These days, there are endless ways to work highlights. Forget one-size-fits-all hair lightening, because adding dimension and luminous ‘lights is becoming more bespoke than ever. Case in point: babylights, which see traditional highlights go micro-fine and delicate. Think soft, subtle and so seamless, they look completely natural.
Want to know more? Keep scrolling for your everything guide to brightening babylights, including six ways to work the look, no matter what the base color may be…
What Are Babylights?
Essentially, babylights are ‘baby-sized’ highlights. They’re created by applying a hair lightener Opens in a new tab, like Blondor Opens in a new tab, to much finer sections of hair than traditional highlights. This can be done with or without foils, depending on the level of lift you want, and you can tone them to all manner of shades or keep them a bright, sparkly blonde Opens in a new tab.
They take subtle highlights Opens in a new tab to a whole new level because they’re virtually undetectable, designed to mimic unprocessed hair that’s been gently kissed by the sun. So, if you’re looking back at vacation photos of your six-year-old self, and wishing you still had that hair color, babylights are going to bring your childhood ‘lights back to life.
What’s the Difference Between Babylights and Highlights?
Babylights are highlights - just very skinny, delicate ones that flatter anyone and everyone, whether hair is long, short, mid-length, red, brown, fine or thick. They’re the highlights to go for if a hyper-real, luminous finish is the end goal, creating a reflective sheen that looks less like highlights and more of a natural glow.
What’s the Difference Between Babylights and Balayage?
While babylights are all about the width of your highlights, balayage Opens in a new tab focuses on the placement, as well as the technique you use to sweep pre-lightener on. It’s a freehand process that involves painting random sections of hair with your lightener, typically focusing brightness through the face-framing layers, mid-lengths and ends. You can actually combine balayage and babylights, alternating painterly sweeps with skinnier ‘lights for a truly multi-dimensional effect.
6 Babylights Looks
1. Cool Blonde Babylights
Image Credit: @styledbydani_naz Opens in a new tab
“No root shadow, just 1,000 babylights.” That’s how Danielle Nasvaderani Opens in a new tab reached this bright beige blonde color, created using very fine ribbons of Blondor Multi-Blonde Powder Opens in a new tab with 20 vol. She then toned to icy cool perfection with 10/73 + 9/01+ 6 vol, resulting in surfer-girl soft lines that look positively glowy, whatever the season.
2. Warm Blonde Babylights
Image Credit: @ronnie_william6 Opens in a new tab
Balayage and babylights combine in this buttery blonde mane, which features a high volume of ultra-fine ‘lights that lend a spotlight effect through mid-lengths. You want to keep this warm blonde Opens in a new tab rich and golden without a hint of brassiness, so make sure it’s topped up with a glossing treatment Opens in a new tab in between babylighting sessions.
3. Babylights on Brown Hair
Image Credit: @re.fined
Just a few babylights were added to this medium brown hair color Opens in a new tab, combined with a couple of strokes of balayage to get a plumped-up, healthy-looking finish. Look closely and you’ll see the micro-fine ‘lights are three or four shades brighter than the base, creating a twinkly effect whenever the light catches. For clients who want to make their babylights really shimmer, recommend they finish freshly-styled hair with EIMI Oil Spritz Opens in a new tab. Simply mist the oil into palms of hands and press through lengths for instant dazzle.
4. Babylights on Dark Brown Hair
Image Credit: @verdinipeluqueria Opens in a new tab
To the untrained eye, this chocolate brown hair color Opens in a new tab might look like a born-with-it hue. However, it’s a scattering of babylights that’s lending all that depth and multi-tonal texture. For a similar finish, create your micro-fine babylights with Blondor first, aiming for a lift no more than two or three shades lighter than the base to achieve a seamless finish. Then, once you’ve achieved the desired depth, tone with a light-boosting permanent color Opens in a new tab, like Illumina Color Opens in a new tab. There’s a spectrum of dark shades in the collection, from cool ash browns Opens in a new tab to warm caramel colors.
5. Strawberry Blonde Babylights
Image Credit: @randyvanrijsbergen Opens in a new tab
The sweetest way to do strawberry blonde Opens in a new tab hair is with warm blonde babylights, stroked through a copper Opens in a new tab or light red base to add a shimmering glint of sunshine. Keep this dreamy hue in check with color-enhancing aftercare, using INVIGO Color Brilliance Color Protection Shampoo Opens in a new tab for every wash, and INVIGO Color Recharge Red Conditioner as a weekly treat.
6. Silver Babylights
Image Credit: @daryl.lienhart.hair Opens in a new tab
You might think ‘bold’ and ‘babylights’ are two words that don’t quite go together, but Daryl Lienhart’s Opens in a new tab client’s silvery-emerald ‘do proves you can team this technique with any color. To get the look, hair was pre-toned with Illumina Color 9/60 + 10/ with pastel, before balayage and babylights were weaved through strands using Blondor. The deep gunmetal finish came courtesy of demi-permanent hair color Opens in a new tab Color Touch Opens in a new tab, which will allow the hue to fade and blend beautifully over 24 shampoos.
How to Care for Babylights
Babylights deserve the best of care; the kind you’d use to maintain any fresh hair hue, always starting with a shade-enhancing shampoo routine. Try ColorMotion+ Color Protection Shampoo Opens in a new tab to keep locks in tip-top condition, which features anti-oxidants to protect against shade-fading free radicals. The Moisturizing Color Reflection Conditioner Opens in a new tab will ensure babylights look ultra-glossy, while the Structure+ Mask Opens in a new tab will maintain strength and structure of lightened locks. Complete your kit with EIMI Thermal Image Opens in a new tab heat protectant spray, which safeguards strands from the dulling effects of heat styling. Your babylights will simply glow.
