What Is The Difference Between Balayage and Highlights?

When it comes to changing up your hair color, there are endless options to consider. Two popular techniques that often come up in the conversation are highlights and balayage. Both can add dimension and depth to your hair, but they achieve this in different ways. Understanding the distinctions between highlights and balayage can help you decide which technique is best suited to achieve your desired look.

Highlights have been a staple in the world of hair coloring for decades. This technique involves lightening strands of hair to create contrast and brightness. Traditional highlights are achieved by applying color to small sections of hair using foils. The foil keeps the color isolated and allows for precise placement. Foils allow for hair to get brighter as the foil retains heat from the lightener. This method is ideal for achieving uniformity and control over the placement of lighter strands. 

Highlights are versatile and can be tailored to complement any base hair color. They can range from subtle and natural-looking to bold and dramatic, depending on the desired effect. 

One of the key advantages of highlights is their ability to seamlessly blend with your natural hair color as they grow out. This makes maintenance relatively low-key, with less frequent touch-ups required compared to an all over color.

Balayage, on the other hand, is a more freehand technique that originated in France. The word "balayage" itself translates to "sweeping" in French, which perfectly describes the method used to apply color. Instead of using foils, colorists paint the lightener onto sections of hair, focusing on the surface and mid-lengths rather than the roots. This results in a softer, more natural-looking effect with subtle transitions between shades.

Balayage is known for its ability to create soft, lived-in highlights that mimic the way the sun naturally lightens hair over time. The technique is highly customizable, allowing for a more personalized look that complements your unique hair texture and face shape. Balayage can be tailored to achieve anything from a subtle, barely-there effect to a more noticeable contrast between shades.

Maintenance for balayage is typically minimal, as the color is strategically placed to grow out seamlessly. This makes it a popular choice for those seeking a low-maintenance hair color option.

When deciding between highlights and balayage, it's essential to consider your personal style, maintenance preferences, and desired outcome. Highlights are great for those seeking a more controlled, uniform look with defined lines and contrast. On the other hand, balayage offers a softer, more natural-looking result with less noticeable regrowth.

Sunbeam Studio offers both highlights and balayage to all our clients to reach their desired goal and look!