Balayage vs Highlights: Which One Is Right for You?
balayage Westport CT | balayage vs highlights | hair coloring services
Introduction
If you have been thinking about updating your hair color, you have likely come across the terms balayage and highlights. At Haus of Pretty in Westport, CT, these two services are among the most popular color choices our clients request. While both techniques can enhance your natural beauty and brighten your look, they offer different results, maintenance levels, and styling outcomes.
In this article, we will walk you through the key differences between balayage and traditional highlights so you can confidently choose the right service for your hair goals and lifestyle.
What Is Balayage?
Balayage, a French word meaning "to sweep," is a freehand hair painting technique that creates soft, natural-looking highlights. Instead of using foils, your stylist hand-paints the lightener onto the surface of your hair, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends. This allows for a sun-kissed, dimensional effect that grows out beautifully with less noticeable regrowth.
At Haus of Pretty, our stylists tailor each balayage placement to your hair texture, face shape, and desired level of brightness. We use signature formulas and steps to ensure your hair stays healthy during processing. Each client is monitored closely to make sure processing goes smoothly!
Ideal for:
Natural, low-maintenance color
A lived-in, beachy look
Long-lasting results that fade softly
What Are Traditional Highlights?
Traditional highlights use foils to isolate and lighten sections of hair from root to tip. This method creates a more uniform, structured look with higher contrast. Foil highlights are usually refreshed every six to eight weeks to maintain brightness and cover any new growth at the roots.
Our stylists at Haus of Pretty use modern blending and formulation techniques to avoid harsh lines and keep the result soft, dimensional, and tailored to your preferences. We use signature formulas and steps to ensure your hair doesn’t break during processing. Each client is watched carefully- something every salon should be doing!
Ideal for:
Brighter, more dramatic color
Root-to-tip coverage
Clients who want consistent tone or gray blending
Balayage vs Highlights: A Side-by-Side Comparison
Balayage vs Highlights comparison chart created by Haus of Pretty in Westport, CT. The image explains the differences between balayage and traditional foil highlights, including application method, grow-out, maintenance, look, and who each technique is best for.
What Our Clients Are Saying
"I love how natural my balayage looks. It grows out so beautifully, I look forward to going every 3 months for touch ups." – Jenna, Westport
"I get partial foils every seven weeks and my blonde always looks fresh and healthy. The team at Haus of Pretty is amazing at keeping it dimensional and soft." – Amanda, Greenwich
Why Clients Trust Haus of Pretty for Hair Coloring Services
At Haus of Pretty, our expert stylists specialize in both balayage and traditional highlighting techniques. We take the time to understand your hair history, goals, and lifestyle before designing a custom color plan. Every result is polished, dimensional, and personalized to you through our signature techniques, products and formulations meant to maximize your hair health.
As a member of The Club, our exclusive salon membership, you can also access ongoing savings on maintenance services like glosses and toners, plus tailored recommendations to keep your color looking salon-fresh between visits.
Conclusion
Deciding between balayage and highlights comes down to your personal style, how much maintenance you want, and the look you want to achieve. Both techniques offer beautiful results, especially when performed by experienced stylists who understand how to blend, tone, and treat the hair with care.
If you are not sure which option is right for you, we invite you to book a virtual consultation at Haus of Pretty. Our team will help you choose the right service based on your hair type, daily routine, and long-term goals.
Reserve your appointment today and discover why our clients call us Westport’s go-to salon for custom color.