How to Darken Highlights?

Highlights can completely transform your look, adding light, contrast, and dimension. But sometimes, they come out lighter than expected or maybe you end up with too many highlights. So, how to darken highlights without ruining your entire color you've invested in or ending up flat and dull? Let’s walk through how to refine your locks so they feel more intentional and more “you.”

Why Highlights Sometimes Feel Too Light

Before figuring out how to darken highlights, it helps to know why they sometimes miss the mark. There are usually three contributing factors - the hair was lifted too light, too many highlights were applied, or an undesirable toner was used. Whatever the reason, overly light highlights can throw off your whole look if it is not what you were expecting. The contrast may feel harsh, especially when your roots grow in or the seasons shift. But the good news is, you don’t need to start over. There are some very simple and low-effort solutions.

How to Darken Highlights That Are Too Light Without Overcorrecting

The goal of how to darken highlights that are too light isn’t to just cover them up so you can go back to where you started. You want to bring depth back, while keeping dimension and lightness. One of the easiest ways to do that is with a demi-permanent hair color or color-depositing gloss.

Demi-permanent color (similar to toners that a colorist uses in a salon) will deepen the overall color without putting the hair through a permanent color processing. You may choose something that is one to two levels darker than the existing blonde. You don't want to go too dark right away. A tinted semi-permanent gloss can also help tone and add richness and shine to your highlights while softening the brightness. It’s a subtle but effective way to take the edge off.

Now, if your main concern is that there are too many highlights and you feel too solid light all over, you may want to go the route of lowlights to break up the solid lightness. This will bring dimension back into the hair while still keeping brighter pieces. This is best done in a salon as the colorist will select the right amount of lowlights to blend in with your existing highlights.

How to Darken Highlighted Hair at Home

If you’re figuring out how to darken highlighted hair on your own, you’ll want to start slow. Avoid reaching straight for a box of dark brown color. That can lead to a result that goes too far dark, with potentially muddy tones and lost contrast.

Instead, choose a demi-permanent color or a semi-permanent gloss in a shade just slightly deeper than your current highlights. Which one is for you? Demi-permanent color will give you more of an opaque, rich result that lasts a bit longer (up to 25 shampoos), whereas semi-permanent will give you more of a sheer veil of color that lasts six to eight shampoos. So, depending on how much darkening you are wanting to see, as well as how long you want it to last until your next coloring session, that may be the determining factor.

Look for formulas with nourishing ingredients like keratin, argan oil, and ginseng root, especially if your hair’s been through a lightening process. And always do a strand test first if in doubt about what shade to use. It’s better to take your time and start off slow, knowing you can always go darker next time. It's harder to remove dark color than it is to add it.

Choosing Professional Services

If you’re not comfortable experimenting at home or you feel your highlights need a more delicate touch (such as lowlighting), consider booking a salon appointment.

Our professional and experienced colorists will know how to subtly darken your highlights without losing their natural dimension. This might be achieved by applying lowlights to soften chunky or overly light sections – or using a toner or gloss to make your highlights appear more natural and less overly bright.

Taking Care of Darkened Highlights

Once you’ve darkened your highlights, you’ll want to protect the color and keep it from fading. You probably know that color-treated hair needs gentle care to stay vibrant and healthy.

Use a shampoo and conditioner formulated for color-treated hair; it's the easiest way to keep your color looking fresh and your hair feeling healthy. Pro tip: Don't just look for color-safe products, but look for products that say color-protecting on the bottle.

Lastly, don’t forget a heat protectant if you're using any hot tools, as well as UV protection if you’re out in the sun frequently. Bonding Time Bond Building Treatment is enriched with black spruce extract to protect against UV rays and other environmental aggressors that cause hair color to fade. Plus, it strengthens and repairs damaged hair while protecting your color.

The Takeaway

Figuring out how to darken highlights doesn’t have to be complex. Whether you want to soften strands that feel too bold, adjust your tone for a new season, or simply look for something more natural, there are proven ways to deepen your color without losing dimension and shine. Remember that subtle changes can make a big difference, especially when they bring you closer to the shade that feels most like you. Hair color should evolve with you. If your highlights no longer match your mood or energy, we’ll help you fine-tune your color so you can feel confident, radiant, and ready to take on whatever comes next!