What is the difference between balayage and highlighting, how to choose your technique

Two well-liked hair coloring methods that can give your hair a bright, new look are highlight and badass. However, if you’re unfamiliar with these terms, choosing the best one for you might be challenging. Both techniques give your hair dimension and lightness, but they accomplish this in different ways, producing distinctive outcomes.

The French term "balayage," which means "to sweep," refers to the technique of hand-painting color onto hair to simulate the effect of the sun while creating a soft, natural look. Contrarily, highlighting usually entails applying foils to particular hair sections in order to produce streaks that are more evenly spaced and defined. Depending on your desired look, type of hair, and level of maintenance commitment, you can choose between the two.

Knowing the distinctions between balayage and highlighting will help you select the hairstyle that best fits your personality and sense of style if you’re thinking about getting a new look. We’ll weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each in this post to assist you in selecting the best choice for your upcoming salon appointment.

While both beading and highlighting are common hair coloring methods, they produce different results and go better with different looks. While highlighting makes use of foils to produce more uniform, brighter streaks, bakayage involves hand-painting color onto the hair to give it a more natural, sun-kissed look. Your preferred style, preferred level of maintenance, and type of hair will all influence your decision. You can choose the technique that best suits your style and way of life by using the information in this article to help you understand the main differences.

What are these procedures

About classic highlighting

Jacques Dessange was the first to propose the technique of selectively lightening strands, which is known as classic highlighting. The world was made aware of the novel French hairdresser technique by the well-known actress Brigitte Bardot. A lot of fashionistas have fallen in love with the technique of lightening hair in strands, and beauty salons are starting to use it.

The process is unique in that it lightens the strands from the tips to the roots. We choose strands from every part of the hair. Depending on the client’s preferences and the aspects of his appearance, their width may change.

The traditional method has changed significantly over time. Individual strands near the face or along the parting were lightened, and the strands started to be dyed in different shades or just the tips. Even with so many options available for selective coloring, classic highlighting is still popular today and appeals to both men and women.

On our website, you can learn about common styles and methods of highlighting.

About balayage

The tried-and-true method of selective hair coloring is called Balayage. It was initially applied in France in the 1970s. The term "sweep" or "sweep out" in French, "balayage," is where the technique gets its name.

Accents of light caramel and honey applied to the lower portion of the hair give the impression that the curls have been burnt by the sun’s rays in the south. Fashionistas and stylists from all over the world have taken notice of it because of how feminine, natural, and fresh it looks.

The method is unique in that it concentrates attention on the tips. This is accomplished by lightening the ends, keeping the roots darker, and performing a color stretch—a gentle change from a darker tone to a lighter one—between the two. To get the desired effect, colors like honey, wheat, milky, or golden are typically used, as they best maintain the new look’s naturalness.

Please take note that balayage requires the use of at least two shades, as opposed to classic highlighting, which dyes strands in a single color.

What effect to expect

Because they look so different, balayage and highlighting are easily distinguishable from one another. How can one visually discern between traditional highlighting and balayage?

• Classic highlighting involves staining strands along the entire length, and the hoodie affects only the ends and the middle part of the hair.
• The highlighting is characterized by strands of the same tone; in the second technique, the tone transition from dark to light is performed.
• The hairstyle with a hoodie looks much more natural, smooth and harmonious color transitions look spectacular.
• For highlighting, non -character, smooth tone overflows to the tone, on the contrary, light locks stand out from the bulk of the hair, giving brightness and freshness of appearance.
• In the first technique, the master"s task is the master’s task – to maintain the image as natural as possible, and in the second option the bet is made on brightness, contrasting, sometimes unnatural shades are selected.

Prioritize your preferences above all else when selecting a staining technique. For those who prefer a photograph to be mysterious and natural, balayage works best; for bold, vibrant personalities, traditional highlighting works well.

Crucial point On ladies with darker hair, bedraggled hair appears more captivating and striking than on those with lighter hair. Fair-haired style icons, however, will even need to darken the roots. When it comes to highlighting, you can change the paint’s shade, so both brunettes and blondes will have a good choice without the need for extra coloring.

How much does a new look cost

There are other factors that set balayage apart from traditional highlighting besides appearance. Furthermore, this is a pretty costly procedure. The following factors affect a new style’s price:

• the number of shades used in the coloring;
• the length and thickness of the hair;
• the class and professionalism of the performer;
• the rating of the beauty salon and its location (Moscow or another region).

For medium- to medium-length curls, the average cost of the sun-burned strands is between 5,000 and 6,000 rubles.

Single-color highlighting is thought to be less expensive. It costs between one and two thousand rubles. It is impacted by the subsequent elements:

• the amount of dye used;
• the length of the hair, which largely determines the dyeing technology (with foil or through a special cap);
• the class of the salon and the artist, its location.

If you choose to color your hair at home, budget for the cost of the dye and any makeshift tools you’ll need (foil, a special brush, a comb with a pointed end, etc.). Of course, doing the procedure at home will be far less expensive than hiring a professional.

What is more difficult to do at home

Experts advise going with option #2 if you have dyed your hair at home and are having trouble deciding between regular highlighting and balayage.

This will be a quick and easy process for stylish people with short hair. Use a special hole-filled cap. It is necessary to place it on your head, use a hook to remove strands of the appropriate thickness, dye them according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and then enjoy your new, stylish appearance.

Long hair requires a little skill for this procedure. This is one situation where a cap is definitely not appropriate; foil will be required. It is necessary to dye and foil-wrap each chosen strand.

In terms of balayage, this is not an easy situation. Not only must you highlight the desired strands, but you must also accomplish seamless transitions between the shades that you have used. Harmonious color combinations also play a special role in this situation; to correct the oval and update the look, add light strands near the face. However, not every novice can perform it correctly. Consequently, you run the risk of drawing attention to the drawbacks of appearance rather than its benefits (such as emphasizing pronounced cheekbones or a large chin).

Guidance from professionals. If you find that coloring is a disaster for you, get in touch with experts. Because single-color highlighting is a simpler process, there are significantly fewer risks involved.

Pros and cons of both techniques

Any option for altering your style, including balayage or the classic highlighting method, necessitates a careful consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of the process. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits and drawbacks of each method.

For highlighting

The following are some benefits of the traditional method that stylists and regular fashionistas emphasize:

• it causes minimal damage to curls, which can be easily corrected with good hair care;
• this look is always in fashion;
• refreshes the face, makes it visually younger;
• suitable for owners of light and dark curls at any age;
• perfectly hides gray hair;
• this is a quick and gentle way to turn into a blonde;
• easy to perform, allows you to change your look without the help of a specialist at home;
• a wide selection of shades allows you to experiment with your look every time;
• does not require monthly correction, it is enough to renew the coloring once every 2-3 months.

In addition to an impressive list of benefits, there are drawbacks to the procedure:

• if the new image does not suit you or you are already tired of it, you will only have to re-dye your hair;
• during correction, it is important to choose strands that have been previously lightened;
• not performed on hair weakened by previous dyeing, perming or straightening;
• not recommended after dyeing with natural dyes (basma, henna), during pregnancy and lactation.

For balayage

Experts point out the following benefits of this coloring method:

• color overflows on the curls look bright, natural and luxurious;
• if you are tired of the look, it is enough to cut off the light ends, full hair coloring is not necessary;
• correction can be done once every six months, the regrown roots will harmoniously fit into the created image;
• correctly placed highlights can hide facial imperfections and grayness of the skin.

Negative aspects of the method:

• not performed on short haircuts;
• looks spectacular on dark-haired fashionistas, blondes will need to darken the roots first;
• looks perfect on curls than on straight haircuts;
• doing it at home can be difficult, the result may not be at all successful.

At any age, a woman wants to look amazing, enigmatic, and radiant. In selective coloring, highlighting and balayage are regarded as leaders. You can be "on top" with any of the suggested techniques, but remember to take care of your colored strands as well. Give up using straighteners and curling irons for a while and concentrate on moisturizing and nourishing your hair.

Don’t be scared to try new things! We provide trendy methods for coloring hair:

• marble hair coloring;
• gradient on hair;
• 3D and 7D hair coloring techniques;
• pixel coloring;
• ombre;
• shatush;
• coloring.

Feature	Balayage	Highlighting
Technique	Hand-painted, freehand color application, focuses on mid-length to ends.	Color applied from roots to ends using foils or a cap.
Look	Natural, sun-kissed effect with softer, less noticeable regrowth lines.	Defined streaks with a more uniform look and sharper lines.
Maintenance	Low maintenance; looks good even as hair grows out.	Requires regular touch-ups to maintain the look as hair grows.
Hair Type	Great for those who want a subtle, natural effect on any hair type.	Best for those who want more contrast and definition in their hair.
Choose If	You want a more natural, blended look with minimal upkeep.	You prefer a more structured, contrasting style with regular maintenance.

Depending on the style you want and the level of upkeep you’re willing to give it, you can choose between highlighting and balayage. Balayage provides softer, less pronounced regrowth along with a more organic, sun-kissed look. It’s perfect for people who want a low-maintenance look that ages gracefully.

Conversely, highlighting can produce a more consistent, brighter appearance. For people who want to add dimension to their hair’s entire length or who want a more dramatic change, this is ideal. However, to maintain the roots’ youthful appearance, touch-ups must be done frequently.

In the end, each technique has a distinct appeal; the optimal option depends on lifestyle, hair type, and personal taste. Getting advice from a professional stylist can help you decide which technique best suits your desired style and maintenance schedule. Remember that your hair will beautifully reflect your style and personality whether you choose balayage or highlighting.

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