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?

I also had plastic cap highlights when I was going through some sort of a "retro" phase.

Apart from the pain (intense), I had a lot of hair breakage as the hair strands were being dragged through, and also the placement was not at all even. My hair was shoulder length too, I think it's probably bearable for short hair/pixie cuts but not anything longer. The process was far too harsh on my hair.

I suspect that it's so it grows out faster and then you came back sooner. I personally think it's for the £££'s.

I have the same issue with my hairdresser and after spending £180 on a cut and full head of highlights (and that was with a discount!) it really, really pi**e$ me off. I've tried a handful of hairdressers and every single one does it. Once upon a time, a hairdresser wouldn't dare leave you with your roots showing...

I think the real reason is because it’s a 2023 trend. Hairdressing has changed. Highlights to the root used to be the default but with root melts, balayage, money pieces etc I think hairdressing trends are all about dimension and more relaxed techniques. It’s likely highlights to the root are not as commonly requested and potentially more effort.

Its actually harder and takes longer to do a soft root in foils. Because the stylist will be backcombing or back brushing the bleach or tint on. Or using a balayage technique which takes longer to process as its usually open foil or two foils on top of each other.

If the sections are too big or even too small the product won't grip the hair well enough to go to the root.

Tints do not expand unless they are highlift tints which out of all the colouring products is the hardest to control and easiest to bleed. Highlift tint is rarely used in salon anymore. Bleach can bleed and be hard control if it's applied too heavily. But, saying that. Foiling is a staple hairdressing technique. Saying they can't get it closer to your root becausee it will bleed and leaving a gap is just shoddy work or inexperienced. There are very few hairtypes and hairkines where it's impossible to get the colour right to root but they are rare. It's an excuse for poor workmanship. The should look like the are growing out of your scalp once finished if it's a traditional highlight.

Foiling is expensive and time consuming and where salons make most of the money. (Cuts are the biggest profit margin but that's another thread) yes salons want repeat business but they won't do something to try to get you to return sooner. It would chemically comprise your hair and eventually they would lose a client and money.

This has been very informative!

I had my 2nd ever half-head of highlights last week, and not only did she did this stupid not to the root nonsense, she refused to do the same red highlights I'd had last time and did them blonde (on my reddish-brown hair). Looks awful

I know better next time. What is it with fear of telling the hairdresser what to do? I'm over it!

I have gone to a few hairdressers for highlights and they don't get to the roots at the temples. No matter how many times I say to them. It's particularly noticeable at the sides above my ear
Got mine done very recently and had to use the Wow powder on the sides already.

What's the wow powder??

When I've bleached my daughters hair it says to do the bleach away from the root and once you've done the whole area, to go back over and get closer to the roots. It said this is due to the heat from your head making the bleach work quicker so doing it this way makes it more even. I am not a hairdresser at all, just read the boxes given to me

A scalp bleach is very different to foiling and if not a full head application, you would depending on the length of regrowth start at the midland and then do roots and hairline last. Bleach does expand, and does process quicker at the root due to the heat of the head. But, in foils he foil transfers the heat making it much more uniform and easier to control. You are also using smaller sections so it will lift quicker and easier. Doing a regrowth on Bleach foils you would rarely take the Bleach through to the ends unless going lighter, changing tone etc. An experienced stylist would use different levels of peroxide to even the lift out amd then tone accordingly. If using tint m foils that is often taken to the ends as you don't always pull the same sections and will get loss of depth and tone over the 6-8 weeks in between and Bleach may be brought to the ends if a darker colour is used to balance out the colour but again rarely on ever previously bleached hair unless needed.

If you are getting 'root drag' at the temples, hairline or around your ears it's one of three issues, section taken too thickly, not enough foils put in causing a shadow or poor workmanship.

With a tradional foiling technique it's normal to begin to see a small amount of regrowth at the temples and hairline at around 2 wks plus post service. This shouldn't not be on average (everyone is unique with their growth cycles)more than .5 cm but usually under more like .3 cm. This is based on the average growth cycle. Hair grows on average approx 15 cm a year. This is also age dependent.

I get 2 colours. One lighter and one a tiny bit darker than my natural colour The hairdresser doesn’t absolutely go to the root, very close. Then he paints the darker one on the hairline at the front and a little bit on the scalp on the sides at the front every other time to cover any greys. I don’t have much grey hair btw. Just at the hairline and and a little at the sides.

I think in most people’s hair the bleach required for the lightening can bleed and smudge and can get hot roots if they go right to the scalp. My hairdresser when she was doing foils used to paint the little cap in along my parting and hairline about ten mins before the end by hand with a little paint brush.

Lack of skill.

I had one like this. Absolutely embarrassing. I don't trust any salon pictures now as they're all taken of the back of the head.

It's a product - similar to an eye shadow - that you brush on to your roots. It's a temporary solution when your roots are showing.

I always thought it was to get you back to the salon quicker although I understand you don't want them touching your scalp , no obvious reason to me why they start an inch lower than your hairline