Balayage vs Highlights — which suits me?

Thinking about going lighter but not sure which technique to choose? Here’s a friendly guide to help you pick the right look for your hair, lifestyle and budget.

What is balayage?

Balayage is a hand-painted lightening technique that creates a soft, seamless blend with darker roots and lighter ends. It’s designed to grow out gracefully with less obvious regrowth, which means fewer salon visits. Great if you want lived-in brightness, sun-kissed pieces around the face, or a low-maintenance glow.

What are highlights?

Highlights use foils to lift sections of hair from roots to ends. You can go subtle (partial/face frame) or high-impact (full head or baby-lights for all-over brightness). Highlights give crisper contrast and can be tailored for blondes, brunettes or reds.

Which should I choose?

• I want soft + low-maintenance: go balayage (top-ups every ~12–16 weeks; toner/gloss between visits keeps it fresh).

• I want uniform brightness from roots: choose highlights (maintenance every ~6–8 weeks).

• I have greys to blend: highlights or a root smudge/shadow with balayage can blur regrowth beautifully.

• I love face-framing glow: both work — a money-piece with either technique is gorgeous.

How we decide at Venus

We’ll look at your starting colour, hair condition, skin tone, and how often you want to visit. Bring photos you love — we’ll map a plan, talk through aftercare (heat protection, purple shampoo if needed), and give you a realistic maintenance schedule.

Next steps: Book a free colour consultation to chat through options and patch test 48h before colour.