How bright do you typically set hair light?

I know the intensity of a hair light depends on what effect an individual is trying to achieve, and that it is a matter of personal taste. However, strictly as a starting point, I am curious where some of you like to start.

After taking an incident reading of your key, and positioning your hair light to provide the coverage you want for the shot, how bright do you typically set your hair light?

i like the 2:1 ratio alot... and sometimes 1:1

Depends upon hair color.

The point of the hairlight is tonal separation from the background, and also to add accents to the hair. And since the background could be any inherent tonality, and be lit to any different tonality by prudent use of background light intensity, and the hair color enters the consideration, the answer is not a simple "+1EV" kind of response.

You will find info on the web sometimes (not often enough) which mentions power control of the hair light based upon color of hair, but almost never does it mention the primary reason of tonal separation from the background...which is why hairlights came into existence in the days of black-and-white film. Too much dependence upon background color today to separate the subject, but what about a person with raven colored hair in front of a low key black background, where tonal separation is important?!

Wilt wrote in post #11394335
Depends upon hair color.

The point of the hairlight is tonal separation from the background, and also to add accents to the hair. And since the background could be any inherent tonality, and be lit to any different tonality by prudent use of background light intensity, and the hair color enters the consideration, the answer is not a simple "+1EV" kind of response.

You will find info on the web sometimes (not often enough) which mentions power control of the hair light based upon color of hair, but almost never does it mention the primary reason of tonal separation from the background...which is why hairlights came into existence in the days of black-and-white film. Too much dependence upon background color today to separate the subject, but what about a person with raven colored hair in front of a low key black background, where tonal separation is important?!

So true. And when that raven haired person leaves, and the platinum blonde shows up... the current hairlight settings that were correct for raven are way too bright. I usually start somewhere in the neighborhood of the fill light exposure level and make adjustments by chimp per subject.

this is where living in asia makes it simpler to light people...we predominantly have black hair LOL....

+1 on Wilt's comment.

Thanks everyone. So it sounds like a bit of judgement, based in part on the tonal contrast between the background and the hair color. Any other tips?

you can start by using the same exposure as your main light and work up or down based on the picture, i think over time you get a feel as to what power setting to use just by looking at your subjects hair. you can obviously pick a random figure...you can start at +1 EV and check and work up or down.

also you have to remember that for you to see the sheen the light has to bounce off the hair and into your lens.

Made me google "raven colored hair".

Certainly the information on the web about fundamental brightness conflicts! Some say (compared to Main)...0EV, some say -1EV, some say +1EV, for example. Some lighting manufacturers (Lowel) have said -1EV for a more natural appearance. In the 70's and 80's the 'hotter' overly bright appearance of +1EV was in vogue. This is a matter of your own taste and desired end style.

And even information about adjustment for hair color conflicts!
One says "More light for blondes, less light for dark hair, for more natural appearance to the basic hair's brightness"
Another says "More light for dark hair because it absorbs more, less light for blondes to prevent blown out highlights". Go figure...and experiment for yourself.

Wilt wrote in post #11404157
Certainly the information on the web about fundamental brightness conflicts! Some say (compared to Main)...0EV, some say -1EV, some say +1EV, for example. Some lighting manufacturers (Lowel) have said -1EV for a more natural appearance. In the 70's and 80's the 'hotter' overly bright appearance of +1EV was in vogue. This is a matter of your own taste and desired end style.

And even information about adjustment for hair color conflicts!
One says "More light for blondes, less light for dark hair, for more natural appearance to the basic hair's brightness"
Another says "More light for dark hair because it absorbs more, less light for blondes to prevent blown out highlights". Go figure...and experiment for yourself.

This is the best answer to the OP's question. Not only are there no hard and fast rules but what works for one person with a particular light source and modifier is not going to work or be the best solution for someone else.

I highly recommend that whenever you read something or are just given a "this is what to do" answer that you test and experiment to draw your own conclusions and to prove or disprove what you've been told or read.

Doing that will have much more impact and you'll gain a greater understanding of how things work.

I start at 1:1 and actually judge by looking at my screen on the back of the camera - I've gotten used to it. But I'll dial it way down for people with blonde, white and grey hair.

I like to use a hair light that really pops... so normally about 1 stop brighter than the main.

To the OP,

You're going to see that people's preference for hair light intensity is just that... preference.

Since we don't have a visual for every scenario it's still going to come down to doing your own experiments to see what you like. No one can tell you how to set it. They can only tell you what they like but it's a vague description without knowing all the details of the lighting and surroundings.

I have my own preferences but even those change depending on whether I'm using a reflector with a grid, a strip light, small softbox, etc.

I agree with Rob

I start 1 stop over and work my way to my liking, cause you have to start somewhere. Hair light also depends on brightness of your background (white/black)is some counts.

And one subject might have hair with more sheen, while the next has lackluster hair with little sheen. So the intensity and even angle of the light needs to be adjusted to suit.