Balayage vs. Highlights: Which Is Lower-Maintenance?

Balayage and highlights both add brightness and dimension, but they get there in different ways. Understanding the difference makes it easier to choose the look — and the maintenance schedule — that suits you.

What is balayage?

Balayage is a hand-painting technique. Lightener is swept onto selected sections of hair, usually concentrated toward the mid-lengths and ends. The result is soft, blended dimension with a natural-looking root.

What are traditional highlights?

Foil highlights place lightener on fine sections that are wrapped in foil. This gives more control and brightness from closer to the root, so the result is typically more uniform and more noticeably lighter.

How they compare

The look

• Balayage: soft, sun-kissed, lived-in
• Highlights: brighter, more even and more defined

Grow-out

• Balayage: grows out gently because there is no strong line at the root
• Highlights: regrowth shows sooner because the brightness starts closer to the scalp

Maintenance

Balayage is usually considered the lower-maintenance option, since many people can go longer between full appointments and refresh tone with a gloss in between. Highlights tend to need more regular touch-ups to keep the root area blended.

Which one is right for you?

Balayage may suit you if you want a natural look, prefer fewer appointments, or are going lighter for the first time. Highlights may suit you if you want maximum brightness, a more uniform blonde, or more coverage around the face and part.

Many people end up with a combination — for example, a few foils around the face with hand-painted pieces elsewhere. Your stylist can recommend the approach that fits your goals, your natural color and your routine.

Next steps

Browse our balayage, highlights and blonding services, or book a consultation if you would like help deciding.