What’s The Difference Between Balayage and Highlights?
Have you heard of balayage? If not, no worries! We’ll delve into the differences between balayage and highlights so that you can decide which color technique you want to try to get the look you crave.
What is Balayage?
Balayage is a French word that means “to sweep.” It’s a technique in which highlights are painted on the surface of random sections of hair, rather than applied strictly along the part or in lines like traditional highlights. This creates a sun-kissed glow that looks more natural than traditional highlights.
Balayage is not a hairstyle but rather a highlighting technique where the process of adding highlights is done without foil, like traditional highlights. It is often compared to the natural effect of the ombre style.
Balayage can give your hair a lighter look without requiring you to maintain roots. You can get a full balayage, which covers all your hair, or you can get a partial balayage, such as around your face or upper area of your head.
Balayage highlights are usually just a few shades lighter than your base color, giving your locks natural depth and dimension. Balayage is easy to maintain with the right products and techniques.
What are Highlights?
Highlighting your hair is a more conventional way of lightening and adding depth. Highlights are created using aluminum foil to saturate strands of hair from root to tip for an intense lightening effect. Strands of hair are sectioned out, then wrapped in aluminum foil.
Highlights add dimension, making your hair look thicker and adding beautiful contrasts between lightened strands and your base color. Highlights follow a more structured pattern and need to be touched up more often to combat that obvious root grow-out look.
Babylights: For a softer look, try babylights. These highlights are designed to mimic the natural highlights found in young children’s hair. They can add definition and shine to your face, especially when applied around the frame of your face.
Lowlights: If you already have highlights, this technique can create more depth in your hair color. The color used for lowlights is as dark as, or darker than, your base hair color. It results in more dimension and complexity in the tone of your hair, and there is no lift or lightening done.
Balayage Vs Highlights: What's The Difference?
Balayage and traditional highlights are great options for adding dimension to your hair. Balayage creates a natural, sunlit look that gives your mane that “I just came back from the beach” vibe girls everywhere swoon over. If you want a more structured, tonal do, it’s best to go the traditional foil highlights route. Both options will help you add beautiful dimension to your hair.
This chart will help you understand the differences between balayage and highlights so that you can choose the best option for your hair.
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Whether you choose subtle shimmery balayage or traditional foil highlights, both can damage your hair if they aren’t properly cared for. To keep your new ‘do healthy and shiny, use products specially formulated to strengthen and protect colored hair.
To protect your lightened locks from further damage, use a hair mask. If you’ve noticed warm tones in your new highlights–orange or brassy tones–try using a purple shampoo.
Do you need some help deciding between balayage, highlights, and other hair coloring options? Contact us today to discover more about our hair coloring options and other beauty treatments.
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