Highlights, lowlights—it’s all semantics, right? Well, not exactly: These similar-sounding coloring techniques yield very different results, especially on blonde hair. If you ask the internet which look proved more popular this summer, it will undoubtedly tell you that lowlights reigned supreme. Recently, people have been repeatedly typing the phrase “lowlights on blonde hair” into the Pinterest search bar, causing a 200% surge in interest in the last month.
But what exactly are lowlights (and how do they differ from highlights)? Saint Latimer, a colorist at New York City’s Suite Caroline, says to consider lowlights “the anti-highlight.” They are created by weaving a dye that is deeper than your natural base color into your hair to add dimension and depth. (Highlights do the opposite: Colorists work lighter pieces throughout your hair to brighten up your overall look.)
Lowlights can also give over-lightened hair new life. Latimer explains that the depth you’re creating with lowlights can sometimes make blonde appear lighter—so you don’t have to reach for more bleach. (That’s literally brilliant.)
Colorists aren’t surprised at the look’s surging popularity. Says Latimer of why it’s trending, “It’s because [lowlights] can make blonde hair look more expensive,” thanks to the depth and dimension lowlights create. He says they can bring out the existing blonde’s “sparkle.”
Lowlights are also pretty low-maintenance, says colorist Kristin Kell of Salon SCK in New York City. (Latimer echoes this, saying that the grow-out is typically “soft and blended.”) To prolong your look, she suggests using a shampoo for color-treated hair like the Shu Uemura Color Luster Shampoo, which not only smells like citrus and floral amazing-ness but also uses rice lees extract to help preserve color. We also love the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Moisture Shampoo, which gently lathers and smells just as good.
According to Latimer, those who want to add “dimension to ‘one-note’ blonde color” are the best candidates for lowlights, explaining that the color added to your hair depends on your goal for your look. If you want to maintain the radiance of your blonde but add dimension, he suggests using a lowlight shade two-levels deeper than the brightest blonde you have in your hair. If you’re going for a more natural look, he says to match your lowlight color to your natural base color. “The lowlight done right makes blonde look more natural, more complex, and lit from within,” he adds.