Highlights are one of the few trends that are timeless. It’s versatile, so you can get it in any color, shade, or style. Also, their relatively short lifespan allows them to change their hair color frequently.
Some people only want to apply highlights and later return to their natural hair color.
If you’ve had highlights or are considering getting them, you may wonder if your hair grows back after highlights.
This short and easy-to-follow guide will tell you everything you need to know to restore your hair to its natural color after highlighting.
Will my hair return to its natural color after the highlights fade?
No, the highlighted areas of your hair will not return to their natural color even after the highlights fade. If you want to restore the original color naturally, you need to wait until the hair is fully grown.
Highlights last on average for 8 to 10 weeks, after which they begin to fade. Once completely faded, you will notice that your hair color has lightened to a brassy color.
There are two ways to return your hair to its natural color after highlighting.
The first is the natural method I mentioned earlier – growing your hair out. However, hair grows on average 6 inches per year. You should also trim the edges every month to gradually remove the previously highlighted parts.
So, depending on the length of your hair, you may have to wait several years to get your natural hair color from root to root.
Second, you can undergo other treatments to get closer to your natural color in various ways. This is a quick method, but it can damage your hair.
Why doesn’t my highlighted hair return to its natural color?
When adding highlights, bleach your hair to lighten it. Bleaching removes the pigments from your hair that are responsible for your natural hair color.
Once pigment is removed from a section, the natural pigmentation of that section is permanently altered, so the highlighted section will never return to its original color.
Over time, the toner or dye you used to highlight will wash away, leaving behind a bright, often brassy color. This can be mistaken for your hair’s natural color, but it is not the same.
You may notice that the roots are growing. Your roots should reflect your natural color, but they may look out of place against the bleached hair underneath.
Can I regain my natural hair texture after highlighting?
Highlights can damage your natural hair, making it dry and prone to breakage. However, with proper hair care, it is possible to restore the original texture of your hair after highlighting.
Highlights can also disrupt your hair’s natural curl pattern if not done properly. For this reason, it is better to learn highlighting from a professional than to try it at home.
Also, when your hair loses its strength, it can lose its shine, bounce, and durability. However, if you deeply condition your hair, use mild hair products, and avoid heat styling, your hair will return to its normal texture.
How to regain natural hair color after highlighting
It takes some time and care to restore your natural hair color after highlighting. Here’s how:
The surest way to return to your natural hair color after highlighting is to wait for your hair to grow out. The time it takes for highlighted hair to return to normal depends on the rate of hair growth.
Even if your hair is only 2-3 inches long, it will grow completely within a year. The longer the highlighted hair, the longer it will take.
In the meantime, you can dye your hair your natural color and wait for everything to grow back.
Choose a semi-permanent color that is close to your natural hair color. Semi-permanent dyes are less irritating than permanent dyes and help the highlights blend into your natural color as your hair grows.
Trim 1 inch of hair from the ends every 6 to 8 weeks. This will remove the highlighted ends bit by bit and cover the shortened areas with new hair, so the length of your hair will remain the same.
Use hair masks and special conditioners to keep your hair healthy and smooth. Minimize the use of additional chemical treatments such as perms and hair straightening, which can further damage your hair.
During the transition, you may also consider using a hair mask or color-depositing conditioner that can temporarily hide faded highlights.
Therefore, the only way to get your natural hair color back after highlighting is to grow it out. You can dye your hair a natural color for consistency and wait for your hair to grow.
Ultimately, you should always take care of your hair with protein-enhancing products to avoid damage from highlights.
