Changing your hair color doesn’t have to be drastic. As in, you don’t need to make the leap from blonde to brunette, or vice versa, to totally switch up your look. In fact, you can breathe new life into any style with subtle changes by way of highlights and lowlights.
Think of highlights and lowlights as a pop of color instead of a full transformation—they can be use to either brighten (highlights) or deepen (lowlights) your natural shade without doing a full overhaul of the color you’re already working with. They also help add dimension to a single shade, and can do away with any sort of flatness or dullness you’re dealing with in your color. But in the battle of highlights vs. lowlights, how do you choose which is best for you? Aside from talking to your stylist and asking every question you’ve got (because, FYI, a proper consultation is just as important for them as it is for you!), here are some tips on how to decide.