diff --git a/src/face.hh b/src/face.hh
index 1914ff7b..00bb4e08 100644
--- a/src/face.hh
+++ b/src/face.hh
@@ -6,16 +6,36 @@
 namespace Kakoune
 {
 
-using Attribute = char;
-enum Attributes
+enum class Attribute : int
 {
-    Normal = 0,
-    Underline = 1,
-    Reverse = 2,
-    Blink = 4,
-    Bold = 8
+    Normal    = 0,
+    Underline = 1 << 1,
+    Reverse   = 1 << 2,
+    Blink     = 1 << 3,
+    Bold      = 1 << 4,
+    Dim       = 1 << 5
 };
 
+inline constexpr Attribute operator|(Attribute lhs, Attribute rhs)
+{
+    return (Attribute)((int) lhs | (int) rhs);
+}
+
+inline Attribute& operator|=(Attribute& lhs, Attribute rhs)
+{
+    return (Attribute&)((int&) lhs |= (int) rhs);
+}
+
+inline constexpr bool operator&(Attribute lhs, Attribute rhs)
+{
+    return ((int) lhs & (int) rhs) != 0;
+}
+
+inline Attribute& operator&=(Attribute& lhs, Attribute rhs)
+{
+    return (Attribute&)((int&) lhs &= (int) rhs);
+}
+
 struct Face
 {
     Color fg;
@@ -23,7 +43,7 @@ struct Face
     Attribute attributes;
 
     Face(Color fg = Colors::Default, Color bg = Colors::Default,
-         Attribute attributes = 0)
+         Attribute attributes = Attribute::Normal)
       : fg{fg}, bg{bg}, attributes{attributes} {}
 };
 
diff --git a/src/face_registry.cc b/src/face_registry.cc
index 74868151..b057ec6c 100644
--- a/src/face_registry.cc
+++ b/src/face_registry.cc
@@ -21,9 +21,11 @@ static Face parse_face(StringView facedesc)
         {
             switch (*attr_it)
             {
-                case 'u': res.attributes |= Underline; break;
-                case 'r': res.attributes |= Reverse; break;
-                case 'b': res.attributes |= Bold; break;
+                case 'u': res.attributes |= Attribute::Underline; break;
+                case 'r': res.attributes |= Attribute::Reverse; break;
+                case 'b': res.attributes |= Attribute::Bold; break;
+                case 'B': res.attributes |= Attribute::Blink; break;
+                case 'd': res.attributes |= Attribute::Dim; break;
                 default: throw runtime_error("unknown face attribute '" + String(*attr_it) + "'");
             }
         }
@@ -81,8 +83,8 @@ FaceRegistry::FaceRegistry()
         { "StatusLine", { Colors::Cyan, Colors::Default } },
         { "StatusCursor", { Colors::Black, Colors::Cyan } },
         { "Prompt", { Colors::Yellow, Colors::Default } },
-        { "MatchingChar", { Colors::Default, Colors::Default, Underline } },
-        { "Search", { Colors::Default, Colors::Default, Underline } },
+        { "MatchingChar", { Colors::Default, Colors::Default, Attribute::Underline } },
+        { "Search", { Colors::Default, Colors::Default, Attribute::Underline } },
       }
 {}
 
diff --git a/src/highlighters.cc b/src/highlighters.cc
index cd191fa7..9e3fd819 100644
--- a/src/highlighters.cc
+++ b/src/highlighters.cc
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ auto apply_face = [](const Face& face)
             atom.face.fg = face.fg;
         if (face.bg != Colors::Default)
             atom.face.bg = face.bg;
-        if (face.attributes != Normal)
+        if (face.attributes != Attribute::Normal)
             atom.face.attributes |= face.attributes;
     };
 };
diff --git a/src/ncurses.cc b/src/ncurses.cc
index 0335638f..980f2bdd 100644
--- a/src/ncurses.cc
+++ b/src/ncurses.cc
@@ -196,10 +196,11 @@ static void set_face(WINDOW* window, Face face)
         wattron(window, COLOR_PAIR(current_pair));
     }
 
-    set_attribute(A_UNDERLINE, face.attributes & Underline);
-    set_attribute(A_REVERSE, face.attributes & Reverse);
-    set_attribute(A_BLINK, face.attributes & Blink);
-    set_attribute(A_BOLD, face.attributes & Bold);
+    set_attribute(A_UNDERLINE, face.attributes & Attribute::Underline);
+    set_attribute(A_REVERSE, face.attributes & Attribute::Reverse);
+    set_attribute(A_BLINK, face.attributes & Attribute::Blink);
+    set_attribute(A_BOLD, face.attributes & Attribute::Bold);
+    set_attribute(A_DIM, face.attributes & Attribute::Dim);
 }
 
 static sig_atomic_t resize_pending = 0;