Highlights, Babylight, Balayage And Foilyage: What Technique Is Right For You?

31st May 2021
Wanting to colour your hair but unsure about where to even start? We have got you covered. There are so many different types of colouring options and techniques we understand it can feel very overwhelming and confusing. If you’re considering colouring your hair for the first time there are a couple of things we recommend considering, it’s important to think about your natural hair colour, skin tone, your personality and also the maintenance of your colour before having it done. We’ve summed up the four most popular colouring techniques to help you select which one is going to suits you best.

Highlights:

What Are Highlights?

Highlights are often used to describe any type of selective hair lightening; it typically refers to the process of using bleach to lighten and add dimension to selected parts of the hair. The most common method used in the salon is foil highlighting, the stylist will use a brush to strategically apply lightener, placing it in foil to separate the highlighted strand from the base colour. Highlights can be customised, enabling you to pick certain colours and even how many foils you’re wanting put in. Highlights go from root to tip so a high proportion of hair will be lightened.

Should I Get Highlights?

Highlights give the illusion of fuller hair so are typically recommended for people that have thinner or finer hair, they are also useful for people that have started to embrace the grey as it helps to blend out the new regrowth. If a more uniformed, lighter look is something that appeals to you then highlights is your technique. However, it is important to bear in mind the maintenance, as highlights go from the scalp to the ends you’ll need to colour your hair more often to keep the colour looking nice and fresh as well as preventing your roots from showing.

Babylights:

What Are Babylights?

Babylights and highlights are mistakenly painted with the same brush, though the techniques are the same the outcomes are very different things. This technique involves using a mixture of light and dark tones to create a more natural appearance.

 

Should I Get Babylights:

Babylights are a great way to introduce colour if you’re fancying a change of hairstyle, but don't want anything too drastic. Babylights got their name from mimicking the different dimensions and tones that are found in children’s hair, as this look is designed to look more natural you will be able to go longer between appointments.

Balayage:

What Is Balayage:

Balayage is a free hand technique that is used to create a natural, graduated, sun kissed effect. The word balayage translates as “sweeping” to refer to the sweeping motion used to apply the colour to the hair. Stylists will customise how much hair is lightened and where the colour is placed, extra lightening may be placed around the face to help enhance your facial features. Balayage is designed to look effortless and less uniformed than other techniques.

 

Should I Get Balayage?

Balayage is a technique that works for near enough everyone, especially if you like the more effortless look. Balayage is designed to look grown out so visits to the salon can stretch much longer, up to every 6 months. If you like the low maintenance, warm tone looks then balayage could be the one for you.

 

Foilyage:

What Is Foilyage:

Foilyage is something that is fairly new to the hairdressing world, and is very often mistaken for balayage. They may sound the same, but results are very different. Foilyage is a technique using foil to achieve a dimensional, bright effect. Stylist will wrap painted hair in foils to help achieve maximum brightness.

 

Should I Get Foilyage:

If you’re wanting the bright white blonde look Foilyage is definitely your go to technique. Maintenance is in between balayage and highlights. As the colour isn’t placed right up to the root you don’t get lots of regrowth however to maintain the blonde, you will need brightening up more often.

 To Help Enhance The Techniques Above Your Stylist May Include The Following:

Face Framing:

Face-framing is a popular technique that concentrates the foil placement on the front hairline, bordering the face. As you'd expect from a technique called "face-framing" this lighter-coloured hair around your face adds visual interest and draws attention to your facial features.


Root Melt:

A root melt is a colour application technique that blends the root colour with the colour on the midlengths and ends. This technique is designed to make the base colour look as if it’s “melting” into the rest of the hair.  

 

So, what’s it going to be? Will you go with the classic highlights, throw it back to your childhood tones with babylights, or turn into a blonde bombshell with Foilyage. Whatever technique you pick we will always be there to help you make the best decisions for you and your hair. For more colour information please visit our website https://www.mosaichair.co.uk/hair-colour-studio