Wisconsin Cosmetology Practice Exam

The method of foiling is a popular technique used to create highlights in hair. This process involves sectioning the hair and placing foils underneath the selected strands to isolate them. A lightening agent or color is then applied to these strands, while the foils help to keep the hair separated and prevent the color from bleeding onto the surrounding hair. The foils also assist in retaining heat, which can enhance the lightening process, resulting in brighter, more vibrant highlights.

Balayage is another highlighting method, but it focuses on painting color directly onto the hair without the use of foils, creating a more natural, sun-kissed effect rather than distinct stripes of color. Ombre and dip-dyeing are techniques that typically involve a more dramatic color transition, where the hair is usually darker at the roots and gradually becomes lighter towards the ends, rather than specifically isolating pieces of hair for highlighting. Therefore, foiling is the recognized method for precisely applying highlights to individual strands.