At U&K Salon, partial highlights are placed along the hairline, or the outer edge of the hair. Full highlights extend farther in, with foils placed through the middle and interior sections for brightness that’s visible across more of the hair. If you want to brighten the outline and keep the rest of your color as it is, partial may be the right appointment. If you want lighter pieces to show through the body of your hair, consider full.
What’s included in partial highlights?
At our Brooklyn salon, partial highlights are limited to the perimeter. That’s the hairline that frames your face and continues around the sides toward the nape. Your stylist can discuss which parts of that outline to brighten based on where you want the color to show. Working along the perimeter takes fewer foils and usually less total appointment time than placing highlights throughout the hair.
Partial can make a noticeable difference if the area you see first in the mirror is the area you want to change. A few brighter pieces around the face can shift how the color looks from the front while leaving the middle and interior sections as they are. If your reference photo shows lighter strands continuing through the sides and back, point that out when you ask about the appointment. The face-framing pieces may be only one part of the look you’re after.
When do full highlights make more sense?
With full highlights, your stylist places foils in successive sections through the middle and interior of the hair. That wider placement lets lighter pieces show through the sides and back and within the hair when it moves. It’s a useful option if you want brightness distributed more broadly or if your existing highlights feel concentrated around the edges.
You can still ask for a subtle result with a full appointment. Fine pieces placed throughout the hair can leave plenty of your base color visible between them. Likewise, brighter pieces around the face can make a partial look more defined from the front. When describing your goal, think about both how much contrast you want and where you want to see it.
Try your usual part and ponytail before you book
Start with your hair down and parted the way you normally wear it. Look at the front, then use a second mirror or a phone photo to see the side and back. Do you want brightness mainly around the face, or do you want lighter pieces to show through the sides and back as well?
Then put your hair up the way you actually wear it. A ponytail can expose the hairline near the ears and at the nape, where perimeter highlights may show. A half-up style can reveal a whole section of hair that normally sits underneath the surface. If you want lighter pieces running through that exposed section as well as around the hairline, bring it up when you ask about full highlights.
Can a partial refresh a previous full highlight?
Sometimes. If you still like the color through the middle and back and only want to brighten the hairline again, a partial may be enough. If the regrowth you want to address is also in the interior sections, or you want to redistribute the lighter pieces, discuss a full appointment.
It also helps to separate regrowth from a change in tone. If the lighter pieces are still where you want them but have shifted warmer or look different from the shade you liked, ask whether a gloss or toner could refresh the color. If the concern is where the lighter pieces begin or how far through the hair they extend, talk about placement.
Bring photos that show where you want the color
A front photo is useful for showing the face frame. A side or back photo helps show how far the lighter pieces continue, and a photo of your usual ponytail or half-up style shows which sections you want the color to reach. Tell your stylist what you like in the photo: the brightness around the face, the fine pieces through the back, or the amount of darker hair left in between.
Mention previous color, including at-home dye or bleach, and where it’s still on your hair. Your starting color and hair history help determine what’s achievable in one appointment. If you like a balayage photo, bring it along. It can help you discuss both the placement you want and the technique that could achieve it.
Booking highlights at U&K Salon
Partial highlights start at $300 and full highlights start at $380. Both include a gloss. The final price and appointment length depend on the work involved. See our services and pricing for the current menu.
If you’re between the two appointments, tell us where you want the lighter pieces to show when your hair is down and when it’s up. Our booking page has the online booking link and contact details if you’d like to check which appointment fits.
