Forget foils: the new and incredibly flattering way to think of highlights is all about the look that Kaia Gerber showcased as she opened the Valentino couture show last night.

Photo: Imaxtree

Devised by the colour maestro Josh Wood, this modern upgrade on highlights is anything but the fine streaks of blonde that we’ve seen of old. “I describe them a ‘ribbon lights’’ says Wood. “They are broad sweeps of chunky balayage which give a really, really natural beach kissing to the hair, mimicking the effect of it having been tied up in the sun so that the hairline and the ends are lifted.”

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Best of all, adopting the look doesn’t require a radical overhaul to your hair colour. “You can continue to have your base colour and add the ribbons in as an accent to give it a lift,” adds Wood, who created the lights with Redken’s Colour Gels Lacquers colour due to their high-shine finish.

“Ribbon lights work on all hair that’s longer than bob; and if your hair is finer just add more contrast to give it a streakier look,” says Wood.

Photo: Getty Images

Whilst they work brilliantly on already-blonde hair to give a flash of brightness, Wood also points out that – as evidenced on Gerber, who is naturally a deep brown – they’re a great way to add a feeling of lightness into brunette hair: perfect for anyone wanting a summer lift without committing to the process of going blonde.

From: Harper’s BAZAAR UK