Colours For Black Hair refer to the various shades and tones that can be used to highlight and accent black hair. Highlights can be subtle and natural looking, or bright and bold, depending on personal preference. The right highlight colour can make hair look more dimensional, vibrant, and stylish.
8 Of The Best Highlight Colours For Black Hair? With so many options for jazzing up dark tresses, it can be tough deciding which brightening hue will look best. Should you go for a warm coppery ginger or strawberry blonde? Or would an icy platinum better complement your complexion.
When considering highlights for black hair, vivid yet natural-looking shades tend to work best. Warm golden browns, rich caramels, and bright copper and auburn reddish tones flatter most skin tones. Bolder options like bright red, electric blue, or vibrant violet can also look edgy and chic against the dark canvas of black hair.
8 Of The Best Highlight Colours For Black Hair
Black hair can beautifully frame the face, but sometimes it can also feel flat and one-dimensional. The right highlight colours though can illuminate dark locks, adding lovely depth, dimension and vibrancy.
Highlights cleverly placed by a professional colorist can work wonders whether going for a subtle sun-kissed effect or an all-over colour for high-impact. Here are 8 of the best highlight formulas to try on black hair.
Ash Blonde Highlights On Black Hair
Cool-toned ash blonde highlights on jet black hair create striking contrast. By keeping the highlights concentrated around the face and crown, dark tresses are illuminated for a gorgeous dimensional effect. Mimicking how the sun naturally lightens hair also lends a believable look.
When evenly distributed by an expert colorist, ash blonde accents on black hair neither appear brassy nor overwhelm the deeper base. The result is a head-turning yet balanced blend. To maintain the ash blonde brightness, use a violet toning gloss regularly. This neutralizes warmer undertones that can make highlights look dingy or yellowed on black hair.
Chocolate Brown Subtle Highlights On Black Hair
For those wanting just a touch of illumination on their black locks, subtle chocolate brown highlights are ideal. Just a few tones lighter than the darkest brunette, chocolate brown adds the gentlest dimension. Stylists hand-paint fine highlighting strands no wider than 1/4 inch throughout, concentrating the most around the face framing.
This leaves black hair looking richer and more nuanced, with a delicate sun-kissed effect. The darker accent colour also grows out seamlessly into black hair. Subtle chocolate highlights let naturally dark hair shine while softly brightening up dullness or flatness. They require less maintenance too compared to lighter shades.
Purple-Pink Highlights for Black Hair
| Highlight Formula | Length of Commitment |
| Violet | High |
| Fuchsia | High |
| Lilac | Medium |
Blue Highlights for Black Hair
From vibrant royal blue to cool pastel blue, blue highlights look edgy against dark hair. The bold pop of colour contrasts strikingly with black locks. It creates dimension and adds a fun, youthful effect as well. Blue needs pre-lightening black hair first to show up properly.
An ombre look with strong blue at the mid-lengths and ends creates impact. Keeping roots black prevents too high-maintenance look. Use colour-safe shampoo and limit washing to make the blue last longer. Touch up when fading happens after 4-6 weeks. Blue highlights let black hair showcase creative colours while staying low commitment at the root.
Golden Highlights On Black Hair
Warm golden highlights flatter both cool and warm complexions. They lend black hair a striking sun-kissed brightness perfect for summer. Hand-painted fine golden strands around the face brighten up darker skin tones beautifully.For gold accents that pop against black hair without brassy tones, ask for buttery golds with hints of beige.
This flatters light to medium toned skin best. Use clarifying shampoos sparingly to avoid dryness yet keep blonde free of nicotine yellow buildup. Timely glossing treatments also help neutralise brassiness. With proper application and care, golden highlights let black tresses dazzle with head-turning luminosity.
Red Highlights On Black Hair
Whether a vibrant coppery-red or deeper auburn, red highlights make a gorgeous statement on black hair. The high contrast effect is eye-catching and fun. Red adds warmth and dimension to black hair, whether going for a bold ombre or subtle scattered accents throughout dark locks.
The right red tone needs consideration with skin tone to harmonise. Warm peachy undertones in lighter complexions suit strawberry and coppery reds. Darker olive skin wears deeper oranges and garnet shades beautifully. To help red highlights last longer ask stylist to use semipermanent color and extend time between shampoos. Red is high-maintenance but brings fashion-forward style when paired with black hair.
Silver Gray Balayage On Black Hair
Silvery gray and black hair is an edgy yet sophisticated colour combination. Hand-painted balayage starting mid-length of hair and ending in icy white tips has a grungy modern look. Keeping the roots black prevents high maintenance. The silver and grey ombre effect works best on neutral or cool skin tones.
Those with yellow undertones risk looking washed out. Use a violet toner gloss to prevent yellow discoloration of grey highlights. Also limit shampooing to every 2-3 days and use sulphate-free colour safe products to protect the icy tones. For fashion-forward dimension, silvery gray balayage on jet black hair delivers.
Subtle Espresso Highlights On Black Hair
For just a hint of dimension on black hair, espresso brown highlights softly yet beautifully brighten up darker locks. The subtle effect lends richness without lightening hair too drastically. Stylists hand-paint fine espresso brown highlights scattered throughout, concentrating the most around the front and crown.
The hints of deeper brown add gentle contouring that leaves black hair with a touch of added nuance. With less maintenance needs than lighter shades, espresso highlights deliver subtle sun-kissed radiance perfect for naturally black tresses. Their underplayed drama lets black hair’s lush beauty continue to shine.
How to Care For Highlights On Black Hair
To keep highlights on black hair looking their best, use sulphate-free colour-safe shampoos and limit washing to 2-3 times a week. Rinse with cool water and apply moisture masks weekly. See your stylist for a gloss treatment every 4-6 weeks to refresh colour and shine. Avoid hot tools daily to maintain integrity of highlighted strands. Regular trims also keep ends healthy.
Maintain Blonde and Ashy Tones With a Purple Shampoo
To keep blonde and ash blonde highlights looking icy and bright against darker hair, use a purple shampoo or toning conditioner 2-3 times per week. Purple tones cancel out any buildup of unwanted gold and orange hues that can occur on lightened stands. This keeps icy highlights looking crisp and luminous against inky, black roots without turning dull or brassy over time.
Refresh Highlights With a Color-Depositing Mask
Using a weekly colour-depositing hair mask is a great way to keep highlights on black hair looking vibrant between salon visits. Opt for colour-boosting masks in tones that cancel brassiness or amp up colour intensity.
Violet masks fight warmth on icy blondes. Blue intensifies cool brunettes. Copper adds punch to red highlights. Colour-depositing masks should replace regular conditioners to refresh colour while deeply conditioning. This keeps lightened strands luminous against dark roots even months after highlighting black hair.
FAQ’s
Do highlights damage black hair?
Yes, lightening and highlighting black hair does cause some damage, but taking proper care can minimise it.
What level do you lift black hair to highlight it blonde?
Black hair needs to be prelightened to pale yellow inside the hair shaft to deposit icy blonde highlights.
Should black roots be retouched when highlighting?
Yes, expect to get root touch ups every 6-8 weeks for minimal contrast between new growth and highlights.
Conclusion
When done correctly by a skilled colorist, highlights in black hair can take the look to a whole new level of glamour and dimension. Whether going for dramatic or delicate effects, perfectly placed lighter accents make naturally dark tresses come alive with vibrancy. From the minimal upkeep of subtle chocolate brown highlights to the head-turning icy blondes, there are many options for customising black hair colour in exciting ways.
Highlights require some special care though to keep black hair healthy and the colours looking their boldest. Use color-safe products, minimise heat styling, and get on a regular salon schedule to maintain the highlights’ brightness. With good home care and touch ups every 6-8 weeks however, highlighted black hair retains its lush, shiny texture while boasting the added light-reflecting and face-flattering qualities from the highlight placement artistry.
