revive guide: balayage vs. baby lights. what's the difference?
Have you ever looked at the list of hair services and wondered, what is the difference and what do I book? We’ve got you.
Here’s the rundown on two of the most popular hair color techniques we use: balayage and baby lights.
Armed with this information you will be able to collaborate with your stylist and confidently choose which color service is best for you. First up is the trendiest color technique of them all…
Balayage
aka “bah-lee-ahge.”
Unlike highlights, balayage is usually a process without foils. It’s a french word that means “to sweep.” This is a free handed technique where color is painted onto the strands and locked in with foil.
The Outcome ✨
This technique produces a more lived in look. Because of it’s specific placement you can typically go 4-6 months between appointments. Balayage will simulate your natural hairs lift in extreme sun for a long period of time.
Next is a color technique that’s exactly how it sounds…
Baby Lights
aka ‘foils.’
Baby lights are exactly what they sound like- mini highlights. Hair is weaved super fine to blend and melt right into the base. Less hair is taken into each foil and smaller gaps are left between foils to ensure a subtle integration with your natural base color.
The Outcome ✨
Baby lights don’t create much dramatic dimension, but more of a sparkle outcome and overall lighter look. The result is a subtle multi-tonal blend of colors like you see in children's perfectly sun-kissed hair.
Let’s Wrap It Up
Balayage is a much more visual technique, meaning unlike highlights that follow a sectioning pattern, balayage allows your stylist to personalize your color placement. Think contouring for your hair. Lighter pieces are placed where best to complement your hair cut, facial features and skin tones making it look way more natural.
Picking which is best for you is a matter of taste and starting point. If you have virgin hair and are looking for subtle highlights to break up your silhouette, balayage is the way to go. It will create a much more blended result, but deeper natural hair colors BEWARE—there will be red undertones as the sun would create the same. Foiled baby lights can pass the red and orange zones more gracefully and your colorist will have way more control of tonal outcome with traditional highlights.
A mix of techniques might be best for you. Talk with your stylist to collaborate on the look you’re trying to achieve and how much maitenence you are willing to put in.
can you spot the the balayage versus baby lights? 👀
