Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always perform a patch test before applying any hair products, and consult a professional for the best results.
There are different techniques a hair specialist can use while coloring your hair. The method used depends on the results you want from a coloring session. If you’re going to change your hair color completely, it’s pretty straightforward.
Conversely, if you want only some parts of your hair dyed, a stylist can either use frosting or highlighting techniques. While frosting and highlighting are both hair-dyeing methods, they’re not the same.
Many people mistake frosting and highlighting as the same because they have similar applications. But, the results show a clear difference between frosted hair and highlights.
In this guide, we’ll discuss frosting and highlighting while showing you the differences between the two hair-dyeing techniques. It’s important to compare hair frosting vs highlighting, so you don’t walk into the salon misled. Let’s get right into it!
Frosted Hair: What is Frosting?
The term “frosting” was historically coined because the stark, heavily lightened strands visually resembled a dusting of winter frost or snow over the base hair color.
Your hairstylist will color your hair strands individually during hair frosting, leaving the adjacent hair strands in their natural state. Once a strand has color, the next strand won’t have that tint.
During hair frosting, the goal is to lift the color of individual strands to a significantly lighter shade—often blonde or an icy platinum. For instance, if your natural hair color is dark brown, a stylist will use a lightener to lift specific, fine strands to a cool, lighter tone, creating a ‘frosted’ effect.
Since you’re not completely losing your hair’s natural color, you can frost all of your hair. With the frosting method, the lightened strands and the darker base color of your hair will combine exceptionally.
After frosting, you’ll have a high-contrast hair color effect that stands out. Instead, the new icy strands and your natural hair color combine to give a unique overall appearance.
How to Frost Your Hair
Although contacting a pro is better, you can try frosting your hair by yourself using the plastic cap method.
- Start by wearing a specially designed plastic cap with holes. These holes will be adequately sized to fit your hair strands.
- Using a highlighting hook, gently pull out the hair strands you’re looking to dye via the holes in the plastic cap.
- Note: The plastic cap method is not recommended for curly or coily hair (Types 3 and 4), as pulling textured hair through small holes can cause severe matting and breakage. Foil highlighting is a safer alternative.
- While pulling out the hair strands, take care not to pull out sections close to each other. If a particular strand is getting a tint job, the one next to it should remain untouched. That’s the best way to get the frosting look.
- After completing a 48-hour patch test, mix the hair lightener or dye product while following the instructions on the packaging.
- Warning: Never overlap lightener or bleach onto previously highlighted hair, as this can cause severe breakage. If you have existing color in your hair, consult a professional rather than attempting this at home.
- Dye the hair strands that are pulled outside the plastic cap.
- Rinse the hair dye after the recommended wait period.
What are Hair Highlights?
In the frosted hair vs. highlights debate, the latter offers more distinct results. The highlighting technique of hair coloring makes the new hair color distinct.
If you’re going for highlights, the hairstylist will apply dye to larger portions of your hair. The main idea is to change the color of enough hair strands to make a noticeable difference. By doing so, the part of your hair with a different color calls the attention of others without effort.
The main difference between frosted hair and highlights is the noticeable hair color change the latter offers. You can use hair highlights to draw attention to a particular section of your hair. Many people prefer to highlight the front parts of their hair.
For the best results, you should choose a very light color for your hair highlights appointment. For instance, if you have dark natural hair, it’s better to highlight your hair with a light brown shade. That way, when your hairstylist finishes the job, you can spot the change.
Highlighting your hair doesn’t change your hair color completely. However, it steals the attention your natural hair color used to get.
The amount of hair you choose to highlight depends on the type of style you desire. We find it’s best to start with a small portion of your hair if you aren’t sure how hair highlights will look on you. When you’re confident of the results, you can highlight a larger section of your hair.
How to Highlight Your Hair
While frosting typically uses a cap to pull individual strands, highlighting usually involves weaving out specific sections of hair and painting them with lightener, isolating them in foils.
- Decide on the sections of your hair you’re going to highlight.
- Separate the sections you’re looking to dye from the rest of your hair.
- Isolate the sections you’re looking to dye using professional highlighting foils so the rest of your hair remains untouched.
- Dye the target sections, following the instructions on the packaging.
- Rinse the hair dye.
Frosted Hair Vs. Highlighting
When you compare the process of doing frosted hair vs. highlights, you’ll find more similarities than differences. But when the hairstylist finishes their job, it becomes easier to tell the distinct properties of frosted hair and highlights alike.
Some of the key differences in the results of hair frosting and highlighting include:
- Frosted hair offers a bold, cool-toned look, while highlights are often more blended and subtle.
- The process for frosting your hair deals with individual strands of your hair pulled through a cap, while highlighting usually involves weaving sections and isolating them in foils.
- Traditionally, frosted hair features stark, highly contrasted lightened strands for a bold look, while highlights are often woven to be more subtle and blended.
Final Thoughts
You’ll mostly notice the difference between frosted hair and highlighted hair in the final results. The result of frosted hair is a bold, cool-toned look, while highlighted hair is often softer and more blended.
Whichever one you want to try, it’s better to speak to an expert for advice. Also, instead of trying to frost or highlight your hair yourself, you may want to contact a hairstylist. That way, you can save yourself from mistakes during the hair coloring procedure.