Highlights - time taken

[RoundandSad]

Can anyone explain why highlights take so long at the hairdresser these days?

I'm thinking of trying a kit at home home.

When I had them done in the past, they did not take hours. I could be in and out within about 90 minutes if it was just a highlights

Now it takes ages. I stopped doing it because it took so long last appointment was four hours.

I have asked a hairdressers. I haven't been able to find a good hairdresser in recent years. They have all said that bleach was stronger in the past or something.

My hair is very very dark brown almost black

I have a good friend with similar hair who is using a Jeremy Russell kit to get her hair blonde

I don't want full blonde, but I think that some of the highlighting kits on Amazon might work on my hair?

Has anyone tried these? I understand that sectioning hair takes a long time, but I only used to have the minimum like a T section so I don't know why I was in the hairdresser four hours last time and in the past, I don't think they did all this fiddling around with bleach first and toner after

Everyone is obsessed with toner now why is that? I'm sure about 30 years ago. The hairdresser just painted on some colour. Let it take that was that!

The alternative, my grey hairs are very colour resistant so I'm using a strong bleach, or I think it's a strong bleach and mixing it with darkest brown

So I'm wondering how that would go if I mix the bleach with a lighter colour

Anyway, I just wondered what you clever ladies thought thanks

I would never attempt to do my own hair dye it has never ended well. I don’t know why hairdressers take so long in a salon but I found a mobile hairdresser who does my highlights in under an hour.

Why don't you do a before and after for us?

So it can be done! Are you dark hair?

Hairdresser said the standard is to bleach the hair as much as possible and then put the colour on the top. It didn't come out half as nice as it did in the past with the hairdresser in another part of the country and taking so much less time. When I did that, I just picked a colour and it was done - they mixed it with bleach before applying it I thought

when I go round and speak to hairdressers, I don't feel like they really know what they're doing we are a bit rural so it's a job to go round town talking to them

I am cutting my own hair now because no one gets it right I have posted about this before I feel like hairdressers are making it up as they go along

@ozarina I dont like to upload a picture but I will let you know what happens

I think it would be very hard to do the back right

It's partly that I want to try because I think it will help transition to grey

I know a few people who are doing this going lighter before going grey

They are all saying they spend the whole afternoon in the salon at least four hours a waste of a Saturday.

I had my lowlights done yesterday and it took over three hours, always does. I prefer lowlights as they are more subtle that highlights and you don’t get roots showing. My hair was very dark brown but it’s mainly grey now, I currently have a mix of purple and blue colours but sometimes have pink instead! I love it when my hair moves and the colours show through subtly. As I have them redone every 8 weeks, I have various shades in my hair, some new and some faded but they are not as obvious as highlights.

The hairdresser takes a long time putting the foils in, selecting some strands then interweaving through them to create a very fine section to colour. She must put 40 or so foils in all around my head. The actual time to set the colour is not too long, maybe half an hour. She does not use heat anymore, she told me modern dyes do not need it and it’s not good for the hair but if I was in a hurry, she could use a low heat to speed things up.

I don’t mind the time, I’m retired so am able to make an afternoon free without too much hassle. I take my kindle with me and read or play games on my phone.

I had a full head of highlights which were then toned and a cut and blow dry in 90 minutes yesterday. My hairdressers is super fast, but gets the results I want which is excellent.

Could you get your friend to do it for you with a kit? As you say, it’s hard to dothe back. I do my own highlights but my hair is mousy and fine, so not as difficult as yours. I do a combination of using a highlighting cap, then take that off and use a fine paintbrush to make sure roots are done properly and add a few around the hairline. I’ve been doing it for years and can do it pretty quickly but it still takes an hour altogether.

I have always found highlights quick but balayage takes ages because of the layers of colours and repeated toning/washing/conditioning. But if I have balayage I can go 6-8 months just having my roots touched up so it reduces no of appointments.

I think highlights often take ages becuase the hairdresser puts them in and then does other clients whilst the bleach does its job. I am pretty sure that most of the time the bleach does not need that long to work as the time spent is always dependent on the time spent with other clients. If you get a mobile hairdresser only focused on you they are more incentivised to be quick

Thanks to everyone for confirming what I thought

I did wonder if the time was related to the hairdresser doing other things but they just lie and tell me the bleach that needs that long to work

A lot of people on here would have drank the hairdresser kool aid.

But I for one completely and utterly intensely agree with you.

Years ago my hair came out far better than it does today.

My hair is a ashy /cool brown. I'm theory it should lift fairly easily. It used to. Bit of peroxide and beautiful blonde hair lights.

Now, it's the hours worth of threading through the bloody foils and "bleach" (that isn't bleach ). Then the wash off. Then the toner. Then the wash off.

Now the toner looks great. Until you wash your hair just once. Then it's washed out.

My hair is then left a dull, slightly orangey/yellowy colour , until I have it done again . And reader, it ain't cheap....

It's not the hairdresser. I've been to god knows how many and it always comes out exactly the same. I haven't had a decent "bleach highlight" job for years. But I know it's possible, as it used to come out great. Nice fresh little icy white streaks. Never now.

My mum briefly did mine via a box and cap home kit. It did lift well. But if I'm being honest, the condition of my hair was horrific.

I think that's where all this colour/toner/non bleach shit has come from: "we're hair care experts. We aren't going to put anything on your hair that actively damages it "

I'm not asking you to take care of my hair! I'm asking you to make it look nice !

The 5 hours it used to take made me dread the appointment. I had socialising and the hairdressers are always the same catty, gossipy, talk too fast and too much (about shallow "girly" things type) and my introverted oddities can't cope well with the 5 hours of masking. (I'm not autistic, but have traits)

So now I do the whole "root stretch" thing and just have fringe and the ends toned and accept it'll wash out after one wash. Can't win. But I'm not pretty enough to get away with my natural mousy hair colour. I'd look plain and ugly.

@CrispsPlease yes we are being sold a lot of junk but there must be loads of people who won't go to a salon now because of the time taken

You are not ugly!

I think going grey as a dark head person is difficult

Otherwise, I wouldn't be thinking about doing it again

All these rubbish they have told me about toners and what not, I just can't understand why it isn't quick like it used to be

I will take care of the condition of my hair at home

It sounds like there is no way to find a salon who will do it quickly so at least I know that

You said root stretch what does that mean, please?

I know there's a lot of detail mentioned here about painting close to the scalp and

It doesn't need to be that detailed I just need some something other than like a sheet of dark with weird grey mixed up in it

so when I have a quiet time next, I will give it a try.

I was nearly in tears the last time I left the salon

It's not something I've had done often, so there was a very long gap like I don't know 20 or 30 years and I was not prepared the first time I went in

The second time I did know it would take that long, but I asked them to cut down as much as they could and they didn't really because the salon was busy

And they lie when they check the foils they say it hasn't developed enough but it probably has

Done, it went on the back burner because of expense

Now I just think I'm not going through that shit again

I mean, not prepared for it to take that long. I had no idea.

I feel exactly this way.

❤️

So, the root stretch is where you basically have dark /natural roots and then it blends into blonde (it's easier maintenance wise and means less time in the hairdresser and less repeat visits ) but obviously if you're very dark and want to cover the greys, it may not work as well.

I really feel your pain on this subject and I'm in total solidarity with you.

I also agree that hairdressers don't seem as "good" anymore and it's all about latest trends (i.e toners etc ) I've found genuinely that the more expensive hairdressers don't give you better results. In fact, I've had very expensive hairdressers give me far worse results. I think if they're pricier, they are more likely to try to sell you products you don't need with eye watering prices and put gimmicky "eco" products on your hair.

Why don't you perhaps try a cheaper/more rustic hairdresser that may not be as keen on promoting the latest fad and might have a bit more old skool (hopefully) techniques? It might be worth a try.

I've given up on hairdressers to be honest. I think the industry has gone a bit wrong.

I feel like this too. But my natural hair colour is so dull and boring it makes me feel low about my appearance. I wish I could just think "oh fuck it !"

I feel like there’s a large gap in the market for no nonsense hairdressers. So a high quality service, but without all of the faff. These places in my imagination, would have desk-like set up if you choose, so you can just work while you’re there.

Complete honestly too. I had years of having toners on my hair, but recently my hairdresser has explained that the hair type I have just won’t tone cooler no matter what, so essentially no point.

No ridiculously long hair washing, which allows the other hairdresser to fit in another client while that’s happening. Certainly no head massage!

This may sound joyous, but I just don’t like the whole process. I do understand that some people like the experience, but there should definitely be more options for those of us who don’t.

Really bad idea to try foil bleach highlights at home on dark brown hair!

'The alternative, my grey hairs are very colour resistant so I'm using a strong bleach, or I think it's a strong bleach and mixing it with darkest brown

So I'm wondering how that would go if I mix the bleach with a lighter colour'

Not sure what you mean by this? Bleach is bleach. You can't mix it with another colour. Sometimes, bleach must be used to lift the natural hair colour to the desired shade; it's often the only way to do this. Or if someone wanted say, blue hair, and their natural hair colour was dark, bleach would be necessary to lift the colour up from dark to very light/white. It is the only thing that would lift the colour from very dark to white because of how it works - it strips the colour from the hair (this is why a lot of people won't use it, it can over-process and would eventually the hair could break off at the roots).

Bleach probably was stronger in the past. A lot of hairdressers have always disliked using it (the salon I worked in refused full head bleaching and this was 35 years ago).

Many hairdressers now won't use it at all and will go for a high lift tint instead. Maybe this is what was used last time? It would take longer to lift the colour so this may explain the wait.

Not a hairdresser, and not trying to defend anyone, but.
There are a few variables not mentioned here.
Hair type, colour and porosity.
I used to get my dark blonde very thick hair highlighted with a cap and hook at the hairdressers in the 80s/ 90s (yes, am 60s). Wore it short then, think Princess Diana. With a trim, I would be in and out in just over an hour. But my hair is apparently more porous than average and "takes" bleach and colour fast.
Also, colour. If you have brunette or black hair it takes very much longer to lighten. I've had hairdressers who just wouldn't take hair from dark to blonde as it tends to go orangey.
OP, I would go carefully. As PP, try and find an older stylist with good experience of colouring.

Absolutely!

I'm not autistic (although what I'm about to say will sound as though I am ) but I don't like small talk. I don't "fit in" with they type that Is a hairdresser (I know it sounds horribly judgemental) . But I feel like a square peg trying to fit in a round hole, all the false inane grinning and pretending to be interested in things they talk about. Embellishing things to fit in. It is essentially "masking" for 5 hours and I find it utterly exhausting.

I don't want a bowl of olives, I don't want a frappacino, I don't want to be talked to about 'Wella hair care". I don't want a head massage, I don't want to chit chat. I don't want a wash in wash out toner.

I want bleach highlights. I want a decent cut. I don't care if the bleach Fry's my hair. I don't want to pay £100+ for some "technique " that'll ultimately lead to me coming back and going through the same process in a month's time.

I want to sit at a ropey salon chair. Highlighter cap on. Bleachy highlights pulled through. And washed off. I'll even style it and dry it myself thanks. Brief chat. But you can go away and leave me alone whilst it's setting. Pleasant and polite business transaction will do me just nicely. Get your 18yr old apprentice to wash it. Minus the massage (🤢) thanks.

And this is why I'm constantly exhausted. Having to go through this rigmarole and be false. (Like all other transactions nowadays) I hate our society 🙈

I work in healthcare (although not directly front line anymore) but nursing for example has gotten all "process /tick box/assessment (arse covering)" same with medicine. You can't just say "look Margaret, I think this is what's wrong with you . Take this course of antibiotics and I'll see you in a week's time if you haven't improved" it's all this protocol, that process, this guidance, that flow chart. We're all like robots. No care, no personalisation, no individuality of either party. And I think this is what's happened with hairdressers. They all go to conferences and local business meet ups. Advertising and endorsing certain products and techniques. It's all robotic. There's this new movement of them being "hair care " experts. (There's even the start of entering BSc in hairdressing ) I don't want hair care. (I'll do that bit) I haven't come here for hair health advice. I've come here to look good !

I think the future of hairdressing will be the BSc route and then (as with my profession- the MSc route ) where it'll be all health science, hairdressers will be like scalp drs, assessing for signs of cancer of the surrounding skin etc and conditions like psoriasis. Prescribing treatments such as ketaconozole shampoos for dandruff and subherroic dermatitis. I wouldn't be surprised.

Can we bring back the 90s?

I had a different toner on my hair the other day (I have bleach painted on my roots with a mix of some colour and then a toner) to make the blonde slightly darker. Exactly the same as normal except the toner was a different one/different mix. I was charged at extra £20 (£100 instead of normal £80) for my ‘colour change’. It literally is just a shade different due to the different toner. I didn’t have anything extra done to normal.

I am sick of the prices. I had to sit and wait for well over an hour while waiting for the bleach and then the toner to take while hairdresser did 2 other clients.

@CrispsPlease I can really relate to this.

The strength of peroxide can dictate the amount of time on the hair. Low strength is less damaging and doesn’t throw as much warmth, low and slow

Oh dear, an awful lot of misunderstandings about lightening hair from the OP and some others.

You can easily buy all the correct products online these days so if you want to learn about how to colour your hair safely, then read a hairdresser's colouring text book?

I’m autistic and decided to do my level 2 & 3 hairdressing training in my 40’s as I was interested in learning something new. I work from home and do it more as a hobby as I’m not interested in running a high street salon.

@WhatdoesitmeanKeith Any hair colour can be lifted and toned a cool shade even black Asian hair. However, if your starting point is very dark brown, your hair is likely to be severely damaged by the lightening process and that’s what your hairdresser is trying to avoid, particularly if it’s already lightened in places.

Years ago, hairdressers used to use a higher strength peroxide with the bleach to lift the colour quickly but we now know that causes more damage to the cuticle layer and it’s gentler on the hair to let the bleach lift more slowly with a lower strength peroxide developer.

Finally, a lot of hairdressers only complete their basic level 2 training in a year and so have far less knowledge and experience of colouring compared to learning via the apprenticeship route which took much longer to qualify but gave the students a lot more practical hands on experience.