Hair Highlights in Singapore: The Complete 2026 Guide (Types, Cost, Upkeep)
Hair highlights lighten selected strands of your hair, usually wrapped in foils, to add brightness and dimension without colouring your whole head. In Singapore, a full head of highlights typically costs $150 to $250, a half head $100 to $180, and most people refresh them every two to three months.
Highlights are one of the most requested colour services here, and one of the most misunderstood. Babylights, partials, lowlights, face-framing: the names on a salon menu don’t always tell you what you’ll walk out with, or how much upkeep you’re signing up for.
New to colour altogether? Start with our complete guide to hair colouring in Singapore, which covers single-tone colour, toners and patch tests. This guide goes deep on highlights: the types, the bleach question, what happens in the chair, cost, how long they last, aftercare and who they suit.
What Highlights Actually Are
Highlights are a foil technique. Your colourist takes fine or chunky sections of hair, weaves or slices out the strands to be lightened, paints lightener on them and wraps each one in foil. The foil keeps the lightener off the rest of your hair and holds in warmth, so the strands lift evenly.
Because the pieces start close to the root, highlights give you brightness from the top of your head down. That’s the key difference from balayage, which is painted freehand from the mid-lengths down for a softer grow-out. We’ve already done the full head-to-head in balayage vs highlights: which one do you actually want, so this guide sticks to highlights.
The Types of Highlights
Full highlights. Foils placed all over the head, including underneath layers. The most noticeable brightness and the biggest change. Also the longest appointment and the highest price.
Half or partial highlights. Foils only on the top and sides, the parts people actually see. A good way to brighten up without the full cost, and handy for refreshing between full sessions.
Babylights. Very fine, closely woven strands that mimic the natural brightness children’s hair gets from the sun. Subtle and soft, with a gentler grow-out. They take longer to foil because there are so many tiny sections.
Face-framing highlights. Brighter pieces concentrated around your hairline and front sections, sometimes called a “money piece”. Maximum impact where it shows, for a smaller bill. A popular first step for people who aren’t sure about going lighter all over.
Chunky or contrast highlights. Thicker, bolder stripes of lighter colour. A more deliberate, statement look that shows regrowth faster.
Lowlights. The opposite of highlights: strands coloured darker than your base. They add depth, blend grown-out highlights, or bring back dimension when hair has gone too light overall. Because they deposit colour rather than lift it, lowlights usually don’t need bleach.
The Bleach Question
On naturally dark hair, which describes most of us in Singapore, visible highlights almost always need bleach. Regular high-lift colour can only brighten dark hair a little.
As bleach lifts dark hair, it passes through red, orange and yellow. Those warm stages are normal, not a mistake. That’s why nearly every highlight service finishes with a toner: a quick colour step that tones the lightened strands to the shade you actually want, whether that’s honey, beige, caramel or ash.
Two things to know before you book:
- Bleach weakens hair. Ask whether a bond repair treatment (Olaplex or K18 type) is included or available. Our bond repair guide explains when it’s worth adding.
- Very pale or icy tones take time. Going from black to cool blonde highlights may need more than one session to keep the hair healthy. A good colourist will tell you this upfront.
Who Highlights Suit (and Who Should Wait)
Highlights suit you if:
- You want brightness and dimension without colouring your whole head
- You like a polished, “done” look and don’t mind regular salon visits
- Your hair looks flat or one-tone and you want movement in photos and daylight
- You want to blend early greys into lighter strands rather than cover them every few weeks
Think twice, or wait, if:
- You’ve recently rebonded or permed. Bleach on freshly rebonded hair is the riskiest combination for breakage. Wait at least about two weeks, tell your colourist, and ask for a strand test first.
- Your hair is already fragile, very dry or heavily bleached. Fix the condition first.
- You want low upkeep above everything. Balayage grows out more gently.
- You’ve reacted to hair dye before. Ask for a patch test about 48 hours ahead, and see a doctor before any further colour if you’ve had a strong reaction.
What Happens in the Chair
Plan for two and a half to four hours, longer for full babylights or very long, thick hair.
1. Consultation (10 to 15 min). Bring photos of highlights you like, on hair similar to yours. Mention any rebonding, perm or box dye in the last year.
2. Sectioning and foiling (45 to 90 min). The longest step. Strands are woven, painted and folded into foils, section by section.
3. Processing (20 to 45 min). The lightener works. Your colourist checks foils to make sure every section lifts evenly.
4. Rinse and toner (20 to 30 min). The foils come out, and a toner sets the final shade.
5. Treatment (10 to 15 min). A conditioning or bond repair step to help the lightened strands recover.
6. Blow-dry and styling (20 to 30 min).
How Long Do Highlights Last?
The lightened strands stay light until they’re cut off, because bleach permanently removes pigment. What changes over time is:
- Your regrowth. Your natural colour grows in at the root at roughly 1 cm a month. Bold, high-contrast foils usually need a refresh every two to three months. Babylights and softer highlights often stretch longer.
- Your toner. Toner fades over a few weeks, which is why highlights can start looking yellow or brassy before your roots even show. A quick toner or gloss top-up fixes that without new foils.
A common routine: full highlights, then a half-head refresh or toner in between, then full highlights again.
How Much Do Highlights Cost in Singapore?
From about 11 Singapore salon menus in our marketplace research, full-head highlights typically cost $150 to $250, with a typical starting price around $165. Half-head highlights usually run $100 to $180.
What pushes the price up:
- Full vs partial. More foils, more time, more product.
- Hair length and thickness. Many salons price by length.
- Babylights. Finer weaving takes longer.
- Add-ons. Toner, bond repair or a cut may be extra, so ask what’s included.
“From” prices are usually for short hair, and menus change, so confirm the price for your hair before the foils go in. For how highlights compare with single-tone colour, root touch-ups and balayage on price, see our hair colour price guide for Singapore.
Highlights Aftercare
- Wait 48 to 72 hours before your first wash if you can.
- Use a sulphate-free, colour-safe shampoo and a rich conditioner or mask weekly. Lightened hair is thirstier than it looks.
- Fight brass with a purple shampoo once a week if you wear blonde, beige or ash tones. Don’t overdo it, or light hair can pick up a violet tinge.
- Protect from heat, sun and chlorine. Heat protectant before styling, a hat outdoors, a rinse after swimming.
- Expect more frizz on humid days. Singapore’s mean annual relative humidity is around 82%, according to the Meteorological Service Singapore, and lightened strands soak up moisture faster. A leave-in or light hair oil on the lengths helps.
- Book a toner between visits instead of new foils when your colour looks dull or brassy.
Are Highlights Worth It?
If you want visible brightness and like a polished look, yes. Highlights give you more control over where the light goes than any other colour technique, and a partial or face-framing option lets you try the look for less.
They’re not the best pick if you want to go months between appointments, if your hair is already damaged, or if what you really want is a richer all-over shade. In that last case, a single-tone colour or gloss will do the job for less. Our hair colouring complete guide walks through those options.
One more thing to check: hair colour and lightening products are regulated as cosmetic products in Singapore by the Health Sciences Authority. If you have sensitive skin, ask about a patch test before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do highlights cost in Singapore?
From about 11 Singapore salon menus we reviewed, full-head highlights typically cost $150 to $250, with a typical starting price around $165. Half-head highlights usually run $100 to $180. Prices rise with hair length, babylights and add-ons such as toner or bond repair, and menu “from” prices are usually for short hair.
How long do highlights last?
The lightened strands stay light until they are cut off, but your roots grow about 1 cm a month and toner fades over a few weeks. Bold, high-contrast highlights usually need a refresh every two to three months, while babylights and softer highlights often stretch longer. A toner top-up fixes brassiness in between.
Do highlights damage your hair?
Highlights on dark hair almost always use bleach, which weakens the lightened strands. Damage stays manageable when the hair starts healthy, the colourist does not rush very pale tones, and you use gentle aftercare. Ask about a bond repair treatment, and avoid bleaching freshly rebonded hair, the riskiest combination for breakage.
What is the difference between highlights and lowlights?
Highlights lighten selected strands, usually with bleach, to add brightness. Lowlights colour selected strands darker than your base to add depth, blend grown-out highlights or bring back dimension. Because lowlights deposit colour rather than lift it, they usually do not need bleach. Many colourists combine both for a natural, multi-tonal result.
Are babylights better than regular highlights?
Neither is better, they give different looks. Babylights are very fine, closely woven strands that look soft and natural and grow out gently. Regular or chunky highlights give bolder, more visible brightness and show regrowth sooner. Babylights take longer to foil, so they can cost more and mean a longer appointment.
Where to Book Highlights in Singapore
Look for a colourist whose portfolio shows highlights on hair like yours, especially dark Asian hair, and who talks you through toner and bond repair before starting. Browse salons offering hair highlights on Glamingo by area and price, compare their menus, and request a booking in a few taps.
Want a shortlist? See our picks for the best hair colour salons at Far East Plaza.
