Image: Showbit
Ombre, sombre, highlights, lowlights … now say googoo-gaga to the adorably named babylights, the cool colouring trend that’s tipped to be the next big thing.
But what are babylights, exactly? Take it from an expert: ““They’re ultra-fine, micro-stitch highlights placed strategically to illuminate hair and create a fresh look,” enthuses Redken Master Colourist David Stanko. “[It’s] like the highlights children get naturally from being out in the sun!” Translation: The memorable monicker is meant to allude to the super-soft sheen of toddler tresses – like the hair colour you were born with, essentially.
Here’s how it works in action. Your stylist will assess the state of your hair, then divvy it up into tiny sections before painstakingly painting selected slivers scattered all over your head. The result of this delicate dye job? A very beguiling, barely there twinkle that’s like the sun-kissed shimmer of a blonde kid on a beach.
And no, babylights aren’t exactly revolutionary – the technique is much like the so-called “balayage“ method of dabbing dye on by hand – but it’s certainly a cute beauty buzzword that’s a subtle, sophisticated and arguably superior alternative to solid blocks of colour. Oh, and babylights will work swimmingly with just about any shade of hair and skintone, but the effect’s extraordinarily beautiful on golden-haired girls the likes of Kate Bosworth or Cate Blanchett.
Mane maintenance is easy enough, too; when shown a picture of said dye job, my go-to stylist says a full head should last a good eight weeks or so – even longer if you invest in regular “toning” of your tresses with an at-home treatment like say, Redken’s Blonde Idol BBB Spray Lightweight Multi-benefit Conditioner, $32, or Mask Nourishing Rinse-out Treatment, $55 (available from May 2016), both of which come crammed with cuticle-smoothing sealers that’ll lend your moistureless mane a shampoo ad-worthy sheen.
Keen to give this a go? The trend may be gaining traction with the virtual beauty community, but your average stylist may be a tad late to the party. In the “mane” time, here are some #hairfies to flash to your stylist when trying to communicate what you want done to your ‘do. Bookmark this page for future reference, and have fun!
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