35 Lowlights Ideas You Must Explore Compared to Highlights

Avery Hunt
Avery Hunt Hair Colorist

Lowlights are the darker strands in the hair, adding depth and contrast. These are essentially the opposite of highlights. Your hair can appear deeper and darker than its natural shade, so adjust your expectations accordingly.

Marco Pelusi is a renowned hair artist and educator based in West Hollywood, California. He emphasizes the significance of consulting an expert before opting for lowlights.

What is your hair aspiration? What do you wish to accomplish? Reflect on these questions and communicate with your stylist.

Be clear about the tone and how dark you envision your hair to be. “Your colorist should easily be able to choose the right level and tone of lowlights for you. It would also be beneficial if they offer you swatches of color that act as your guide,” states Pelusi.

The major concern in this color trend occurs if you select inappropriate hair care products. Using unsuitable shampoos and conditioners can wash away the color.

With this hair color trend, you can choose to go darker while achieving a beautiful dimension. Here are the images showcasing the best and most popular ideas for lowlights!

Photos

#1: Luxurious Chestnut for Ladies Over 50

If you’re in search of a hair color that exudes depth, consider chestnut lowlights if you are a woman past 50. The chestnut lowlights are extraordinary and incredibly complimentary on all skin tones. Consult with your stylist to see if this shade and style suit your hair type.

Silver lowlights merging seamlessly with natural gray roots on wavy mid-length hair

#2 Elegant Lowlights on Natural Roots

Transform with grace using these silver lowlights that seamlessly blend into the natural gray, perfect for wavy, medium-density hair. This layered cut flatters an oval face, adding movement and a youthful charm for women in their 50s. While it enhances depth, keep in mind the maintenance; silver tones can fade, necessitating salon visits to sustain vibrancy.

Luminous Lowlights Balayage with Shadow Roots
Instagram @aliciawhitehair

#3: Luminous Balayage with Shadow Roots

The balayage and shadow roots complement each other beautifully to create a gentle gradient between a deeper root and her blonde tips, while maintaining dimension throughout your hair. It’s far more understated than the usual ombré effect or classic highlights/lowlights. I suggest using Redken Ph Bonder during the lightening process to preserve the health of your hair, keeping it vibrant and glossy.

#4: Lowlights for a Chestnut Bob Cut

Incorporating lowlights into a chestnut bob cut significantly alters your typical bob hairstyle. Typically, lowlights on brown hair enhance the dimensions, creating a striking change in your appearance!

#5: Stunning Silver Highlights

No one would think that platinum and silver lowlights can look this beautiful, but if done correctly, they can dominate the room. The combination of blonde and silver creates an almost ombre-like effect but be warned, if you’re sporting this chic silver, it requires some maintenance or it will just become dull and make you appear older than you are.

#6: Delicious Chocolate Copper

Here’s a decadent shade of chocolate copper for your fine tresses. The balayage showcases a beautiful color melt effect, which looks flattering on waves. It’s the style that’s ideal if your locks are a few inches past the shoulders.

Multifaceted Autumn Hue with Lowlights
Instagram @haleyraihair

#7: Multifaceted Autumn Hue

This style is highly adaptable for nearly every lifestyle and hair type. I suggest incorporating a lowlight (that can vary in different shades to complement any hair/skin tones) to suit you if you are seeking a transformation that will elevate the dimension and richness of your hair.

#8: Top Caramel Blonde Styles for Women Above 60

If you’re over 60, a caramel blonde hue is ideal for you if you want to achieve added depth and brightness. Warm blonde highlights around your face combined with deep brown lowlights underneath create a stunning color palette. When paired with a trendy pixie cut, your hair will exude youthfulness, contrast, and dimension.

#9: Lowlights on a Multi-Tonal Pixie

A stunning multi-tonal pixie is ideal for you if you embrace short hair. Pixie cuts are excellent if you are seeking something simple to manage and that doesn’t require excessive styling time.

Chic Highlights and Lowlights for Blondes
Instagram @hiuksiabynoora

#10: Blonde Highlights and Lowlights

The ideal highlights and lowlights for blondes establish a gentle and more effortless appearance. Enhance your hairstyle with beach waves on your mid-length cut.

#11: Adorable Baby Lowlights

Adorable baby lowlights create a more seamless blend of colors. The hair technique consists of a dye that is darker than the base color and applied in finer sections. This results in richer tones, providing more depth to your overall look.

Stunning Dark Brown Hair with Lowlights
Instagram @_hayshair_

#12: Stunning Dark Brown Locks

Dark brown hair exudes richness and character! Touches of golden tones would be an excellent option to bring luster to your strands. This is the kind of style that shines with soft waves enhanced in your long hair.

Stunning Long Curled Blonde Locks with Lowlights
Instagram @hair_by_shazia

#13: Stunning Long Curled Blonde Locks

Nothing is better in bright blondes than a subtle dimension. When a color looks as if it could be natural, it often requires two to three additional hues. So, don’t forget to ask your colorist to incorporate some lowlights.

Highlights for Subtle Adjustments
Instagram @mishairhunter

#14: Highlights for Subtle Adjustments

Opt for a dirty blonde shade if you’re seeking a very nuanced transition as an extremely blonde woman. To achieve this appearance, I suggest utilizing a demi-permanent color to allow for easy removal from your hair if you wish to revert to a more completely blonde style. Additionally, a demi-permanent color is generally a choice that will not harm the hair!

Chic lowlights on red and blonde hair
Instagram @floralfringe

#15: Relaxed Styles for Red and Blonde Hair

Lowlights on red and blonde hair are an excellent choice since it’s a color that complements a natural level 7. Alternating highlights and lowlights can provide you with depth. This can be executed subtly or in chunkier sections for varying effects. Consider a sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo to ensure the reds retain their vibrancy in your hair.

#16: Stunning Styles for Gray Hair

Choose to enhance your stormy locks with stunning silver highlights. Give your gray hair soft, flowing curls and face-framing fringes to help complete your youthful aura.

Glossy Lowlights
Instagram @jsalon100

#17: Glossy Lowlights

Consider glossy lowlights to infuse your lackluster hair with multi-dimensional tones that enhance its fullness. To achieve this look, request any shade of maple, chestnut, or golden bronde. Using contrasting shades alongside your natural color introduces more depth and shine to your hair and is a fantastic low-maintenance option since regrowth is barely noticeable.

Understanding Lowlights and Highlights: Dimensional Brown and Blonde Tones
Instagram @caroliiine_k

#18: Understanding Lowlights and Highlights: Dimensional Brown and Blonde Tones

Try a very dimensional and different coffee brown and blonde tone with lowlights and highlights. What distinguishes lowlights from highlights? Well, since lowlights are the darker pieces or sections of your hair and highlights are the brighter ones, they create a dimension that can add so much life to your hair texture and color. This look is ideal if you are low-maintenance and want something natural but also want to add some color without coming back to touch up or tone too often.

Adorable Lowlights on Short Hair
Instagram @sagebrush_hair

#19: Adorable Lowlights on Short Hair

Looking for a fresh approach to transform your neck-length hair into a stunning style? Consider baby highlights and lowlights for your short hair, because why not? The added depth and delicate dimension are noticeable, giving your fine locks a beautifully textured edge.

Timeless Brown Hair with Golden Highlights and Lowlights
Instagram @savann_uhhh

#20: Timeless Brown Hair with Golden Highlights

Light brown hair featuring golden highlights is a must-try! Stunning waves appear pretty in this shade as they boost the volume and shine of your lengthy mane.

Delightful Lowlights for a Strawberry Shine
Instagram @itskarolaruiz

#21: Delightful Lowlights for a Strawberry Shine

A dimensional blonde doesn’t always have to be dazzling. Combine your highlights and lowlights to achieve a strawberry shine. Layers on your long mane will create a subtle volume for intricate hair ends. Since you are not completely blonde or completely dark, you maintain a bit of both to escape the monotony. It’s ideal if you don’t have much time to frequently visit the beauty salon.

Stunning Blonde Balayage with Lowlights hairstyle
Instagram @hairby_tiana

#22: Stunning Blonde Balayage

This is a blonde balayage featuring lowlights, designed to enhance the highlights and add dimension, depth, and movement to your hair. Always finish your look with a lightweight hair oil and a light finishing spray for a hold that maintains movement. I suggest balayage hair colors if you’re interested in refreshing your usual highlighted style.

Playful & Charming Lowlights
Instagram @styleby_jeny

#23: Playful & Charming Lowlights

Experiment with a playful and charming hair color. Regarding color, having a dark base with lowlights rather than highlights offers lasting color. You won’t notice any regrowth; if you prefer a low-maintenance approach, you can go 12-14 weeks between colors.

Can Lowlights Complement Any Hair Color: Charming Pastel Pink
Instagram @sterosas1991

#24: Can Lowlights Complement Any Hair Color: Charming Pastel Pink

Choose a charming pastel pink with lowlights for a playful look. When opting for a pastel color, be aware that vivids are semi-permanent, which means they fade more quickly than standard permanent shades; additionally, the softer the fashion color, the shorter it typically lasts. I generally suggest that you leave the salon equipped with a toning color shampoo like Viral Ccolorwash in light pink. This will help re-tone your hair at home, ensuring the pink endures for a longer period.

#25: Stunning Styles for Brown Hair

After enhancing your dark locks, lowlights for brown hair will add depth and dimension. Style your long mane with soft waves, complementing the effortless vibe created by a foilayage. Visit your colorist every 8-10 weeks for a toner to rejuvenate your look. A foilyage is an ideal color choice for women with busy lifestyles who may struggle to come in every 6 weeks for a foil touch-up.

#26: Elegant Burgundy for Mature Women

For mature women, burgundy lowlights offer a refreshing transformation with minimal upkeep.  Achieve this hue using a cool red demi-permanent color. Coordinate with your stylist to apply a free-hand painting technique, which helps avoid any harsh lines as it grows out and smooths out tonal variances.

Beautiful Blonde Hair with Lowlights
Instagram @hairbykir_

#27: Beautiful Blonde Locks

Blonde locks allow dimension to be retained, which contributes to improved growth maintenance. Lowlights are ideal for breaking up solid colors for a more organic appearance.

#28: Stylish Lowlights and Highlights for Black Hair

The stunning salt-and-pepper dimension is sure to impress! These highlights and lowlights for black hair provide a smart way to integrate your grey naturally. Enhance its youthful vibe by styling your mid-length locks with voluminous waves.

Subtle Dark Brown Lowlighting
Instagram @harsveisen

#29: Subtle Dark Brown Lowlighting

Less commonly recognized but just as effective, lowlights provide depth and dimension to brunette hair. Combined with soft curls and a layered cut, mocha lowlights can truly accentuate your beautiful eye color and enhance your complexion.

Multi-Dimensional lowlights
Instagram @beauty.byjaz

#30: Layers of Exquisite Flavor

Natural lowlights with a shadow root epitomize the essence of layers of exquisite flavor. Bronde is exceptionally versatile and can be styled long, short, curly, straight, and on fine or thick hair!

Textured Copper Bob with Lowlights
Instagram @dliagrebeauty

#31: Textured Copper Bob

Textured coppers catch the eye every time and there’s a good reason for that. Your best bet is to use a warmer color as your lowlight to complement the copper. If you’re worried about having too much contrast, start off with a less is more approach. You can always add more at your next appointment.

Stunning Lowlights for Silver Hair
Instagram @friseurthesing

#32: Stunning Lowlights for Silver Hair

Lowlights and depth on diamond blonde tresses aren’t a bad idea. In fact, it’s one ingredient to achieve a beautiful effect like this one. Get this look by selecting the perfect lowlights for your silver hair. More waves on your medium-length mane will enhance a sophisticated volume.

Chic Lowlights hairstyle
Instagram @hairbyvieve

#33: Chic Lowlights

A chic lowlights style with stunning lowlights will maintain your color’s freshness and doesn’t reveal new growth as quickly.

Stylish Lowlights for Black Hair
Instagram @hair_by_dray

#34: Stylish Choices for Black Hair

Opt for stylish options if you desire a change without going blonde. Consult with your stylist about which shade would complement you best. Request your stylist to dye your hair a rich dark brown and then to balayage a few strands for lowlights, creating added dimension.

Shadow Root Merging with Bold Red hairstyle
Instagram @_tieladoeshair

#35: Shadow Root Merging with Bold Red

Try a daring textured stacked haircut with lowlights and a shadow root merging into bold red. You need to possess a strong personality and be comfortable attracting attention in a crowd with bright-colored hair. Additionally, you should think about the maintenance involved. Fashion colors tend to require high upkeep due to fading and typically need a refresh every 4 to 5 weeks.

#36: Decadent Chocolate Brown

Choose a full head of creamy ash blonde highlights paired with rich chocolate brown lowlights. Sometimes, the interplay of dark and light shades can appear uneven, so ensure that your layers are well-blended and softly feathered to eliminate any spots or patches. This blend of lowlights and highlights suits all hair types. Remember that if your hair starts off very light or is highly porous, the darker sections may fade more quickly. Always opt for a quality paraben and sulfate-free, color-preserving shampoo.

#37: Charming Dimensional Lowlights

A blend of charming lowlights, reverse balayage, and a shadow root contributes the ideal touch of dimension if you want to enhance texture in your finer hair. Introducing dimension can produce the effect of thicker, more textured hair.