Mini Highlights

Written and reviewed by Claudia Botelho, more than 15 years behind the chair, whose favorite thing to create is custom color.

Updated September 3, 2026

Twelve Foils, Chosen Carefully

The count is the point. With a full head you are building overall brightness, so placement can be systematic. With twelve foils every single one has to earn its spot, which is why this service is more about your stylist's eye than about product.

The three placements we do most:

• Face frame. Brightness right at the hairline and through the front pieces. It lifts the whole face and it is the one people notice without being able to say why.
• Part line. A few pieces either side of where you part, so the top reads brighter in daylight.
• Peekaboo. Hidden underneath, invisible when your hair is down, a surprise when it is up or braided.

Who Books This

Mini highlights suit a few specific situations, and being honest about them saves you a longer appointment you did not need.

• You had a highlight a while ago, the color is still good, and you want the front freshened.
• You have never had color and you want to try it without committing to a whole head.
• You are stretching the gap before your next big appointment and you want something to carry you.
• You want brightness for one event rather than a new maintenance routine.

If you find yourself booking minis every few weeks, tell your stylist. At that point a partial highlight is usually less time in the chair overall and gives a more even result.

What It Will Not Do

We would rather set the expectation than have you disappointed. Twelve foils will not make you noticeably blonder overall, will not cover gray across the head, and will not fix an uneven color history. Those are real jobs and they need the appointment that matches them. What minis do brilliantly is put light exactly where your face needs it.

Aftercare

Because so little of the head is lightened, upkeep is light too. A gloss will refresh the tone if the pieces start to look warm. Heat protectant on the front sections matters more than you would think, since face framing pieces get the most hot tool contact of any hair on your head. We carry Shibui and Aluram in the salon if you want something gentler than what you are using now.

Come and see the work first on Instagram at @lavishhairlounge__.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many foils are in a mini highlight?

Up to twelve. That cap is what separates it from a partial, and it is why the appointment is so much shorter.

How long does the appointment take?

Usually under an hour and a half including a toner and a blow dry. It is the easiest color service to fit into a lunch break.

Can mini highlights blend my grays?

A few pieces around the face can soften gray at the hairline, which is where most people see it first. For coverage across the head you want a root touch-up or full color.

Are minis a good first color service?

They are a very good one. You get to see how lightened hair behaves on your head, and how you feel about the maintenance, before committing to a full head.

How often should I come back?

Whenever the front stops reading bright, which for most people is every couple of months. There is no maintenance schedule you are locked into with a service this small.

Can I add a gloss or a blow dry?

A toner is included so the new pieces sit in the right tone. A blow dry finish or a Lavish Experience can be added on, just mention it when you book.