Questions about Highlights (hair not magazine)

[Tammy]

I used to get my hair highighted in the warmer months, but it was a long time ago, and some things have changed since then. For one, I now have stray gray hairs popping up more and more, so I've been doing a straight color instead for a while now. I'm thinking about having some highlights done again this spring, though...

If you have gray AND do highlights, please tell me how it changes your routine. Do you color as often? Do you use the color as a base and then do highlights over it each time you go to the salon, or do you find that doing this damages your hair too much? Also, how much time does this add to your routine appointment?

I want a little change, but I don't want to make my routine *too* high maintenance. I don't get a lot of "me" time and don't want to waste it sitting in a salon chair for an entire day every six weeks.

If it's relevant, I'm an auburn-ish redhead.

[Esther]

I'm not sure I can really answer your question too well, I think it really depends on how much gray you have. I just get partial highlights put in, about every 3 mos or slightly less. My hair grows out REALLY fast, so I can go about one hair cut in between highlights.

For the brief time about 6 years ago that I was a redhead with gold highlights, the salon I went to in Wisconsin, she would do the whole head in the red color and then pull out and foil the highlights at the same time. But when I moved here it seemed no salon would do that (b/c the highlights she actually did before were color, not the bleach ones) and I would have to go in and do the color, THEN, add the highlights and I think the last time I had that done it was around $140 to do the 2 processes. Uh uh, way too expensive. I think I tried the home l'oreal kit that had the color and the highlights but you just don't get very professional results.

You probably should ask your stylist for his/her opinion. I know I'm seeing more and more white hairs, but you can't really tell b/c of the blonde highlights on the crown and front.

[Tina]

What I've been having my stylist do is thinly "paint on" the highlights after the color is put on. I don't care for lots of all-over highlights, I prefer streaks here and there. I'm there a total of 1 1/2 hours for everything, including cut and style. I have to have the color done (roots only) every 5 weeks (I'm pretty much all gray), and she only has to redo the highlights about every third visit. She charges me $30 for color, $15 for highlights, and $20 for cut/style.

[Esther]

Wow Tina! Your hairdresser is cheap! (in a good way)

The lady I've been going to for about 5.5 years now, the salon she works at was bought out by another salon. (boy that was poor grammar!) Her haircut prices used to be $22, now it's $29 for a haircut (which is still pretty cheap, I think). Highlights used to be about $20 for a partial, now they are around $35 for a partial higlight (and my hair is very short). I used to bring the boys there, she used to only charge $10 per haircut, but it's almost doubled now at $17 per kid cut, so I found a new place that charges only $9 (a barber shop).

I still remember in 2001, paying around $50 for a haircut at a Visible Changes salon in Houston (had been with the same stylist for years).

[SherrieM.]

You have to be careful on the type of hair you have, apparently. I've had two stylists tell me not to mess with my hair. It is strawberry blonde, curly, and fine. That's a triple-threat for hair color, because all three types are delicate on their own. Adding them all together is a recipe for disaster.

I have a white streak, and both stylists told me the chances of messing up my hair were greater than the benefit of getting rid of the streak.

So I guess I'll age gracefully. Sigh.

[Tina]

Wow Tina! Your hairdresser is cheap! (in a good way)

I REALLY lucked out. She used to work at a very expensive salon. She didn't like the way the owner treated the stylists (trying to make them force clients into buying products, etc.) so she decided to leave. Last time I went to that shop (6 years ago) I paid $120 for full highlights, cut and style - no color. Her Dh built an addition on their house and now she has her own salon. Works perfect for her (mom of 3). Also works perfect for me! She actually apologized last year when she had to raise her prices . My Dh and the boys go to her too. Sean is $10 and Dh and Brett are $13 - wash, cut and style.

[Big Bean Burrito]

Thankfully I don't have gray yet but I'm sure they'll be here soon! My mom has dark brown hair with several gray's. She has her hair colored and her lady foils in the highlights at the same time. Just foind that out not too long ago. I didn't realize you could do it at the same time! Just had mine foiled last week and a cut. It was $85.