Hair highlights are usually added to a base color to create depth and dimension. They can also be used to create a more youthful and natural look to color treated hair. Hair highlights can also be used to create a unique look or to create an edgier look. In order to get the best results you will need to select one or more highlight colors that will compliment your skin tone, your hair's base color and that will also create the type of look that you are trying to achieve.
Blonde highlights are sought after by people with all types of hair base colors. If you have blonde hair then your blonde highlights will typically be a lighter shade of blonde than the base color. You can select from platinum, beige or even strawberry blonde highlights. The color of blonde highlight that you select should be complimentary to your skin tone. For example if you have a warm skin tone then your blonde highlight colors should be in the golden and straw hues and for cool skin tones you should select from highlight colors that are in the ash and beige families.
Red highlights are also great for just about any color hair. For blondes, red highlights can be used to add color and warmth to your base color. If you have brown hair then you can add auburn highlights to your hair to give it added dimension and interest.
While it is pretty easy to highlight your hair if you are a blonde or a brunette, highlighting dark hair is much more difficult. First, in order for the highlight color to be visible you will need to bleach the strands of hair that you intend to highlight. After your dark strands have been lightened considerably the next step is to treat the strand with the highlight color. People with dark hair can utilize a variety of colors from violets and blues to auburns and dark blondes. The colors that you select will need to be based on the type of look that you are after. For example if you want a natural look then you will want to use darker shades of auburns and browns. However, if you want a more radical look then you can use fuchsias, blues and other bright colors.