Write an article based on this "Prep the dye and put a towel around your shoulders for spills. Test one strip of hair before you start applying. Separate your hair into 3 sections. Separate a thin, wispy strip of hair in the bottom section. Apply the dye with your fingers or the brush from the dye kit. Continue applying the dye, alternating from side to side. Let the color process, then rinse it out with the included shampoo."
Follow the instructions on your highlighting kit to get your dye ready to go. Put an old towel around your shoulders to soak up excess dye and wear an old shirt in case of spills. You should also slip on disposable plastic gloves to prevent stains on your hands. You'll want to start with dry, clean hair for the best dye application. Unlike other hair-dying processes, balayage may not require bleaching. The dye formula included in your kit comes with all the ingredients you'll need to lighten your hair without a separate bleaching step, in some cases. If you want a dramatic color change from dark to light, then you may still need to bleach your hair. Choose a small piece from the bottom layer of your hair and apply just a dab of dye to it. Let it process for the instructed amount of time, then rinse out the dye and check the color. This allows you to check the dye color and make sure that your hair doesn't have any negative reactions to it. Draw the tail end of a comb from ear-to-ear in a halo-like line to separate your hair into top, middle, and bottom sections. Slip hair ties around the top and middle sections and move them to the sides, or pull them into small buns so you can work on the bottom section first. Starting on one side of your hair, separate out one thin piece of hair. The exact width of your highlights depends on your preference, but balayage tends to look best with thinner, more subtle highlights, no more than 1 inch (2.5cm) wide. Hold the strand with hand and dip your fingers or dye brush into the dye. Then, gently paint the dye onto the strip of hair with your other hand, applying it more heavily at the bottom and tapering off as you reach the mid-lengths. If you want a natural look, painting the dye onto your hair is the best way to achieve it. However, you should not make horizontal or broad strokes. Try to blend it as well as you can. This tapering method will give your hair the natural, fading effect that balayage is known for. You can dye your hair as close to the roots as you want, but most balayage styles tend to fade out about midway up the strand. Pick a strand on the other side of your head and repeat the application process, going back and forth and from front to back. For the most natural, sun-kissed look, only highlight strands that are about 1 inch (2.5cm) apart, or as far apart as you want your highlights. Once you complete the bottom layer, you can gently section it off with a hair tie, though this is optional. You can also cover your hair with a piece of foil before proceeding. Then, repeat the process with the middle and top sections of your hair. The hair in the bottom layer tends to be darker and more difficult to lighten, so it's best to add highlights there first and give them the longest time to process. Once you've added your highlights, check your dye box to see how long you should wait to let the color processit's typically around 20-30 minutes. Then, rinse out the dye with the shampoo included in the package and follow it with a thick layer of the toning mask, if one is included. Leave the toning mask in as long as instructed, then rinse it out in the shower. Remember that the longer you let the dye process, the lighter your highlights will be.