"Golden Hour" Highlights Gave Me the Easy, Low-Maintenance Hair of My Dreams

I feel annoying saying this, but most of the time, I love my hair. Yes, it's fine. Yes, it's frizzy. Yes, I have more gray hairs than anyone I know my age. But it has its redeeming qualities! It's easy enough to style, it doesn't get greasy too quickly, and it's soft (when I use the right hair treatments). Still, no matter how much I like it on any given day, every other week I'm thinking about changing it up.

I recently got "shattered layers," which completely changed my look, but I wanted to add even more dimension and movement, and since I didn't want to commit to a dramatic cut, I knew I needed to switch things up color-wise. However, choosing exactly what I wanted to do took a bit of time. I have naturally dark brown hair, and the last time I got highlights, the end result was a red, brassy mess. I wanted to avoid warmer tones as much as possible and instead opt for something that looked natural and was easy to maintain.

When I first heard about "golden hour" highlights and how they were supposed to mimic the look of light reflecting off your hair during (you guessed it) golden hour, I was pretty much sold. Everyone I had seen with the look had subtle, sun-kissed pieces that made it look like they had just returned from a tropical vacation, which was exactly the vibe I was going for.

To achieve the look, I visited Mare Salon in Los Angeles to see color and custom extension specialist Meaghan Jones. After going over exactly what I was looking for, she started by layering on very fine, thin foil highlights throughout the mid to ends of my hair in order to give it dimension. "The idea is that once everything is toned, it will show off your haircut and the movement of the soft layers that were just put in," Jones says.

Next, she created highlights at the top of my head to connect everything and give balance and symmetry. "It's really about creating childlike hair; a subtle lightness you'd get from playing outside."

From there, Jones went in with a toner to soften the highlights at the top of my roots so the area wouldn't be as dark as my natural base color or as light as the highlights. She said this would ensure that everything stayed softly blended as it grew out. Then, she went in with an all-over clear toner to give my hair lots of shine.

I've had gray hairs coming in for the last two years, so although I visit my hairdresser every couple of months for a root touch-up, I don't like spending hours at the salon. Luckily, maintenance for this look is fairly low-key. "What we're doing is subtle, so the look will last you eight months to a year," Jones says. "It's really focusing on adding dimension more mids to ends and not necessarily on the top, so you can still go in and do your base every four to eight weeks regularly without any other upkeep."

Jones says the most important thing to do is to pay attention to the overall tone of your hair. "If you start to feel that it's getting a little bit too light because of the elements and being out in the sun or in the salt water, then your next appointment would include a base and a gloss to tone that all down."

As for keeping the color fresh at home, Jones notes that a lot of heat over time will start to soften the color and make it lighter, which is why you want to use a heat protectant whenever you style your hair. She also suggests using a color-safe shampoo and conditioner; her pick is the Rōz Foundation Duo ($72).

Rōz Foundation Duo

From

$72

$72 at rozhair.com

Then, and especially in summer, it's important that you pay attention to how often it's exposed to direct sunlight. Jones recommends wearing a hat, braiding it back if possible, and slathering it in a treatment product like the Rōz Willow Glen Treatment Oil ($48) prior to hopping in salty or chlorinated water. (Sun Bum also makes a great product, the Scalp & Hair Mist SPF 30 ($18), which I've tested and loved.)

Rōz Willow Glen Treatment Oil

From

$48

$48 at rozhair.com

Ever since leaving the salon with my fresh new look, the compliments have been rolling in. My hair is no longer the one-dimensional drab style I'm used to seeing in the mirror; instead, it has life and movement — exactly what I was looking for. It's subtle, chic, and it looks like I'm sitting directly under the setting sun at all times. What's not to love?