Feature Story

Master Face-Framing Highlights: Step-by-Step Tutorial

By Lucas Aug 08, 2026

Ever desired to add dimension to your face and enhance your features? Face framing highlights are a brilliant way to do just that. This strategic hair coloring technique can brighten up your complexion, make your eyes pop, and even elongate your face. Let's dive into a step-by-step tutorial on how to achieve this look at home.

Hair Dye Techniques, Hair Color Placement, Hair Foils, Colored Hair Tips, Hair Color Formulas, Mèches Blondes, Hair Techniques, Colores De Cabello Rubio, Hair Color Techniques
Hair Dye Techniques, Hair Color Placement, Hair Foils, Colored Hair Tips, Hair Color Formulas, Mèches Blondes, Hair Techniques, Colores De Cabello Rubio, Hair Color Techniques

Before you pick up your hair dye, it's crucial to understand your face shape, as face framing highlights work differently on everyone. So, get your mirror ready, and let's find out which style will suit you best.

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Highlight Parting Hair, Face Framing Highlight Placement, Chunky Highlight Placement Diagram, Mini Highlight Placement, Money Piece Hair Placement, Face Framing Money Piece, Half Head Highlights Diagram, Highlight Patterns, Face Framing Highlights Round Face

Understanding Face Shape

Knowing your face shape is the first step towards finding the perfect face framing highlights. Start by pulling your hair back and examining your face shape in the mirror. You're likely to fall into one of these categories:

Balayage Hair Diagram, Diagonal Back Highlights, Money Piece Hair On Blonde, High Impact Blonde Placement, Different Highlight Placements, Root Shadowing, Highlight Hair At Home, Highlights Techniques, Highlights And Money Piece
Balayage Hair Diagram, Diagonal Back Highlights, Money Piece Hair On Blonde, High Impact Blonde Placement, Different Highlight Placements, Root Shadowing, Highlight Hair At Home, Highlights Techniques, Highlights And Money Piece
  • Oval: Symmetrical with balanced features.
  • Round: Width and length are roughly equal.
  • Square: All sides are roughly the same length.
  • Heart: Narrow at the jawline and broad at the forehead.
  • Oblong: Longer than it is wide.
  • Diamond: Narrow at the forehead and jawline, with wide cheeks.

Best Face Framing Highlights for Your Face Shape

SOFT FACE FRAME TUTORIAL 🩰 Perfect for the low maintenance girlies Give this placement a try & let me know what you think! #faceframehighlights #hairtutorial Balayage Around Face Only, Soft Front Blond, Blonde Balayage Brunettes, Blond Face Framing Highlights, Blonde For Brunettes, Gave Framing Highlights, Highlight Placement, Face Light Hair, Soft Balayage Hair
SOFT FACE FRAME TUTORIAL 🩰 Perfect for the low maintenance girlies Give this placement a try & let me know what you think! #faceframehighlights #hairtutorial Balayage Around Face Only, Soft Front Blond, Blonde Balayage Brunettes, Blond Face Framing Highlights, Blonde For Brunettes, Gave Framing Highlights, Highlight Placement, Face Light Hair, Soft Balayage Hair

Now that you've identified your face shape, it's time to find the perfect face framing highlights. Here are some suggestions:

Face Shape Highlight Suggestions
Oval Babylights or balayage for soft, natural-looking full-face highlights.
Round Highlights placed at the chin and around the hairline to create the illusion of a longer face. Consider lowlights at the sides to slim the face further.
Square Soft, face-framing highlights around the hairline and full bangs to soften the jawline. Avoid highlighting the chin area.
Heart Highlights placed at the chin and around the hairline to balance the face.consider full bangs to hide a broad forehead.
Oblong Full bangs or face-framing highlights to break up the length of the face. Avoid highlights at the chin to prevent elongating the face further.
Diamond Highlights placed at the chin and around the hairline to highlight the narrowest parts of your face. Consider full bangs to hide a wide forehead.

Choosing the Right Highlighting Technique

Boho Blonde Teaches - How To Face Frame
Boho Blonde Teaches - How To Face Frame

Once you've decided on the placement of your highlights, it's time to choose a technique. Here are two popular methods:

  • Balayage: This free-hand technique allows for a natural, sun-kissed look. It's perfect for those looking to enhance their features subtly.
  • Babylights: A gentler version of foil highlights, babylights create thin, delicate highlights for a soft, youthful look.

DIY Face Framing Highlights Tutorial

Balayage Caramel, Partial Balayage Placement, Black And Grey Hair, Redken Hair Color, Hair Contouring, Hair Foils, Redken Hair Products, Hair Color Formulas, Chestnut Hair Color
Balayage Caramel, Partial Balayage Placement, Black And Grey Hair, Redken Hair Color, Hair Contouring, Hair Foils, Redken Hair Products, Hair Color Formulas, Chestnut Hair Color

Armed with your newfound knowledge, it's time to create your face-framing highlights at home. Remember, patience is key with highlighting, so take your time for the best results.

Gathering Your Tools

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COLOR.ME by KEVIN.MURPHY created a baby fine highlighting technique that uses clear to accentuate highlights and frames the hairstyle while giving a shimmering radiance throughout the hair. Get the steps… Diy Red Highlights, How To Section Hair For Halo Dye, Highlights Tutorial, How Do You Do Balayage Step By Step, Highlights Tutorial Hair, Ombre Hair Technique Step By Step, Hair Highlight Tutorial, Step By Step Balayage Technique, Hair Highlights Tutorial
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Most versatile face frame placement! #hairtok #hairstylist #hairstylistlife
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Soft & Impactful face frame tutorial 💌🪽a placement for the girlies who want brightness around the face with a low maintenance feel! Give this placement a try and let me know what you think my lovessss! Maverick Hair, Hair Color Techniques, Hair Shows, Color Techniques, Face Framing, Hair Highlights, Wavy Hair, Hair Inspo, Balayage
Soft & Impactful face frame tutorial 💌🪽a placement for the girlies who want brightness around the face with a low maintenance feel! Give this placement a try and let me know what you think my lovessss! Maverick Hair, Hair Color Techniques, Hair Shows, Color Techniques, Face Framing, Hair Highlights, Wavy Hair, Hair Inspo, Balayage
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The easiest minimalist face frame you’ll ever grow out ✨ A true low-maintenance blonde highlight that’s seamless, soft, and designed to grow out like a dream. I call it the Minimalist Blonde Face Frame 😍 This is no toner, just raw lift so you can see the real blend + impact. 📍 Learn all my placement secrets in person — Jacksonville, FL • Jan 26 💻 Or binge 70+ step-by-step tutorials inside Hair B&B University DM “KIT” for a free sneak peek 👀 #minimalisthair #faceframinghighlights #lowmain... Facial Framing, Minimalist Blonde Hair, Face Frame Highlights, Hair Dye Tips, Diy Hair Dye, Balayage Technique, Haircut And Color, Hair Dos, Ombre Hair
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The perfect face framing highlights without the stripey or chunky look. I call it the natural bold money piece 😍 Compliment this with subtle highlights or teasylights in the interior to customize the look. Note that this is raw lift! No toner used so you can see the true blend and impact these highlights make. Full Tutorial in Hair B&B University app along with 70 other tutorials to help you foil faster and smarter. You can start for free by commenting the word APP 💗 @hairbnb_university ... B & B, Subtle Highlights, Face Framing, Hair Highlights, Hair, Natural Face, Toner, Highlights, Word App
The perfect face framing highlights without the stripey or chunky look. I call it the natural bold money piece 😍 Compliment this with subtle highlights or teasylights in the interior to customize the look. Note that this is raw lift! No toner used so you can see the true blend and impact these highlights make. Full Tutorial in Hair B&B University app along with 70 other tutorials to help you foil faster and smarter. You can start for free by commenting the word APP 💗 @hairbnb_university ... B & B, Subtle Highlights, Face Framing, Hair Highlights, Hair, Natural Face, Toner, Highlights, Word App
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PART ONE | I choose to work in halves when I want minimal lightness but a shimmer that is balanced throughout the whole head.. Minimal shape, but so effortlessly there! SAVE this one it is so beautiful and so simple… part 2 coming tommorrow for a face frame technique I tried on the day.. @ameliajane.education @milly.thespace Painted with @originalmineral Highlight Money Piece, Money Piece Highlight, Partial Highlight Hair, Hair Cuts, How To Face Frame Highlights, Only Money Piece Hair Brunette, Front Piece Highlights
Money piece💸
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Save this the next time you need some inspo for a face frame highlight 💕 Want to learn more about hair foil placement? Here are all the ways you can learn from me 👇🏽 🎉Join me in my upcoming Hands-on Workshop in Reno, NV - Only 2 Spots Left!!! 🎉 Checkout my 400 tutorials on YouTube 🎉 Join me inside Hair B&B University with over 70+ lessons Spoiler alert: the full tutorial for stitches and placement are inside HBBU 🫶🏽 Comment ‘KIT’ and I’ll send you a link to a sneak peek of Hair B&B U... Highlight Tutorial, Hair Color Placement, Face Frame Money Piece Placement Diagram, Face Frame Foil Placement, Highlights Placement, Hair Foils, Face Framing Highlights Diagram, Foil Placement How To Section Hair For Highlights, Low Lights Hair
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9.3K views · 7.9K reactions | For years I skipped this step… not realizing some blondes really need it. ✨ A quick wet balayage around the face after rinsi | HANNAH | EFFORTLESS BLONDES | LIVED IN SPECIALIST | BIRMINGHAM | Facebook
9.3K views · 7.9K reactions | For years I skipped this step… not realizing some blondes really need it. ✨ A quick wet balayage around the face after rinsi | HANNAH | EFFORTLESS BLONDES | LIVED IN SPECIALIST | BIRMINGHAM | Facebook
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Before you start, make sure you have the following:

  • Hair color kit (one shade lighter than your natural hair color)
  • Gloves
  • cabelo brush or comb
  • Clips or hair ties
  • Aluminum foil (for foil highlights)
  • Cap (for balayage technique)
  • Timer

Step-by-Step Highlighting Guide

  1. Prepare your hair by washing it two days before highlighting. This ensures your hair is clean but not stripped of its natural oils.

  • Brush your hair and divide it into sections based on your chosen placement. Clip away the sections you won't be working on.

  • Put on your gloves and apply the hair color to the sections you'll be highlighting. For balayage, paint the color onto the hair in soft, irregular patterns. For foil highlights, apply the color, then place the hair on aluminum foil to create heat and speed up the processing time.

  • Set a timer and check your highlights every five minutes. Once they've reached your desired lightness, rinse them thoroughly with lukewarm water.

  • Apply a color-depositing conditioner or hair mask to lock in moisture and prevent brassiness. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes, then rinse off.

  • Style your hair as usual and admire your new face-framing highlights!

    • Embracing face framing highlights is an exciting journey of self-expression. So go ahead, experiment with different techniques and placements. It's your face, and you should certainly highlight it.