Balayage vs Highlights: Which One Is Actually for You
People ask for these two like they're the same thing. They're not. Both make you lighter. How they get there, and how they grow out, is completely different.
Balayage
Hand painted. Your colorist paints lightener directly onto the hair, heavier toward the ends and softer near the root. No hard line where the color starts, so it grows out gracefully.
- Soft, lived in dimension
- Grows out without an obvious line, so you can go longer between appointments
- Best for anyone who wants low maintenance color
Foil highlights
Sections of hair are woven out and wrapped in foil. Foil holds heat, so the hair lifts brighter and faster, with more even placement from root to end.
- Brighter, more uniform blonde
- More contrast and a crisper pattern
- Regrowth shows sooner, so plan on more frequent visits
The quick call
| Balayage | Highlights | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Soft, blended | Bright, defined |
| Grow out | Forgiving | Noticeable line |
| Upkeep | Lower | Higher |
| Starting price | $275 partial, $325 full | $150 face framing, $225 partial, $300 full custom |
Plenty of our best blondes are a mix of both: foils around the face for brightness, hand painting everywhere else for softness. That's what the consultation is for.
Keeping it from going brassy
Sun, ocean water and pool chlorine all pull blonde warm. Use a color safe shampoo, rinse after the beach or pool, and book a gloss before it turns orange, not after.
Coming from box dye or a dark base?
Tell us. Previous color changes everything. Sometimes the right answer is getting there over two visits instead of forcing it in one. We'll tell you straight.