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Byrdie / Chloe Jeong
Who wouldn’t love a zen salon appointment, getting pampered and strutting out with freshly highlighted hair? Sometimes an afternoon of indulgence isn’t an option, though. It’s time-consuming, energy-sucking, and—perhaps most importantly—expensive. Instead, with an at-home highlighting kit, you can achieve the same effect for a fraction (a fraction of a fraction, even) of the cost.
Strategically placed highlights can instantly brighten your face, adding dimension to your base color, and giving the impression that you spent the summer in Santorini. That’s why we narrowed down the eight best at-home highlighting kits. Some work better for blondes, and others are intended for brunettes, but they’re all easy to use, leaving you with quality color and a happier credit card statement.
We conducted hours of research on the best at-home highlighting kits, evaluating them on the active ingredients of the dye formulas used, shade ranges available, ease of use, and what each kit comes with—from activators to glazes. After considering dozens of brands, and consulting an expert colorist, we narrowed down the list, looking for options that consider your hair health and come with formulas designed to nourish and protect while lightening hair. We then cross-referenced our results with top-rated formulas to give you the best in show.
Best Overall
Madison Reed Light Works
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Ulta Beauty
Mess-proof
Helpful wishbone activator
Includes toner to use afterward
Pricier than other options
You gotta hand it to Madison Reed. The brand has truly revolutionized the at-home hair color world, so naturally, their innovative highlighting kit is our Best Overall pick. It’s available in five shades that even work on tough-to-color dark brown hair, and the clay-based, ammonia-free (no harsh odor!) cream color makes the experience mess-proof and more goof-proof than usual. Since it comes with a wishbone-shaped applicator, you’ll achieve the look of hand-painted balayage highlights you’d get in a salon—without the salon price. The kit also comes with a toner to use afterward, the secret to ensuring a natural- and professional-looking result. It’s the priciest option on this list, but the sunkissed look is worth it.
Price at time of publish: $45
Active Ingredients: Keratin, argan oil, ginseng root extract | Shades: 5 | Size: 1 ounce (Light Works Lightening Cream), 2 ounces (Light Works Lightening Activator), 1.35 ounces (Light Works Finish Toning Glaze), 2 ounces (Light Works Finish Toning Glaze Activator), 0.5 ounces (Light Works Bond Building Cleansing Treatment), 0.5 ounces (Color Protecting Shampoo), 0.5 ounces (Color Protecting Conditioner) | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Drugstore
L'Oréal Paris Frost & Design H65 Caramel
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Amazon
Affordable
Precise application
Includes toner to use afterward
Pull-through cap can be laborious
Never underestimate the power of a drugstore highlighting kit like this one from L’Oréal Paris. While the process is a little gimmicky, who cares about looking silly in the privacy of your own bathroom? (Especially since the price is so budget-friendly.) Here’s how it works: You pull on a special cap with holes in it, then use hooks to pull various pieces of hair through the holes and apply the color to those pieces. Ridiculous looking, yes, but it does make for a great highlighted effect since you can apply the color precisely where you want it. The included toner ensures a refined color and healthier hair too. It comes in caramel and champagne tones for darker and lighter blonde bases, respectively, and there’s an option for both lighter and shorter hair as well.
Price at time of publish: $11
Shades: 2 | Size: 3.5 ounces (Creme Developer), 0.86 ounces (Lightening Powder), 0.35 (After Frosting Conditioning Shampoo), 0.63 ounces (Toning Protective Creme), 1 ounce (Color Toning Rinse) | Cruelty-Free: No
Best for Blondes
Clairol Balayage for Blondes
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Amazon
Affordable
Helpful brush applicator
Only one shade
Whether you’re wanting to paint on just a few baby lights, do a full-on balayage situation, or even create an ombré vibe, Clairol’s highlighting kit makes the process—whichever you choose—easier than ever. It comes with a foolproof applicator and has a quicker processing time than other highlighting kits do. While it comes in just one shade, it works on a range of light to dark blondes. (Sorry brunettes, this one isn’t the best option for you.) It doesn’t come with a toner, but since the highlighting kit costs just $10, adding a separate toner to your cart won’t break your budget.
Price at time of publish: $10
Type: Permanent | Shades: 1 | Size: 0.49 ounces (Lightening Powder), 1.48 ounces (Developing Creme), 1 ounce (CC Colorseal Conditioner) | Cruelty-Free: No
Best for Light Brown Hair
Garnier Multi Lights H2 Golden Blonde
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Walmart
Moisturizing
Long-lasting
Affordable
Reviewers note color doesn't match the box
You could spend a month on the beaches of Puerto Rico to naturally develop golden highlights, but let’s face it: it’s more realistic to spend $8 and an evening at home creating them with this Garnier highlighting kit. It’s specially made for those with dark blonde to light brown hair and immediately gives you radiant highlights. (Leave it on anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how light you want to go.) The formula itself is packed with moisturizing avocado, olive, and shea oils and also comes with a separate ampoule of a grapeseed oil treatment to use afterward to ensure your hair stays hydrated post-highlighting. The color is rich and long-lasting, and have we mentioned the price?
Note that some reviewers mention that the color doesn’t exactly match the box, so you may want to do a small test on an inconspicuous chunk of hair before highlighting your whole head.
Price at time of publish: $8
Active Ingredients: Grapeseed oil, avocado oil | Type: Permanent | Shades: 2 | Size: 2.28 ounces (Nourishing Creme Developer), 1.6 ounces (Nourishing Color Creme), 1.35 ounces (Nourishing Conditioner) | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Brunettes
Revlon Color Effects Frost & Glow Highlights Honey
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Amazon
Ammonia-free
Affordable
Strengthens hair bonds
Pull-through cap can be laborious
There are three shades of this REVLON highlighting kit available, but this particular option is best for those with brown hair. It comes with a highlighting cap, which can be tedious, but if that’s not your preferred method, hit up YouTube. There are plenty of tutorials of people using the product without the cap and still achieving impressive results. Also nice: The formula is ammonia-free, sparing you from a harsh smell, and it’s enriched with a keratin complex to strengthen hair bonds. It’s the most affordable option on this list too.
Price at time of publish: $7
Active Ingredients: Bond Restore Complex | Type: Permanent | Shades:3 | Size: 2.9 ounces (Cream Developer), 1.3 ounces (Highlighting Powder), 0.4 ounces (Moisturizing Violet Shampoo), 0.4 ounces (Anti-Brass Conditioner) | Cruelty-Free: No
Best for a Quick Fix
dpHUE Hair Lightening Blonding Brush
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Sephora
Easy to use
Gradually lightens color
Heat-activated
Only works for blondes
If you’ve scrolled through Kristin Cavallari’s Instagram, you’ve likely seen videos of her using this brush, which she created in partnership with her longtime colorist Justin Anderson. It’s ideal to use between salon visits when you want to brighten up your highlights but don’t have the time, energy, or wiggle room in your budget to deal with full-on color. The brush-on gel uses lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide to ever-so-subtly brighten and lighten blondes. (It’s worth noting that this is only for those who are naturally or already-lightened blonde, not shades of brown.) The heat-activated formula kicks in when you go in the sun or hit it with a blow-dryer, making it a solid choice for a fast fix to sun-kissed-looking locks.
Price at time of publish: $28
Active Ingredients: Lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide | Shades: 1 | Size: 0.65 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Base Color & Highlights
L’Oréal Paris Couleur Experte 6.1 French Éclair
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Walmart
Affordable
Easy to apply
Multi-purpose formula
Not long-lasting
In the mood for a full-blown hair makeover? To change your allover shade and then add in some highlights—all with just one box!—this is the kit to use. There are four base shades available, from dark mahogany brown to medium iridescent blonde, and two hues in between, which come with coordinating highlight tones. The highlight shade is tinged with a blue tone, which makes it easy to see exactly where you’re placing them, and the tiny fingertip brush adds to the ease. Plus, priced at just $14, it’s significantly cheaper than visiting a salon—just don’t expect the color to last as long as a professional’s would. Â
Price at time of publish: $14
Type: Permanent | Shades: 4 | Cruelty-Free: No
Best for Balayage Effect
eSalon Light Set
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eSalon
Dries quickly
Includes toner to use afterward
Plenty of helpful instructions
Reviewers note it gives an orangey finish
Balayage highlights are often lauded for looking more natural and growing out less noticeably, but you’ll pay many pretty pennies for them in a salon. To achieve the hand-painted look at home, add one of these eSalon Light Sets to your online cart. This kit includes everything you need, including access to a personal colorist who you can consult to determine which of their six colors is best for you. (Each color can brighten your locks up to three shades.) The formula dries quickly so you can paint it on without the mess, and it comes with a toning mask to blend your base and highlights seamlessly and eliminates any unwanted brassiness. Big points to eSalon for including easy-to-follow instructions, videos, and color charts on the brand’s website, too—that helps alleviate any nervousness if you’re used to working with a stylist. While some reviewers note that the color gives an orangey finish, many more commented about how beautiful and salon-like their hair turned out.
Price at time of publish: $35
Shades: 6 | Size: 2 fluid ounces (Toning Mask), 1.55 fluid ounces (Activator) | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Ombré
L'Oreal Paris Superior Preference Ombre Touch Hair Color
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Amazon
Easy to use
Customizable for many looks
Works quickly
Can go on a little streaky
Whether you're going for an ombré look or you want to add a few strategically placed highlights to frame your face, this kit will work. The applicator is a glove you slip over your finger to paint color wherever you'd like it. Keep in mind it does skew a bit warm, so if you're looking for ashy, cool-toned highlights, this may not be the kit for you. There are kits for dark, medium, and light brown hair, making it easy to find a match.
Price at time of publish:Â $9
Shades: 3 | Size: 2 fluid ounces (Developer Creme), 0.63 fluid ounces (Lifting Powder) 0.71 fluid ounces (Lifting Creme), 0.75 fluid ounces (Luminous Conditioning Shampoo) | Cruelty-Free: No
Final Verdict
At-home highlighting can be a tricky process, but if you’re up for the challenge, going with a highlighting kit is the way to go. The Madison Reed Light Works is our top choice, available in five shades that work even on dark brown hair, and it comes with a cool applicator that makes hand painting super easy. Natural blondes should try the Clairol Balayage for Blondes, or the dpHue Blonding Brush, a great fast fix that will brighten existing highlights. And if you want to score highlights and change your base color, the L'Oreal Paris Couleur Experte 6.1 French Éclair makes it easy to do so.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Meet the Expert
Tiffanie Richards is a master colorist at OC61 in New York City. She specializes in creating signature blonde and rich brunette colors and is well-versed in a variety of techniques that allow her to personalize the color for each of her clients.
What to Look for in an At-Home Highlighting Kit
Lightener or Bleaching Powder
Make sure that the product you choose specifies it contains a lightener or bleaching powder rather than a high lift color, suggests Tiffanie Richards, master colorist at OC61 in New York City. It’s a little safer for at-home use because it will allow you to check the color of your highlights every few minutes until you reach your desired result, she says.
Nourishing Ingredients
Bleaching your hair can be damaging and drying, and it's best left to a pro if you already have severely damaged or brittle hair. If you'd like to give your hair a lift but gently, look for products with low ammonia or peroxide to minimize damage. Semi and demi-permanent options, while typically not for achieving lift, can also brighten and color your hair without damaging it.
You can also look for a product that's meant to hydrate hair, like Garnier Multi Lights H2 Golden Blonde, which contains avocado, olive, and shea oils and a post-coloring conditioning treatment. We also love the Madison Reed Light Works, for its nourishing formula that's ammonia-free.
Type of Highlight
If you want a dramatic statement, adding a money piece around your face can be a nice way to get some extra pop. Consider using the dpHue Blonding Brush to help achieve a face-framing money piece that's easy to apply. To focus more on the tips of your hair—read: can snip away any damage that might occur—consider an ombre approach. We love the L'Oreal Paris Superior Preference Ombre Touch Hair Color that allows you to try this salon style at home.
If this is your first time highlighting your hair at home, try testing a small piece of hair first to make sure you like the way it looks.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there.