Are these bad highlights, and if so, why?

[Gettingonabitnow]

I think they are bad, my hairdresser doesn’t and has basically told me to go find someone else. If they are bad, what is making them bad, as in technically - too close to the root? Too thick? Too uniform? These photos are from the day they were done. I wanted really fine barely there beachy highlights. Just want to try and communicate better with my next hairdresser. Thanks.

They look a bit like highlights from the 90's, not bad, just dated. I think we are more used to seeing highlights more blended now & not so close to the root. I'd probably go to a different salon and ask for root melt.

I can only go by my own experience (which I'm happy with) which is that mine shows me the colour chart (fake hair swatches in all the colours) and we've always chosen from that.

I have had highlights for years and been happy. Now, as I'm around 50% grey, they are more lowlights and are putting colour back rather than making it lighter.

Looking at your hair colour from 10 years ago, it looks like your blonde hair has gone darker and (sorry!) a bit 'mousey'.

Just my opinion but I think you'd look great with a slightly richer brown which is warmer and some gold tones because the white-ash tone can be ageing.

It depends on your skin and eye colour as well.

They don't look natural because it's dark at the front at the parting. I've got naturally fair hair and the front gets more sun blonded. That's the only 'stripe' which occurs with natural highlights - the variation on the rest is the top layer vs the underneath.

It looks like she’s highlighted sections that are too thick and also left out sections in between so you have dark chunks at the root. I’m a hairdresser and I would have done back to back finely woven highlights or fine sections of light and medium blonde which would blend the outgrown roots better.

Thanks. It’s been helpful getting this feedback - I knew it didn’t look great but the reaction I got from the hairdresser was so aggressive when I suggested something to soften it out next time that I though it might have been me seeing something that wasn’t there. I’m not going to doubt myself again!

😬

She's given you tiger stripes.

No finesse at all. I wouldn't be happy and I'm
surprised people on here think they look okay tbh.

They don't look good and your hairdresser knows it.

Otherwise, she would have focussed on re-doing it for free getting a look you liked so she had a satisfied customer.

They’re stripy and look awful, sorry.

They are too thick and too spaced out and placement totally off, that's why they look stripy. Also it's a good idea to tease the root of the weave on more scattered highlights so it blends and doesn't sit in obvious blobs like this at the root. They're not even properly close to the root!
You definitely needed another colour or 2 as well as the bleach to create a soft multi tonal look.
It could easily be fixed by going back and asking for more highlights in different shades (no more bleach) so you get a mix and fill in the big gaps.
Not a good job I'm afraid, very basic, cheap looking and old fashioned.
If your hairdresser can't see this I'd say they are not very good at their job. I am a hairdresser

The bleach has also bled out of the foil at the roots because her foiling technique isn't strong enough and the foil has slipped and possibly from using cheap bleach that swells in the foil. That's why you have blobs at the root rather than fine strands of colour

Thanks everyone - this is what I needed to hear! I tried to talk to her about it and she said I need to find another hairdresser for colour as she doesn’t understand what I want / mean. It was savage and I spent most of this weekend in tears! But feel a lot better now knowing actually, I was right to speak up.

I actually thing very much the opposite. These are so chunky, that’s why they look cheap, because they are so stripy looking.

Some people like this contrasting look, but I prefer a natural look and prefer baby lights that are thinner.

@Gettingonabitnow ,that hairdresser needs more training (+ not on your head + at your cost) and more customer service skills. Move on from them (mistakes happen but they should have been better about it)
Your hair will grow out and the colour can be toned down
Deffo leave a review and photo but just factual not emotional .
You will be scrutinising own hair way more than anyone else, most ppl will not have noticed or given it a second thought, if you pass someone with great hair, ask them where they have it done, Google /Insta hairdresser in your area

Highlights should look natural. Those look like deliberate stripes which look completely unnatural.

Thanks. Would you believe she is the salon owner?!

You could show her this thread! Perhaps not……

They look a bit cheap. Sorry OP.

As she said she didn't understand what you mean, send her a link to this thread.

People have explained what she did wrong.

I’m gobsmacked that she owns a salon and basically admitted she can’t do her job! I’m a hairdresser and if I’m not sure what someone means I’ll get them to show photos of approximately similar colours/styles and then check how close we can get to that. It may not be the same as the person’s hair might be a different base colour or thickness etc. But this would all be discussed and made clear! She sounds awful.

@Gettingonabitnow
Crikey! No I would have guessed a junior especially as they said they didn't understand what was wrong!

I wouldn't go back to someone who had that's sort of manner

Hi, I just had highlights done by someone, They didn’t use bleach they used high lift tint. They were trying to lighten some caramel coloured highlights in my hair but left it on way too long and now I have white stripe highlights! She’s put a toner or gloss on twice to try and hide it but as the toners fading I can see the stripes coming, plus my hair look white underneath now. They won’t reply to me and won’t help. Is there anything I can do to tone down those white highlights? Can I get colours put on top of them? Or do I have to wait for the toners or gloss to face? It was done a week ago? She’s put a dark gloss or toner just on ones that must have been white. I’m so scared that my hair will be white when the toner runs out. I’m so anxious to how bad it’s going to look when the toner or gloss has faded. She’s tried covering them and darkened them. I’m so annoyed

Not a good job. More towards the crown than round your face which is the opposite of what might look natural, they're blocky and stripey and dated and they've bled at the roots, she needs to go on a refresher.

If you've given her the chance to put it right leave them an honest review and don't go back. You could stick a toner on there while you let them grow out and then they somewhere else. Find someone who's colour you like and ask them who does it, they'll be flattered, don't be shy.

It can b done don’t despair !
ask for it to be blended !!
If they don’t know what u mean there no good ! And keep trying !! babylights it what your after !
There not bad technically!! But just not the affect u wanted (hairdresser here )