How to Do Blonde Highlights at Home: Safe Steps & Product to Use

Blonde highlights are one of the easiest methods to add some brightness to your look without doing a full colour change. Whether you prefer the subtle brunette hair with highlights or much more striking highlights, the proper application matters, even more so when you're doing it yourself.

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Before You Start: Things to Consider

First of all, don’t be in a hurry to start. Take a moment to see through a few things before picking up a brush.

1. Your Hair’s Condition

If your hair happens to be extremely dry and brittle or has been coloured more than once, it might not be the right time for home highlighting. First, strengthen your hair with treatments and then do the colouring, you will get better results.

2. Your Starting Colour

• Brunette Hair: It will require more lifting, so your highlights might have to undergo more toning.

• Dark Blonde/Light Brown: easier to highlight at home.

• Already Highlighted Hair: Focus only on refreshing the top layer to prevent over processing.

 

3. Your Desired Result

Whether you’re after a natural sun kissed look, soft ash blonde highlights, or something more dramatic and noticeable, having a clear goal makes it much easier to choose the right approach. For a range of professional blonde shades, consider exploring the GK Hair Naturals Juvexin Cream Color line to find your perfect highlights.

The Safest at Home Techniques for Blonde Highlights

Here are the simplest highlighting ways for beginners. They are easier on your hair, keep things controlled and are less prone to cause harsh patches.

1. The Face Framing Method (Best for Beginners)

This method focuses more on the front hairline. It brightens your look without needing the whole head highlighted.

Steps:

• Section out thin strips of hair around your face.

• Apply your lightener from mid lengths to ends and then gently tap upward.

• Leave out very tiny baby hairs to prevent over processing.

Why this works:
Instant brightness with minimal risk.

2. The Partial Top Section Highlight

This is good for refreshing blonde highlights or adding soft contrast on brunette hair.

Steps:

• Partition the upper half of the hair from ear to ear.

• Take fine weaves rather than thick chunks.

• Put some distance between each section so the highlights blend in a natural way.

Why it works:
It creates movement and dimension without overdoing the colour.

3. The Comb Through Highlight Technique

This is ideal for very subtly blended, low maintenance highlights.

Steps:

• Gently dip a wide tooth comb into your mixed lightener.

• Randomly comb through the sections.

• This deposits small amounts of product for a soft, diffused finish.

Why it works:
The effect is very natural, just like soft sun lightening.

Step by Step: How to Highlight Safely at Home

Here is a simple yet safety oriented routine to follow:

1. Mix Your Lightener With Caution

Make sure to follow the instructions given on your kit closely. The aim is a smooth, creamy texture. Not too thick, not too runny. A lightener that is mixed well means the application is even and the chances of harsh patches or over processing are minimised.

2. Divide Your Hair Into Clear Sections

Sectioning your hair helps with the proper application of the product. You can either divide it into four quadrants or smaller parts according to thickness and length. Clear sectioning enables you to apply the lightener uniformly and also acts as a preventive measure against missed areas or uneven highlights.

3. Start With Smaller and Finer Sections

Thin weaves give a more natural and even lift.

4. Keep an Eye on the Processing Time

It’s important to never go past the maximum time advised by your kit. Home lighteners should be mild and lift gently, not aggressively.

5. Rinse Very Well and Tone If Needed

In case you see that your highlights are leaning to yellow or have a warmer tone, you can get them refined by using a toner or purple shampoo to get them refined.

Products That Support Your Blond Highlights

These products do not replace professional technique, of course; rather they help keep your hair and colour in balance and, most of all, healthy.

1. Purple Shampoo

Our Top Recommendation: GK Hair Silver Bombshell Shampoo.
This is ideal for soft ash blonde highlights or maintaining brunette with cool toned highlights. Use once a week to neutralise yellow tones and maintain brightness.

2. Deep Conditioning Masque

Our Top Recommendation: GK Hair Deep Conditioner.

Highlighting can cause the hair to lose moisture. This masque hydrates and helps restore the hair’s elasticity, thereby making it easier to manage after lightening.

3. Leave In Spray or Serum

Our Top Recommendation: GK Hair Leave-In Spray or Argan Oil Serum.

Both products help to eliminate frizz, smooth the cuticle, and protect hair from daily stress, which is very important for maintaining highlighted strands.

Common Mistakes Made When Highlighting

1. Using Thick Sections: This causes chunky blocks of colour.

2. Applying Lightener Too Close to the Roots: This can create harsh lines or hot roots.

3. Overlapping Previous Highlights: Over processing leads to breakage. Always work on new sections.

4. Skipping Deep Conditioning: Hair with highlights usually requires more moisture than normal hair.

Worried about which highlight to go for? Read more on: How to Choose the Perfect Hair Colour for Blonde Hair Types.

Maintaining Your New Highlights

1. To keep brassiness down, use purple shampoo once a week.

2. To keep elasticity, do deep conditioning of your hair at least once a week.

3. Heat styling should be limited and hair protectant should always be applied.

4. If your hair colour looks dull, refresh it every 4 to 6 weeks with a gloss treatment.

Wrap Up

Highlights in blonde can be done at home safely and successfully if only you’re patient, have the right products, and stick to foolproof beginner friendly techniques. With a good placement strategy and the right aftercare, it is possible to get soft, bright, and natural looking highlights with no stress on your hair.

For professional blonde care products that can help keep your highlights healthy and glowing, check out some beginner friendly products at GK Hair.