How to Get Easy Highlights At Home with a Hair Color Spray

If you’ve wanted to try highlights but weren’t ready to fully commit, you’re not alone. But with innovations in hair color, you don’t have to reach for the bleach or spend hours at the salon to get highlights, especially if you aren’t completely sure it’s the look for you. You can get instant, damage-free highlights in the comfort of your own home with the help of a hair color spray. 

Whether you want to take highlights for a test drive or simply need to spice up your strands for an event, you’ll want to give this hair color spray highlights tutorial a try.

How to Get Temporary Highlights 

Ready to paint on your highlights? Follow our tutorial below.

1. Prep Your Mane

Before you get to spraying on your highlights, you’ll want to make sure you have a clean, styled mane to act as your base. Use a hair care system consisting of a coordinating shampoo and conditioner to wash your strands. We recommend the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Strengthening Color Care Shampoo and the L’Oréal Paris EvePure Sulfate-Free Bond Strengthening Conditioner — they work together to repair the hair’s weak bonds from bleaching or coloring. If you don’t have color-treated hair it works just as well to strengthen your strands.

2. Paint On Your Highlights

Once your hair is dried (and flat-ironed if you choose to straighten it) , it’s time to create your at-home highlights. Use the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray in your favorite shade to paint on highlights wherever you choose. To use, shake well, hold 4-6 inches from the hair and spray.

The fun part about using a hair color spray is that it's a quick, temporary color— meaning you can place your highlights one way one day, then place them in a totally different way the next. 

Don’t be afraid to get creative with your “highlighting” technique of choice. If you need some inspo, Here’s a few of our favorite hair highlighting options you can try.

Money Piece

A money piece is a face-framing pop of color created with a single highlight placed at the front of your mane. This is a great option for those who want their temporary highlights to be the star of their look. It’s also an easy highlighting option to do on yourself since you don’t need to be able to see the back of your head.

Balayage

Balayage involves subtle highlights placed throughout the hair to create a sun-kissed look. This highlighting technique is perfect for those who want something that looks more natural. And while balayage can be tricky to do with bleach and hair dye, it’s super simple with a hair color spray. However, it’s still a good idea to have a friend on hand so they can help you perfectly place your highlights.  

Ombré

We can’t forget about the ombré highlighting technique. This popular option creates a gradient effect on your mane. Think dark roots that gradually transition to a lighter, blonde hue — except in this instance it would be any temporary color you choose. Get the look by starting with one coat of hair color spray about halfway down your hair, then build up the color as you near your ends.

3. Seal In Your Style

Now that your hair is washed, styled, and colored, you’ll want to seal in your ‘do with a hair spray, like the L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold, Light Hairspray Unscented. Spritz your mane, and you’re ready to head out the door and show off your new temporary highlights.

How Long Do Temporary Highlights Last?

This hair color spray in particular only lasts one day, so it’s not the best option if you wanted something a little more long-lasting. For something that stays longer and gradually fades after shampooing, we recommend the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color, which comes in 15 unique shades for you to switch up your mane whenever you want. 

Next: Partial Highlights vs. Full Highlights: How To Tell Which Is Right For You

Edited by: Shannon Stubbs, Photo Credit: Crystal Simone