Kennewick Hairstylist: Balayage vs Highlights Explained

If you’ve ever brought in an inspiration photo of bright, blended blonde hair and said, “I want balayage,” you’re not alone! Many clients love the blended look of balayage but don’t realize that what they’re seeing in photos is not balayage, it’s actually highlights or a mix of techniques.

Here’s the truth:

Balayage, babylights, and ombre are all highlights. They’re just created using different methods to achieve a different end result.

What Are Highlights?

Highlights are sections of hair that are lightened ‘bleached’ to add brightness and dimension. The difference comes down to the technique used to create them and the final result you want.

Balayage: Blended Highlights

What it is: Balayage means “to sweep” in French. It’s a freehand technique where lightener is painted onto the hair without foils.

The result: Soft, natural, sun kissed blonde that grows out seamlessly.

Best for: Those who want a low maintenance, warm & blended look!

Keep in mind: On dark hair, traditional balayage often results in warm, brassy tones. To achieve brighter blondes, I often mix in techniques like foils to control warmth.

Babylights: Fine Highlights

What they are: Babylights are finely woven highlights created with foils.

The result: They can create a soft, natural, sun-kissed look or a bright blonde, depending on how tightly packed they are.
Why they’re great: Babylights blend better into your natural color, making them perfect for around the hairline where regular highlights can leave harsh lines. Since they’re woven finer and placed inside foils, the product is applied more evenly, creating a brighter, cleaner blonde compared to regular highlights.

Babylights are an excellent option if you like the look of highlights directly at the scalp but want a softer grow-out.

Ombre: Dark to Light Gradient

What it is: Ombre means “shadow” in French. It’s a technique where the hair gradually transitions from darker roots to lighter ends.

The result: All the ends are the same shade of blonde, with no dark strands left behind, creating a bold and dramatic contrast.
Why it’s great: Ombre is low-maintenance since the roots stay natural, making it perfect for clients who want a bright, high-contrast look without having to come into the salon every couple of months.

Ombre is ideal for those who want a single shade of blonde on the ends with darker roots.

Traditional Highlights: Classic Brightness

Traditional highlights are sections of hair that are lightened using foils, placed evenly throughout the hair.

The result: A brighter, more noticeable blonde that starts directly at the scalp. The lightened sections add dimension and contrast against your natural color.
Why they’re great: Traditional highlights are perfect for clients who want their blonde to start directly at the scalp.. However, because they’re larger sections, they can sometimes result in a more stripey appearance as the hair grows out.

Highlights work well for those who prefer their blonde starts directly at the scalp and don’t mind coming into every 8-12 weeks.

Forget the Terms, Bring In Photos!

Over time, hair coloring techniques have become incredibly customized. Balayage, babylights, ombre, and highlights are just terms & often times stylists use multiple at the same time.

Instead of asking for a specific technique, it’s better to bring inspo photos. This way, we can go over what you love most about the photos, whether it’s the color, the blending, or the styling. Find a stylist you trust and let them choose the technique.

Balayage vs. Highlights: The Difference