In many ways, highlights and lowlights are very similar and this includes the methods used to achieve them. ... The one key difference between highlights and lowlights though is that highlights use bleach to lift and lighten, while lowlights take your base colour down a few shades darker to add extra dimension.

Are lowlights less damaging than highlights?

As you may have guessed, Gibson says that lowlights cause less damage to hair than highlights do. “Lowlights typically are done with a demi-permanent or a permanent hair color, which can be less damaging on the hair than a highlight,” she explains.

What do you use for lowlights?

If you plan to do many small sections of lowlights, use small strips of foil to section off hair as you dye it with different colors. Place the foil under the hair. Brush the dye from root to tip and fold the foil. Keep the dye on the strands for the indicated time, then remove and rinse.