My At-Home Highlights Disaster Turned Okay?!
Okay, so I saw all these reels about DIY blonde and caramel highlights looking super easy. Figured I could save some cash and give it a whirl. Let me tell ya, it was… an experience.
First off, the kit hunt. Hit up the drugstore and spent forever staring at boxes. Found one labeled “Dark Blonde” and “Caramel” with a picture that looked dreamy. Grabbed it, plus a mixing bowl and brush kit since the one in the box looked pathetic.
Getting ready felt like preparing for battle. Dug out two old towels – one for my shoulders, one for inevitable drips. Laid newspaper all over the bathroom floor like a weird crime scene. Put on the world’s ugliest old t-shirt. Mixed the developer and color goo in the bowl following the kit instructions. Wasn’t fancy at all, just stirred it up with the little brush. Consistency was like weird, sticky caramel sauce. Thought, “Well, hope this smells better than it looks.” Spoiler: It didn’t.
The actual highlighting part… wow. No way was I doing some fancy “cap” thing or trying to foil like a salon. Nah. I sectioned my hair roughly into parts – top, sides, back. Not precisely, mind you. Then, I grabbed the brush, loaded it up, and just started painting stripes onto random pieces I pulled out. Seriously, I just held little chunks away from my head and slapped the goo on. Tried to focus on bits around my face and the top layer, aiming for that “sun-kissed” look they promised on the box. Avoided the roots at first, then chickened out and did a few lighter bits near my scalp too. Covered the painted bits in the little plastic cap that came with the kit. Looked ridiculous. Timer set for 35 minutes.
Waiting game sucked. The stuff started tingling a bit? Not burning, but definitely feeling… something. Stunk to high heaven. Played on my phone trying to ignore the chemical cloud.
Washout time = panic zone. Hopped in the shower following kit directions – cool water first, then shampoo like crazy to get the developer out. Used the conditioner packet. Felt like my hair was straw. My heart was pounding. Grabbed the hair dryer, blew it dry without any styling…
And… huh. Not terrible? First thought: “Whoa, those bits are way lighter!” Especially the pieces I did near the front. The “dark blonde” took more on my lighter brown base, giving this sort of honey-ish tone. The “caramel” bits? Well, they weren’t like the box picture. More like a warm, kinda reddish brown? Less caramel, more… toasted walnut? But you know what? It DID add dimension. Parts near the back were a bit patchy where I missed or put too much, and the roots were slightly wonky. Overall, though? It actually blended in surprisingly okay for total amateur hour painting.
Here’s the brutal honesty:
- Patchiness is Real: My technique was rubbish. Uneven color for sure.
- Dry as a Bone: That conditioner was weak sauce. My hair feels fried. Deep conditioning mask immediately after this photo, trust me.
- OVER-DARKENED? The “caramel” isn’t the light brown caramel I expected, it’s darker. I think starting with lighter hair would have helped.
- It’s No Salon Job: But for a quick $15 box and an hour? Got noticeable highlights without looking totally unnatural (unless you look super close at the back!). Would I do it again for a refresh? Maybe… with better conditioner standing by.
Honestly, the thrill of actually seeing color change without massive disaster? Pretty cool.