Staring at the mirror, I found myself contemplating a change in my hair colour. The multitude of options available can be overwhelming. On Instagram, I was surrounded by an array of perfect hair. I kept wondering if highlights, babylights, lowlights, or balayage would be the perfect match for my style. At Rush, we understand the confusion that comes with the world of hair colouring.
What are Highlights?
Highlights are strategically lightened strands that enhance your hair by adding depth and dimension. This transformative technique creates contrast and mimics a natural sun-kissed glow.
Evolving from a trend into a timeless classic, they remain a go-to choice for those seeking versatility and radiance. Stylist Kirsty Judge from the Artistic Team at Rush confirms they’ve stood the test of time as a fashionable option.
Who are Highlights for?
Wondering if highlights are the right choice? They are versatile and suit a wide range of individuals. Highlights enhance hair’s natural beauty and benefit darker tones by creating striking contrast. Whether your hair is straight, wavy, or curly, they can be customized to compliment and accentuate its unique locks. With a personalized application, you can achieve the desired effect, adding vibrancy and radiance to your overall appearance.
Darker Hair Tones:
Highlights work wonders on darker hair tones by creating striking contrast and adding vibrancy to your overall appearance.
Varied Hair Textures:
Highlights can be customized for straight, wavy, or curly hair, enhancing its unique texture and adding dimension.
Various Style Preferences:
Whether you prefer a subtle enhancement or a dramatic transformation, highlights can be tailored to suit your style preferences and enhance hair’s natural beauty.
What are Babylights?
Babylights are a delicate, finely woven hair coloring technique designed to mimic subtle, natural highlights seen in a child’s hair.
The process involves strategically placing very fine, thin highlights throughout the hair, creating a soft, seamlessly blended effect. Unlike traditional highlights, babylights are much finer and subtler, aiming to add contrast and dimension while imitating a sun-kissed glow.
Compared to partial balayage vs full balayage, babylights offer a perfect solution for those seeking a low-maintenance, beautiful look.
Who are Babylights for?
Babylights are a versatile hair coloring technique that caters to a range of preferences and styles, offering subtle beauty and low-maintenance appeal.
Low-Maintenance Enthusiasts:
Babylights are excellent for low-maintenance enthusiasts who prefer a natural-looking color that seamlessly grows out, minimizing the need for frequent touch-ups.
Those Seeking a Natural Look:
Babylights are particularly effective for individuals desiring a natural look, imitating the soft, sunlit highlights seen in children’s hair.
Anyone with Finer Hair:
Babylights work exceptionally well for finer hair textures, adding dimension without overpowering the natural texture.
Styles Requiring Subtlety:
For styles requiring subtlety, babylights create a beautifully blended and understated look, perfect for those aiming for a subtle, sun-kissed effect without the pronounced contrast of traditional highlights.
What is Balayage?
Balayage is a French-derived hair colouring technique that involves the freehand application of colour, creating a natural, sun-kissed effect.
Unlike traditional highlighting methods, colour is painted onto sections for a seamless, blended look. Balayage is known for its versatility and suitability for various lengths and textures.
It offers a softer regrowth line, reducing the need for frequent touch-ups, making it a chic, low-maintenance choice. Proper rebonded hair maintenance is also essential to keep your style fresh.
Who is Balayage for?
Balayage is a versatile and universally flattering hair colouring technique that appeals to a broad spectrum of clients.
All Hair Lengths and Textures:
Balayage is adaptable to various lengths and textures, making it suitable for short, long, straight, wavy, or curly hairstyles.
Low-Maintenance Seekers:
It’s perfect for low-maintenance seekers who value a colour that grows out seamlessly with fewer touch-ups.
Those Seeking a Natural Look:
Balayage creates a natural, sun-kissed effect for those seeking a subtle, effortless appearance.
Creative Expression Enthusiasts:
It also offers creative expression with customisable colour palettes, from classic blondes to unconventional pastels and bold hues.
Celebrity Styles:
Balayage has been embraced by numerous celebrities as their go-to choice for achieving stunning looks. Notable examples highlight how this technique has become a favorite in the spotlight. For those with curls, understanding how to dry curly hair properly enhances the overall effect of balayage.
Gigi Hadid:
Gigi Hadid, known for her effortlessly chic style, often showcases a beautiful balayage, adding dimension and depth to her blonde locks. Her look perfectly captures the essence of subtle elegance.
Chrissy Teigen:
Chrissy Teigen, renowned for her ever-changing hairstyles, has flaunted balayage with various colour choices, proving its versatility and adaptability to different looks and styles.
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez often showcases a gorgeous blend of caramel and honey tones through her signature balayage, enhancing her natural beauty with a sun-kissed glow. This iconic look is adapted to different hair lengths and textures, providing a timeless and radiant appearance.
What are Lowlights?
Lowlights are a transformative hair colouring technique that involves adding strands of colour darker than your natural tone.
Unlike highlights, which lighten sections, lowlights create depth and dimension by introducing darker shades.
The process typically includes weaving these strands strategically throughout the hair to add richness, contrast, and a multi-dimensional effect. For best results, try drying hair with cold air to maintain a subdued and sophisticated look.
Contrast with Highlights:
Lowlights and highlights work in harmony to create a balanced and dynamic look. While highlights add brightness and radiance, lowlights contribute depth and richness, resulting in a beautifully blended and textured finish.
The contrast between these techniques adds visual interest and complexity to your overall hairstyle.
Complementing Seasons and Styles:
Lowlights are particularly versatile for complementing different seasons and styles.
Autumn and Winter:
For autumn and winter, deeper, warmer tones like rich browns or mahogany emulate warmth.
Spring and Summer:
In spring and summer, lighter caramel or toffee shades add a sun-kissed glow, complementing the brightness of the season.
Who are Lowlights for?
Those Seeking Depth and Contrast:
Lowlights are perfect for individuals seeking to add depth and contrast to their hair. If you desire a varied and textured look, lowlights can provide richness without completely altering your natural color.
Anyone with Lighter Hair Tones:
Lowlights work exceptionally well for anyone with lighter hair tones. The contrast between darker strands and the natural color enhances the overall vibrancy and sophistication of your hairstyle.
Fine Hair Textures:
For fine hair textures, lowlights create the illusion of thicker, fuller hair by adding dimension and depth.
Seasonal Adaptability:
Lowlights are highly adaptable to different seasons. Opt for rich browns in fall and winter, or lighter caramel and toffee shades for a sun-kissed glow in spring and summer.
How to Choose
Choosing the right hair colouring technique depends on various factors. Understanding your preferences and lifestyle will guide you to the perfect choice. Revisit the key differences and considerations to make an informed decision.
Style Preference:
Opt for highlights if you want noticeable contrast and dimension. They’re ideal for those seeking a sun-kissed glow with versatility in colour choices. Babylights offer a subtle, natural effect, perfect for low-maintenance enthusiasts who prefer a delicate, gradual transition.
Maintenance Level:
Balayage is great if you value a low-maintenance style that grows out seamlessly. It’s an excellent choice with soft regrowth lines that require fewer touch-ups compared to traditional methods. Lowlights provide a sophisticated, adaptable approach, adding depth without completely altering your natural look.
Hair Color and Texture:
Highlights are ideal for darker tones, adding vibrancy and radiance. Babylights are particularly effective for finer hair, giving a soft appearance.
Seasonal Preferences:
Balayage is versatile for all seasons, adapting to warmer tones in fall and winter, and lighter shades in spring and summer. Lowlights are also adaptable, offering deeper shades for a sun-kissed glow.
Conclusion
Choosing between babylights, highlights, and balayage ultimately depends on your personal style and hair goals. Babylights offer a delicate, low-maintenance look, while highlights provide versatility and dimension. Balayage is perfect for a natural, seamless effect. Each technique enhances your hair’s natural beauty, allowing for creative expression across different styles and seasons.
FAQ’s
Are babylights more expensive than highlights?
Prices vary depending on your location and colorist, but babylights generally cost more than highlights because they are more labor-intensive. However, you can often stretch it a few extra weeks between color appointments with babylights.
What’s the difference between babylights and balayage?
Babylights involve coloring fine sections of hair, creating a controlled and precise look. In contrast, balayage uses a sweeping motion to paint select strands, offering a more subtle and seamless effect for those seeking natural highlights.
What is the difference between baby lights and foils?
Babylights and foilyage both use the foil process to add soft, beautiful dimension to your colour. The key difference is that foilayage mimics the hand-painted effect of balayage, focusing the highlights on the lower sections of hair.
What is a babylight?
Babylights are delicate, white-blonde highlights created using a fine colour technique to mimic the blonde hue naturally lightened by the sun. A main attraction of babylights is that they can be applied to any hair colour and length, whether long or short.
