Bridging the Gap: Balayage vs. Highlights – Which One Will Illuminate Your Look

The practice of dyeing and coloring hair has been around for thousands of years. Colored hair was first practiced in ancient Egypt. Henna covered gray hair!

Ancient Egyptians used crushed leaves to make henna dye. It is now possible to cover gray hair, add subtle dimension, or add a fun pop of color with limitless options in hair color.

It has become increasingly difficult to understand what different coloring techniques are and how they affect the appearance of your hair in recent years. Although many of us are familiar with the term “highlights,” “balayage” is a newer method of coloring hair. Depending on your hair goals, there are some benefits to using these methods.

Highlights: Why Should You Get Them?

It would probably be more convenient if you went to the salon and had your hairstylist color your hair all over, but where would that be fun? The silver strands of your graying hair may feel like the perfect canvas for trying something totally different at the salon if you’re one of the many experiencing graying hair as you age.

Considering changing up your hair color or adding dimension to it? Decide what method seems like the best way to achieve what you’re looking for – and what you’d like to see in the mirror! Learn how to ask for what you want at the salon by understanding the differences between traditional highlights and balayage.

In addition to learning what to look for in your hair care products, we will also discuss how to care for color-treated hair.

What Is the Difference Between Balayage and Traditional Highlights?

Despite not knowing what they’re called, hair highlights are a very common way to color hair. From the 80s onwards, highlights have remained popular, never really going out of style.

A traditional highlight has evolved to fit the trends of the year or decade in question. A thin, all-over highlight was popular in the late 90s. The popularity of chunky block highlights increased in the mid-2000s.

Using highlights, you can create a multi-tonal look by lightening sections of your hair. A good highlight can give your hair a lot of dimension.

The technique of balayage originates from France, which means “to sweep.” To apply Balayage, the color is “painted” on the hair freehand. Thus, you’ll get more natural-looking hair color that seems as if it’s been kissed by the sun.

Balayage should result in a gradual gradient effect not reminiscent of a salon job. Celebrities and models became fans of balyage in the 90s, which helped it gain popularity.

It is important to know the difference between balayage and highlights based on the technique. To separate the highlighted hair from the natural hair, foils are traditionally used when adding highlights to hair. Hand-painting is required for balayage. There is no doubt that it is an art form.

What’s better, balayage or highlights?

You’re thinking about having balayage or traditional highlights done at the salon soon. When deciding which is best for you, how do you decide?

Start by identifying what you hope to accomplish. The best option for you if you are happy with the tone of your hair now but want to add a little more dimension is likely balayage. Get all-over highlights if you want a noticeable lift in your hair’s tone and want something dramatic.

Hair bleaching may be necessary depending on your hair color. Intensity will be required for dark hair, especially thin or fine hair. The damage and brittleness of thin or fine hair can be caused by repeated bleaching.

Specifically, aging hair is more prone to this damaging effect because it is inherently drier. It is important to keep in mind that no matter which route you choose, maintenance will be necessary.

In order to prevent your highlights from growing out too far and looking unnatural, you should maintain your look every four to six weeks. When it comes to balayage, you can wait closer to two months before scheduling another appointment.

If you don’t want as much maintenance, balayage may be a better option. Due to the fact that balayage is hand-painted, it requires some skill. It is best to find a stylist who has experience with the type of color service you are seeking.

Ombre: What Is It?

The traditional highlights as well as balayage have been discussed. There is also a misconception that balayage goes hand in hand with ombre hair.

Hair color is applied by balyage, but ombre is a style of hair color. The balayage method can be used to achieve ombre! In contrast to balayage, ombre has a more dramatic appearance.

Once again, celebrities gained attention to ombre in the early 2010s. The difference between balayage and ombre is that balayage is a gradual gradient from dark to light, whereas ombre is a firmer gradient.

Unlike ombré vs balayage looks natural from dark to much lighter. Dark roots could be matched with light blonde ends in this style.

Aside from the natural colors, other colors have also been incorporated. This can be applied to dark grays, light grays, pastels, or neon colors. Perhaps ombre is the best option if you want an even more dramatic look.

Color-treated hair: How to care for it

In the same way that your natural hair needs special consideration, hair that has been colored also requires special treatment.

Always look for products labeled “color-safe”. You don’t want a product that will strip the color from your brand-new style just days later. Here are some easy steps you can take to protect the investment you’ve made in your hair color.

It is important to wash your hair less frequently in order to keep the color longer. In general, you only need to wash your hair once or twice a week. You will be able to protect your color with this method.

Colored hair loses some of its color every time it is washed. To wash away dirt and oils, shampoo opens the cuticle of your hair. Color pigments could also be washed out by this process.

If you want to protect the pigments even more, wash your hair with cold water and rinse it well.

Choose a color-safe shampoo and conditioner. Color added to aging hair should be protected. As hair ages, it loses volume as well. The two challenges present a tricky situation.

The Wake Up Call Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner were created to address this issue. Providing volume while protecting your hair color! In the case of thinning curly hair in need of a boost, we also have you covered.

You can maintain the curls and add bounce while maintaining the beautiful color your highlights provide with our Bounce Back Super Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner.

Also, masques are a great way to treat colored hair that is also damaged from the past. We developed the Hair Redemption Restorative Butter Masque as a color-safe way to restore damaged hair back to its original state.

Using heat tools on colored hair requires careful handling. When using heat tools on colored hair, it is imperative to use a heat protectant. Heat protectants should also be used by anyone using heat tools, especially those with aging or dry hair!

Our heat protectant is able to withstand temperatures as high as 450 degrees. While protecting your color, it also nourishes your aging dry hair, making it an easy step to include in your post-salon hair care routine.

It’s your turn to tell your hairstylist what hair color technique you want now that you understand the differences between traditional highlights and balayage.

Adding subtle balayage to the rest of your hair to add dimension and elevate the color of your hair can even be combined with face-framing highlights to enhance your eyes.

Whether you have used a balayage, highlights, or another method of coloring your hair, it is important to take care of hair that has been colored. We at salonatamericana use only color-safe hair products, which means that you can care for your highlights or balayages as you wish. You can get customized recommendations for feeling better, not younger, by taking our hair quiz today.