a brighter, more vibrant overall hue. If you want to do your own highlights, we suggest reaching for the L'Oréal Paris Colorista At Home Hair Bleach & Lightener. It comes with an expert applicator for an even, precise application.
Both partial highlights and full highlights need to be touched up regularly—roughly once every six to eight weeks—to look their best. However, the time it takes to touch up partial highlights is typically much less than full highlights. This is because partial highlights aren’t placed all over your head—to blend regrowth, you’ll only need to color the roots where the lighter strands are. Full highlights, meanwhile, are evenly dispersed around the head, which means you’ll need to spend a lot more time ensuring all of your roots are well-blended.
If hitting the salon every six to eight weeks to touch up your roots isn’t feasible, consider balayage. This highlighting technique involves hand-painting strands from the mid-lengths to ends for a lived-in effect—and because the lighter streaks don’t begin at the root, you don’t have to commit to as frequent touch-ups. You can go to the salon to achieve this look or take the DIY approach with the L'Oréal Paris Superior Preference Balayage At-Home Highlighting Kit.
Typically, partial highlights are less expensive than full highlights due to the fact that less dye is used. The cost will vary depending on how long your hair is, where you’re located, and the salon you visit, but they’re often considered a more budget-friendly option than full highlights, which can get pricey.
If you decide to move ahead with partial highlights, you’ll need to decide what kind of look you’re after. Here are four different options to consider.
Face-framing partial highlights are a great option for those seeking a subtle change. You can make your face-framing highlights any color you want, but for a natural feel, we recommend keeping your lighter streaks within a few shades of your base color. Dark blonde partial highlights on brown hair make for a subtly sun-kissed look, while blondes can opt for brighter hues, such as wheat, beige blonde, or even platinum.
With the mohawk highlighting technique, your colorist will gather the hair at the center of your head (this section should encompass about a third of your mane). Then, they’ll split this section into smaller horizontal sections. One at a time, they’ll apply lightener to these horizontal sections and wrap them with foil. When the foil begins to stack up, it begins to look a bit like a mohawk—hence the name of the technique. Once you let down your hair, you’ll have thick ribbons of color spaced evenly around your head.
For a more uniform look without committing to full highlights, ask your hair colorist to place partial highlights throughout the top half of your hair. They’ll separate your hair into two roughly equal sections, clipping the bottom section away. Then, they’ll apply highlights throughout the top section of the hair. Done properly, you’ll enjoy evenly distributed highlights that don’t require an entire day to achieve.
While partial highlights are often subtle, they don’t have to be. Embrace color by opting for a few well-placed streaks in a bright hue like pink, purple, or red. If you’re not sure whether you’re ready to commit to fantasy color, that’s okay—you can test-drive the look with a temporary hair color, such as the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray in Rose Gold. The lightweight, quick-drying formula works well on both light and dark hair (no bleaching required!), and it lasts until your next shower.
Once you’ve gotten highlights—partial or full—you’ll want to update your haircare routine to help keep your strands looking their best. Here are a few things to remember when taking care of highlighted hair.
Bleached, highlighted hair tends to become brassy over time, especially if you start with a dark base color. If you notice yellow and orange tones appearing in your highlighted mane, use a purple shampoo and conditioner to help neutralize unwanted warmth.
We recommend the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo for Toning Blonde Bleached Hair and the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Purple Conditioner for Toning Blonde Hair. Both are sulfate-free and help brighten color-treated hair while minimizing brassiness.
Highlights, like all-over color, need to be touched up regularly. Depending on how quickly your hair grows, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with your colorist roughly every six to eight weeks to touch up your roots. If you spot noticeable regrowth between appointments, you can use a root cover-up spray, like the L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Cover Up, to help blend your root color with your highlights.
If you find your color starting to fall flat, reach for an at-home hair gloss, like the L'Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss. The in-shower treatment deep conditions, boosts shine, and enhances your hair color in as little as five minutes. Plus, there are several hues to choose from—pick one of the tinted options to give your highlights a fresh hint of color, or opt for the clear gloss to add shine without any added pigment.
Another option is to swap out your go-to shampoo and conditioner for a glossing system. Start by washing your hair with the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Glossing Shampoo for Intensifying Shine. After rinsing out the lather, apply the acidic glaze and wait one to three minutes. Without rinsing the glaze, apply the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Glossing Conditioner for Intensifying Shine throughout your hair. Massage it throughout your mid-lengths and ends, then rinse your mane with lukewarm water to finish your in-shower haircare routine. Your hair will appear glossy, shiny, and healthy-looking—the perfect condition for showing off your fresh new highlights.
Next Up: Should You Wash Your Hair Before Dyeing It?
Photo Courtesy of L’Oréal Paris
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