Mississippi Cosmetology Board Practice Exam

Which technique is used to achieve highlights in hair?

1. Balayage

2. Foil highlighting

3. Lowlights

4. Ombre

The correct answer is: Foil highlighting

Foil highlighting is a widely recognized technique used to achieve highlights in hair because it allows for precise placement of color while minimizing the risk of overlapping onto other sections of hair. This method involves wrapping small sections of hair in foil after applying a lightening agent or color, which enhances the effectiveness of the highlighting process by allowing the heat generated to lift the natural color of the hair. The use of foil also ensures that the highlights can be varied in width and placement to create a more customized and dimensional look. It is especially effective on darker hair, as it can produce significant contrast and vibrant highlights that can be tailored to the client's preferences. While other techniques like balayage and ombre can achieve lighter sections in the hair, they have different applications and effects. Balayage involves painting highlights onto the hair while ombre creates a gradient effect from dark to light. Lowlights, on the other hand, add darker colors to the hair for contrast rather than highlights. Each technique has its own stylistic goals, but foil highlighting stands out for its precision in creating distinctly highlighted sections.