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What is 3D Hair Colour?

Published in Hair Colouring Techniques 3 mins read

3D hair colour is a technique that involves adding multiple shades of light and dark colours to hair to create depth and dimension, rather than a flat, one-dimensional look.

Understanding 3D Hair Colour

The key to 3D hair colour is the strategic use of highlights and lowlights:

  • Highlights: These are lighter shades than your base colour, adding brightness and a sense of lift.
  • Lowlights: These are darker shades than your base colour, providing depth and creating shadows.

By combining highlights and lowlights, a skilled colourist can give the hair a more dynamic and three-dimensional appearance. The reference states that it is "adding different shades of light (highlight) and dark (lowlight) colours to create a 3-dimensional effect".

Techniques used in 3D Hair Colour

Various colouring techniques can be used to achieve the 3D effect. The reference mentions several:

  • Balayage: This freehand technique creates soft, natural-looking highlights.
  • Foil Highlights and Lowlights: Using foil to separate sections, this method allows for precise placement of colours.
  • Babylights: Very fine highlights that mimic the natural highlights seen in children's hair.

Essentially, the reference points out that "anything that's not one-tone colour is 3D Colouring."

Benefits of 3D Hair Colour

  • Adds Dimension: It creates a more dynamic and interesting look compared to a single, flat colour.
  • Enhances Movement: By playing with light and shadow, it can make hair appear more voluminous and textured.
  • Customizable: The specific shades and techniques can be tailored to each individual's hair colour, skin tone, and desired look.
  • Natural Look: When done well, 3D colour can look very natural, as it mimics how natural light affects hair.
  • Low Maintenance: Techniques like balayage often require less frequent touch-ups than single-process colour.

Examples of 3D Colouring

Here are some practical examples:

  • A brunette with dark brown hair might opt for subtle caramel highlights and chocolate lowlights to add depth and warmth.
  • A blonde might choose a combination of platinum and golden blonde highlights with a light brown lowlight at the roots for a multi-dimensional effect.
  • A redhead might have varying shades of copper, auburn, and strawberry blonde to create a vibrant, dimensional look.

Summary

3D hair colour is about adding dimension and depth to your hair using multiple shades, rather than a single colour. It uses techniques such as balayage, foil highlights, and lowlights to create the illusion of a 3-dimensional effect. It's a highly customizable method that enhances movement, volume, and texture, while often being more low maintenance than single-process colouring.