There are two options to get highlights- at home or at the salon. If you are on a budget or prefer the comforts of home, an easy to use kit such as L’Oreal Couleur Experte will give you a base colour and highlights in an hour. A personalized colour consultation is available online to help you choose the most flattering shade along with application tips for fabulous results.

If you opt for professional highlights, seek out a colourist that will do a consultation for you before your appointment. The more they know about the look you are trying to achieve, the better. Ask for foil highlights using 2-5 shades of a similar tone for a natural look that will add dimension to your hair.

Whichever method you use, here are some helpful hints that will give you gorgeous looking hair through the use of highlighting:

1. The Two Shade Rule- Never go two shades lighter or darker than your natural colour- the results will look more avant garde than natural and will only showcase thinning hair further. If you already have hair that breaks this rule, see a professional colorist to get it back within your natural range.

2. Thin is In- Thin highlights and lowlights give a natural sun kissed look that will add visual thickness to your hair.

3. Beauty is Skin Deep- The more you work with your skin tone, the better colour results you will have. If you have warm (yellow based) skin, stay away from golden tones and go for deeper red based tones. If you have cool (pink based) skin, highlight with ash and wheat based shades rather than warm tones.

Look Good, Feel Great!

Dale
www.vollumaforwomen.com

Never fear; this can still be the case, even if your hair is thinning.

The first thing to do is visit the doctor. Your thinning hair may be caused by a number of different factors, some medical in nature.  Discuss both the possible causes and treatment options with a professional.

In the meantime, these helpful tips will help you feel better about yourself by making your hair look its best.

Volume Building Basics

Get a good cut that will properly frame your face and accentuate positive facial features, like your eyes. Pick a cut that complements your style and minimizes the appearance of hair loss. The classic short bob works for most people. A zigzag or side part can help build additional volume on the top.

Once you’ve chosen a cut, the colour is the next step. Although many people think hair colouring can further damage thinning hair, this is a myth! Hair colouring can actually give your thinning tresses awe-inspiring body and volume.

Out-of-the-box colours suit some purposes, but to make the most of a thinning hairstyle, go to a pro. A single hair colour, regardless of how well it flatters your skin tone, does nothing to hide thinning areas. In fact, it can draw attention to them.

Decisions, Decisions!

Carefully select a colour specialist by asking friends and family with fabulous manes for referrals. Consult with the stylist before taking the plunge.  Using colour swatches, select a base colour, as well as an additional complimentary tone (or even two) for highlights.  You could also choose a lighter overall colour, with a shade slightly darker for lowlights.  The idea is to create depth, movement and volume with a multi-tonal style.

While some people are tempted to pick a dark shade to accentuate their tresses or cover grey, the best choice is a colour close to your skin tone. This is especially true if you experience thinning around the scalp, as the lighter tone blends more naturally with your skin and reduces the contrast in a receding hairline.

Prevent Further Damage with Foils

Most professional stylists will recommend semi-permanent colour because it does not contain ammonia or peroxide, which can dry hair. If you choose to highlight, ask your hairdresser to use foils, not a cap. With caps, strands of hair have to be pulled through tiny holes. This can stress the hair and scalp. When using foils, sections of hair are simply painted and enveloped within foil strips.

You will find that a carefully selected new cut and exciting colour give you not only a new look, but greater confidence. This will definitely put the bounce back in your step!

Look Good, Feel Great!

Dale
www.vollumaforwomen.com

The Three Do’s for thinning hair:

- Do make bangs a part of your life. Bangs are in. There was a day when the last thing we wanted was bangs. Now, they are not only the “in” thing for younger women, but they are also good for women with thinner hair on top. They give the illusion of more hair in the front. Ask your stylist to layer your bangs. This adds more volume, making your hair look thicker.

- Do have your stylist chop your hair. Before you go running for the door, chopping does not mean chopping all of your hair off. You will simply have your stylist cut your short hair into layers making sure that your ends are “choppy” or irregular. This style gives shape and movement to thin hair, adding volume in the right places.

- Do keep it short. Length pulls the hair down, making any thin areas more noticeable. Shorter hair makes it seem like you have more volume.

Here are Three Don’ts you should never do for thinning hair:

- Don’t dye your hair light blond. The lighter your hair, the more likely it will be that people will notice your scalp shining through. If you don’t want your thin areas to be evident to the entire world, consider a darker shade.

- Don’t weigh your hair down with too much conditioner or heavy hair products. There are several good brands of hair products that add volume and dimension to thin hair. They work by thickening the hair strand, making your hair feel fuller and softer.

- Don’t over process your hair. Some women love to bleach their hair every few weeks. Others love the volume that comes from perms. You need to love the hair you have by treating it kindly. Too many doses of bleach and permanent solution can cause damage to the hair shaft.

Treat yourself to a new hairstyle to go with your best outfit and you’ll be the belle of the ball at the next party – just vow to have so much fun that you’ll forget your anxiety.

Look Good, Feel Great!

Dale
www.vollumaforwomen.com