Tell me about highlights

[MaryQuant]

So I currently have what is known as an all over tint every 5-6 weeks
Usually roots and side bits every second appt.

I would say my hair is approx. 40% grey if left to it's own devices.

My hairdresser has suggested highlights would disguise the grey better and I would be able to leave my hair longer between regrowth touch ups
Perhaps going to hairdressers every 8 weeks to have roots done and every second time have foils done.

Do this sound realistic?

Any experiences?

Cost not really an issue as spending between £45-70 every few weeks at the moment anyway.

Realise hair might suffer abit condition wise but can treat that myself,

[Gotbills2pay]

The highlights at my hairdresser are twice as much as an all over tint - a full head won't guarantee coverage of grey though - Not in the same way as a full tint. Most people I know who have gone grey tend to swap highlights for a tint. Is your hairdresser saying this is a better option?

[Nishky]

I have platinum blonde highlights to blend in with the grey- I love it, it just looks like I have blonde hair.

I stopped having my all over colour (red) when I went grey as the roots were so obvious.

[imjessie]

It's a lot of upkeep and expense . Have you thought about balayage ? Much cheaper and easier to upkeep . No re growth really either .

[WhisperedLoudest]

Depends on what colour your natural hair is. I'm dark blonde and it suits me perfectly.

I've had all over highlights since my teens and a couple of years back noticed I was starting to go grey so went for an all over colour. It was a disaster the regrowth showed the grey terribly and wrecked the condition of my hair.

It took a good couple of years to get my hair half decent again. I've recently met a fab hairdresser and she's stopped all the faffing (low lights/multi shade highlights etc) and insists I leave 8 weeks between highlights and every other appointment have just the T section done. My hair is growing out into a lovely dark ashy blonde with the grey actually acting as a toner. It's perfect and saving me £££ every month

[MaryQuant]

Whispered - that sounds like the effect I am looking for- impossible to disguise all the grey so hoping to blend it in with the highlights.

And yes Nishky hoping the mix up will fool everyone into thinking it's just all blonde!

[WhisperedLoudest]

This is not my hair but is very similar colour and length showing the darker roots and how the grey tones it down.

[Honey1975]

Whispered that is lovely. So when you have the highlights are they just one colour of blonde? I'm always confused when they talk to me about using 3 different blondes, I just can't picture what that is going to look like.
I am in the same situation that I have naturally brown hair but the greys are rapidly appearing at the roots. I tried just having highlights as I like the effect but I could still clearly see the greys!
Then I switched to a semi brown to dye the roots every 8 weeks with highlights every 12 weeks. I don't the like the tone of the brown they use as it always looks reddy. So when it starts to grow out I have grey roots mixed with natural hair colour, then reddy brown bit, then highlights which look brassy against the reddy brown.
It's costing me time and money and I don't even really like it but I just don't know what to ask for. All I really want is to hide the bloody wiry greys!!
So following this thread with interest!

[WhisperedLoudest]

Yes one colour - a regular bleach which just lightens my hair.

I spent years having multi shaded highlights - stopping them has been a revelation the gold tones (which are reddish) never suited me and you're right don't blend with the grey at all.

[Nishky]

Platinum blonde highlights blend the grey for obvious reasons!

[justaweeone]

I have American tailoring
Some highlights with foils then a dark colour hand painted on the remaining hair
Keeps the grey at bay for a good 8 weeks
http://www.modernsalon.com/article/30318/the-great-debate-balayage-vs-foil

[excellentworkyou]

I've had highlights for years, naturally mousy. Reckon I'm about 50% grey and sadly it's not working any more, I've got that 'middle aged too blond' look. I think I'll have to have a tint with highlights over the top

[StormZelda]

I had my hair highlighted recently and I just hate the way it is dark at the roots and blonde an inch away from the roots. I didn't want that. I wanted caramel all over Maybe that's just a bad job but I'd love if they'd give me an all over tint. I keep on and on and on asking for that but I never get it. Argh.

[NomDePlumeReloaded]

My hair cannot handle bleach very well at all, so I can only get away with highlights twice a year. Even that is pushing it. I'm naturally a mousey, ashy, dark blonde. Very uninspiring. My grey is sparse but there, because I'm naturally ashy toned hair wise, the grey bits tone in quite well at the moment. when the grey starts to take over a little more, I'll have to take a view but wouldn't never but adverse to letting it grow in and seeing what happens. I'd rather have greying hair in good condition than bleached or dyed hair in iffy condition, which is what the choice would be for me, I think.

[NomDePlumeReloaded]

All these new things like olaplex are no good for me either as my scalp is also really sensitive to dye &bleach.

[Jmangel]

Not necessarily helping much with this as I just got balayage to avoid the root issue but I've just started watching Madame Secretary and am SALIVATING over Tea Leonid's highlights - they are a gorgeous warm apricot but I must not go back to all over highlighted look as it crippled me financially!

[MuchasSmoochas]

I used to be all over root tint every four weeks. Now I've got highlights I can easily do six weeks. I get the highlights every second time I go. I also think it warms your skin as well?