Best Highlighting Techniques for Curly Hair in NYC

Author:
Published on: 2025-04-04

Curly hair is a beauty all on its own—bouncy, full of volume, and full of personality. But when it comes to adding highlights to curly hair, things can get a little tricky. The key to creating gorgeous curly hair highlights is choosing the right highlighting technique that will enhance your curls while maintaining their natural texture and shape. In New York City, where beauty trends constantly evolve, curly-haired clients are embracing unique and customized highlighting techniques that make their locks pop. At Venelle Salon and Spa in Park Slope, Brooklyn, our expert colorists are here to help you discover the best way to bring out your natural curls with the perfect highlighting style.

Why Curly Hair Needs Special Highlighting Techniques

Curly hair is unique in that it behaves differently from straight hair. The texture, shape, and movement of curls mean that traditional highlighting techniques might not deliver the results you're looking for. That’s why at Venelle Salon and Spa, we specialize in using tailored approaches that ensure your highlights blend seamlessly with your curls. Here's why curly hair deserves its own set of techniques:

  1. Maintaining Curl Definition: Curly hair tends to be drier than straight hair, which means you want to avoid any highlighting technique that could cause frizz or dullness. The goal is to keep your curls defined and shiny while still incorporating that pop of color.

  2. Even Distribution: Because of the volume and natural texture of curly hair, it’s important to apply highlights in a way that maintains balance and dimension. Without the right technique, highlights can look uneven or patchy, which is why precision is key.

  3. Subtle or Bold: Whether you want to go subtle or make a bold statement with your highlights, the right technique can make all the difference in achieving the look you desire without compromising your curls' natural beauty.

The Best Highlighting Techniques for Curly Hair in NYC

1. Balayage: A Natural, Sun-Kissed Look for Curly Hair

Balayage is one of the best highlighting techniques for curly hair because it provides a seamless, natural finish that enhances the texture of your curls. This freehand technique involves painting color onto the hair, allowing for a more gradual and blended effect.

  • Why It Works for Curly Hair: The beauty of balayage lies in its ability to create soft, sun-kissed highlights that mimic how the sun naturally lightens your hair. It’s perfect for curly hair because the highlights don’t require foils, which can flatten the natural volume of your curls. Instead, balayage highlights are strategically placed to add dimension and depth without disrupting your curl pattern.

  • Maintenance: Balayage is a low-maintenance option, as it grows out naturally without noticeable regrowth lines. This makes it ideal for anyone with a busy NYC lifestyle who doesn’t want to commit to frequent salon visits.

2. Ombre and Sombre: Adding Depth with a Bold Transition

Ombre and sombre are highlighting techniques that create a noticeable gradient effect from dark to light. Ombre features a more dramatic, high-contrast fade, while sombre offers a softer, more subtle gradient.

  • Why It Works for Curly Hair: Ombre and sombre both allow for depth and dimension while maintaining the natural texture of your curls. The technique works by blending darker roots into lighter ends, creating a beautiful contrast that adds life to your hair without overpowering the curls.

  • Customization: These techniques can be customized to suit any hair color or curl type, whether you’re looking for a bold, dramatic ombre or a subtle, soft sombre effect.

3. Foil Highlights: Precision Color Placement for Curly Hair

If you’re looking for precision and more structured highlights, foil highlights are a great option. This technique involves sectioning the hair and applying color to specific strands, which are then wrapped in foils for a more defined result.

  • Why It Works for Curly Hair: Foil highlights can be placed strategically throughout your curls, giving you the opportunity to create vibrant streaks of color without disrupting the shape or texture of your curls. This technique is ideal for those who want more control over where the highlights fall and who desire stronger color contrast.

  • Maintenance: Since foil highlights focus on specific sections of hair, they require more frequent touch-ups to keep the color fresh. This is perfect for anyone who loves bold, high-contrast looks.

4. Babylights: Soft, Subtle Highlights for a Natural Glow

For those who want to add a little brightness to their curls without going too bold, babylights are the perfect choice. These fine, delicate highlights are placed close to the root to create a natural, sun-kissed glow.

  • Why It Works for Curly Hair: Babylights are perfect for curly hair because they add brightness and dimension without disrupting the natural texture. Since they’re subtle, they blend beautifully with your natural curls and won’t overpower the volume or shape of your hair.

  • Customization: Whether you’re a blonde, brunette, or redhead, babylights can be customized to match your base color, giving you a soft, radiant look that enhances your curls.

5. Face-Framing Highlights: Drawing Attention to Your Natural Features

For those who want a more targeted approach, face-framing highlights focus on adding lighter strands around the face. This technique is great for emphasizing your facial features and creating a flattering effect.

  • Why It Works for Curly Hair: Curly hair has natural volume, so adding face-framing highlights can highlight the best parts of your face without flattening or weighing down your curls. This style is great for those who want a subtle pop of light around the face that blends seamlessly with the rest of the curls.

  • Versatility: Face-framing highlights work with all types of curls—whether you have tight ringlets or loose waves. They can also be added to any of the other techniques mentioned above for an extra boost of brightness.

Why Choose Venelle Salon and Spa for Your Curly Hair Highlights?

At Venelle Salon and Spa, we specialize in creating custom highlights that are designed specifically for your curly hair. Our expert colorists understand the unique texture and needs of curly hair, and we use the latest techniques to achieve the perfect highlighted look while maintaining your natural curls.

  • We’ll help you choose the right technique—whether it’s balayage, ombre, foil highlights, or something else—based on your desired look and lifestyle.

  • We use high-quality products and offer personalized aftercare tips to ensure your curly hair highlights remain vibrant and healthy.

  • Our colorists are trained to handle all hair types, ensuring your curls stay shiny, healthy, and defined with every highlight we apply.

Book Your Appointment Today!

Ready to enhance your curls with beautiful, customized highlights? Book your appointment at Venelle Salon and Spa in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and let our expert colorists give you the perfect curly hair highlights that suit your style and personality. Whether you’re after a subtle, natural look or a bold, striking style, we’re here to make your curly hair the best it’s ever been!