Hair Color

A Complete Guide on Different Types of Hair Color and Highlights

So, you have decided to go for a hair color transformation. Great! But simply deciding the shade isn’t enough. There are multiple things you need to plan before starting the process. For instance, what type of hair color do you want - permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary. Similarly, do you want to go global or balayage or simply have highlights? If it’s the latter then what are the different types of hair color highlights that you should consider? There are so many questions and we have answers to all of them. So, if you are curious to know everything about the process, walk with us! In this piece, we have provided a complete guide on different types of hair color as well as various types of hair color highlights to choose from. We have also listed some of the best hair options so that you can get the perfect hair color transformation.

Different Types of Hair Color

Before we move to the different types of hair color highlights options, let’s check out the list of various hair color types to consider.

  • 1. Permanent hair color
  • Permanent hair dye is one of the popular types of hair color. As the name suggests, permanent hair dyes are a type of hair dye that comes with long-lasting formulation that stays on tresses till they grow out or you opt for a root touch-up. This type of hair color is designed with a more complex formula to penetrate the deeper levels of the hair fiber. It means you can flaunt long-lasting color without any signs of fading.

    Remember, permanent hair colors give long-lasting hair makeovers, but not ever-lasting benefits. So, you should redo your hair color to cover new hair growth. Those who have grey hair and want 100% grey coverage can go for permanent hair color .

    We recommend you choose from the L’Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss and L’Oréal Paris Excellence Crème range. Both these ranges consist of no-ammonia hair color to illuminate dark hair, equip with extreme gloss, and make each hair strand nourished and strong. You can choose L’Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss Ultra Visible Cherry Burgundy or L’Oréal Paris Excellence Crème Regular (4.2 Plum Brown) to get the desired result.


  • 2. Semi-permanent hair color
  • Semi-permanent hair color is another type of hair color that typically color-coat the external layer of the hair shaft and subtly change the hair color without any major commitment. The color particles settle on the outer layer of the hair and suits fragile and damaged hair (due to mild formulation).

    Remember, this type of hair color fades with every wash, hence it is an excellent choice for those looking for a semi-permanent solution and who love to experiment with various color options.

    We recommend you opt for the L’Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss range. The no-ammonia formula gives ultra-glossy color and shine that lasts up to 28 shampoos and washes. Some of the popular semi-permanent hair color options from this range include L’Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss Regular (Raspberry), L’Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss Regular Mahagony (87.5g + 72ml) , etc.

  • 3. Temporary hair color
  • Temporary hair color is a type of hair color that changes the hair color instantly. Usually, this type of hair dye has larger molecules that sit very close to the hair surface to deliver an instant brightening effect.

    Remember, this type of hair color lasts only till one wash, hence it is ideal for those who are looking for instant solutions for grey roots or running short on time.

    We recommend you to consider the L’Oréal Paris Magic Retouch range for temporary hair coloring process. Available in two shades L’Oréal Paris Magic Retouch (Black) , L’Oréal Paris Magic Retouch (Dark Brown) , these hair dyes easily cover grey roots in one quick spray.

    Now that you know about different types of hair color options, let’s move on to learning the different types of hair color highlights that are currently trending.

7 Different Types of Hair Color Highlights

Got bored with your hair look? Don’t chop it off! Instead, bring a change in your hair makeover with trending hair color options and stunning hair highlight ideas. Check out the list of the most popular types of hair color highlight ideas especially curated for you:

  • 1. Traditional highlights
  • Traditional highlights adopt a technique called foiling where hair experts lighten each strand of hair (section-wise) from root to end and leave some natural hair in between each foil. You can create various looks using traditional highlights.

  • 2. Babylights
  • If you want to get a sun-kissed effect on your hair, then babylights are your best bet. This type of hair color highlights subtly colors your tresses and leaves a light shimmery glow.

  • 3. Balayage
  • The French word ‘Balayage’ means ‘to sweep’. Wondering what is balayage? Contrary to the traditional highlight technique, hair experts use their hands and follow a sweeping motion to paint random sections of the hair. If you want to get extra-lightening effect with balayage, you can opt for the foiling technique is used to paint hair. You can go for a grey, burgundy, ash-blonde, or honey-balayage to make a unique hair statement. So, what are you waiting for? Spice up your look with this stunning hair highlight option and make heads turn!

  • 4. Peekaboo
  • Want to try something unique and fun highlights? Try the Peekaboo highlights! This type of hair color highlights focuses on coloring sections of hair that are remain hidden beneath the top layer. Resultantly, when you style or move your hair, those highlights gets the chance to "peek" out. Indulge in a playful hair transformation and add bold colors without going overboard.

  • 5. Ombré
  • Looking for a stunning hair color transformation? Go straight to a salon and tell your hair expert to create an Ombré highlight. In this type of hair color highlights technique, the hair color changes from one color to another in a shadow tone. The exciting results can be seen at the ends of your hair.

  • 6. Sombré
  • If you don’t want a dramatic look like ombré, then say yes to sombré highlights. Sombré is a term coined by joining ‘subtle’ and ‘ombré’. By opting for this type of hair color highlights, you can confidently flaunt darker shades at the root and lighter shades at the ends of your hair.

  • 7. Dimensional Highlights
  • Add dimension to your hair by getting contrasting hair highlights (imagine dark brown with lighter caramel highlights). This type of hair color highlights helps create an illusion of voluminous hair and suits those with curly or wavy hair.

    So, what are you waiting for? Choose from the above-mentioned list of different types of hair color highlights and hair color options and get the long-awaited hair makeover. You can take help from the hair color chart to choose the right shade or directly head to the L’Oréal Paris Hair Diagnosis tool to find the best hair color match.

    Want to know more about safe hair color shades? Read our guide on hair color without bleach and ammonia options and transform your look without causing any damage.

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You can experiment with different hair colors and give yourself a new avatar whenever you want, especially when you have some of the trendy hair color ideas of 2024 at your perusal. This year seems to be dominated by subtle dimensions and warm-toned hair color trends. The wind is taking the route of low-maintenance and natural hair tints, which means you need to carefully choose those hair color shades that don’t require much upkeep and blend easily with your natural hair color. So, pick a color and watch heads turn as this list of hair color trends of 2024 is now yours!</p>" } , { "@type":"ListItem", "position": 3, "url" : "https://www.lorealparis.co.in/beauty-magazine/hair-color-blogs/what-is-no-ammonia-hair-color-and-how-does-it-benefit-your-hair", "item":{ "@type": "Article", "mainEntityOfPage":{ "@type":"WebPage" }, "headline":"What Is No-Ammonia Hair Color And How Does It Benefit Your Hair", "image":{ "@type":"ImageObject", "url":"https://www.lorealparis.co.in/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/oap/apac/in/articles/banners/know-the-benefits-of-no-ammonia-hair-color.jpg?rev=28b95e9b3712469fa5e800e4f00615a1", "height":675, "width":1500 }, "datePublished": "2023-07-13T11:15:45+00:00", "dateModified": "2023-07-13T11:16:33+00:00", "author": { "@type": "Brand", "name": "L'Oréal Paris" }, "publisher":{ "@type":"Organization", "name":"L'Oréal Paris", "logo":{ "@type":"ImageObject", "url":"https://www.lorealparis.co.in/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/oap/shared/baseline/navigationext/loreal-paris-black-logo.svg?rev=043a5893295a412fb46ec561cbd31147", "width":189, "height":60 } }}, "description":"Coloring your hair is one of the simplest ways to transform your whole look and put on a new avatar in no time. 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