What Are Air Touch Highlights (And How To Do Them)

If you’ve heard of the technique “air touch highlights” before, but don’t have any idea what this technique is or how it’s done, then this post is for you! In this article I’m going to cover everything you need to know about air touch highlights from the pros and cons, to what tools you’ll need to do the job.

Below you can find my Youtube video where I demonstrate how to do this highlighting technique. The video will give you a visual of what the ending result will look like.

What are air touch highlights?

“Air touch highlights” is a term referring to a highlighting technique for coloring the hair. This technique is done by using a blow dryer to blow out the shorter hairs in a section so that only the longer and healthier hairs are highlighted. This produces a very lived-in and low-maintenance effect.

Air touch highlights are similar to teasy lights, since teasing the hair will also push the shorter hairs towards the scalp so that the longer hairs are colored.

These shorter hairs may have broken off OR are new hairs growing in. In both instances, it’s better for these hairs to be treated as fragile and skip being highlighted. If you’ve experienced hair loss recently and your hair has begun to grow back, then you’ll likely have a significant amount of hairs that will be blown out with the dryer.

Even if you haven’t experienced hair loss, we all always have new hairs growing in. We lose on average 80-100 hairs a day, and each time a hair falls out it is then replaced with another right behind it.

What are the pros?

The benefits to air touch highlights are that the highlights will blend in seamlessly to the natural color of the hair in only one process.

This technique allows you to skip a root shadow because the hairs are naturally separated rather than weaved with a rat tail comb. You’re much more likely to need a root shadow when the hairs are weaved or sliced because the sectioning is not natural. Lines are more likely to be shown from where the blonde highlights blend into the natural color.

This technique is also healthier for the hair because any shorter hairs that may have breakage will not be highlighted. Only the longest hairs will be selected for the highlight since the shorter hairs are blown out with the blow dryer.

• Lived-in & low maintenance look
• No need for root shadow
• Healthier for the hair

What are the cons?

In my opinion, the main con of air touch highlights is that it can take a bit longer during the application process. Each time you pick up the blow dryer and set it down, you’re adding on time. This can take longer than if you weaved or even teased the hair since you typically keep the comb in your hand for those techniques.

Another potential con is that it’s not ideal for all hair types. It can be difficult to perform this highlighting technique on curly hair. Only straight and wavy hair will benefit from this technique mainly due to the application process itself.

• Can take longer to apply
• Not ideal for curly hair

How to do air touch highlights

So by this point, you should understand that this technique is done by using a blow dryer to blow the shorter hairs out of the section of hair you are about to highlight.

Some further tips to keep in mind are:

• The lower you hold the hair, the more dark is left in the section
• The higher you hold the hair, the more hair you are highlighting
• I recommend applying the bleach to the top of the foil (although you can start lower as well)
• Use a nozzle on your blow dryer to direct the air flow
• Pull the blown out hairs down and place your foil on top of them
• A board or paddle can be very helpful for keeping the sections organized and even saturation

I suggest watching my Youtube video below to see exactly how I do this.

Products I used for this technique

***Since I’m sharing the products that I love to use with you guys, this page includes affiliate links to these products. If you take action and purchase a product through clicking one of my links, I’ll make some commission money from it at no extra cost to you. This enables me to be able to continue giving you awesome hair tips, so thanks! ***

• Highlighting Combs
• Rat Tail Color Brush
• Large Color Brush
• Color Brush
• Highlight Board
• Small Foils
• Large Foils
• Purple Shampoo
• Purple Conditioner
• Detangling Spray
• Detangling Brush
• Boar Round Brush
• Dyson Hair Dryer

Conclusion

Air touch highlighting is a hair coloring technique that produces a seamless blend into the natural hair color. It is done by using a blow dryer to blow the shorter hairs that may be broken or new hair growth to the side while you highlight the longer healthier hair.

This typically allows you to skip a root shadow because the blend is much more seamless than traditional highlighting techniques. It’s also significantly healthier for the hair because you’re pushing the fragile hairs to the side.

The cons to air touch highlighting is that it can take longer than traditional highlighting because of the use of the blow dryer. It’s also not ideal for curly hair.

Air touch highlighting is very similar to teasy lights, but typically allows you to paint the hair much closer to the root since the hair is not teased to the scalp.

If you have any questions or comments on this technique, drop them for me in the comments below! And make sure to subscribe if you want to make everyday a good hair day.