This Is Why Highlights Look So Good in Photos

Want hair that looks brighter and effortlessly styled without changing your entire colour? That’s exactly what highlights coloring does. They’re lighter pieces woven through the hair to add shine, movement, and that natural-looking dimension you can’t get from a single flat colour.

At It’s Beauty, founded by beauty expert Nastya Bonds, highlights are never one-size-fits-all. We customise the tone and intensity around your features.

Foils, balayage, babylights, face-framing pieces, there are a lot of options, and they’re not all the same. This guide breaks down the most popular techniques in simple terms and helps you choose the one that fits your hair goals and your lifestyle.

Which Highlights Fit Your Vibe?

Highlights aren’t one look, they’re a whole range of finishes, from subtle to full-on transformation. The right technique depends on two things: how bright you want to go and how you want it to grow out (especially important in Dubai, where hair is constantly in strong light). Here are the top styles our clients love:

Balayage

Balayage coloring involves painting the colour by hand to create a gentle gradient that mimics how the sun naturally lightens hair. It is very popular in our salon because it grows out smoothly, meaning you do not have to worry about harsh lines as your hair gets longer. The result is soft, blended dimension that looks natural both in real life and in photos, even weeks after your appointment.

This technique is especially loved by clients who want brightness without constant maintenance. Because the colour is placed strategically rather than applied from root to tip, balayage allows for a more personalised finish based on your hair texture, length, and face shape. At It’s Beauty, our stylists adjust the placement and tone to suit your lifestyle, so your hair looks polished, effortless, and fresh as it moves and grows in Dubai’s strong light.

Babylights

These are very fine, delicate highlights. We take tiny sections of hair to create a subtle shimmer. This is perfect if you want a change that looks very gentle and natural.  The result is light, refined, and almost imperceptible, as if your hair has been gently brightened over time rather than coloured in one session.

This option is ideal for anyone who wants a fresh update while keeping their look understated. Babylights blend seamlessly with your natural base, making them perfect for first-time colour clients or for women who prefer elegance over contrast. They enhance shine and dimension without drawing obvious lines, which helps the hair look fuller and more polished in any light.

Because the highlights are so fine, they grow out beautifully and require minimal upkeep. At It’s Beauty, our stylists carefully adjust the tone and placement to suit your skin tone and hair texture, ensuring the result stays soft, balanced, and effortlessly chic as your hair moves and evolves.

Ombré

This look features a darker root that gradually blends into much lighter ends, creating a clear and stylish transition. It provides a positive energy to your overall image and is a wonderful way to experiment with colour. To keep the lighter ends looking healthy and shiny, we often recommend hair care & deep conditioning during the process.

Ombré is a great choice for clients who want a noticeable change without committing to frequent root touch-ups. Because the depth stays closer to the scalp, the colour grows out in a more forgiving way, making it easier to maintain between salon visits. The contrast adds definition and movement, especially when styled in soft waves or a sleek blow-dry.

At It’s Beauty, our colourists carefully customise the fade between tones to suit your hair type and lifestyle. The goal is a smooth, refined blend rather than a harsh line, so the result feels modern and wearable. With the right aftercare and professional support, ombré stays vibrant, glossy, and balanced even in Dubai’s demanding climate.

Face-Framing

Also known as the Money Piece, this technique focuses on highlighting just the strands around your face. It is a quick and effective way to brighten your complexion and draw attention to your eyes without colouring your whole head. Our specialists at It’s Beauty make sure the shades match your skin tone perfectly for a chic and expensive finish.

If you want the softest change, babylights are a great start. If you want a noticeable transformation, ombré gives a stronger contrast. And if you fancy instant brightness without colouring the full head, face-framing pieces are perfect. Many clients also combine techniques (for example, balayage and a money piece) to get a personalised, balanced result that looks fresh in Dubai light and stays beautiful as it grows out.

Find Your Perfect Highlights. Match Them to Your Face + Lifestyle

Selecting the best style depends on a few personal factors. Our stylists at It’s Beauty always consider your natural features and your daily routine.

Skin Tone and Eye Colour

The shade of your highlights should complement your skin. If you have cool skin undertones, icy or ashy blondes usually look wonderful. For warmer skin tones, golden, caramel, or honey hues create a healthy glow. The right colour will make your eyes look brighter, and your skin look fresher.

Hair Texture and Health

Your hair type plays a key role in how highlights will look. Curly hair benefits from soft, low-contrast balayage, where lighter tones are painted selectively on the outer layers of the curls. This technique adds dimension and avoids harsh lines that can disrupt the curl pattern.

Straight hair, on the other hand, can handle more defined and higher-contrast highlights. Techniques like classic foil highlights or bold face-framing pieces work well, creating structure and visual interest that straight textures sometimes lack on their own.

No matter whether you choose soft balayage for curls or bold highlights on straight hair, the key to a beautiful result is healthy hair. Because lightening can be demanding on the hair fibre, we always prioritise hair health. Our salon uses high-quality products like Davines for colouring, so while we transform your shade, we also help protect the hair structure.

Maintenance and Lifestyle

Think about how often you want to visit the salon.

• Low Maintenance: Balayage and Ombré are excellent choices. because they do not start right at the roots. As your hair grows, the line is soft, so you can wait longer between appointments.
• Regular Maintenance: Traditional foil highlights start closer to the root. This gives a uniform look but requires touch-ups every 6 to 8 weeks to keep it looking perfect.

We understand that life in Dubai is busy. We will help you choose a style that fits your schedule perfectly.

How to Keep Highlights Looking Fresh in UAE Heat

The Dubai climate requires special attention for colored hair. The sun, air conditioning, and desalinated water can affect the brightness of your highlights. However, with the right care, your colour will stay beautiful for a long time.

Here is a simple checklist for maintaining your new look:

Use Colour-Safe Products

We recommend the Davines colour protection line. These shampoos and conditioners are designed to keep the pigment locked in. If your highlights are very light, alternating with a purple/blue toning product once a week can help prevent brassiness.

Hydrate Your Hair

The heat can dry out strands. Use a nourishing mask weekly, and increase to twice a week if your hair feels rough or tangles easily. Treatments like Olaplex or K18 are great for strengthening, but pairing them with a hydrating mask helps keep the hair touchably soft, not just strong.

Protect from Heat

Always apply a heat protectant before using styling tools, and try to keep your tools at a moderate temperature. We use and recommend Davines thermal protection oils and sprays to protect the cuticle, boost shine, and reduce frizz in humidity.

Filter Your Water

Desalinated water can contain minerals and metals that build up on hair over time, affecting both shine and tone. If possible, use a shower filter to reduce heavy metals and prevent unwanted warmth or dullness. If a filter isn’t an option, a clarifying (or chelating) treatment once every 2-4 weeks can help remove buildup. Just follow with a mask afterwards so hair stays smooth.

Ready for Your Highlight Upgrade? Here’s What to Do Next

Highlights are the kind of change that instantly makes you look more shiny without turning you into someone else. Whatever style you choose, the result is hair that looks vibrant and full of life.

If you want help choosing the right highlight plan for your hair, you can learn more about options at It’s Beauty.