PSA: Babylights Are Hot Right Now. Find Out Why You Need To Try This Hair Colour Trend

By Khanak Mehta

When we say highlights, do you immediately think of large, stark, chunky pieces of lighter hair mixed in with a darker hair colour? While this ‘90s hair colour trend may have managed to still be a crowd favourite to this day, probably thanks to the Y2K revival we have all been experiencing over the past year, there's a new technique in town that hairstylists are loving right now.

All our social media feeds are being overrun by babylights, a hair colouring and enhancing treatment that looks incredibly natural. The vibrant, sun-kissed hair of summer is the inspiration for this colour palette. These gorgeous yet understated highlights are evenly distributed throughout your hair and can also serve to accentuate your face. The right placement can draw attention to and enhance your favourite facial features, serving as the best justification for taking a break from your go-to contouring products.

This dye job is simple to maintain and versatile. You only need to go a few shades lighter than your existing or natural hair colour—it's that simple. As a result, most people regard them for natural hair with loads of dimension rather than manufactured highlights. This is a subtle method, but don't be fooled—it packs a powerful effect. They also work with almost any hair colour or length, which is a plus. Lighter colours can make your hair appear thicker and more voluminous, so if you have very straight or fine hair, consider this approach on your next salon visit. 

 
Here’s a quick cheat sheet on what to tell your stylist: 

Light-tone skin: Dark honey highlights are the best option for both cool and warm undertones. If you really want to offset your cooler undertone, try a brown-red highlight shade.

Medium-tone skin: Since medium skin is extremely versatile, you can try going a touch lighter with deep honey or caramel shades—they won’t look too stark on your hair against your skin tone. You can also try a dark taupe if you have a cool undertone.

Deep skin: Keep the colour on the deeper side. If you have warm undertones, try a maple or light chocolate shade. If you have cooler undertones, try shades like espresso or even blue-black.

When it comes to caring for your new look, you’ll be happy to know that babylights are popular for being ultra-low maintenance. Just build a care routine that is coloured-hair friendly, and you’re covered. If you don’t know where to begin, here are some of our top picks to help you out.