What is balayage?
Balayage is a hand-painted technique where color is swept onto the surface of the hair, creating a soft, sun-kissed graduation from darker roots to lighter ends. Because it's painted by hand, no two results look exactly alike.
What are highlights?
Highlights use foils to lighten sections of hair consistently, producing brighter, more uniform color. They give high impact and can be customized to be subtle or bold.
How they compare
- Grow-out: Balayage blends as it grows, so touch-ups are needed every 3–4 months. Highlights show a defined regrowth line, so you'll return more frequently.
- Look: Balayage reads natural and dimensional. Highlights read brighter and more deliberate.
- Maintenance: Balayage is lower-maintenance by design. Highlights need a brighter, more frequent schedule to keep the look fresh.
Which should you choose?
Choose balayage if you want natural, sun-kissed dimension, love the low-maintenance grow-out, and prefer a softer regrowth. Choose highlights if you want bright, uniform brightness, high impact, and don't mind schedule touch-ups.
Not sure? That's exactly what the consultation is for. Your Bella Lei colorist will recommend the technique that suits your hair type, lifestyle and goals.
