Balayage versus foil

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If you’re looking to brighten up your hair with some highlights, make sure you know the difference between the traditional foil highlighting technique and the increasingly popular balayage highlight technique. In big cities, balayage highlights are becoming just as popular as foil highlights. The majority of the colors I see in magazines lately were done with a painting technique as well. Balayage used to be considered a specialty technique, but celebrity hair stylists have made a demand for it by painting many movie star’s hair with sexy, natural-looking balayage highlights.

Balayage, which is also called hair painting, creates natural looking results because they are painted on the hair, and can be placed throughout the hair in a more natural, artistic pattern. Each application is unique. When using foils, you work in a very linear fashion, with the same amount of light from scalp to ends.With balayage, you have less color near the scalp, increasing as it goes toward the ends. This is how hair highlights naturally.  The result is a beautiful color with a softer regrowth. Balayage is also the technique  used to create the grown-out ombre highlight effect. Since the grow out at the roots isn’t as obvious, you can wait a litter longer before getting a touch up. Foils usually require a visit every six weeks, but with balayage, a client can go eight to ten weeks.

Balayage is not always the best option for women with dark brown or black hair, unless your going for a light brown,caramel, or red result. To get very dark hair blonde, you need the heat from the foils . Sometimes both techniques can be used on a client to create a mix of bold and natural looking highlights. Both techniques are important. They  are different and it’s about choosing which one will give you the results you want.  No matter which technique you get, find a colorist who is well trained and experienced in both techniques. There is a lot of poor quality balayage being done, so ask a lot of questions. I can help you find the color you’ve been seeking. For a color consultation, 480-607-6544.