Partial Highlights vs. Full Highlights: Everything You Need to Know (2024)

Are you thinking about getting partial highlights? At one point or another, we all get bored with our hair. One way to beat hair boredom is to mix up your look by playing with color. However, a complete color change might not be the best option for you, as the commitment to the upkeep can be a lot! If full highlights aren’t for you, partial highlights might be a better fit.

Unlike full highlights thatcover most of your hair, partial highlights are generally placed around your face toaccentuate your features and brighten up your natural hair color.

Popular among celebs and the street style set, these low-commitment highlights are a super low-maintenance option. Read on to learn more about the differences between partial highlights and full highlights to figure out which color change option is best for you:

• What are Partial Highlights?
• What are Full Highlights?
• 5 Partial Highlight Hairstyles That We Love

Partial vs. Full Highlights

Not sure about the difference between partial and full highlights? Can’t decide which is best for you? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered.

What are Partial Highlights?

Highlighting your hair generally means committing to serious upkeep. However, with partial highlights, you are subtly lightening up hair, so it doesn’t involve as much upkeep.

Types of partial highlights include highlights that frame your face or are finely distributed throughout your hair (a.k.a. babylights). This type of highlight focuses on placing the color in specific areas rather than all over. While this change may be subtle, it can still have a high impact on the overall look.

The actual application includes isolating select strands by placing them in foil (you’ll work with your stylist to determine which locks, in particular, are going to get lightened), and those are then treated with bleach, hair color, or a toner, depending on the exact shade you’re seeking. This usually equates to less time in the chair and also makes for a process that’s much cheaper. Some people also experiment with partial highlights on the tips of their hair or on top of an existing dyed color.

We have always known that hair color is the best form of self-expression there is, and we asked our readers to see if our instinct was correct and we were. Not surprisingly our survey results indicated that 65% of you find that the hair color of your choice matches your personality.

Who Are Partial Highlights Best For?

This type of highlighting process is best for anyone who is going for subtle or high-contrast dimensions. Just going lighter on a small number of strands can transform your look. This is also a great option if you’re wanting to change your hair without an extremely high-commitment look.

What are Full Highlights?

Full highlights, on the other hand, create a dramatic, all-over color change. While you aren’t completely dyeing your entire head, you are creating more even and defined color lifts throughout your hair. They can also be subtle, chunky, or dramatic, depending on your preferences. In many instances, full highlights are created to mimic the way your hair looks as if you had a two-month vacation in St. Tropez—you know, that all-over glow as your hair looks like it was kissed by the sun. While we love this look, you should know that it will require some time at your hairdresser’s as your colorist strives to get the color just right. This process also involves foils and in some instances caps.

Who Are Full Highlights Best For?

Full highlights are best for anyone who wants an all-over color change. Whether that means you’ve dyed your hair and want to add dimension or want a color change without fully bleaching your hair. Full highlights will create an overall lighter look compared to partial highlights and may require more upkeep depending on the type of contrast you’re going for.

How to Care for Highlights

Now that you have your coveted highlights, you’ll want to keep them vibrant for as long as possible. As we mentioned, in the instance of partial highlights, they can easily grow out and look natural throughout your hair. This is also true for full highlights if the color wasn’t a huge departure from your natural shade. However, if you want the look to last, you’ll have to visit your colorist every four to six weeks, especially as your roots start to grow out.

During this time, you’ll also need a trim to maintain the health of your hair. In between color touch-ups, you’ll also need to maintain the vibrancy and moisture of your hair by using a color-treated shampoo and conditioner. We love Suave Vivid Color Shampoo and Conditioner because it uses an Amino Acid Complex to strengthen and soften your strands. Plus, it helps keep your color vibrant for up to 40 washes.

Another way to pump up your hair with much-needed moisture is to include a deep conditioner and/or hair mask into your hair care regimen, like Nexxus Color Assure Long Lasting Vibrancy Deep Moisture Masque.

5 Partial Highlight Hairstyles That We Love

Highlights are a fun way to mix up your look without committing to a huge change. Whether you love an all-over effect or something more subtle, there’s an option out there for you. Ready to take the partial highlight plunge? Read on for ways to style them:

1. Face-Framing Highlights

Adding loose waves to your hair is a great way to give it some body and show off face-framing highlights. Get the most lift out of your hair by doing an at-home blowout.

2. Effortless Layers

Adding longer layers to your look is a great way to emphasize partial highlights.

3. SoftWavy Balayage

For soft, summery, natural-looking partial highlights, wear your hair wavy or ask for somebalayagetones. This will emphasize the natural beach-babe vibe you’ve got going on! Use a small-barreled curling iron set onlow to curl your hair. Wrap small sections around the iron starting at your mid-shaft, and only let the hair sit on the barrel for a few seconds. This helps give you fresh-from-the-beach bends, which we will happily channel in the dead of winter.

4. Contrasted Partial Highlights

Another good way to emphasize your face-framing highlights is to create more of a contrast between colors with your partial highlights.

5. Sleek Pony

A sleek pony can show off the cool color change between the top and bottom halves of your hair. Because there is no texture, you get a clear line where your partial highlights start and stop. For the ultimate sleek, frizz-free finish, we always recommend using a serum. Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion Smoothing Hair Serum is a good choice for color-treated hair because it helps hydrate, smooth, and eliminate frizz. Blow-dry your hair as usual, then flat-ironyour hair into a straight, sleek hairstyle. Loop your hair into a low ponytail and you’re all set!

6. Ombré

Channel the partial highlights trend into an ombré style for a color story that never goes out of style. This soft transition from brunette to blonde leave your roots intact and brings a bright pop of blonde hair color to the bottom of your hair.

7. Subtle

Consider asking your colorist to give you highlights that are just a few shades lighter than your natural base shade. This will give you a subtle change that’s impactful without being over the top.

8. Rooted

Maintain your roots but play with your ends with this partial highlight that seamlessly transitions from brunette to blonde. We love the contrast of these two shades and think this is a great way to get in on the partial highlights trend.

9. Face-Framing

Flatter your complexion with a face-framing set of highlights. By coloring the pieces around your face a lighter color, you’ll get an instant boost of brightness even the best highlighters on the market can’t deliver.

10. All-Over Blend

Get yourself a stylist who can blend your color to perfection. This all-over blend of partial highlights is ideal for anyone looking to make a bigger change with their hair.

Are you thinking about trying out one of these styles? Be sure to snap a picture and tag us @AllThingsHairUS!