What’s the Best Way to Prepare My Hair for Highlights?
If you’ve ever dreamt about those sun-kissed ribbons of color or a face-framing glow, then you already know: highlights are a great way to add dimension and brightness to your look. But before you head to the salon, there’s a bit of groundwork to do to ensure your highlights turn out vibrant, long-lasting, and healthy. Think of your hair as a delicate canvas—prepping it properly sets the stage for a true masterpiece. Below, we’ll walk through some essential steps to help you get the most out of your upcoming highlights appointment at Lush Hair Folk Salon in Houston, Texas.
Why Preparation Matters
Setting the Foundation for Color
Highlights are a chemical process. They involve lifting pigment from your hair shaft to create lighter strands that contrast with your base color. If your hair is weighed down by product buildup, oils, or damage, the color may not lift evenly. A little TLC beforehand sets the stage for more consistent, radiant results.
Boosting Longevity
Highlights typically need a touch-up every 6-8 weeks to keep them looking fresh. Proper pre-appointment prep can help extend that timeline by minimizing breakage and enhancing color absorption. Translation? You can go a bit longer before heading back to the salon chair (though we’d love to see you any time).
A Surprising Statistic
According to a 2021 study by a major haircare brand, proper pre-color treatments can reduce uneven color absorption by up to 40%. That means a smoother, more uniform hue—and a lot fewer headaches down the road.
Step-by-Step Guide to Prepping Your Hair
1. Clarify (But Not Too Close to Your Appointment)
Around one week before your highlights, consider using a gentle clarifying shampoo. This helps remove product residue, hard water minerals, and excess oils that can interfere with your color lifting evenly. Think of it like giving your hair a fresh, blank slate.
- Pro Tip: Avoid clarifying shampoos too close to your appointment day. You don’t want to strip your scalp of its natural oils completely, as those oils actually help protect your hair during the lightening process.
2. Nourish, Nourish, Nourish
In the days leading up to your appointment, make deep conditioning your new best friend. Highlights can be drying, so you want to fortify your hair with moisture and protein before any bleach touches your strands. A mask or deep conditioning treatment once or twice in the week prior will do wonders.
- At-Home Option: Use a rich, salon-grade mask and leave it on for the recommended time (usually about 10-20 minutes). This helps smooth the cuticle, reduce frizz, and create a prime surface for color.
3. Avoid Major Chemical Treatments Right Before
Planning a keratin treatment or a Brazilian Blowout? Those typically need a touch-up every 3-4 months, and you want them spaced out from your highlights. If possible, schedule them after your highlights or at least a few weeks before. Too many chemical services in a short span can stress out your strands.
4. Go Easy on the Heat
Heat styling tools—like straighteners, curling irons, and blow dryers—can cause dryness or split ends, which may affect how your highlights lift. If you can, reduce heat usage the week before. When you do style, apply a heat protectant to safeguard your hair from further damage.
5. Arrive with “Day-Old” Hair
On the morning of your appointment (or the night before), skip the shampoo. Slightly “lived-in” hair helps preserve the natural oils on your scalp, which can act as a protective barrier when the bleach or color is applied. However, don’t overdo it—excess buildup or extra oil can also hinder an even lift. One day of not washing is a sweet spot for most people.
Metaphor Alert: Your Hair Is a Garden
Imagine your hair as a garden. If the soil is dry, nutrient-depleted, or clogged with weeds, even the best seeds (read: color formulas) won’t flourish. Preparing your hair is like tilling the soil and fertilizing before planting—it sets up the perfect environment for your highlights to thrive and shine.
What to Discuss with Your Stylist
1. Hair History
Have you used box dyes, hennas, or color-depositing shampoos recently? These can impact how your highlights lift. Be upfront with your stylist so they can adjust the bleach or color formula accordingly.
2. Desired Maintenance Level
Are you ready for highlights that require 6-8 week touch-ups, or would you prefer something more low-key like a balayage that can go 3-4 months between sessions? Talk this through, so your stylist can tailor the technique to your lifestyle.
3. Budget and Time
Highlights can be an investment—not just financially but in salon time too. Clarify what you’re comfortable spending and how often you can swing by for touch-ups or toners (every 6-8 weeks). This ensures no surprises and helps you plan ahead.
The Lush Hair Folk Salon Experience
At Lush Hair Folk Salon in Houston, Texas, we’re dedicated to making your hair color journey fun, personalized, and oh-so-rewarding. From the moment you sit down in our chair, we consider your hair type, lifestyle, and color aspirations. Our stylists train rigorously in the latest techniques—be it baby lights, foil highlights, or root shadowing—so you get the most flattering effect possible.
A Subtle Call to Action
If you’re craving that perfect glow, book a consultation with one of our color experts. We’ll walk you through the best way to prep your hair, recommend professional-grade products, and craft a highlights plan that suits you.
Aftercare: Keeping the Glow
Use Color-Safe Products
Once you’ve got your fresh highlights, switch to a sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo and conditioner. This helps prolong the brightness of your highlights and prevents brassiness.
Deep Condition Regularly
Continue that deep conditioning love. Scheduling a salon-grade treatment every 4-6 weeks helps to maintain hydration and prevent split ends, ensuring your highlights remain shiny and vibrant.
Mind the Sun and Chlorine
Sun exposure and pool chemicals can zap the life out of your color. Use UV-protecting sprays or wear a hat when outdoors for extended periods. Rinse your hair immediately after swimming to remove chlorine residue.
Final Thoughts
Prepping your hair for highlights is like setting the stage for a standout performance: the better the prep, the more spectacular the show. By clarifying your hair a week in advance, nourishing it with deep conditioners, spacing out any chemical treatments, and having an open, honest dialogue with your stylist, you’ll set yourself up for highlights that look salon-fresh far longer.
Ready to get glowing? We at Lush Hair Folk Salon in Houston are here to guide you every step of the way—from your very first clarifying wash to that final, jaw-dropping reveal. Because the best highlights aren’t just about color; they’re about shining confidence, too. So go ahead: book that appointment and let’s bring those highlight dreams to life! Watch Our Video
Learn About Salon Color
How Can I Prevent My Salon Color From Fading Too Quickly?
How Can I Prevent My Salon Color From Fading Too Quickly? Whether you’ve just refreshed your highlights, gone for a trendy balayage, or switched up your shade entirely, you know there’s nothing quite like stepping
Is It Rude to Ask for Adjustments If I’m Unhappy with My Hair?
Is It Rude to Ask for Adjustments If I’m Unhappy with My Hair? You’ve just stepped out of the salon chair, only to realize the cut or color isn’t quite what you had in mind.
What’s the Difference Between a Blow Dry Bar & a Full-Service Salon?
What’s the Difference Between a Blow Dry Bar & a Full-Service Salon? If you’ve ever needed a quick hair refresh—say, a sleek blowout before a brunch date or a glam style for an important work
The Best Way to Handle Scalp Irritation After Coloring?
The Best Way to Handle Scalp Irritation After Coloring? Coloring your hair can be a fabulous confidence boost—there’s nothing quite like that freshly done hue that turns heads wherever you go. But sometimes, the price
How Often Should I Trim My Hair to Prevent Split Ends?
How Often Should I Trim My Hair to Prevent Split Ends? Have you ever looked at your hair in the mirror and noticed those pesky split ends peeking out, no matter how meticulously you style
What’s the Difference Between Hair Gloss, Toner, & Semi-Permanent Color?
What’s the Difference Between Hair Gloss, Toner, & Semi-Permanent Color? If you’ve ever been confused about which service or product will best enhance your freshly colored hair—or you simply want a subtle shift in tone
How Can I Safely Switch from Dark to Light Hair Without Damaging It?
How Can I Safely Switch from Dark to Light Hair Without Damaging It? Daring to go from dark to light hair can feel like stepping into the spotlight for the first time—exhilarating, but also a
Are At Home Keratin Treatments as Effective as Salon Grade Treatments?
Are At Home Keratin Treatments as Effective as Salon Grade Treatments? When it comes to taming frizz, boosting shine, and achieving that silky-smooth finish, keratin treatments are often the gold standard. But with so many DIY
What Is the Best Way to Prepare My Hair for Balayage?
What Is the Best Way to Prepare My Hair for Balayage? Have you ever scrolled through social media, admiring those subtle, sun-kissed locks that look effortlessly chic and wondered, How do I get that look?