How bad are highlights for hair?

[amcal]

I have dark, mousy strawberry blond hair. I've been getting partial highlights for many years. Now, I'm down to a mini highlight - less than 10 highlights across my crown.

I keep thinking I should stop highlighting. I lead a pretty natural lifestyle and, it bugs me that I highlight but, every time I try to grow it out, I feel so drab and blah.

So, I'm researching and trying to figure out if there are any health or other issues with highlights. It doesn't touch my scalp - it's applied about 1/4 of an inch from m scalp and then the hair is wrapped in foil so, it doesn't touch the rest if the hair.

Any thoughts?

[LunaLady]

I am a huge hippie in almost every way - I use literally NO chemicals at home (no chemical cleaners, no chemicals in the laundry, no bath/body chemicals, no chemicals in the yard, almost exclusively organic food, etc, etc, etc...) but I do get my hair highlighted. 

I am with you - the chemicals don't touch my scalp while they are setting - and the toner chemicals are on your head only a few minutes while they rinse. The salon I go to is huge and open and very well ventilated, so I don't feel light headed or anything while I'm there.

For me, I feel that I offset the chemical use of getting my hair done by keeping chemicals out of my house as best I can. And I do feel better about myself when I get my hair highlighted, too. And I only get it done two or three times a year. 

[Subhuti]

Ditto for me ... I have the same kind of hair -- very dirty blond hair that now is speckled with gray -- and every two months I highlight it myself at home.  I get something labelled as natural ... with no amonia ... but pew.... there must be some strong chemicals in there!

I do think it is a tad weird that, although I am so au natural about everything else, I do this ... but I read somewhere 95% of women do it, and so there must be something instinctive ... :)

I love the way my hair looks all shiny, bright and it entirely blends away the gray.

[LunaLady]

Originally Posted by Subhuti 

Ditto for me ... I have the same kind of hair -- very dirty blond hair that now is speckled with gray -- and every two months I highlight it myself at home.  I get something labelled as natural ... with no amonia ... but pew.... there must be some strong chemicals in there!

I do think it is a tad weird that, although I am so au natural about everything else, I do this ... but I read somewhere 95% of women do it, and so there must be something instinctive ... :)

I love the way my hair looks all shiny, bright and it entirely blends away the gray.

That's how I feel - it's like I'm so natural with everything it surprises even me that i still get my hair highlighted... but I just really like it! What brand are you using at home? I wouldn't mind trying something at home with fewer chemicals and goodness knows it would be cheaper! And luckily one can buy toners at Sally's. My hair tends to orange when bleached, so I need to tone it cooler.

[Subhuti]

Oh gosh, I will have to check.  I swear I can get it even at the local mainstream grocery ... it's Natural something .... I'm overdue for it, so will try to pick it up and get back to you.

BTW ... LunaLady, is that picture you and your hair??? You don't need to change a thing !  If I had hair like that I wouldn't touch it!

[LunaLady]

It isn't me - I wish! I love that color hair. I've got a really red skin tone, though, so hair colors with lots of red in them make me look really red, unfortunately.

This is me:

SORRY THAT'S SO BIG! Sheesh.You can see how red my hair bleaches, though - i had it toned since I took this. 

[LunaLady]

ALSO! That picture was taken the day after getting my hair highlighted so it looks really fried. I baby my hair (because it's so long I really have to) and hardly ever blow it dry or anything. Only 'naughty' thing I do is use LUSH's DaddyO shampoo to keep the brassy color at bay. Besides that I use Everyday Shea conditioner and coconut oil to keep it glossy. I do an ACV rinse every other wash - and I only shower twice a week, sometimes just once a week if I haven't sweated much or really gotten dirty.