A Guide to Growing Out Highlights
Growing out highlights is a process of patience and mechanical adjustment rather than chemical intervention. The goal is to soften the contrast between your roots and the ends while ensuring the hair fiber remains pliable during the transition.
By focusing on hair health and texture management, you can obscure the line of demarcation effectively.
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Total time
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Low
- Cadence
- Monthly
Ingredients
- Argan oil: Maintains elasticity in highlighted sections
Tools List
- Tail comb for parting
- Boar bristle brush
- Smoothing serum
Step by step
Adjust your parting
Change your part from a crisp center line to a soft, irregular side part. This breaks up the visual line of demarcation where the new growth meets the lightened sections. Use a tail comb to create a slight zig-zag pattern along the crown to diffuse the visual weight.
Tip: Use a light mist of water to set the new parting.Manage hair texture
Highlights often possess a different porosity than natural hair, leading to frizz at the growth line. Apply a lightweight, smoothing serum specifically to the mid-lengths. Ensure you do not apply product to the roots, which can cause premature greasiness and make the demarcation line more obvious.
Tip: Apply to hands first to ensure even distribution.Incorporate volume at the roots
Height at the root draws the eye upward, away from the color contrast. Utilize a boar bristle brush to gently backcomb the hair at the crown. This creates structural lift and breaks the flat visual of the regrowth area.
Tip: Brush out thoroughly before sleep.Use protective accessories
Headbands and silk scarves effectively hide the transition point during the initial six months. Opt for wide fabric bands that cover the area where the natural color meets the highlights. This removes the focus from the regrowth entirely while protecting the hair cuticle.
Tip: Select silk fabrics to minimize friction.
Trouble
My hair looks dull at the roots.
This is often due to product accumulation. Shift to a clarifying rinse once per week to ensure the natural oils can move down the hair shaft effectively.
The line of demarcation is very sharp.
Use a texturizing powder at the crown to add volume. The added height disrupts the flat visual line and creates a more natural gradient.
My ends feel dry compared to my roots.
Apply a small amount of argan or jojoba oil to the ends only. Focus on the tips to keep them supple while your natural, healthier hair grows in.
Should I trim my hair more often?
Regular micro-trims are beneficial. Removing half an inch every six weeks keeps the ends neat, preventing the frayed look that can emphasize the difference in texture.
The transition from highlights is a study in texture management rather than color correction.
Consistency in styling is more effective than any temporary cover-up.