| You may have had your hair highlighted with a | | | | Why you may ask? One important reason is that by |
| technique that hair stylists refer to as "foil | | | | using this method I am able to space the bunches of |
| highlighting". The foil highlighting technique has become | | | | hair to be highlighted with greater flexibility. |
| popular over the last ten years. In fact most hair | | | | Another important reason is this: When I use hair |
| stylists don't know how to highlight hair any other | | | | bleach to achieve a certain highlight color, (and we |
| way. | | | | use bleach often for certain colored highlights |
| There is also the perception that foil highlighting is | | | | because only by using bleach are we able to achieve |
| done only in expensive salons, that any other | | | | this type of highlights) I can apply the bleach almost |
| methods won't give you a great look and are not | | | | at the same time all over the cap. What this means is |
| professional. | | | | that the bleach stays on the hair for a shorter time |
| In the hair styling business we are always looking for | | | | than when it's done with foil which is much better for |
| new ways of doing hair either using different | | | | your hair. |
| techniques of highlighting hair or cutting or styling hair. | | | | When you consider that bleach immediately makes |
| Sometimes new methods are really innovative such | | | | hair lighter the moment it comes in contact with it, |
| as using a round brush and a hand held hair dryer | | | | by applying the bleach practically at the same time, it |
| instead of rollers to style hair and sometimes it can | | | | allows me to have total control over the outcome of |
| be gimmicky such as the use of electric clippers in | | | | the color I want to achieve compared to foil where |
| place of regular scissors to cut women's hair. As you | | | | the bleach is already processing hair (making it lighter) |
| may have noticed, it didn't catch on. | | | | for at least twenty minutes by the time the stylist |
| What is the reason for using foil? Foil is very flexible | | | | foils the back of the head. |
| and malleable and therefore lends itself well for | | | | Using a streaking cap, you can also use different |
| covering the "painted" hair so that it won't come in | | | | designs to get different highlights. |
| contact with hair that is not being highlighted. It is a | | | | Some hair stylists may point out that when the cap |
| way of separating the highlighted hair from the rest | | | | method is used, the highlights are not close enough |
| of the hair. | | | | to the scalp as compared with the foil technique. But |
| Having your highlights done with foil can take a long | | | | you can get the highlights just as close with the cap |
| time although some hair stylists are able to do it | | | | if you do it the right way. When you use the crochet |
| faster than others. Foil hair highlighting can also be | | | | hook, you can achieve this by holding it at a certain |
| very expensive especially if your hair stylist | | | | angle. I actually describe the technique in my ebook |
| encourages you to have your roots done every two | | | | "Right Hair Color for You" The new hair coloring |
| months which really isn't necessary. But then some | | | | system for coloring your hair at home. |
| women want to have their roots redone as soon as | | | | There are a few disadvantages using the cap |
| they see dark hair showing. | | | | method. It can hurt when the hair is pulled through |
| When you add "highlights" to your hair you need a | | | | the little openings in the cap with the crochet hook. |
| contrast, otherwise the highlights are not visible and | | | | Therefore it needs to be done very carefully. The |
| the entire hair color becomes monochromatic which | | | | other disadvantage is that it is not suited for long |
| defeats the purpose. | | | | hair. In this case you need to use foil. |
| There are also a few hair stylists who prefer the | | | | However, the most important reason for not using |
| "cap highlighting" method over "foil highlighting". I am | | | | foil is that it is not biodegradable. The irony is while |
| one of them. My preference comes from experience. | | | | some hair salons sell "green" shampoo and other |
| Having used both methods I have come to the | | | | "green" products they continue to use mountains of |
| conclusion that results are better using a streaking | | | | foil every day. |
| cap. | | | | |