Have you ever wondered about Balayage and Highlight hair dyeing techniques? You see both techniques seem to be the same, so you don’t know which one to choose for your hair. Not only you but there are also many people who are confused between these two techniques. Because both balayage and highlighting techniques involve lightening certain sections of the hair. The purpose is to create contrast, dimension, and a lighter overall look. You can try blonde balayage hair color or brown hair with blonde highlights
To better understand these two techniques and make the most correct choice about the right technique for your hair, let’s read through this article. The article will tell you specifically the definition of Balayage and Highlight techniques, the difference between the two techniques, the challenges, and expectations when you choose it, tips for maintaining color and preventing damage, along with a number of factors to help you choose the right technique for you.

Key Takeaway
Here are the key takeaway points about the difference between balayage and highlights:
Balayage:
- Balayage is a freehand technique that creates a natural, sun-kissed look on the hair.
- It creates soft, blended transitions between the colored strands and the natural hair color.
- Balayage results in a more subtle and diffused effect compared to traditional highlights.
- The technique is customizable and can be adapted to suit various hair types, lengths, and colors.
- Balayage requires a skilled stylist who can strategically paint the color onto the hair for a seamless blend.
- It offers a low-maintenance approach with less noticeable regrowth, making it suitable for those who want a more natural grow-out.
Highlights:
- Highlights involve applying color to specific strands or sections of the hair using foils or caps.
- They create contrast and brightness, creating a more defined and noticeable effect.
- Highlights can be placed all over the hair or targeted to specific areas, offering versatility in styling.
- Maintenance for highlights typically requires more frequent touch-ups to maintain a consistent look.
- The placement and color of highlights can be adjusted to achieve a wide range of effects, from subtle to dramatic.
- Highlights may involve more chemical processing, depending on the starting color and desired level of lightning.
What Is Balayage?

Balayage is a hair coloring technique that originated in France. The term “balayage” translates to “sweeping” in French, which describes the way color is applied to the hair. It involves the freehand painting of color onto sections of the hair to create a natural, sun-kissed effect.
Unlike traditional highlighting techniques that use foils or caps, balayage allows for a more customized and artistic approach. The color is strategically applied to the mid-lengths and ends of the hair, while leaving some of the natural hair color at the roots. This technique aims to create soft, blended transitions between the colored strands and the natural hair color, resulting in a multidimensional and natural-looking outcome.
The beauty of balayage lies in its ability to mimic the way hair naturally lightens from exposure to the sun. By focusing the color on certain areas of the hair, it creates depth, dimension, and a sun-kissed glow. Balayage can be tailored to suit various hair types, lengths, and colors, making it a versatile technique for achieving a customized and natural-looking result.
Balayage has gained popularity for its low-maintenance nature, as the color grows out gracefully with less noticeable regrowth compared to traditional highlights. It offers a seamless blend between the colored and natural hair, allowing for a more natural grow-out without the need for frequent touch-ups.
Overall, balayage is a sought-after hair coloring technique known for its ability to create a soft, natural, and sun-kissed look with customized and artistic color placement.
What Is Highlight?

Highlights refer to the process of adding lighter or darker strands of color to the hair to create contrast and dimension. This hair coloring technique involves using foils or caps to separate sections of the hair, which are then lightened or darkened.
Highlights can be placed all over the hair or targeted to specific areas, such as the crown, the front sections, or along the face-framing strands. The color used for highlights is typically a shade lighter than the natural hair color, although darker shades can also be used for a more dramatic effect.
The purpose of highlights is to add brightness, depth, and visual interest to the hair. By creating contrast between the highlighted strands and the natural hair color, highlights help to enhance the texture and create a multidimensional look. They can be used to create subtle, natural-looking effects or bold, statement-making looks, depending on the desired outcome.
Highlights can be tailored to suit different hair types, lengths, and colors. The placement and thickness of the highlighted strands can be adjusted to achieve the desired effect, whether it’s a soft and blended look or a more striking and noticeable result.
Maintenance for highlights typically requires regular touch-ups, as the color will gradually fade and grow out. The frequency of touch-ups depends on the individual’s hair growth rate and desired level of maintenance.
In summary, highlights involve adding lighter or darker strands of color to the hair using foils or caps to create contrast, brightness, and dimension. They offer versatility in styling and can be customized to achieve different effects based on personal preference and desired outcome.
The Difference Between Balayage And Highlight

Balayage and highlights are both popular hair coloring techniques used to add dimension and enhance the appearance of the hair. While they are similar in some ways, there are notable differences between the two:
Aspect | Balayage | Highlights |
Technique | Freehand painting technique | Foils or caps are used for the application |
Application | Sweeping or painting color onto the hair | Applying color to specific strands or sections |
Placement | Concentrated around the face, mid-lengths, and ends | Can be placed all over or targeted to specific areas |
Resulting Look | Soft, natural-looking blend | Defined contrast, brighter appearance |
Maintenance | Less maintenance, seamless blend | More frequent touch-ups for a consistent look |
Regrowth | Seamless transition, less noticeable | More noticeable regrowth |
Versatility | Versatile, and customizable for different hair types/colors | Allows for greater control, from subtle to dramatic |
Technique

Balayage: Balayage is a French term that means “sweeping.” It involves hand-painting or sweeping color onto the hair in a freehand manner. The color is applied in a graduated, natural-looking way, starting mid-shaft and sweeping down toward the ends.
Highlights: Highlights, on the other hand, involve sectioning the hair and applying color to specific strands or sections using foils. The foils separate the highlighted strands from the rest of the hair, allowing for a more precise application.
Application

Balayage: Balayage is a freehand painting technique where color is applied to the hair using sweeping motions. The color is strategically placed to create a natural, sun-kissed effect. Balayage requires skill and precision from the stylist to achieve the desired blend and placement.
Highlights: Highlights involve using foils or caps to separate sections of hair, which are then colored or lightened. The color is applied precisely to specific strands, creating contrast and brightness. The use of foils or caps allows for more controlled placement.
Placement

Balayage: Balayage is typically focused on creating a sun-kissed, natural effect. The color is strategically placed to mimic the way the hair would naturally lighten from the sun. It often concentrates around the face, mid-lengths, and ends, creating a soft, blended look.
Highlights: Highlights can be placed all over the head or targeted to specific areas, such as the crown or the top layers. They can be fine or chunky, depending on the desired effect. Highlights aim to create contrast and brightness throughout the hair.
Resulting Look

Balayage: Balayage creates a softer, more natural-looking result. The hand-painted color blends seamlessly with the base hair color, providing a sun-kissed, lived-in effect. The regrowth is typically less noticeable compared to traditional highlights.
Highlights: Highlights offer a more defined and noticeable contrast between the colored strands and the base color. They can create a brighter, more vibrant appearance, especially if the contrast between the colors is more significant. Regrowth may be more noticeable over time.
Maintenance

Balayage: Balayage requires less maintenance compared to traditional highlights because the color is applied in a way that blends well with the natural hair color. As the color grows out, there is no obvious line of demarcation, so touch-ups are not needed as frequently.
Highlights: Traditional highlights usually require more maintenance since the color is applied closer to the root, resulting in more noticeable regrowth. Touch-ups are typically needed every 6-8 weeks to maintain a consistent look.
Regrowth

Balayage: Balayage is known for its low-maintenance nature. The color is applied in a way that seamlessly blends with the natural hair, resulting in less noticeable regrowth. This means that as the hair grows out, there is no distinct line of demarcation between the colored and natural hair.
Highlights: Highlights tend to have more noticeable regrowth compared to balayage. As the hair grows, the natural color becomes more visible at the roots, creating a more defined contrast with the highlighted strands. This typically requires more frequent touch-ups to maintain a consistent look.
Versatility

Balayage: Balayage offers versatility in terms of customization and adaptability. The technique can be tailored to suit various hair types, lengths, and colors. It allows for a more artistic and personalized approach, as the color can be strategically placed to enhance specific features or achieve desired effects.
Highlights: Highlights also offer versatility in terms of placement and color options. They can be placed all over the hair or targeted to specific areas, allowing for different styling possibilities. The color used for highlights can vary, ranging from shades lighter to darker than the natural hair color, depending on the desired effect.
Discover The Challenges And Expectations Of Balayage

Balayage is a hair coloring technique that originated in France. It involves the freehand painting of color onto sections of the hair to create a natural, sun-kissed effect. The color is strategically placed, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends of the hair, while leaving some of the natural hair color at the roots. Balayage aims to achieve soft, blended transitions between the colored strands and the natural hair color, resulting in a multidimensional and natural-looking outcome. Here are some of the challenges and expectations associated with balayage:
Expectations | Challenges |
Natural and Sun-Kissed Look | Skill and Technique |
Customization and Personalization | Desired Results |
Low Maintenance | Color Consistency |
Enhancing Hair Texture and Dimension |
The Challenges Of Balayage

Skill and Technique: Balayage requires a high level of skill and expertise from the stylist. The freehand painting technique requires precision, knowledge of color placement, and an understanding of how the color will interact with different hair types and textures. Finding a skilled stylist who specializes in balayage can be a challenge.
Desired Results: Achieving the desired result with balayage can be challenging, especially if the starting hair color is significantly different from the desired end result. It may require multiple sessions or color applications to achieve the desired level of lightness or tone.
Color Consistency: Balayage involves hand-painting color onto the hair, which can lead to variations in color consistency. Achieving a consistent and even distribution of color throughout the hair can be challenging, especially when working with different sections and angles.
The Expectations Of Balayage

Natural and Sun-Kissed Look: One of the main expectations of balayage is to achieve a natural, sun-kissed look. Balayage aims to mimic the way hair naturally lightens in the sun, creating soft and blended transitions between the colored strands and the natural hair color.
Customization and Personalization: Balayage offers a high level of customization and personalization. Clients expect that the color can be tailored to their specific preferences, whether it’s a subtle, natural look or a more dramatic effect. Balayage allows for customized placement and adaptability to suit individual features and style.
Low Maintenance: Balayage is known for its low-maintenance nature compared to traditional highlights. The color grows out gracefully, and regrowth is less noticeable, reducing the need for frequent touch-ups. Clients expect a color technique that requires less maintenance and allows for a more natural grow-out.
Enhancing Hair Texture and Dimension: Balayage is expected to enhance hair texture and add dimension. The technique creates depth and movement in the hair by strategically placing color, resulting in a more multidimensional and visually appealing look.
Next, Discover The Challenges And Expectations Of Highlight

Highlights refer to the process of adding lighter or darker strands of color to the hair. This technique involves using foils or caps to separate sections of hair, which are then lightened or darkened to create contrast and brightness. Highlights can be placed all over the hair or targeted to specific areas, such as the crown or face-framing sections. They are often used to add dimension, depth, and visual interest to the hair. Here are some of the challenges and expectations associated with highlights:
Expectations | Challenges |
Contrast and Brightness | Maintenance |
Customization and Versatility | Potential Damage |
Styling Options | Color Consistency |
Personal Expression |
The Challenges Of Highlight

Maintenance: One of the challenges with highlights is the need for regular maintenance. As the hair grows, the natural color becomes more visible at the roots, creating a contrast with the highlighted strands. This requires touch-ups to maintain a consistent look and prevent a noticeable line of demarcation.
Potential Damage: Highlights often involve a bleaching or lightening process to achieve the desired color. This can potentially cause damage to the hair, especially if not done properly or if the hair is already compromised. It is important to take proper precautions, such as using professional products and seeking the expertise of a skilled stylist.
Color Consistency: Achieving consistent color throughout the highlighted sections can be a challenge, especially when dealing with different sections, angles, or variations in the starting hair color. Ensuring even distribution and achieving the desired color can require skill and expertise.
The Expectations Of Highlight

Contrast and Brightness: One of the main expectations of highlights is to create contrast and brightness in the hair. They are meant to add depth and dimension, enhancing the overall look by creating visual interest.
Customization and Versatility: Highlights offer versatility in terms of placement and color options. Clients often expect that the highlights can be tailored to their specific preferences, whether they desire a subtle, natural look or a more dramatic effect. The placement and thickness of the highlights can be adjusted to achieve different effects and suit individual style.
Styling Options: Highlights provide styling options and can enhance different hairstyles. They can be used to accentuate certain features or create specific looks, such as face-framing highlights or adding dimension to an updo.
Personal Expression: Many people choose highlights as a way to express their personal style or to experiment with different colors. They may have expectations of achieving a unique and individualized look that reflects their personality.
Should I Choose Balayage Or Highlight?

The choice between balayage and highlights ultimately depends on your personal preferences, hair type, desired outcome, and maintenance preferences. Here are some factors to consider when making your decision:
Natural vs. Dramatic Look

Balayage is known for creating a more natural, sun-kissed look with soft, blended transitions between the colored strands and natural hair color. If you prefer a subtle and seamless result, balayage may be the better choice. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more pronounced contrast and brightness, highlights can provide a more dramatic effect.
Maintenance

Balayage generally requires less maintenance compared to highlights. Since balayage is designed to grow out gracefully with less noticeable regrowth, it allows for a more low-maintenance upkeep. If you prefer a color technique that requires fewer touch-ups and allows for a more natural grow-out, balayage may be suitable. However, highlights typically require regular touch-ups to maintain the desired look and prevent noticeable regrowth.
Customization

Balayage offers a high level of customization and personalization. It allows for customized placement, adapting to your individual features and style preferences. If you want a color technique that can be tailored specifically to your hair and desired outcome, balayage provides more flexibility in terms of placement and adaptability. Highlights also offer customization options, but they tend to be more focused on specific areas or sections of the hair.
Hair Type and Color

Consider your hair type, texture, and starting color when choosing between balayage and highlights. Balayage can work well on various hair types and colors, but it tends to achieve better results on hair that is already in good condition. Highlights, on the other hand, can be applied to a wider range of hair types and colors, including darker hair.
Consultation with a Professional Stylist

It’s always recommended to consult with a professional stylist who specializes in color techniques like balayage and highlights. They can assess your hair, listen to your preferences, and provide expert advice tailored to your specific needs and expectations. A professional stylist can guide you in making the right choice based on their expertise and understanding of your hair.
Tips To Maintain Dyed Hair Color And Prevent Damage To Balayage And Highlight.

Maintaining hair color and avoiding damage are essential aspects when dyeing balayage or highlighting. Proper maintenance helps to preserve the vibrancy and longevity of your hair color. By following the right care routine, you can extend the life of your balayage or highlights, allowing you to enjoy the desired color for a longer period. Regular maintenance helps to ensure a consistent and even appearance of your hair color. Touching up regrowth, preventing color fading, and maintaining the overall health of your hair contribute to a more polished and put-together look.
Balayage and highlighting techniques involve chemical processes, such as bleaching or lightning, which can cause damage to the hair if not done correctly or maintained properly. By taking steps to prevent damage, you can help maintain the health and integrity of your hair, minimizing issues like dryness, breakage, and split ends.
To maintain the color and prevent damage to your balayage or highlights, consider the following tips:
Use Color-Safe Hair Care Products

Using color-safe hair care products is indeed crucial for maintaining dyed hair color and preventing damage to balayage and highlights. Color-safe products contain ingredients that help to protect and lock in the hair color. They often contain UV filters to shield the hair from the damaging effects of the sun’s rays, which can cause color fading. These products form a protective barrier around the hair shaft, preventing color loss and promoting color retention.
Dyed hair, including balayage and highlights, can be more prone to dryness and damage. Color-safe hair care products are typically formulated with moisturizing and hydrating ingredients to nourish and restore moisture to the hair. This helps to keep the hair healthy, soft, and less prone to breakage or brittleness.
Wash Hair With Cool Water

Cool water helps to seal the hair cuticles, which can prevent color molecules from escaping the hair shaft. By keeping the cuticles closed, cool water helps to preserve the color and prevent premature fading of your balayage or highlights. Hot water can be damaging to the hair, leading to dryness, frizz, and breakage. Cool water, on the other hand, is gentler and less likely to cause heat damage to your dyed hair. It helps to maintain the moisture balance and overall health of your hair. Cool water is known to be soothing and refreshing for the scalp. It can help regulate sebum production and maintain a healthier scalp environment. A healthy scalp is essential for optimal hair growth and the longevity of your dyed hair color.
Minimize Washing Frequency

Each time you wash your hair, some color molecules can be washed away, leading to gradual color fading. By minimizing the frequency of washing, you can help retain the color intensity and prolong the vibrancy of your balayage or highlights. Washing your hair too often can strip away the natural oils produced by your scalp, which help to moisturize and protect the hair. By reducing washing frequency, you allow these natural oils to nourish your hair, keeping it moisturized and preventing dryness or brittleness.
Use Heat Protectants

Heat styling tools such as flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers can reach high temperatures that can damage the hair cuticles and cause color fading. Heat protectants create a barrier on the hair shaft, shielding it from excessive heat and minimizing the potential damage. Heat protectants help to maintain the vibrancy and longevity of your dyed hair color. By reducing heat damage, they prevent color molecules from escaping the hair shaft, thereby preserving the richness and intensity of your balayage or highlights.
Limit Heat Styling

Heat styling tools, such as flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers, can cause color molecules to fade from the hair shaft. By limiting heat styling, you minimize the exposure of your dyed hair to high temperatures, helping to preserve the vibrancy and longevity of your balayage or highlights. Excessive heat can damage the hair cuticles, leading to dryness, frizz, and breakage. Limiting heat styling reduces the risk of heat damage, ensuring that your hair remains healthy, strong, and less prone to the negative effects of high temperatures.
Protect Hair From The Sun

Exposure to the sun’s UV rays can cause your dyed hair color to fade more quickly. The UV radiation breaks down the hair cuticle and oxidizes the color molecules, resulting in color loss and a dull appearance. Protecting your hair from the sun helps preserve the vibrancy and longevity of your balayage or highlights.
The sun’s UV rays not only affect the color of your hair but also damage its structure. UV radiation can weaken the hair shaft, leading to increased porosity, loss of elasticity, and overall hair damage. Protecting your hair from the sun reduces the risk of UV-induced damage.
Deep Condition Regularly

Dyed hair, including balayage and highlights, can be more susceptible to dryness and dehydration. Deep conditioning treatments infuse the hair with moisture, restoring its natural hydration balance and preventing dryness and brittleness. Regular deep conditioning can repair and prevent damage caused by chemical processes, heat styling, and environmental factors. It helps to repair the hair’s structure, smooth out rough cuticles, and reduce the appearance of split ends and breakage.
Minimize Chemical Treatments

Chemical treatments can compromise the structural integrity of the hair, making it more susceptible to breakage, dryness, and damage. Minimizing chemical treatments allows your hair to recover and maintain its natural strength and health. Chemical treatments can increase the porosity of the hair, making it more absorbent and prone to color fading. Limiting chemical treatments helps maintain the natural porosity of your hair, allowing it to retain color molecules better and prolong the life of your dyed hair.
Protect Hair During Swimming

Protecting your hair during swimming is essential for maintaining dyed hair color and preventing damage to balayage and highlights. Chlorine and saltwater can both have detrimental effects on colored hair, causing it to become dry, brittle, and faded.
Before entering the pool or ocean, saturate your hair with clean water. This helps to minimize the absorption of chlorinated or saltwater, as your hair will already be saturated with fresh water. After swimming, rinse your hair thoroughly with clean water to remove any chlorine or saltwater residue. Pay extra attention to ensuring that your hair is completely rinsed, as leftover chemicals or salt can continue to damage your hair.
Schedule Regular Hair Trims

Split ends are a common occurrence, especially in dyed hair. Regular trims help to remove these damaged ends, preventing them from splitting further up the hair shaft. By getting rid of split ends, you can maintain the overall health and appearance of your hair. Regular trims help to maintain the desired shape and style of your balayage or highlights. As your hair grows, the color and placement of your highlights or balayage may become less defined. Trimming the hair can refresh the shape and ensure that your color remains cohesive and visually appealing.
FAQs
Woman trimming the ends of her long brunette hair.
A1: Balayage is a freehand painting technique that creates a more natural, sun-kissed look, while highlights involve using foils or caps to add lighter strands throughout the hair.
Q2: Which technique is more low-maintenance, balayage or highlights?
A2: Balayage is generally considered more low-maintenance because it allows for a softer regrowth line, whereas highlights can require more frequent touch-ups to maintain a seamless look.
Q3: Can both balayage and highlights work on any hair color?
A3: Yes, both techniques can be applied to any hair color, but the effect and the choice of colors used may vary depending on the individual’s hair color and desired outcome.
Q4: Which technique is better for adding dimension to the hair?
A4: Both balayage and highlights are effective for adding dimension to the hair. However, balayage is known for creating a more natural and blended look, while highlights can provide a more defined and contrasted effect.
Q5: Will balayage or highlights make my hair appear lighter?
A5: Both techniques can make your hair appear lighter, but the level of lightness depends on the colors used and the application technique. Balayage is often favored for achieving a subtler, sun-kissed look.
Q6: Can I switch between balayage and highlights?
A6: Yes, you can switch between balayage and highlights depending on your desired look. However, it’s important to consult with a professional stylist to ensure a smooth transition and maintain the health of your hair.
Q7: Are balayage and highlights damaging to the hair?
A7: Both techniques involve some degree of chemical processing, which can cause damage if not done properly. However, when performed by a skilled stylist and with proper hair care, the damage can be minimized.
Q8: Which technique is more suitable for fine or thin hair?
A8: Balayage is often recommended for fine or thin hair because it creates a softer, less harsh look and adds dimension without overwhelming the hair.
Q9: Can I achieve a dramatic color change with balayage or highlights?
A9: While both techniques can be used for color transformations, highlights may be more suitable for achieving a significant color change, especially when using lighter or more contrasting shades.
Q10: How do I maintain the color and health of my hair after getting balayage or highlights?
A10: To maintain the color and health of your hair, it is important to use color-safe hair care products, minimize heat styling, protect your hair from the sun, deep condition regularly, and schedule regular touch-ups or trims with your stylist.