How to Dye Your Own Peek-a-boo Highlights

Ever wanted to change your hair color without worrying about roots? Or to add some interesting looking streaks without them being too obviously fake? Peek-a-boos, or panels, may be the way to go for you.

Peek-a-boo highlights (or lowlights, depending on what you’re looking for) are pieces of hair hidden beneath your roots that is your desired color, rather than dying your entire hair. Unlike streaks, root growth isn’t noticeable.

You can choose any color for the peek-a-boos. Because they won’t touch your face, colors won’t clash with your skin tone as much, but it’s always best to go within a few shades from your natural color. Remember: boxed color never ends up the way it does on the box. Try not to do something too drastic!

See Katy Perry’s pic on the right? It’s fun and funky at the same time, but it doesn’t look awkward since it’s blended into her natural hair color. That’s the beauty of peek-a-boo coloring!

What You’ll Need:

Comb
Hair Salon Foil
Clips
Hair Dye

How To:

1)      Put something around your shoulders (like a towel clipped at your neck) to protect your clothes and the floor around you. Make sure you have good light and a good mirror.

2)      Mix the dye as instructed by the box.

3)      Use the hair clips and comb to separate (cleanly) the crown of your hair up and away. You’ll want to isolate thin “panels” about a half-inch back from your hair line towards the back of your head. Think of how it’ll lay when dry and how you wear your part; don’t let the lines intersect with the part or else the roots will end up showing!

4)      Put the foil underneath the panel of hair (this way the dye won’t hit the strands below!) and apply the dye. Start at the roots, since that takes longer to absorb, and then work the dye down to the ends. Coat evenly. Use as much as you want, since there will be plenty of dye left over. Then wrap the foil around the strand of hair (like an envelope). If you push it into your scalp, it should stay long enough so you can do the rest of your hair.

5)      Repeat step 4 over the panels of hair you want. Start with thin sections! You can add more sections later on if you like the result; you don’t want to go too chunky if you want a more natural look.

6)      Let the dye sit in as long as the box tells you; then go rinse it.

There you go! Hopefully you enjoy your peek-a-boo highlights! You can always use different colors later on, or add chunkier sections. It’s hard to miss up these kinds of panels as long as you stay away from the part and hairline.

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