Highlights hair are one of the most loved colouring techniques of all time. Elegant, versatile, and capable of adding light and movement to your locks, they remain a timeless trend.
Every year, new hair colour ideas refresh their appeal, making them perfect for those who want a natural, sophisticated look, as well as for those who prefer bolder, more modern contrasts.
However, achieving a flawless result isn’t just about skill and experience: it’s essential to use professional products that enhance the colour while keeping your hair healthy.
In this article, we’ll explore Esla Italy’s best products for the trendiest hair colour ideas of the season, with plenty of tips and useful insights on highlights hair. Ready?
Highlights hair: the evergreen technique
Highlights hair involve targeted lightening on selected strands. They’re ideal if you want to brighten your face and add depth to your hair without completely changing your base colour.
Compared to balayage, which creates a softer, more natural effect, and babylights, which mimic the very subtle sun-kissed tones of naturally lightened hair, highlights hair are more defined and striking.
It’s precisely this versatility that makes them timeless. They suit both those starting with blonde bases and those wanting to enhance brown tones, creating light effects that complement every style.
Hair colour ideas: current trends
Highlights hair are never all the same. The possibilities for personalisation are almost endless, allowing you to adapt the technique to your needs and personality.
If you love lighter tones, classic blonde highlights are perfect for adding freshness and luminosity. For medium brown bases, warm shades like caramel or dark blonde give an elegant, enveloping effect. Face-framing highlights, positioned around the face, are increasingly popular for brightening the eyes and enhancing facial features. Finally, if you’re after a bolder look, sharp, defined contrasts make a strong visual impact.
Esla Italy’s COLOR & BLONDING range offers a wide, versatile palette designed to achieve all these variations with vibrant, personalised results.
Thanks to the variety of shades, you can create sophisticated colour combinations or more striking light effects without compromising the natural look of your hair. Italian craftsmanship meets innovative formulations, allowing you to achieve tailor-made effects and give your highlights hair a creative, distinctive touch.
How to maintain highlights over time: our tips
The beauty of your highlights hair doesn’t end at the salon. To keep them bright and fresh, it’s vital to care for them at home with a specific routine.
Here are the main tips:
- Choose gentle shampoos and nourishing masks to protect and refresh the highlights. These products help maintain colour vibrancy and preserve natural softness.
- Avoid washing too often and steer clear of harsh products that can dull the colour and weaken your hair. Less frequent washing allows natural oils to nourish your strands and keeps the highlights intense.
- Use heat styling tools in moderation and always apply a heat protectant beforehand. Excessive heat can dry out hair and fade colour, while a protectant creates a barrier that minimises damage.
- Protect your hair from prolonged sun exposure with UV-filtered products for coloured hair. UV rays can strip colour and dry out the hair fibre, so consistent protection is key.
- Rinse hair with lukewarm or cool water, avoiding hot water that opens cuticles and fades colour faster. Cold water also enhances shine and silkiness.
- Avoid harsh products or those containing sulphates and alcohol, even in styling products, to preserve highlight brilliance. These ingredients can remove pigments and weaken hair.
- Don’t tie hair too tightly to prevent stress on coloured strands and reduce breakage. Opt for soft elastics or gentler updo techniques to maintain hair health.
Esla Italy’s COLOR MAINTENANCE line was designed exactly for this.
The dedicated shampoo extends colour luminosity, while the jojoba oil mask provides deep nourishment, tames frizz, and restores softness to coloured hair. For an extra treat, the moisturising conditioner, enriched with fermented green coffee and enhanced by the synergistic chelating action of sodium gluconate, provides long-lasting color brightness and vitality. With these products, your highlights stay intense for longer while your hair remains vibrant and silky.
Styling that enhances highlights hair: our hair colour ideas
Highlights hair aren’t just about colour: the final look depends heavily on how you style your hair. The right styling can highlight reflections, add movement, and breathe new life into your locks.
Soft waves, for example, naturally reveal the tones, creating a luminous, dynamic effect. This style delivers a glamorous yet wearable look, perfect for everyday wear or a special occasion.
Updos, such as braids, buns, or half-up styles, turn light effects into true stars. Highlighted strands weave together, creating depth and movement, making your hairstyle more sophisticated and interesting.
For those who prefer sleek, elegant styles, ultra-shiny straight hair is ideal. This style emphasises the three-dimensionality of the highlights, giving a refined, polished effect that showcases every detail of your highlights hair.
To get the most out of your highlights hair, you can also mix techniques: soft waves on the lengths with slightly sleek roots, or braids leaving some strands free to highlight colour contrasts. This way, every hairstyle becomes a showcase for your highlights, emphasising luminosity and depth.
Highlights hair: a timeless trend
Highlights hair remain one of the most versatile and sought-after colouring techniques, adaptable to different styles and personalities. New hair colour ideas offer endless possibilities, from warm, natural tones to bold contrasts.
To achieve results that are not only beautiful but long-lasting and hair-friendly, professional products are essential.
With Esla Italy’s COLOR & BLONDING and COLOR MAINTENANCE lines, you and your stylist have tools that combine performance, elegance, and care, transforming colour into a true beauty ally.
Highlights hair thus become more than an aesthetic choice: they’re a genuine style statement!
