Babylights vs Highlights vs Balayage: Decoding the Glamour of Hair Colouring Techniques
Embarking on a journey to transform your hair can feel like diving into a vibrant sea of colour, sprinkled with a multitude of terms that might boggle the uninitiated. Today, we’re going to demystify the glamourous world of hair colouring by comparing three beloved techniques: Babylights, Highlights, and Balayage.
Babylights: The Subtle Glow Up
Babylights are a modern trend that hails its name from the naturally lighter strands of hair seen on toddlers. This technique involves the use of very fine, delicate highlights to create a multi-dimensional, yet subtle look.
The beauty of babylights lies in their understated elegance. They blend seamlessly with your base colour, adding depth and dimension. This process can be quite time-consuming as it involves highlighting small, thin sections of hair. The result, however, is a gentle, sun-kissed glow that looks soft and natural.
Highlights: The Classic Radiance
Highlights have been a classic favourite in the world of hair colouring for decades. This technique involves applying lighter shades to sections of hair, from root to tip, creating a contrast that adds warmth and brightness to your overall look.
Unlike babylights, highlights involve larger sections of hair, resulting in a more pronounced and dramatic effect. They can completely transform your look, lightening your overall hair colour, and adding a noticeable, radiant glow.
Balayage: The Artistic Sweep
Derived from the French term meaning ‘to sweep’ or ‘to paint’, balayage is a freehand technique where the colour is applied on the surface of the hair strand and not saturated until the very tips. This creates a more natural, sun-kissed effect, similar to how your hair might lighten after spending a summer outdoors.
Balayage offers a less structured, more artistic look than traditional highlights. Your stylist will hand-paint the dye onto your hair, allowing for a bespoke colour blend that’s as unique as you are. The result is a beautifully soft, graduated colour effect that’s high on glamour but low on maintenance.
Babylights vs Highlights vs Balayage: The Verdict
So, which technique is right for you? The answer to this lies in your personal hair aspirations:
- If you’re looking for a subtle, natural glow-up with an understated yet sophisticated touch, then babylights could be your perfect match.
- If you desire a pronounced change that adds brightness and dramatic contrast to your hair, classic highlights could be your go-to.
- And finally, if you love the idea of a unique, hand-painted look that’s high on style and low on upkeep, then balayage might be just the technique for you.
Conclusion
Each of these hair colouring techniques, babylights, highlights and balayage, offers its own unique set of charms and benefits. The key to finding your perfect fit lies in understanding what each technique offers and aligning this with your hair goals.
Remember, your hair is a canvas, a means of expressing your individuality. So, embrace the artistry, play with colours, and let your hair showcase the vibrant, glamorous you!
