Very short hair can be tough to highlight at home. Even if your hair is thick, you don't have much surface area to work with. But with a little know-how, the challenge is totally surmountable - and worth it. Follow the tips below to get gorgeous, face-framing hair color, specifically for short hair!

Start with clean, freshly shampooed hair. Smooth strands are much easier to pull through the tiny holes of a highlighting cap. A clarifying shampoo, like Redken Hair Cleansing Cream Shampoo, will wash away residue and buildup, prepping your locks for color. Dry your hair thoroughly before you begin.

Pick a kit that comes with a highlighting cap and hook. We love L'Oréal La Petite Frost, which is designed for short hair. These caps have dotted holes on them that you use to pull your hair through. They are arranged in specific patterns that work as a guide for precise and proper highlight placement - a must for short hair.

Following the directions on the box, pull pieces of hair through the cap holes with your hook. If you want lots of highlights, pull hair through every other hole. For fewer streaks, only do every third or fourth hole. Remember to take your time and go slowly. Since you don't have a lot of hair to work with, every streak counts. Remove the cap when time is up, then wash and condition with products formulated for color-treated hair.

Do you have any tricks for highlighting short hair at home? Tell us in the comments!

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