How to Identify Higher Highs and Lower Lows Accurately

In price action trading, identifying Higher Highs (HH) and Lower Lows (LL) may seem simple, but it’s actually one of the most essential foundations for reading market structure.
If you get it wrong, you’ll often end up trading against the trend without realizing it.

1. Understanding Higher Highs & Lower Lows
Higher High (HH): a new peak that’s higher than the previous one → indicates the uptrend is still intact.
Lower Low (LL): a new trough lower than the previous one → confirms the downtrend continues.
It sounds simple, but the tricky part lies in choosing the correct main swing to read from.

2. Common Mistakes That Mislead Traders
Many traders identify HH–LL patterns on very small timeframes, which causes confusion because of minor pullback waves inside the bigger trend.
Example:
The M5 chart might show HH–HL (uptrend), while the H1 chart is clearly forming LL–LH (downtrend).
If you buy based on the small timeframe, you’re essentially buying into a pullback.

💡 Pro tip: Always identify the main market structure on higher timeframes (H1–H4) before looking for entries on smaller ones.

3. How to Identify Them Accurately
Find the main swing:
Look for the points where price truly reverses with strong candles or noticeable volume.
Mark clear highs and lows using the swing high/swing low tool.

Check structural continuity:
If HH and HL remain intact → the trend is bullish.
If LL and LH keep forming → the trend is bearish.
If the structure breaks (for example, a HH forms in a downtrend) → the market may be shifting direction.

4. Practical Tips
Use the H4 timeframe to determine the overall trend.
Then, drop to M15 or M30 to locate precise HH/LL points for entry.
Avoid identifying HH/LL inside sideways (ranging) markets — it’ll only confuse your analysis.