Ingrown Hair: What It Looks Like, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Table Of Content

• Management and Treatment
• Home remedy #1: Over-the-counter ingrown hair products
• How to prevent ingrown hairs
• Medical Professionals
• Do home remedies for ingrown hairs work?
• The DIY Method for Ingrown Hair Removal
• Alternative hair removal methods

You can also remove an ingrown hair that has looped or curled back into your skin by gently pulling it out with a sterile needle, pin or tweezers. Apply rubbing alcohol to your surrounding skin to prevent an infection. Then, carefully thread the sterile needle, pin or tweezers through the exposed hair loop. Gently lift the hair loop until one end releases from your skin. Your physician might suggest you apply a warm compress to the ingrown hair or hit pause on removing hairs from that area, while some dermatologists might suggest applying apple cider vinegar to the ingrown hair. This can help because apple cider vinegar contains anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe irritated skin, Engelman says.

Management and Treatment

Whether they're caused by shaving, waxing, or just the business of being alive, they take some finagling and prodding. Usually, the best method for extracting a troublesome ingrown hair involves a pair of tweezers and a solid grip right when you begin to notice the issue. In the video, we see a person wearing surgical gloves use tweezers to tug at what appears to be a small blemish on another person's shoulder. Soon, though, it becomes obvious that the blemish is actually not a blemish at all, but a giant pocket of ingrown hairs. What emerges from the mass looks like something you'd pull out of your shower drain after a particularly vigorous shampooing sesh. A doctor will usually assess an ingrown hair infection by looking at the symptoms and asking about your medical history.

Home remedy #1: Over-the-counter ingrown hair products

Coming as a full kit, a 200ml hair removal cream comes coupled with a wooden spatula and a soothing cream to use afterwards. Our favourite part about it, aside from the longer-lasting results, is that the scent is much less pungent than some other options, despite still being pretty potent in its formula. This Boots own-brand hair removal cream didn’t have as clear instructions as some of the other options we tested, so we’d say it’s best for those who are already pretty confident with this type of product.

How to prevent ingrown hairs

There are a variety of safe skincare products that can help draw the hair out and soothe irritation. If ingrown hair persists, seek an alternative hair removal option and see a dermatologist. If the hair loop isn’t visible, though, they have other options. “I use a sterile needle to [pierce] the overlying skin and splinter forceps to help the hair reach the skin surface,” Dr. Bailey says.

VIDEO: Pulling out a 6-year-old ingrown hair - Business Insider

VIDEO: Pulling out a 6-year-old ingrown hair.

Posted: Wed, 06 Sep 2017 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Medical Professionals

Of course you want a close shave, but if you’re prone to ingrown hairs, stick to a razor with two blades, max. “Each additional blade after two, the lower you cut or shave the hair,” Dr. Wechsler says, the greater the likelihood that the hair will curl back on itself before surfacing. Frequency of shaving is also a factor, says Dr. Lolis, who advises shaving less frequently. This single-blade razor from Oui the People was one of the Good Housekeeping Institute's top razor picks for 2023. Your health care provider is likely to diagnose ingrown hair by looking at your skin and asking about your hair removal habits. Most ingrown hairs will subside fairly quickly if you leave them alone.

Video shows woman removing ingrown hair from leg - Business Insider

Video shows woman removing ingrown hair from leg.

Posted: Thu, 05 Apr 2018 07:00:00 GMT [source]

In the days before your medical appointment, if possible, stop shaving or using any form of hair removal. Alternatively, your doctor might prescribe topical treatments like retinoids, which help reduce skin hyperpigmentation and remove dead skin cells. They also might prescribe steroids, which reduce inflammation and swelling. This video comes from an Instagram account called @tweezist that's dedicated to ingrown hairs. The anonymous owner of the account has explained that all the ingrown hairs are growing on her own legs (though her friend's beard hairs occasionally make an appearance).

If you can't go that long without removing your hair and other self-care techniques aren't helping, your health care provider might recommend medications, laser-assisted hair removal or both. Inside, it's harboring a surprisingly long strand, plus a plug of hardened skin oil that looks a lot like a blackhead. If you really feel the urge to remove your ingrown hair, clean your skin and a sewing needle with rubbing alcohol, says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist. Use the needle to gently lift up the free edge of the hair from your skin.

The DIY Method for Ingrown Hair Removal

Using a hair removal cream on your face can be nerve-racking. After all, it’s one of the most sensitive areas of skin on the body, and a chemical burn could cause some real damage. So please, proceed with caution, patch test first and never exceed the maximum amount of time stated in the instructions. But pre-warning aside, this Veet face cream certainly did impress. Coming in a set with both a facial hair removal cream and a post-removal soothing cream, it was easy to use, didn’t have the overpowering hair removal cream smell and, when following the instructions, worked wonders. On finer, thinner hairs, five minutes was enough to leave the skin silky smooth, while coarser strands took nearer the 10-minute mark.

Alternative hair removal methods

But once you get the hang of it, it’s sure to do the trick. Included is a rather large spatula for easy application, and the smell isn’t as severe as some other options, which is a pretty big plus point. It’s quick, easy and delivers immediate results that are often pain-free, so long as you don’t cut yourself. While waxing may be preferred for those in search of a longer-lasting result, it can be painful. Meanwhile, IPL and other laser machines make for a near-permanent solution when it comes to getting rid of unwanted hair, but such gadgets tend to come with a hefty price tag.

Generally, you can get rid of that ingrown with regular exfoliation and acne-fighting products like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide instead. If you’re looking for a pain-free way to remove unwanted hair, hair removal cream could be your answer. So long as you take care to follow all instructions, patch test before use, and ensure your skin is in good nick before applying, you may find the product to be quite miraculous. Taking measures to prevent ingrown hairs and treating any infections promptly can help prevent these. You may have a higher risk for ingrown hairs and related infections if your hair is naturally coarse or curly.

If bacteria, fungi, or other pathogens enter the skin, an infection can develop, known as folliculitis. Because heat promotes circulation, and that increased circulation can help drive the hair upward. Shaving, waxing, and plucking are an unfortunate part of life.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. If you notice one or more of these symptoms, see a physician or health professional for help as soon as possible. If the hair is already visible and sticking out of your skin, you can attempt to tweeze the hair out.

The first sign of an infected ingrown hair is often a bump. As the infection progresses, you may see pus, and the bump may grow larger. With this method, you can get rid of your ingrown hairs and prevent them from returning in the future.

The cost of laser hair removal depends on how big the area being treated, how many treatments you need, and the going rate in your area, among other factors. The average is $389 per treatment, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Electrolysis — when a technician zaps each follicle with electricity, killing it — can be very painful but works well for small areas like the chin. How much it costs depends on a bunch of factors as well — a single treatment can be around $50-$100. An ingrown hair happens when a hair that's been cut, shaved, or tweezed curls and starts growing back into the skin, rather than away from it. Many go away on their own, but others continue to burrow deep into the skin.

Boakye explains that the less often you remove the hair, the more time the hair has to grow and curl back into the skin, which is likely to cause ingrown hairs. You might be able to see an ingrown hair as a tiny loop with both ends stuck in your skin. Hair removal is the root cause of ingrown hairs, since they occur when hair starts to grow back and curves to burrow into the skin.

Included is a small spatula for easy application, and the best thing about it is it can be used in the shower, cutting down the time you have to stand in that awkward wide-leg naked pose in the bathroom. Just be careful that the water isn’t too hot, so you don’t irritate the skin. And keep to the six-minute maximum, to ensure smooth skin doesn’t come with any unwanted consequences.

Everything You Need to Know Removing Deep Ingrown Hairs, According to Derms

Table Of Content

• Medical treatment
• Preventing Ingrown Hairs
• When should you see a doctor to get rid of an ingrown hair?
• Laser hair removal and electrolysis

The beard area of your face (neck, cheeks and chin), legs, armpits and pubic area (bikini line and inner thigh) are most likely to develop ingrown hairs. However, they may also appear on other parts of your body, including your scalp, chest, back, abdomen, inside of your nose (nostril), eyebrows and buttocks (butt). Curly hair also lends itself to becoming ingrown, which explains why the bikini area is particularly prone. “Most hairs when they grow back in the bikini areas are a little bit curly,” says Dr. Wechsler. Instead, a hair keeps growing, but under the skin, either in a curl, in a downward direction, or to the side under the surface of the skin. Usually an ingrown hair looks like a red bump, but sometimes you can see the hair through the skin, and it may have a white pus-filled head.

Ingrown Hair Removal Videos Are Going Viral Like Pimple Vids - Men's Health

Ingrown Hair Removal Videos Are Going Viral Like Pimple Vids.

Posted: Mon, 25 Sep 2023 07:51:52 GMT [source]

Medical treatment

An ingrown hair looks like a raised, discolored spot on your skin. It’s a strand of hair that grows back into your skin after shaving, tweezing or waxing. Ingrown hairs can affect anyone, but they’re easy to treat and prevent with the right hair removal practices.

Preventing Ingrown Hairs

Once the friend, who identifies themselves as a barber on their Instagram profile, pulls out the incredibly long hair, two years worth of pus oozes out – and then oozes some more. If bacteria or other pathogens enter the skin, an infection can develop, leading to a painful bump. If they persist, recur, or are severe, consider speaking with a doctor. Squeezing an ingrown hair will increase the risk of infection.

When should you see a doctor to get rid of an ingrown hair?

From razor bumps to ingrown hairs, there are a whole host of issues that come with being clean-shaven, so you may want to rid your hair with something other than a razor. If watching these videos is giving you some ideas on removing your own annoying ingrown hairs, just hold on a second. Not only is self-removal painful, but—as with self pimple-popping—it could lead to infections. Here's what you need to know about ingrown hairs, from safe removal to prevention. If your ingrown hairs aren’t going away with at-home treatments and a good skincare routine, or if you’re ingrown hairs become infected, call your healthcare provider.

Best hair removal creams for a pain-free way to achieve smooth skin

Lotions or toners that contain certain gentle acids work as chemical exfoliators, which likewise remove dead skin so the hair stands a better chance of popping out from your skin. “You can also consider using salicylic acid creams.” Dr. Lolis says, adding that products containing glycolic acid or lactic acid can serve the same purpose. If you do decide on self-surgery — again, a really bad choice, Drs. Wechsler and Lolis both emphasize — you can wind up with an infection. “If you have an ingrown that’s red, hot, swollen or getting worse, or if you have a fever,” it is likely infected and you need to get to the doctor. “Most of the time when I see this in my office, the person says, ‘I had an ingrown and tried to pop it and made it worse,” she says.

Shaving is a big culprit because pulling on your skin as the razor glides can draw hair back into the skin, and shaving also gives hair strands a sharp edge that makes piercing the skin easier. These days there are so many genres of gross medical videos it's hard to keep up. There's pimple popping, tonsil-stone popping, earwax removal, extreme teeth cleaning, and more. YouTube is like a buffet for people fascinated by the human body's ugliest dysfunctions. While most hair removal creams tend to have longer-lasting results than shaving, this one is particularly impressive with its near week-long results.

By the time we finished covering both legs, it was nearly time to remove the cream, so you do have to be rather speedy. Occasionally, ingrown hairs result in ripe, juicy whiteheads. To normal people, this ranges from annoying to disgusting. They happen when the skin blocks the emergence of a hair from the follicle, or when a hair grows back into the skin.

Can you remove an ingrown hair yourself?

SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. This may help coax the hair up and out through the skin if you can see the hair and if it’s very close to the surface, says Dr. Weschler. A little bit of poking is all it takes for two hairs to pop out of this ingrown armpit bump.

However, if an ingrown hair is really bothering you or lasts more than a couple of weeks, make an appointment to see your primary care doctor or a dermatologist. What you probably don't want to do is remove the deep ingrown hair yourself. This puts you at risk of damaging your skin or causing an infection, which often isn't worth the risk considering that a large percentage of ingrown hairs go away on their own. But before you dig into the videos, it's my job to remind you NOT to pop and pick ingrown hairs with your fingers.

If shaving worsens your condition, you might want to try a chemical hair removal product (depilatory), such as Nair, Magic, others. If the deep ingrown hair is giving you a lot of trouble and lasts more than a couple of weeks, it's a good idea to see a doctor. "If an ingrown hair persists after about two weeks or begins to worsen in appearance, I recommend seeing a dermatologist for help," Engelman says.

However, we much prefer plastic spatulas over the wooden one that comes with this kit, so will be swapping it out for a replacement next time. Dr. Pimple Popper has turned pimple popping into an internet art form, and the popularity of her amazing popping videos has led to several Instagram accounts and YouTube channels, as well as her own TLC show. There will be a painful bump and swelling, and you may notice pus. A technician applies a pulse of light onto the surface of the skin, killing not just the hair but the entire hair follicle. Sometimes, they can even cause a deep and painful infection under the skin. Exfoliation should be approached carefully, as it causes inflammation, which leads to hyperpigmentation and may not be very helpful in resolving ingrown hairs.

30 Gorgeous Blonde Highlights on Black Hair Ideas

Table Of Content

• Professionally Styles Highlights For Dark Hair
• Darker Waves
• Dark Brown Hair with Blonde Balayage
• Honey Blonde
• Brown and Caramel Blonde Highlights

Below, we are sharing a gallery of some inspiring hues to try and some of our go-to hair color maintenance tips for your new highlights. Perk up black hair with purple highlights and let other ladies drool over it! The touch of purple at the ends will bring a beautiful color melt on your hair. If you want to be trendy, add a fantasy tone complimenting your dark hair with deep indigo. Then, tone them down with a semi-permanent tone that will pick up the light nicely. Be sure to ask for a toning conditioner to keep this color vibrant.

Professionally Styles Highlights For Dark Hair

Now, her pale, pearl blonde highlights are just as trendy as they were twenty years ago. Create a high color contrast by incorporating blonde in the form of highlights, a balayage, or an ombre without overpowering your natural black tresses. Don’t go for very thin stripes as they’ll end up looking like white hairs.

Darker Waves

We can't have a blonde roundup and not include Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Here, her base at the root is a shade or two darker than the rest of her hair, which sprinkles in a few golden blonde strands to further illuminate her face. For brunettes who want a touch of the blonde lifestyle without potentially damaging processing, a bronde style achieved with highlights and lowlights can be a great choice.

Dark Brown Hair with Blonde Balayage

In recent years, a trendy look is to have jet black hair with a brown balayage, or add highlights to create dirty blonde hair. You can see why bronde is such a popular choice for highlighting black hair. It’s not as contrasting as blonde, but it still boasts a boost of brightness you don’t get with brown highlights.

Honey Blonde

Not only is this black and blonde hairstyle fashionable, but it also serves as protection to your natural hair. You don’t have to dye all mane to achieve this stunning look. Add warm blonde highlights in front to create an impression of a two-colored hairstyle.

To make the blonde underlights pop, ask your stylist to lift your hair to level 6 or higher. Long black hair with caramel highlights is a classic trend that offers a chic, feminine style. A fusion of long waves and contrasting hues is what creates multi-dimensional tones. This one’s perfect if you want to brighten up your dark tresses for a change. Long hair that’s black with creamy caramel accents can be considered a low-maintenance balayage. It’s for dark hair types with a long layered haircut and angles in the front.

Strawberry Blonde Balayage

If you’re already working with a black mane, you may not need to color your client’s base. However, if they have a base they want to take deeper, check how dark they want to go. Black and deepest brown are often mistaken for one another, so make sure they’re aware of which tone they prefer. An ultra dark brown or ebony hue can still give plenty of depth and contrast, but may be softer and easier to tailor to skin tones than a pure, jet black. Are you bored with your black hair color and want to try something different? Platinum or sandy tones of blonde work amazing for women with brunette hair.

Brown and Caramel Blonde Highlights

If you would like to spice up your natural black hair, here are beautiful ash color highlights to add more shine to your locks. To preserve the lighter shade for any brassy tones creeping in, use low temperatures when using a flat iron or curling iron, no more than 370F. If the temperature is higher, the color will melt and after 2-3 weeks, the highlights will lose their color and shine. If you have naturally gray hair mixed with your natural black hair, gray highlights are perfect to blend in with your natural black base. This color is high maintenance, which means you must use purple shampoo and conditioner to keep up with the gray shine and prevent yellow tones.

This natural curly style showcases a golden top with darker roots, highlighting the hair’s texture and volume. The golden curls catch the light and add a vibrant, sun-kissed feel to the overall look. It’s an excellent style for those with round or heart-shaped faces, as the volume at the top helps to elongate the face.

With these sun-kissed, multi-dimensional highlights, you will manage to create a perfect style for a date or a party. The secret is to play around with warm shades close to the base color and piecey blonde highlights. Want to get a magnificent dimensional look with minimal effort? Then you need to recreate this gorgeous blonde highlights brunette hair look. Style your locks to the side to achieve extra volume and bring more texture to your blonde highlighted hair.

Rachel Brosnahan Dyes Hair Blonde From Dark Black Look - Refinery29

Rachel Brosnahan Dyes Hair Blonde From Dark Black Look.

Posted: Tue, 23 Apr 2019 07:00:00 GMT [source]

This colorful highlights hair color is perfect for those who love experimenting with new, bold styles. Ask your hairstylist to mix vibrant and contrasting colors like red, blue, purple, and green. One of the best color lines for Pravana ChromaSilk VIVIDS Original. The result is a unique, head-turning style perfect for any occasion.

Swish your hair around your shoulders like you just paid $50 for your swanky locks. They can tell you if your chosen color might not be the best for you even though that’s what you wanted,” says Rowan. Sometimes an air of mystery can be the most captivating thing about you and with this amazing look, you’ll definitely be getting all eyes on you without even trying to.

This will bring more volume and texture to your hair and complement your natural beauty. Flowy waves and honey blonde highlights – sounds like a perfect match, isn’t it? With these fantastic blonde shades, your hair will look more textured and dimensional; they will also emphasize your facial features beautifully. A delightful ginger flow, enriched with a blonde balayage, provides warmth and depth.

Added waves and a chop with the length above the chest make an ideal combo for your new go-to style. Dirty blonde with highlights is attractive on women of all ages. Plus, this dirty blonde balayage hair looks amazing when you add beach waves to a long-length cut. If you have dark hair with warm undertones — think deep caramel, chocolate or even dark reddish brown — you’ll want to opt for warm-toned blonde highlights. For your highlight color, choose buttery blonde, golden blonde, or pearl blonde. Dark blonde hair with highlights gets a neutral tone with a mix of silver, platinum and ash blonde shades.

If you’re searching for ways to spice up your black tresses but don’t feel like going too bright, consider getting brown highlights. Chocolate brown highlights look elegant and chic on black hair, adding dimension and drama to your look. Rich color peeking out from dark black locks is a style we can’t get enough of. If you want to express yourself in a way that shows, add some color to your dark hair, whether it’s pink, magenta, purple, blue, green, or what have you.

This is one of Chrissy Teigen's warmer looks, and we can see why. J.Lo's mix of highlights and lowlights looks natural, thanks to the lighter color being focused on the strands that frame her face. It's where the sun would naturally hit, with a few lighter pieces scattered throughout her bob, as well.

21 Perfect Blonde Hair Colors for Dark Skin Tones 2021

Table Of Content

• Honey Dipped Blonde
• #28: Flattering Dark Hair with Sandy Brown Highlights
• #25: Natural Jet Black Hair with Golden Blonde Streaks
• #36: Opalescent Golden Blonde
• The Queen of Highlighted Dark Hair
• #1: Stunning Deep Brunette with Subtle Highlights

Using a foilayage technique, ashy blonde hues blend seamlessly with your dark hair, giving a stunning icy platinum result. A true minimalist at heart knows a little goes a very long way, as seen on light brown hair with blonde highlights. If you’re looking for a way to give your natural hair color and facial features a bit of a boost in an ever-so-subtle way, opt for face-framing blonde highlights.

Honey Dipped Blonde

Waves also create movement, making your mid-length hair more dramatic. Icy platinum blonde highlights are a full highlight toned to an icy blonde hue. These sumptuous waves cascade down, highlighted by glistening strands of platinum that catch the light with every turn. The masterful highlight technique showcases an interplay of light and shadow, bringing out the volume and fullness of the hair. This style suits those with a fair complexion and works well for a range of ages, particularly flattering for women in their 30s.

#28: Flattering Dark Hair with Sandy Brown Highlights

The roots will still be visible but, if you let them grow out, it won’t look like a poorly done dye job but like shadow roots instead. Achieve light blonde highlights with a lightener and a babylights application. Focusing on highlights on your front hairline will bring out the brightness of your face. Keeping the babylight application true and fine lowers the maintenance as well. Plus, the color adds enough dimension whether you wear it straight or styled.

#25: Natural Jet Black Hair with Golden Blonde Streaks

If you make it a wavy hairstyle, it will help to showcase the dimensional colors in your hair. This balayage of dark hair with auburn highlights is for women who want a low-maintenance color, only maintaining it a few times a year. Dark hair with rose gold highlights is feminine and a little flirty. These highlights are great for adding dimension if you’re a darker brunette.

While they can create magic, lowlights fade as any color does, which is why it’s best to keep them neutral or neutral-cool as those colors tend to fade more on tone. Don't worry, Rez and hair colorist Lorri Goddard will explain. Blend in a color that softens your dark hair by adding some espresso toned highlights that can be seen on celebrities like Emma Roberts. Smooth and sleek, it’s a look that is great for the office as well as a night out. It’s attractive, subtle enough for the more reserved lady, and bold enough to show you’ve “done something with” your hair. The highlights are present in all their bold beauty, from the top of the roots, down to the tips.

#11: White Blonde and Black Beach Waves

Color-safe shampoos and conditioners will keep the tone looking fresh and longer-lasting. “I recommend a hydrating shampoo, such as Oribe Gold Lust or Sevens Kente Bond. It’s also vital to apply a hair mask once a week,” Rowan points out. Molly is a luxury travel and fashion writer who has a passion for all things unique, boutique, and design-centric. She loves nothing more than exploring new destinations, shopping in luxury boutiques in the world’s fashion capitals and finding quirky vegetarian restaurants to sample.

Effortlessly chic, these tousled chestnut waves are kissed with honey highlights that add a radiant glow. This hairstyle exemplifies a laid-back beachy vibe while maintaining an air of elegance, perfect for those with a round or oval face shape. This sleek lob is a masterpiece of contrast with its dark roots fading into a gorgeous blonde ombre. The cut itself is crisp and modern, while the ombre provides an elegant gradient that elongates the neck. This look is especially flattering for those with heart-shaped faces, as the light ends draw attention downwards, balancing the face’s proportions.

Balayage highlights are one of the best hair color ideas you’ll see here! If you are looking for a subtle dimension and don’t want a lot of upkeep, these natural highlights are for you. Adding these subtle highlights to your hair creates a soft dimension, and adding waves enhances this look. Subtle highlights for your dark mane include the use of warm brown tones. Chestnut brown hues look stunning if you have black hair and give a subtle tone-on-tone coloration.

She has been interested in esthetics since childhood, and has tried every hair, skin, and makeup product ever produced (more or less). It’s a versatile look that transitions smoothly from a professional daytime to an elegant evening style. Let’s unravel the spectrum of styles that not only promise to illuminate but also inspire your next salon visit.

Creating just two blonde strands on your black hair is a wonderful idea. Whether you call it raccoon tail hair or zebra hair, this look is sure to turn around many heads. Get wild for once and place short horizontal stripes of milky blond on black hair. Continue all over the head or mix your raccoon tails with some chunky highlights and money pieces.

BLACKPINK's Rosé Debuted New Two-Tone Hair - Teen Vogue

BLACKPINK's Rosé Debuted New Two-Tone Hair.

Posted: Mon, 05 Dec 2022 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Leaning towards pink, these red highlights are bold in a very attractive, subtle way. The way ash blonde and platinum blonde are harmoniously melted into this balayage with highlights is genuinely impressive. The primary technique used is balayage, but the additional highlights truly make the transition from one shade to the other a beauty to behold. A subtle ombre helps reveal the natural hair color up until chin-length only to fan out in a wealth of strawberry blonde from shoulder length. These beautiful blonde locks on a copper base color are super sweet and it’s all thanks to balayage!

What if you want to accentuate just some specific parts of your hair? Adding some platinum blonde highlights to the front does an exceptional job of framing your face. The technique will look even more flattering on women with bob haircuts. Red, almost brownish lowlights mixed with warm blonde highlights are ideal for covering up gray hairs. They will offer a natural feel even after the color washes out a bit.

“I do steam treatments every few weeks and make sure to keep my scalp moisturized with a blend of oils like castor, jojoba and sweet almond oils,” she explains. Here, Oprah's warm, coppery highlights are subtle enough to be considered more of a “bronde,” a flattering fusion of brown and blonde. If you’re contemplating lightening your hair, but aren’t ready to take the full plunge, this is a safe, classic way to try something new. Because your base shade is dark, it could take a few sessions to get your highlights perfect. After your hair has been lightened, your stylist will tone the sections to achieve your highlights in your desired shade.

Take these red highlights that blend so effortlessly, at first glance you wouldn’t even notice they’re there. Woven into the dark hair so professionally, this style makes our mouth water for the way the stylist pulled off such a fascinating marriage of black hair with highlights. We can’t say that the blonde hair color was used sparsely in this example. Nonetheless, it doesn’t overwhelm the darker hair color base. Instead, the blonde hair highlights help bring out the chocolate color.

Maria recommends using a good hair cream like Incredible Milk by Milkshake. “The benefits from a good hair cream such as the one by Milkshake can replace a few products in the long run,” she explains. “It leaves the hair moisturized, which takes care of a high percentage of frizz and dryness. Influencer and co-creator of The Curvy Con, Chastity Valentine, a.k.a GarnerStyle, is known for her signature blonde tresses. “My preferred shade is honey blonde," she says, adding that she takes care of it by using Olaplex once a week. Using hot tools can cause your hair color to fade in addition to damaging your strands.