Highlights and balayage are both hair lightening techniques that add depth and dimension to your hair, helping to create the illusion of volume and movement. But in each case, colour is applied differently, to create different overall results.

Luckily for you, our colourists are supremely skilled in both. Following your style consultation they will suggest which hair colour techniques will work best for your hair, and create your desired end result. So here’s the lowdown on the differences between highlights and balayage:

Highlights

Using aluminium foils to evenly apply colour to precise strands of hair from root to tip, highlights are a traditional way of lightening the hair. Because colour is applied to distinct sections, highlights create a more structured pattern of coloured pieces woven throughout the hair, for a multi-tonal effect.

‘Highlights are great if you’re looking for a brighter overall look, from the root down’, explains Shine colourist Marianne. You can opt for a full head of highlights, with highlights scattered throughout the hair, half-head, where they are applied to only the top section, or T-section, where highlights are placed along your parting and hairline to cover the crown of your head. Because the contrast with your base colour is more pronounced with highlights, there is a bit more maintenance involved, and typically your roots will start to show in around a couple of months.

Balayage

Balayage involves colour being hand-painted onto more randomly selected sections of hair. Colour is usually applied from the hair’s mid-shaft down, becoming denser towards the ends to blend more seamlessly with your base colour and create a more natural, sun-kissed look.

The balayage technique gives your colourist more freedom to tailor your colour to accentuate your hair cut or facial features. Typically colour is applied in shades that are only slightly lighter than your base colour, and placed throughout the hair to mimic how it might lighten naturally in the sun, meaning there is less obvious regrowth. ‘Balayage is a popular choice with clients who want a subtler, warmer end result that is low maintenance and natural-looking’, says Marianne. At Shine we often use balayage alongside foil highlights, hand-painting pieces of hair to frame the face or highlight the shape of the cut, or break up and blend the colour. This beautiful balayage by Cecilia is a great example:

Which is best for your hair?

This will depend on what look you’re trying to achieve, along with your hair length and texture. Your colourist will consider all these factors and recommend what will work best for your hair.

If you’re looking for a more dramatic colour transformation with lots of contrast, it’s likely your colourist will advise going with highlights. Highlights are also usually a better option for those with shorter hair, as the colour is applied closer to the scalp. If you’re looking for a more subtle look, or if you know you’re not going to be able to come to the salon often enough to keep obvious root regrowth at bay, balayage may be a better choice. Balayage is also a good option for blending away greys if you don’t want to go for full colour coverage.

Colour aftercare

Whatever colour treatment you have, taking proper care of your hair afterwards is crucial to help keep it looking and feeling healthy and vibrant for longer.

Aveda have launched two new leave-in treatments for coloured hair, and we’re big fans here at Shine. Color Control Leave-in treatment, £27.50, is available in both light and rich formulations, and provides colour-fade protection from washing, heat styling, pollution and UV light for up to 12 weeks. Ask your stylist about which formulation is right for your hair.

Both highlights and balayage require upkeep. For highlights you can expect to see some visible root regrowth after around 6-8 weeks. Because of the way the colour is applied, balayage regrowth is more subtle, and you can go longer between appointments.

Ready to get your hair colour summer ready?

At Shine we use Aveda colour and custom mix colours for each client, so we can create something truly individual for you and your hair. Come in and have a chat so we can explore your colour choices and plan your next signature look.

What we’re up to this month….

Watching…

Dark comedy Beef (Netflix), which is swiftly becoming a word-of-mouth cult hit. Focussing on a rapidly escalating feud between two strangers after they meet by chance it’s full of lots of attention-grabbing twists and turns-definitely worth putting your phone down for. Another firm favourite here at Shine is Aussie comedy, Colin from Accounts (iPlayer). In the same vein as the much-missed Catastrophe, it’s brilliantly funny and just full of pure joy.

Loving…

Our favourite new product this month is Aveda’s new Botanical Bond Building Styling Creme, £28.50. Applied to damp hair prior to styling, it’s perfect for taming frizz and flyaways and protecting the hair against heat styling. ‘I love using this product in the salon’, says Shine’s Colette, ‘It’s brilliant for creating a gorgeously smooth finish and works for all hair types’.

Counting the days until…

Sea Lanes Brighton opens on 2 June. Transforming the old Peter Pan playground on Madeira Drive into a 50m heated outdoor pool, you’ll be able to take in the spectacular sea views as you head up and down the lanes, all without braving the waves. www.sealanesbrighton.co.uk

That’s all for this month! We hope to see you soon. Book your next appointment with us online, by email or over the phone.