Sun glare: what is Californian highlighting and how to do it

Californian highlighting is a popular hair coloring technique that imitates the sun’s natural lightening effect on hair. It is also referred to as "sun glare" or "sun-kissed highlights." This technique gives your hair a gorgeous, sun-kissed look that gives it more depth and dimension, giving the appearance of fuller, more vibrant hair.

The subtlety of Californian highlighting is what makes it so beautiful. It enhances your natural hair color, giving it a vibrant and fresh look, without requiring a significant change. For individuals who wish to give their hair a hint of brightness without committing to a full color job, this method is ideal.

We’ll explain what Californian highlighting is, its advantages, and how to get this gorgeous look at home in this post. Californian highlights could be your best option if you’re new to hair coloring or want to change up your look.

What is Californian highlighting

A unique coloring method called "California highlighting" involves choosing a few light shades that differ slightly from your natural hair color. This method offers a play of light and shadow as well as gentle transitions. Compared to other coloring techniques like balayage or shatush, Californian coloring is thought to be relatively safe for hair and offers a wide range of shades.

Advantages and disadvantages of Californian highlights

Prior to choosing this procedure, you should research all the benefits and drawbacks of the process and ascertain as precisely as possible the shade and undertone of your hair. Now, let’s familiarize ourselves with the process of executing Californian highlights.

Pros

First of all, we should point out that Californian highlights are a mild coloring method because lightening agents are applied to only a portion of the length and not every strand. Furthermore, the roots are left untouched as the focus is primarily on the ends. It is not necessary to continuously alter them in order to extend the impact of the updated image. Furthermore, the outcome appears so natural that it appears as though the hair has recently burned in the sun. Colorists emphasize the significance of making a skillful selection of hues (warm or cold). You can even visually correct some skin imperfections if everything is done correctly.

Cons

If the original color of your hair was achieved through previous coloring, you will need to use bleaching; otherwise, achieving the desired color will be difficult. Following such an intervention, special considerations for at-home hair care will be necessary (more on this later). Furthermore, light hair dyes can eventually turn an undesirable yellow, so you’ll need to use coloring, tinting, or special care products to keep your hair the color you want.

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Contraindications for coloring

There are no particular guidelines against Californian highlighting, and they are the same as the general advice regarding when delaying coloring is worthwhile:

• thin hair, prone to breakage at the ends;
• dermatitis, alopecia, scalp sensitivity;
• earlier dyeing with henna or basma – you will have to wait until the hair grows back to cut off the part that was treated with a natural dye. Paints do not “get along” with it, the result may be unpredictable.

Which paint to use: recommendations for choosing a color

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Accurately identifying the paint’s undertone is crucial because the final appearance will rely on it, be it warm or cold. Californian highlights can be undone by a color that clashes with the primary hair color. What can you do in your house?

For light hair

Californian highlights are ideal for girls with light brown or wheat or gray-colored hair. It is much safer and easier to achieve the desired effect with such preliminary data.

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Paint without ammonia can be used to tint the primary color if the natural tone is warm. Casting Crème Gloss: it leaves curls unharmed and imparts a cool shade.

The Colorista "Ombre Effect" paint from L’Oréal Paris can be used to achieve the look of Californian highlights. The color can be "stretched" from the middle to the ends of the hair using a special comb, resulting in a smooth transition that looks natural.

On dark hair

The outcome will be more striking and equally intriguing on dark hair: it’s worth trying to achieve a lovely transition from dark roots to light ends.

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The right Casting Crème Gloss L’Oréal Paris shades will give the hair the right tones and produce captivating tints.

From the roots up, the color "Frosty Chestnut" can give hair a chilly tint.

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The ends of the special paint Colorista Bleach can be bleached to produce a cool, light tone that blurs the lines between the original color and its boundaries.

Technique for performing Californian coloring

Foil is typically not utilized in Californian highlighting. The hair is simply parted into tiny strands, then dyed while being pulled back two to three centimeters from the roots. The colored curls must first be lightened, and only then can they be painted a different color. Try gently combing the hair in the border regions or twisting the strands into bundles at the proper locations to achieve a smooth transition.

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How often should Californian highlighting be updated

The primary benefit of Californian highlighting from a visual and artistic standpoint is that it requires less frequent updates than regular coloring. The explanation is clear: at first, the roots maintain their original color. The ends will continue to look naturally burned out even if the tint pigments wash off in a month. You can repeat toning on your own at home once every two months.

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Ideas and photos of Californian highlights on dark and black hair

You will need a lot of shades to "try on" Californian highlights on dark hair; otherwise, the outcome won’t look lovely and natural.

Chocolate and chestnut transitions

It makes sense that brunettes would object to drastic strand lightening. Aside from the fact that this coloring will be less stressful for the hair, the effect will be noticeable (it shouldn’t be contrasting) and natural if you go for lighter shades that are closer to the natural color.

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Frosty contrast

An excellent option for brunettes and women with cool-toned hair. Natural color will blend into a white gray beautifully (make sure to use shampoos and tethered balms to keep the look).

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Red tips

The red tips of your hair will appear harmonious on darker chestnut or chocolate-colored hair because that is how the sun interacts with them.

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Fashionable California highlighting on brown hair

Given the abundance of photos, blind hair may be the best "material" for California highlighting. The best foundation color for experimenting with different shades is this one. On blonde hair, the same traditional surf-wave effect appears extremely natural.

Burnt strands at the face

When discussing Californian highlighting, it is believed that the curls that frame the face are dyed from the very roots, and that the entire mass of hair is dyed strand by strand at varying distances from the roots. As a result, the outcome will appear as breathtaking and natural as possible.

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Golden hue

This solution is especially important for people with gray-brown hair because the golden color will draw attention to the skin tone and freshness of the face.

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Coffee with milk

Warm-toned brown hair in California can be highlighted darker; for instance, coffee tones bring out the original color and add brightness.

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Actual California highlighting on blond hair

Blondes find it more challenging to dye their hair using the California highlighting technique because you have to darken the roots instead of going in the other direction. But everything is possible with a reasonably priced range of colors.

Darming the roots

It is advised that very fair girls undergo Californian highlighting, which involves several shade darkening of the hair’s roots. The challenge is that the roots will regrow, so you’ll need to update the outcome on a regular basis.

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Different shades of blonde

A range of blonde tones, from warm to cold, can be used by those who prefer not to darken their hair. Although putting this solution into practice will require a lot of work, the unexpected and highly beneficial outcome makes it worthwhile. Success is guaranteed with seamless transitions.

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Features of coloring red hair

Californian highlighting can produce an intriguing effect on red hair with natural copper pigment, bringing brightness to an already powerful image. For instance, the ends can be made a tone lighter and the roots slightly darker for this.

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Californian highlighting on short hair

The use of this technique is limited by short hair; it is advised to tint only the bangs or specific strands. In light of haircuts, we have gathered the best choices for Californian highlights on short hair when discussing this coloring.

Smooth transitions are made from the very roots to the tips of an extremely short haircut, though this is not the easiest task to achieve. Generally speaking, three shades or fewer are utilized.

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• Asymmetry with bangs

It is preferable to tone the bangs in the same manner as the main mass of hair if the haircut is asymmetrical. The ends are also lightened for visual volume.

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Californian highlights on medium-length hair

Medium-length hair already allows for creative freedom when it comes to Californian highlights; you can use three or more shades. Let’s examine the potential applications of this coloring, using popular haircuts as an illustration.

Californian highlights can help a familiar bob look "cheered up" by adding visual volume to the hair and refreshing the overall look with vertical coloring in various shades.

Since bobs are typically worn with straight hair, it’s critical to avoid having distinct color differences. Instead, choose two or three tones and pay close attention to how smoothly each tone transitions into the next.

Californian highlighting, sometimes called "sun glare," is a hair coloring method that emulates the look of hair that has been exposed to the sun for a while. Using this technique, you can achieve delicate, golden highlights that perfectly complement your natural hair color, giving it a vivid, lively look. With the correct equipment and instructions, it’s an easy process that you can perform at home to get that carefree, sun-kissed glow.

California highlights on long hair

The best foundation for Californian coloring is long hair. Let’s examine the subtleties of the method while keeping the hairstyle in mind.

The effect of optical volume is already implied by a cascade haircut. However, if you lighten the hair toward the ends gradually, it can be highlighted. It’s acceptable if there are some uneven transitions; the contrast will be concealed by the variations in hair length.

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• Smooth hair of one length

Californian highlights on flawlessly straight hair demand precision; there is no space for error. To achieve the desired effect of the hair shimmering naturally, as though it were in the sun, we advise evenly coloring the strands with varying indentations from the roots.

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Step	Description
1. Prepare the Hair	Wash and dry your hair thoroughly. Comb it to remove any tangles.
2. Section the Hair	Divide your hair into small sections. Use clips to hold them in place.
3. Apply the Dye	Lightly apply the dye to the sections of hair, focusing on the tips and mid-lengths. Leave the roots natural for a sun-kissed look.
4. Blend the Color	Use your fingers or a brush to blend the dye for a smooth transition between colors.
5. Process and Rinse	Let the dye sit for the recommended time. Rinse your hair with lukewarm water until the water runs clear.
6. Style the Hair	Dry and style your hair as desired to reveal the Californian highlights.

Achieving natural, sun-kissed hair that looks like you’ve spent time on the beach is incredibly easy with Californian highlighting. The gentle, gradual lighting effect, which adds depth and dimension without using stark contrasts, is what makes it appealing.

You can get the same chic look at home with a little perseverance and the appropriate methods. Californian highlighting is a flexible and attractive choice for anyone looking to update their hair for summer or just get a new, radiant style.

Recall that selecting shades that go well with your natural hair color and smoothly blending the colors are essential to success. You can enjoy gorgeous, radiant highlights that bring out the best features in your hair with careful application.

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