I am always inspired by my guests; especially those first timers. This is where I draw inspiration for this column.
For me, highlighting is an art, not an exercise or pattern to be repeating over and over each person each day. The hair is a canvas, a picture waiting to be painted. The haircolor in all its hues and contrasts create visual texture and statement.
All too often over the decades we continue to see very linear highlighting which is no longer in style. Linear highlighting is the end result of stacking the foils in a straight line creating a saddle from ear to ear or a Mohawk down the center of the head. It stands to reason that which is placed in a straight line will produce a straight line.
Another all too common feature which is artistically incorrect is where light and dark meet, come together and fit well next to each other. Excessive highlighting and lowlighting not only damages the hair and leaves the canvas less than but it also creates a strange effect visually on the color. The trained eye will light where there should be dark and vice versa. An expert colorist can tell the difference and place shadow where it belongs.
Some of the best lowlighting can make a blonde look blonder just by giving background to areas void of representation. I call this common flaw negative highlighting like the negative of a photo where everything is reversed.
Today’s highlighting is not about how many foils are stacked like a deck of cards but in creating the proper custom painting for the wearer. It’s about creating illusion, light, shadow, texture and bringing to life the haircut and the person’s individual features.
So let go of the linguini highlights and say hello to the world of uneven etches of light that will grace and silhouette your hair.
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