5. Dimensional Highlights on a Butterfly Cut
Fall is the season of dimensional color, and highlights make butterfly layers pop like nothing else. Caramel, honey, and cinnamon ribbons woven through the layers catch the light every time a curl moves, giving the illusion of even more depth and volume. On curly hair, highlights should be painted freehand (balayage) so they follow the curl pattern instead of fighting it.
Ask your colorist for lived-in, low-maintenance highlights concentrated through the mid-lengths and ends, keeping the roots natural. This grows out softly with no harsh line — perfect for going darker again in winter if you want.
What You’ll Need
- Color-safe sulfate-free shampoo
- Deep conditioning mask
- Leave-in conditioner with UV protection
- Curl cream
- Diffuser
- Purple or blue toning mask (for brass control)
How to Make
- Wash with color-safe shampoo and follow with a deep conditioning mask weekly.
- Apply leave-in conditioner to protect highlighted curls from dryness.
- Work curl cream through in sections, scrunching to define.
- Diffuse on low heat to protect the color from heat fade.
- Once a month, use a toning mask for 5 minutes to keep highlights bright, not brassy.
- Sleep on a satin pillowcase to reduce friction on color-treated curls.