Okay, here’s my blog post about getting caramel brown highlights on my black hair:
Okay, so, I’ve ALWAYS wanted to try those gorgeous caramel highlights you see all over Pinterest. You know, the ones that make dark hair look all sun-kissed and dimensional? But I was, like, terrified of messing up my natural black hair. I’ve heard horror stories about bleach going wrong, ending up with orange, fried hair. Yikes!
But, I finally decided to take the plunge! I did a TON of research (aka watching YouTube videos until 3 AM) and felt… somewhat confident. I decided to do it myself at home because let’s face it, salons are expensive!
My DIY Highlight Journey
First, I gathered all my supplies. Here’s what I used:
- A highlighting kit – I chose one specifically for dark hair.
- A bowl and a brush, you know that use for painting color on.
- Some old towels that I really don’t care anymore.
- Gloves!! Please do not forget it!
- Vaseline (to protect my hairline, my forehead)
- Clips to section my hair.
- A PRAYER. (Just kidding… mostly.)
Next, I prepped my hair. I didn’t wash it for a couple of days beforehand because the natural oils supposedly help protect your hair from the bleach. Then, I sectioned it out, focusing on the pieces that naturally frame my face and the top layer of my hair. I used the Vaseline around my hairline to avoid staining my skin.
Now for the scary part: mixing the bleach. The kit I got had pretty clear instructions, so I just followed those. It was basically a powder and a developer that I had to mix into a creamy consistency. Easy enough, right?
Then, I started applying the bleach. I used the brush to “paint” it onto the strands I wanted highlighted. I didn’t go all the way to the root, because I wanted a more natural, grown-out look. It’s more forgiving that way, too, if you mess up. I made sure to really saturate the strands, so the color would lift evenly. I used a thinner, more “balayage” style technique, rather than thick, chunky highlights.
This is where patience comes in. I wrapped each highlighted section in foil (the kit came with some) and then… I waited. And waited. And checked it every 10 minutes, like a crazy person. I was SO scared of over-processing it. The instructions said to leave it on for up to 45 minutes, but my hair started to look pretty light after about 30, so I decided to rinse it out.
After rinsing, I used the little packet of conditioner that came with the kit. It smelled amazing and made my hair feel surprisingly soft, considering I just bleached it. I let my hair air dry, so I could see the true color.
And… I LOVE IT! Seriously. It’s not perfectly salon-quality, but it’s pretty darn good for a first attempt. The color is a warm, caramel brown, and it blends really nicely with my black hair. It gives it so much more dimension and makes me feel all fancy. My hair feels healthy and it does not look like fried noodles as I worried about!
I’m so glad I finally tried this! It was a bit nerve-wracking, but totally worth it. If you’re thinking about doing caramel brown highlights on your black hair, I say go for it! Just do your research, take your time, and don’t be afraid to ask for help (even if it’s just from a YouTube tutorial, haha).
