Balayage and foil highlights are two of the most requested color services at our salon — and also two of the most commonly confused. Clients often use the terms interchangeably, but they're different techniques that produce different results. Choosing between them comes down to the look you want, how much maintenance you're willing to do, and what your hair can realistically support.
Here's a detailed breakdown of both so you can walk into your consultation knowing which direction you want to go.
Not sure which is right for you? Book a color consultation or explore our highlights menu.
What Is Balayage?
Balayage (pronounced bah-lee-AHZH) is a freehand painting technique where color is swept onto the surface of the hair in a soft, graduated pattern. There are no foils — the color is painted directly onto sections and left to develop in the open air.
The result is a natural, sun-kissed look with soft transitions between your base color and the lightened sections. Because the lightening starts mid-shaft and gets more concentrated toward the ends, the regrowth line is gradual and blended rather than a sharp line of demarcation.
Balayage is best for:
- A low-maintenance, lived-in look
- Clients who want to stretch appointments to every 10 to 16 weeks
- Natural, dimensional color with soft transitions
- Anyone who wants lighter ends with a darker, more natural root
What Are Foil Highlights?
Foil highlights use aluminum foils to isolate sections of hair, apply lightener or color directly to those sections, and seal them with foil to create heat and accelerate the lifting process. The foil also prevents color from bleeding onto adjacent hair, which allows for more precise placement and higher contrast.
The result is brighter, more defined pieces of light throughout the hair. Because the lightener is applied closer to the root and the foil creates a more controlled environment, highlights can lift higher and more evenly than balayage — especially for clients going from dark to significantly lighter.
Foil highlights are best for:
- A brighter, higher-contrast look with defined pieces
- Clients who want significant lift close to the root
- Fine hair that needs visible lightness near the scalp for dimension
- Anyone who wants a polished, consistent color placement
Explore our full highlights menu including partial highlights, full highlights, and tint-with-highlights combinations.
Key Differences Side by Side
Maintenance and Grow-Out
This is the biggest practical difference between the two techniques.
Balayage grows out naturally because the lightening starts away from the root. There's no hard line to reveal as your hair grows, which means most clients can go 10 to 16 weeks — or longer — between appointments without obvious regrowth. Many clients refresh balayage with a toner or gloss rather than a full reapplication each visit.
Foil highlights placed closer to the root show a more defined line of regrowth as the hair grows out. Most clients with foil highlights return every 6 to 8 weeks for a touch-up, either on the root area or with a partial highlight to freshen up the color. If you like a polished look and don't mind regular appointments, this isn't a problem. If you prefer to stretch time between visits, it's a consideration.
Brightness and Contrast
Balayage creates a softer, more blended result. The transition from dark root to light ends is gradual. This reads as natural — closer to how hair lightens in the sun — and is generally more forgiving on grow-out.
Foil highlights can achieve a higher degree of contrast and brightness. If you want very light, defined pieces throughout your hair — particularly near your face and at the crown — foils typically deliver more impact than balayage alone.
Hair Health Considerations
Both techniques use lightener, but the application differs in ways that affect hair health.
Balayage is applied mid-shaft and through the ends, leaving the root area mostly untouched. This means the most fragile part of the hair — the lengths and ends — takes on lightener, but the new growth near the scalp typically stays healthier.
Foil highlights placed near the root mean more lightener touches hair that's already been chemically processed from previous services. For heavily highlighted clients, the cumulative effect on hair health is something to manage with regular conditioning treatments and bond rebuilding services.
For either technique, maintaining the health of lightened hair is essential. Read more about protecting your color in our guide to color-treated hair maintenance.
Cost and Time
Balayage typically takes 1.5 to 3 hours depending on hair length and how much work is involved. Because it's a freehand technique, the time and cost are largely driven by how customized the placement needs to be.
Foil highlights vary widely depending on whether you're doing a partial, a mini partial, or a full highlight. A partial highlight covering the top sections takes less time and costs less than a full highlight throughout. Our highlights menu breaks down the different options.
Can You Combine Both?
Yes — and many clients do. A combination technique uses foils for precise brightness around the face and crown where contrast matters most, while using balayage or softer hand-painting through the lengths for a blended, natural finish. This is sometimes called a "foilayage" and gives you the benefits of both: defined brightness near the face and soft, grow-out-friendly color through the rest of the hair.
How to Decide
Ask yourself:
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How often do I want to come in for color? If every 6 to 8 weeks works for you, foils give you more brightness and precision. If you want to stretch to 12 to 16 weeks, balayage is the lower-maintenance choice.
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Do I want a natural, blended look or brighter, more defined pieces? Balayage reads natural and soft. Foil highlights are brighter and higher-contrast.
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How dark is my starting color? If you have very dark hair and want significant overall lightness, foils typically achieve more lift than balayage alone. Balayage on dark hair creates beautiful dimension but stays relatively close to your natural depth.
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What's the condition of my hair? If your hair is already heavily processed, your stylist may recommend one technique over another based on what it can tolerate. A consultation is the right place to make this call.
Book a Highlights Consultation in Lone Tree
Burman & Co is a stylish, color-focused salon offering balayage, foil highlights, and full coloring services in Lone Tree, Colorado. Our team will help you choose the right technique for your hair type, lifestyle, and goals — and build a color plan you can actually maintain.
Visit us: 8353 Willow St C1, Lone Tree, CO 80124
Call: (303) 706-9626
Book online: Contact Us
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