Really basic questions about highlights

[Gardenwalldilema]

Having got away with sticking a box colour on my hair for years I'm a complete novice (apart from some hideous experiences with those highlighting hats back in the 90s).

I think a solid colour is aging me as I approach 40, and I like my hair at the end of the summer with some lighter bits, so assume its highlights I'm after.

But how do I ensure I get good ones, what do I ask for? I see so many women with weird stripey hair that would actually make me cry if I ended up with it.

Is it about an expensive salon, or asking for something specific?

Will my hair be ruined? I've lots of fine hair, its a bit frizzy etc.

Thanks in advance

Hello
I think you may be after a balyage, painted highlights that mimic the effect of your hair being lightened by the sun.

www.google.com/search?q=balayage&client=ms-android-samsung&prmd=ivsn&sxsrf=ALeKk00R2GsN8Nxc_T5Wcrreb6TZLLwWjQ:1623156676701&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjJmITpiYjxAhWGkhQKHe3PCQwQ_AUoAXoECAMQAQ&biw=360&bih=512

take a picture with you of the kind you want.

You need to go to a colourist you are confident with. Recommendations are king, if any of your friends/colleagues have a great colour see who they go to. Otherwise alot of stylists/colourists have an Instagram where they post examples of their work. See if any take you fancy. A good colourist/stylist will want a happy customer who will return, so if you speak about your concerns (frizzy thin hair) they should be able to recommend on that basis. As a rule of thumb colour will make you hair drier and more brittle - ultimately it causes damage, that's unavoidable.

Knowing what you want in advance is helpful, you don't want to be in the moment guided a way that isn't right for you. As PP said take pictures - you might not know what things are called, but they should be able to identify what you are looking for. I think balayage is probably what you are after. This is expensive as it is very time consuming - make sure you know exactly what you will pay in advance (colour, cut, finish, olapex, any other extras...) this goes for all colour jobs though. You don't want a nasty surprise at the till.

I go to a reasonably expensive salon, my opinion is by spending more I am guaranteeing myself that a) I won't have a disaster, there should be a minimum standard expected, and b) if that standard isn't met they will do their darnedest to put it right. For that reason I typically go to a salon with multiple stylists/colourists - if someone mucks it up, there are other people who can fix it. I am quite precious when it comes to my hair, I know I am paying more than I need to, and some people have great cuts for less money, I just won't risk it.

One last point, be completely honest with them about what you have on you hair, some people will lie and say they haven't used box dyes, and end up with a bad result because the process used was then wrong.

very good advice SummaLuvin.

Thank you all so much, I think its definitely a balayage I want.
@summaluvin thanks for your detailed reply. I called one of the fancier salons in town and the price is a bit ouch, about £150 after toner, welaplex etc. But whats worse is the fact it may take 4 hours...after sitting in a mask at work I just don't think I can face another 4 hours of many given week behind a mask, so I may just park this for a bit.
Thanks for your help though ladies

A full head of back to back highlights (or first time balayage) is approx 4hrs, time to put the foils in, let them develop, wash, toner, conditioning treatment, cut and blow dry.
The great thing with balayage is you don't have to go as frequently so even though it is time consuming, it lasts for ages before needing a top up.
Same goes for the price too! Yes, thst is expensive, but you don't go as regularly so over the course of a year it balances out.
Go to Instagram and search #balayagelondon or whichever city you're in. Click on all the hair colours that look good to you, you'll see a pattern emerging of 1 or 2 hairdressers that are catching your eye.