How Long Do Frosted Tips Last? Read This First
What does it mean to get frosted tips? Frosted tips refer to a men’s hairstyle in which the hair is cut short and formed into short spikes with hair gel or hair spray. The hair is bleached such that the tips of each spike will be pale blond, usually in contrast to the wearer’s main hair color. So how long do frosted tips last?
Frosted tips will last as long as your hair grows or until you cut them off. To achieve the frosted tips look, the ends of your hair will need to be bleached.
This strips your hair of the color, so there is no fading. But since it’s just your tips, you don’t have to worry about them lasting too long. If you grow tired of them after a couple of months, you could always cut them off. While you might end up with shorter hair than you want, since it’s just the tips, your hair should be back to its normal length in no time.
What is Bleached Hair?
Bleaching hair strips the hair of color pigments– whether natural or artificial. Although some hair may appear to return to some sort of its faded color, this usually happens only when a professional applies and reprocesses the natural pigments back. It’s important to understand this when answering how long do frosted tips last.
How long does it take to do frosted tips?
Doing your own highlights is not typically recommended, especially if you ask any professional stylist. But, there are ways to do it at home thanks to many professional products you can buy online. For typical 90s style frosted tips, you won’t need a highlighting cap. For a more modern look, you can use a frosting cap to achieve a more modern look with tapered highlights.
What is a frosting cap?
You can purchase a frosting cap from a beauty supply store, pharmacy, or even from the comfort of your home (simple purchase one from amazon). The frosting cap is made with small holes for you to pull through strains of your hair. This allows you to bleach sections of your hair and avoid bleaching sections you don’t want bleached. Beginners who have never bleached or highlighted their hair before can use a frosting or highlight cap to avoid any unfixable errors.
It usually takes around 20 to 30 minutes for your frosted tips to be ready after applying the bleaching agents. It is essential to follow the instructions on the pack- or else you can end up with dramatically damaged hair. Use a timer to keep track of time.
Are Frosted Tips Back in Style?
If you were around in the 90s and early 2000s, you might remember the white bleach tips atop the heads of many young adults and teenagers.
When did frosted tips go out of style?
If you were still unsure, frosted tips mean hair that has just the tips bleached to a pale blond. In the 90s, the more the contrast, the better. Now, we see a resurgence in this trend, but luckily it isn’t as striking, and the bleached color tends to be more natural. There were not many young guys in the early 2000s that had not had bleached spikes at some point.
Fortunately, this trend quickly went out of style. But, they seem to be back, albeit in a more diluted form. Instead of the dramatic color, the hair is bleached with a softer gradient, more like the natural color. The result is a more natural color that looks vibrant but is more natural.
Keen to try this look yourself? Here are a few tips to help you.
Frosted Tips: Here’s How to Do it Yourself
Firstly, you need to find a shade that matches you the best. To do this, you can use swatches provided on the back of the do-it-yourself packs and match them against your hair.
Do you have dark hair? Then it is advised that you consult a professional hairstylist to achieve the correct result you’re looking for.
Applying the Color
If you want subtle color, then use a coloring brush. A wide-toothed comb will give you bolder highlights. To prepare your hair for the highlights, cover your shoulders with an old towel so that you don’t stain your skin or clothes. Apply the product onto the brush or the comb and run the comb or brush through your hair.
If you are aiming for highlights, then start at the root and run it through to the tips. If you just want to go for frosted tips, then just apply them to the ends. To create a natural gradient, start with a light touch, applying more pressure towards the end. You may need to adjust your method if you have curly hair or if it is gelled.
If you want to create a look straight out of the 90s, then only do the tips. Remember, if your hair is dark, then this will create a striking look. If you want to stick with the safer trends, then only do this if your hair is naturally a little darker than the blond you want to dye. This makes the transition less intense and creates a more subtle frosted tips look.
Styling Your Frosted Tips
Use fewer styling products than you’re tempted to. Your hair is already damaged from the bleach, so use as few chemicals on your hair as you can. And if you’re tempted to mimic the true 90s style, then you’re going to have to go full spike. The 90s spike tips look is perfectly executed by none other than Spike himself. Don’t know who Spike is? Google Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and you’ll see the 90s frosted tips look in all their glory.
The typical 90s frosted tips look will not help you win any fashion or trend awards. We’re not telling you not to do it, but don’t say we didn’t warn you. If you want the safer option, then opt for the softer, more gradient bleach approach.
Let’s get back to styling these tips.
Tips for Styling your Tips
Gradient frosted tips work well for a variety of different hair cuts. These include undercuts, Capri, and generally any hairstyle where the hair on the top is slightly longer than the hair of the back and sides. If you have super short hair, then wait for your hair to grow a bit longer before you frost your tips.
Frosted tips need a decent head of hair to have an effect. So if your hair is too short, then the frosted tips won’t be tips. You’ll just have a bleached head. Don’t worry about what type of face shape works. You can have any type of face shape for frosted tips.
Temporary Frosted Tips
Temporary spray-on hair color is great for those who want to try the lookout but don’t want to commit fully. Or, who knows, maybe you want to head out to a 90s party. Or maybe you want to go as Spike to a dress-up party. Whatever the case may be, the thought of a temporary bleach seems counterintuitive.
Bleach isn’t permanent- it literally strips the hair of color pigments (whether natural or not). But fortunately, there are plenty of new products on the market that can mimic the bleached effect. And the best part? It doesn’t actually bleach your hair. These products are usually spray ones that create a bleached look.
You can use a spray-on product, a color rub, or even a DIY temporary kit.
How Long Do Temporary Color Sprays Last?
These sprays usually last until you wash your hair. Products like the L’oreal Paris Colorista lasts about one day. This is not surprising because the full product name is literally Paris Colorista 1-Day Spray.
But, you can expect them to last until you wash your hair. So, it depends on how often you wash your hair. If you wash it every day, then it will literally only last for a day. That’s not to say it will last forever- it will start to fade after a couple of days.
Is Temporary Hair Color Spray Bad for your Hair?
We all know that bleach and peroxide can damage your hair. You need to know this before you decide to bleach your hair. If you do use peroxide and ammonia-based products on your hair, then you might have to give it some tender loving care afterward.
Use as few chemical-based styling products as possible. Make sure you condition your hair with a quality product to keep it looking healthy. Temporary dyes are healthier for your hair as they will not strip the hair of pigments. They are usually free from harsh chemicals and will wash out easily.
What is the Best Temporary Hair Color Spray?
- L’Oreal Paris Colorista 1-Day Temporary Hair Color Spray
- Oribe Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray
- Unique White Hair Color Spray
- High Beams Intense Temporary Spray-On Hair Color
- dpHUE Color Touch-Up Spray
- TRESemmé Root Touch-Up
- Jerome Russell B Blonde Temporary Highlight Spray
- Jerome Russell Spray On Hair Color
Our Favourite: Temporary Color Highlight Spray
The Streaks’ N Tips Temporary Color Highlight Spray is a great temporary spray. It offers a vivid color to your hair and can be used for frosted tips or even highlights. Actors in the film industry often need to change their hair color. Temporary sprays such as this one are an ideal product.
They offer changes to the hair color, but without permanent damage. The Streaks’ N Tips Temporary Color Highlight Spray is not only our favorite, but it is the Hollywood industry’s favorite too.
Conclusion
Whether you want to create streaks, frosted tips, or just touch-ups, this highlight spray is easy to use and effective. It is removed with the first wash, so you don’t have to worry about harmful bleaches. We hope you enjoyed this article on how long do frosted tips last. If you’re interested in other hair effects, check out our article on getting a perm and wearing hats.
Cheers!
