Teasy Lights Are Our New Favorite Highlighting Technique

There’s no better time than the present to switch up your hair color with highlights. Adding a few lightened strands throughout your mane is the perfect way to give your hair some much-needed dimension and movement. But with so many highlighting techniques to choose from, you may be wondering which option is best for you. Allow the latest hair color trend to point you in the right direction—teasy lights seem to be taking over our 2020 hair Pinterest boards. But what are teasy lights—and what’s the difference between teasy lights and balayage? We’re here to answer all of your questions below!

WHAT ARE TEASY LIGHTS?

Simply put, teasy lights are a combination of balayage highlights and traditional foil highlights. What gives them their name is the fact that the hair is teased prior to your colorist hand-painting bleach where you’d like your highlights to be placed. What this does is create a soft, blended transition between your roots and the highlights.

TEASY LIGHTS VS. BALAYAGE: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Like we said, the teasy lights technique uses a similar hand-painted method to balayage. The difference between the two techniques lies in the fact that teasy lights involve teasing the hair prior to applying color and that foils are used, which allows the highlights to lift to a brighter shade than traditional balayage. With balayage the bleach mixture is brushed directly onto key strands without teasing the hair or laying down foils. Both highlighting options are very low-maintenance, making them great for those with dark hair who want to go lighter without the constant upkeep.

HOW TO GET TEASY LIGHTS

Since teased highlights involve both teasing the hair and expertly placing the highlights themselves, it’s best to turn to the pros for this. Make sure to bring plenty of inspiration pictures for your hairdresser and express your desire for a subtle, diffused shift from your base color to the lightened pieces of hair.

HOW TO CARE FOR TEASY LIGHTS

As with any hair color treatment, it’s important to take proper care of your strands in order for your color (and your hair itself) to maintain its integrity. Here are our top tips for caring for teasy lights post-salon session!

TIP #1. USE A SYSTEM FOR COLOR-TREATED HAIR

You probably know by now that color-treated hair requires a shampoo and conditioner that’s specifically formulated to keep your color looking its best. Even if you don’t have all-over color, this holds true. Swap your usual shower go-tos for the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Conditioner to keep your teasy lights vibrant.

TIP #2. INVEST IN A HAIR MASK

Aside from calling for a proper hair care system, you may also find that your highlighted hair requires a bit more TLC. A few times a week, swap your conditioner for a hair mask, like the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Repair and Protect Balm, which helps smooth and protect your hair color.

TIP #3. OPT FOR HEAT-FREE STYLING

As tempting as it may be to reach for your hot tools, give your strands a break when you can. Instead, embrace your natural texture with the help of a hair mousse! Apply the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle CURVE IT Elastic Curl Mousse to damp hair, scrunch, and allow your hair to air dry.

TIP #4. USE PURPLE SHAMPOO

Highlights, especially highlights on dark hair, have a tendency to get brassy over time. This means yellow and orange tones will start to surface. No thanks!

To keep your teasy lights brass-free, swap your color-safe shampoo and conditioner for a purple shampoo and conditioner to counteract the yellow tones. Use the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Purple Shampoo for Color Treated Hair and L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Purple Conditioner for Color Treated Hair whenever you notice your hair starting to get brassy.

TIP #5. SCHEDULE TOUCH UPS IN ADVANCE

One last tip for you: While teasy lights are low maintenance, it’s a good idea to schedule routine touch-ups in advance. This way, you can keep your teased highlights looking fresh and vibrant without the need to scramble for a last-minute opening at the salon.

Next up: Want to learn about another highlighting technique? Read this guide to ribbon highlights: What are Ribbon Highlights?