8 Foil Highlight Techniques You Need to Know as a Hairstylist

If you’re a hairstylist or cosmetology student looking to master foil highlighting, placement is everything. The way highlights are applied can completely transform the final look impacting dimension, blend, and overall style. Whether you’re aiming for bold contrast or soft, seamless color, knowing these 8 must-know foil highlight techniques will take your skills to the next level.

And guess what? I demonstrate all of these techniques in my latest YouTube video:
Watch: 8 Foil Highlight Techniques You Need to Know: Slicing, Weaving, Babylights & More!

Additionally, if you want to perfect your placement and learn insider techniques that elevate your work behind the chair, Hair B&B University has in-depth tutorials to help you refine your craft.

The 8 Foil Highlight Techniques

All of these techniques were demonstrated using horizontal foil placement in my tutorial. Understanding how placement affects the way highlights blend and stitch together is key to achieving the perfect result!

1. Slice Highlights

💡 What it is: A solid, bold highlight section taken straight from the scalp without weaving.

🎯 Best for: High-contrast dimension, bold blonde effects, and modern chunky highlights.

✅ Why it works: Great for adding brightness with fewer foils and achieving a statement look.

2. Chunky Highlights

💡 What it is: Larger sections of hair highlighted with thick slices or weaves to create bold contrast.

🎯 Best for: Clients who love 90s/Y2K trends or a high-contrast balayage effect.

✅ Why it works: Perfect for a bold, visible highlight pattern that stands out.

3. Traditional Weave Highlights

💡 What it is: A classic woven highlight technique that creates soft, blended dimension. 🎯 Best for: A natural blonde effect with medium contrast.

✅ Why it works: One of the most commonly requested highlighting techniques that gives a balanced, seamless finish.

4. Babylights

💡 What it is: Super fine, delicate highlights that mimic the natural sun-kissed hair of a child.

🎯 Best for: A soft, blended, natural blonde look with minimal regrowth.

✅ Why it works: Ideal for clients who want a low-maintenance, lived-in blonde.

Checkout this blog about Tip Out Highlights

foil highlight techniques - slice highlights, chunky highlights, and babylights.

5. Microlights

💡 What it is: Even finer than babylights, microlights create an ultra-soft, almost imperceptible blend of color.

🎯 Best for: The most subtle, natural-looking highlights.

✅ Why it works: Excellent for clients who want the barely-there highlight effect without visible regrowth.

6. Combination Highlights

💡 What it is: A mix of multiple highlighting techniques (slices, babylights, weaving, etc.) to create a custom, multi-dimensional look.

🎯 Best for: Clients who want a personalized blend of tones and depths.

✅ Why it works: A perfect technique for customizing color and creating unique placements.

7. Zigzag Highlights

💡 What it is: Sections taken in a zigzag pattern to create a diffused, blended highlight effect.

🎯 Best for: Breaking up solid color and diffusing harsh highlight lines.

✅ Why it works: Helps achieve a softer transition between colors.

8. The Manelli Method – No Tease, No Shadow Root Foilayage

💡 What it is: A revolutionary highlighting method I developed that creates a seamless, dimensional blonde without teasing or adding a shadow root.

🎯 Best for: Stylists who want to create natural, sun-kissed blends with high contrast at the ends.

✅ Why it works: Eliminates unnecessary steps and keeps the color placement clean and efficient.

20 foil highlight placement foil technique

Why Placement Matters

Placement is just as important as technique! The way foils are positioned affects the way highlights appear when the hair falls naturally.

✅ Horizontal Placement (as shown in the YouTube video) helps create a more diffused effect and prevents streaky lines. ✅ Strategic Foiling ensures the highlights enhance the client’s natural features and blend seamlessly.

If you want to perfect your highlight placement and take your skills to the next level, I go deeper into these methods inside Hair B&B University with full tutorials and breakdowns.

Want to Master These Foil Techniques? Join Hair B&B University!

If you’re a hairstylist or cosmetology student looking to refine your highlight techniques, Hair B&B University is your ultimate education platform. Inside HBBU, you’ll get:

Step-by-step tutorials on foil placement that impact how highlights blend.
In-depth breakdowns of each highlighting technique.
Insider tips on achieving perfect blends, seamless transitions, and high-impact color.
Business & pricing strategies to boost your success behind the chair.

Hair education for hairstylists - Hair B&B University

Join Hair B&B University today and level up your skills!

Watch the Full Foil Highlight Tutorial on YouTube

Want to see these highlight methods in action? I walk you through each of these 8 foil highlight techniques in my latest YouTube video! 🎥✨

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Hey, I'm Mirella

Hair Educator, Podcaster, YouTube Sensation, and Entrepreneur with over 20+ Years Experience

I help hairstylists, like YOU, simplify your skills and achieve your business goals. I have a ton of great resources on my website from blogs & podcast to online education, I’ve got you covered!