Hey,
I was searching Hair salons and came across your site. I have really long straight brown hair and am looking to get highlights. I have never colored my hair before and want to make sure the highlights look really NATURAL, and don't damage my hair! I live in So. Orange County CA and wondered if anyone knows of a good salon that has experience with long hair and someone who is picky about it, hehe...Please advise, Thanks  :)

you plan to do them yourself? i think highlights look easily very fake if you're not blonde. the general rule is never to go more than two value's lighter. if you don't want to look like an xmas tree i'd say try only one value lighter. it will be for sure less damaging. and i think those highlights in totally fantasque colors like yellowish or orange give a very "damaged look" to dark hair (i dunno how dark your hair is though). also, question your own color: is it cold (most likely) then keep the highlights cold as well(no yellow stuff that is).
personally i know people who like to put reddish ones in brown hair ... i think you have to fall on an absolutely dreadful stylist to get talked into that though.
that's purely my esthetical view on the matter, i never did any bleaching myself but if i would i'd try one of those thingies with which you're supposed to add highlights after having colored them from l'oreal or whatever.

The problem with "highlights" is that most people who get them are trying to use them as a way to go blonde without coloring their whole head. So they process the top layer by lightening it many shades, leaving it a fried mess. I agree that you should go no more than two shades lighter, and if that's not the look you're going for, you're just going to have to choose between having long hair in good condition and having highlights.

A natural choice to allow your hair to remain in it's virgin state is to lighten your hair with lemon juice.  This is best done during the summer when you have time to sit in the warm sunlight and let the juice to it's work.  Lemon juice will dry your hair out some because of the acidity, but as long as you use a deep conditioner after your home-remedy lightening treatment, you should be okay.

Also, highlights from the sun/lemon juice combo tend to look very natural.

Just thought this info might help.  Good luck!

Highlights will most likely cause some degree of damage.
Unfortunatley, there is no way around it.  You could get
only- say 25% highlights,instead of heavier highlights, so
that less of your hair is effected. Or, you could get red
highlights, which would not involve bleach, and therefore
be less damaging.  If you do get highlights, remember
to condition, condition, condition.

Hey Guys,
Thanks for the responses. No, I don't plan on doing it myself, that is why I am looking for a good salon to go to...Any Suggestions? Also, I am not looking to get a lot of highlights, just a few to lighten up my hair a bit...So it looks like maybe it was done by the sun ya know? Anyway, any more suggestions would be great! Peace