Highlights and the balayage method are both surrounded by a great deal of ambiguity. People get confused because they can seem similar to one another to some extent, but balayage and highlights are actually two distinct hair treatments with various hair care advice and effects.
Because they are more involved than a simple at-home box dye job, highlighting and balayage are also services that should be performed in a professional salon. Because both of these techniques require the use of chemicals, if you don’t have the right knowledge or tools, you could end up doing major damage to your hair if you try to do either one of them.
Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of what sets highlights apart from balayage and how you may determine which service is better for achieving the appearance you want.
Highlights 101
When they visit the salon, certain customers request that their hair be styled with streaks. Highlights are positioned in smaller chunks and are lighter than the natural color, whereas streaks are placed in larger sections of hair and are lighter than the hair’s natural color. Streaks are a form of balayage, which is the process of adding lighter pieces of hair to darker hair.
The term “highlights” refers to any shade or color that is lighter than what you currently have, such as light brown or red. In conclusion, the method of highlighting is more important than the color that is used.
In order to achieve highlights, your stylist will wrap your head in foil in a certain pattern and then apply color from the roots to the ends of your hair. In order to assist the highlighting process in reaching the appropriate level of brightness, the foils serve to trap the heat.
What Is a Balayage?
The word “balayage” comes from the French verb “to sweep.” The color is applied to portions in a freehand way by painting or sweeping it on. For example, the color is only applied to the mid-lengths and ends of the hair, and it is not allowed to reach the roots.
The coloring process for balayage often begins at the nape of the neck, skipping over a small area at the bottom of the hair and then gradually moving upward around the center of the head until it reaches the crown.
This look is more substantial than highlights, yet it is achieved by going a few shades lighter than your natural color. Your hair will have more depth and character and appear to have been kissed by the sun.
Which one will provide you with the results you want more quickly?
Balayage is the technique to use if you want highlights that are not too obvious and want to break up the monotony of your hair. It will provide a more blended finish, although darker natural hair hues will frequently result in the appearance of red undertones. When it comes to foiled highlights, your stylist will have greater control over the color of your hair and will be able to eliminate the orange and red zones much more efficiently than they can with balayage.
Is there a difference in the amount of harm caused by each method?
Both of these techniques can damage the hair, but in the long run, balayage is more destructive than the other two because it requires the use of a stronger developer and several layers of lightener in order to obtain the desired effect.
What is the maintenance schedule for each one?
Because the grow-out of traditional highlights can be rather noticeable, they need to be touched up around every 6-8 weeks. The frequency of balayage touch-ups varies from client to client but is often between 3 and 6 months. In light of those above, it’s strongly advised for you to get toner at the salon at least once every eight weeks as brassy tones will start to become more apparent.
How to Choose the Right Style for You?
You should go for the balayage technique if you want to liven up your hair with more subtle highlights. Your finished product will have a more blended appearance, and the darker natural hues have a greater possibility of producing red undertones.
It happens that foiled highlights can remove orange and red areas significantly more effective than the balayage. In addition, your hairstylist will have a better degree of control over the color of your hair if it is highlighted with foils.
Even though the hair is damaged over time by both of these techniques, the balayage technique is the one that causes the most damage because it requires the application of a more concentrated developer. In order to achieve the look you want with the lightener, you have to apply several layers, which increases the amount of damage done to your hair.
Traditional highlights and balayage each have characteristics that make them desirable and undesirable. Your preferences will be the deciding factor in determining which option is the most suitable for you.
The balayage technique is one that you should go for if you want your highlights to be more subtle while also requiring very little upkeep thereafter.
However, if you want greater control over your hair’s precise tone and cause less harm, you may choose to go with conventional highlights. This is because traditional highlights are applied to the hair in sections.
Some key differences between traditional and balayage hair coloring include:
- Highlights are placed more meticulously, and in a more organized pattern than balayage, a freehand painting technique applied to the hair in huge portions.
- Because it is not done directly from the root like highlights are, Balayage is much simpler and easier to manage.
- When it comes to Balayage highlights, you should go no more than a few shades brighter than your dark base in order to avoid a cartoonish appearance.
- Balayage is natural and may be performed on any type of hair at any length. However, you can apply different colors to thick and thin portions of curly hair. Thus this style works best for people with curly hair.
- Highlights may look one-toned or flat. However, balayage highlights give the appearance of being more artistic and provide a ton of depth and dimension to your hair. This is because the bottom layers of your hair are left dark.
If you are still hesitant, visit the services area of Tabu Salon’s website to schedule a color consultation with one of our stylists. During this appointment, we will explore the various coloring options that would work best for your hair. During this consultation, you are welcome to bring in any photos that have served as a source of inspiration for you in the past.
Your stylist will also have the opportunity to evaluate your hair in person and make recommendations regarding the service that will best accomplish your hair goals while preserving the health of your hair. In addition, your stylist will discuss with you the cost, upkeep requirements, and total time commitment of your color appointment. In this way, both of you will be on the same page when it comes time for your service appointment.
