20+ DIY Highlights Hair at Home: Tips and Ideas

Want to achieve salon-quality highlights without the high price tag? DIY hair highlighting at home is an affordable and convenient way to add dimension and brightness to your hair. With a little patience and the right techniques, you can get professional-looking highlights from the comfort of your bathroom. Here are 20+ ideas and tips to help you achieve the perfect DIY highlights at home.

1. Foil Method

The foil method is a popular way to get salon-style highlights. Use small pieces of aluminum foil to section off strands of hair and apply the highlighting bleach. This method helps to keep the color separate and ensures even application.

2. Balayage Technique

Balayage is a hand-painting technique where highlights are applied freely for a more natural look. This style creates a sun-kissed effect with a softer, blended color transition.

3. Ombre Highlights

Ombre highlights gradually transition from darker roots to lighter ends. You can achieve this by applying bleach to the mid-length and ends of your hair, blending the color upwards for a smooth gradient.

4. Cap Highlighting Kit

Cap highlighting kits come with a special cap with holes, through which you pull strands of hair to highlight. This method is great for beginners who want precise control over the amount of hair being highlighted.

5. Chunky Highlights

For a bold, statement look, opt for chunky highlights. Section off larger pieces of hair to create defined, contrasting highlights that stand out.

6. Subtle Face-Framing Highlights

Add brightness around your face with subtle, face-framing highlights. These small sections of lightened hair give a fresh and youthful appearance without being overly dramatic.

7. Bronde Highlights

A mix of blonde and brown tones, bronde highlights are perfect for adding warmth and depth to your hair. They are subtle yet dimensional, making them ideal for anyone seeking a low-maintenance color change.

8. DIY Sombre

Sombre, or soft ombre, is a gentler version of the classic ombre. It’s a subtle shift from dark to light and can be easily achieved by feathering the bleach onto your ends for a natural gradient.

9. Babylights

Babylights are delicate, finely placed highlights that mimic the sun-kissed hair of children. This look requires sectioning off very fine strands and applying bleach to create soft, natural-looking highlights.

10. Frosted Tips

Frosted tips were all the rage in the 90s, and they’re back in style! Highlight just the very tips of your hair for a fun, frosted look that adds dimension without over-lightening your locks.

11. Tea Highlights

If you want a more natural approach, try using tea to highlight your hair. Chamomile tea is known to lighten hair over time. Brew strong tea, let it cool, and apply it to your hair for a gradual highlighting effect.

12. Lemon Juice for Sun-Kissed Highlights

Lemon juice is another natural way to achieve highlights. Apply lemon juice to your hair and sit in the sun for an hour or two. The sun’s UV rays will naturally lighten your hair, creating sun-kissed highlights.

13. Partial Highlights

Partial highlights focus on specific sections of the hair, like the crown or the front. This technique is ideal for adding dimension without highlighting the entire head.

14. Highlights with a Toothbrush

For more control and precision, you can use a toothbrush to apply bleach to small sections of your hair. This allows you to create custom highlights and ensures even distribution of the product.

15. Golden Caramel Highlights

Add warmth to your brunette hair with golden caramel highlights. This shade blends beautifully with dark hair, creating a soft and sun-kissed effect.

16. Copper Highlights

Copper highlights add a vibrant, fiery touch to any hair color. These rich, warm tones are perfect for adding depth to both dark and light hair.

17. Ash Blonde Highlights

For a cool-toned look, try ash blonde highlights. This shade is perfect for adding dimension to darker hair without going too warm.

18. DIY Lowlights

Lowlights involve darkening certain sections of hair to add contrast and dimension. You can easily create lowlights at home by applying a darker dye to selected strands.

19. DIY Frosted Hairline

If you want just a touch of lightness around your face, try a frosted hairline. Lighten only the hair closest to your face for a subtle, illuminated effect.

20. Pink Pastel Highlights

For a fun and unique look, try pastel pink highlights. This soft, trendy color can add a whimsical touch to any hairstyle. Use a semi-permanent dye to experiment without the long-term commitment.