Balayage Highlights vs. Highlights: How They Differ and How to Pick One

If you are  looking for more of a subtle change rather than a full-color makeover, the options often come down to highlights or balayage. Both techniques are wildly popular, and although they can be customized to be more dramatic or subdued, the way they’re applied and the effect they can have are wildly different.

What are the  Balayage Highlights?

Originating from the French word meaning “to sweep,” balayage highlights is a freehand technique where a lightening solution is hand-painted on the surface of random portions of hair. “Typically, balayage colors are shades that are slightly lighter than your base color, and the color is applied to create a more natural look,”

Achieved through a freehand painting application technique (no foils), balayage gives the hair a natural, surface highlight on the top of the strands that cascades into full color. From blonde balayage to brown balayage, the customizable technique can be used to achieve a wide range of shade results. Curly hair, straight hair, super-long hair, short pixie cuts—Brown says the balayage technique can be used on all hair types to add brightness, dimension, and boldness.

Balayage Highlights are great, but it’s not necessarily better than other highlighting techniques, where Albert Amin  notes the approach for achieving your desired outcome is best left up to the colorist doing your hair, who can determine the best fit for you. This low-maintenance hair color technique will always be a favorite for people who like their color but don’t want to live at the salon.

But if you’re someone who wants to have highlights come through every which way you part your hair, Albert says balayage, which leaves more of the depth of the natural hair.

What are the Highlights?

“Hair Highlights is changing the hair color, using a lightener or hair color to lift the level or brightness of the hair strands,” says Albert Amin noting that there are four basic types of highlight application, which include foil highlights, hair painting, frosting, and chunking.

Balayage Highlights are very subtle and lightly applied highlights that are meant to look natural. Since they are done so delicately, balayage highlights & babylights  tend to look best on those with finer hair. And you can also consider getting lowlights, a color that’s about two shades darker than your highlights. When lowlights are woven into the hair, they add dimension and depth—resulting in some fabulous-looking locks.

Highlights vs. Balayage Highlights: What’s the Difference?

Your colorist will likely recommend balayage highlight foils if you want a big color shift. Foils tend to work best when taking dark hair four or more shades lighter. The same is true if you want hair with a lot of contrast (with both highlights and lowlights) or prefer an even distribution of color. “Highlights are often placed much closer to the scalp and applied in specific sections while the balayage process includes a graduated painting of the color onto the hair in random sections,” adds Albert Amin.

If you are looking to add non-uniform streaks or subtle sweeps of color, balayage highlights is a better option. The method offers your stylist more freedom to add color that fits and flatters your cut, of course, your personal style. So, if you have more of a carefree attitude, you can give your colorist the opportunity to stretch their artistic muscles with balayage highlights.

Balayage Highlights is also great for face-framing highlights. Where foils often target the full shaft of the hair, including the roots, balayage highlights is frequently used to highlight from mid-length to ends, leaving more natural-looking roots.

Balayage highlights shades gives that perfect sun-kissed, beachy look that everyone loves, but it’s usually seen in pure gradient ombré form. This more blended balayage makes it look natural and frames the face nicely.