Why does my hairdresser not do highlights to the root?

[ThinkingAgainAndAgain]

I alternate a full head and half head of highlights every time I go to the hairdresser, which is every 6-8 weeks. I have three different shades of brown in baby highlights through it, as I’m over 50% grey but in patches, and this keeps the grey/white fairly hidden.

But the grey in my hair is mostly on the front of my head, and very much on my temples. The hairdresser doesn’t start the colour at the root, so when I tie my hair back in a ponytail, even one day after I’ve been, I can see so much grey/white next to my face. It just never looks as if it’s just been freshly done.

Is this standard? Possibly because of a reaction?

Omg I used to have blonde highlights put in and they were never to the root!!! Never understood why.

You could ask her why!

Same here and I don't know why, I wondered if it's to stop the colour bleeding through to the root below, because you can't get the foil right up to the skin.

Hairdresser told me patch test wasn’t required as not next to skin. No idea if this is correct.

Sounds rubbish! Mine have always been to the root

Could be a couple of things. Her pintail is too thick, could be her sectioning on your hair type/hairline is not suitable or she's not very good.

I would suggest asking her to change her foul pattern to see in that helps. Or go for a more traditional foil - it would mean a stronger regrowth but sounds like you're getting it anyway.

I stopped going for this reason. I'd literally come out with roots! Now I get a bleach cap set, and my daughter does it close to the roots. Looks great for £8.

I had one like this, she said she Sue didn't want to burn my scalp! I asked her to do it properly

I’ve pointed it out a few times. Once she said she would do the foils from front to back (instead of from the top of my head to my ear, if you know what I mean), it made no difference.

The previous stylist never took it to the root either, so it’s not just this particular stylist.

I just wondered if someone was going to say ‘oh, that’s because it would burn your scalp’ or something along those lines.

I had a skin/allergy test at the salon ages ago prior to starting to highlight my hair (I’d previously had tints)

food for thought, thanks!

Whenever I have a new stylist do my hair I always stipulate I like my highlights to my root and to ensure the hairline is done too. If they don’t then I don’t go back, some will say they do it because the bleach expands but others know full well they are trying to get you back to the salon sooner for another touch up.

I always thought it's because your scalp is warm and the dye would develop quicker when it was in contact with the scalp so they never use dye for highlights or streaks right up to the root as you will not have an even colour.

I struggled with this for many years. Have come to the conclusion that only the very best colourists do a proper job all the way to the root.

Mine does. She is terrifyingly expensive. But my highlights have been done to the root perfectly around 8-10 times per year for the last 10 years. And I'll stop eating before I stop paying her

I've always been asked how I usually have my hair, if I have it tied back then she would put more colour at the sides.

Mine are always to the root so I’d just ask next time for her to make it closer to the root.

My high lights are and always have been from the root - no point otherwise. Somethings not quite right there.

Sounds like it's her foil packing. It takes skill to do foils to the root to ensure you don't get overspill, it also needs the correct bleach powder that doesn't expand so she could be using one that foams up which can cause leakage.

I used to get my hair bleached by painting it on and developed an allergy. I was told to get highlights as it doesn't touch the scalp and I've been fine since. They apparently can't go to the scalp as bleach expands and it risks burns/reactions. A good hairdresser will get so close you can't tell.

As a side, I once had highlights and I said she wasn't placing the bleach any closer to my head than my roots. She said she couldn't due to the above and I said the hairdresser four weeks ago got it a fair bit closer so you can too. However, it wasn't just her that said that reason. They all say that when asked.

Mine is always to to the root.

This is really helpful to know! Just had my second set of highlights and have been cross about this issue. Think the hairdresser is just not that great, although she's very nice. I'll tell her I want the highlights to the root next time.

My grey is also at the front and very noticeable even when my hair isn't pulled back. My hairdresser always does the roots, it would be very obvious if he didn't. And that's for regrowth and full head.

The best highlights I ever had were about 20 years ago in a provincial salon where she used a thick plastic shower cap and pulled the hair strands through the holes. I've never had the same fabulous effect with foils.

Omg the pain though, I had them done line that for years 😭🤣

I once had highlights to the root, the first 15mm was neon bright because the hair was so new (I presume?). It looked really unnatural.