Highlights and Lowlights Hair Colouring in Reading & Tilehurst
Looking for beautifully blended, natural-looking highlights that grow out gracefully? At The 5th Element Hair Salon in Tilehurst, Reading, we specialise in expertly placed foil highlights customised for your hair type, colour goals, and lifestyle.
From bright blonde to rich caramel, soft brunettes to bold contrast — our highly trained colourists create dimensional highlights that bring your hair to life while maintaining its health and shine.
🌸 Types of Highlights We Offer
Full Head Highlights
Perfect for clients looking for maximum brightness and full coverage, full head highlights lift your entire colour while maintaining natural dimension.
Half Head Highlights
Ideal for refreshing brightness and blending regrowth, half head highlights focus on the top and front sections where the sun would naturally lighten your hair.
Partial Highlights
Great for face-framing brightness or refreshing between full services. A popular choice for low-maintenance blondes and brunettes.
Caramel Highlights
Warm, rich caramel highlights add depth and softness to brunettes or darker blondes, creating a multi-tonal, glossy finish.
Blonde Highlights
From icy platinum to soft buttery blondes, our blonde highlight work is fully customised for your skin tone and maintenance preferences.
Brown Highlights (Subtle Dimension)
For brunettes wanting soft dimension without harsh contrast. Chocolate, toffee, and mocha tones create depth without overpowering.
Foil Work & Combination Techniques
We combine foiling with babylights, balayage or root shadowing to create completely bespoke, seamless blends that look natural and age beautifully.
🔎 Highlights vs Balayage: What’s The Difference?
| Feature | Highlights | Balayage |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Foil sections | Freehand painting |
| Brightness | Higher lift achievable | Softer, natural lift |
| Maintenance | Every 6–10 weeks | Every 12–16 weeks |
| Grow-out | More visible regrowth | Soft, blended regrowth |
| Ideal For | Clients wanting full coverage blonde or bolder contrasts | Natural sun-kissed blend |
🧴 Highlights Maintenance Guide
While highlights give stunning results, proper aftercare helps maintain brightness, prevent brassiness, and keep hair healthy:
Toner Refresh: Every 6–8 weeks
Root Touch-Ups: Every 6–10 weeks depending on regrowth
Purple Shampoo Use: 1–2 times weekly for blondes
Olaplex & Goldwell Treatments: For ongoing strength & shine
Trims: Every 8–10 weeks
📍 Why Choose The 5th Element Hair Salon for Highlights?
Experienced Goldwell trained colour specialists
Customised consultations to tailor highlight placement
Scalp health & hair integrity always prioritised
Flexible maintenance plans for every budget
Serving Reading, Tilehurst, North Reading, West Reading & surrounding areas
📅 Book Your Highlights Appointment
All new highlight clients require a consultation before colouring to assess your hair condition, discuss your desired outcome, and perform patch tests for safety.
📍 Areas We Serve
We proudly serve:
Tilehurst
Reading Town Centre
West Reading
North Reading
Pangbourne
Caversham
Calcot
Earley
Woodley
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
How often do I need to refresh highlights?
Most clients refresh root growth every 6–10 weeks. Toners can help maintain tone between services.
Are highlights damaging to hair?
When performed professionally with premium products like Goldwell, damage is minimised. We always prioritise hair condition with every lightening service.
What’s better for me — highlights or balayage?
Highlights create stronger contrast and brightness. Balayage gives a more natural grow-out. We’ll assess which suits your goals best in consultation.
Can brunettes have highlights?
Absolutely! Caramel, mocha, and toffee tones work beautifully to add soft brightness to dark hair.
Can I add highlights to my existing colour?
Yes — highlights can easily be combined with root tints, toners, or glossing for fully customised results.
🌟 Discover more Hair colouring Services and Technics
Grey Blending & Coverage
Expert grey coverage or blending for a soft, natural transition. Achieve youthful, flattering results with tailored formulas.
Creative & Fashion Colours
From vibrant vivid shades to soft pastels, we deliver flawless creative colouring that makes a statement.
Highlights & Lowlights
Traditional highlights and lowlights add contrast, movement, and volume. Customise your look with full or partial placements.
Root Tint & Full Head Colour
Maintain vibrant, even colour with expert root tints or transform your entire look with a full head of rich, even colour using Goldwell professional products.
Foilyage
Our foilyage service combines the precision of foils with balayage for brighter, more luminous highlights, ideal for clients seeking maximum lightness.
Babylights Reading
Ultra-fine, delicate highlights that mimic natural sun-lightening for subtle dimension and brightness without harsh lines.
Glossing & Toners
Add high-shine and refresh faded tones with our professional gloss and toner services. Perfect for in-between appointments or after lightening services.
Colour Correction Specialists Reading
If you’ve had a colour mishap, our correction services safely restore your hair’s health and achieve your desired shade with minimal damage.
Reverse Balayage & Pintura Highlights
Add depth to lighter ends or enhance natural curls with specialist colour placement techniques.
Ring Lighting Highlights
Face-framing highlights that brighten your complexion and enhance facial features for a fresh, youthful glow.