When it comes to changing up your hair color, two popular options are balayage and highlights. But which is the more budget-friendly choice? There are a few factors to consider when comparing the costs of these color techniques.
What is Balayage?
Balayage is a freehand highlighting technique where the colorist hand-paints the hair strands to create a graduated, natural looking effect. The results are meant to emulate how hair lightens naturally in the sun. Balayage allows for a soft, blended look with fewer regrowth lines as your hair grows out.
The balayage application process involves sectioning the hair and using a brush or cotton swabs to sweep the lightener diagonally across the strands. This creates subtle, face-framing highlights. The technique requires precision and time to get the soft, seamless look.
What are Traditional Highlights?
Traditional highlights involve using foils to isolate strands of hair which are then lightened with bleach. The foils create a barrier to precisely control which sections of hair are colored. The result is strands of lightened hair contrasted with the natural or base color.
To achieve highlights, the hair is sectioned off and the chosen strands are placed in foil. Bleach is applied to those strands only. This technique requires less precision than balayage and is quicker to perform. The regrowth line is more apparent as the hair grows out.
Application Time
One of the main differences between balayage and highlights is the time required. Balayage takes more time and expertise to paint the hair and achieve a blended, natural look. Each section of hair is painted by hand using a sweeping or tapping motion.
Highlights with foils are much quicker to apply. The bleached sections are isolated with foil, allowing the colorist to quickly move from foil to foil. There is less precision required compared to painting the balayage by hand.
On average, balayage takes 1-2 hours to perform. An all-over highlighting session takes 30-60 minutes on average. For shorter hair, highlights can be done in as little as 20-30 minutes. The longer your hair, the more time required.
Amount of Hair Colored
With balayage, only certain sections of the hair are lightened, leaving much of the hair at the natural or base color. This results in a lower overall cost. With highlights, most of the hair ends up getting colored in some way. Even if only highlight strands are bleached, there is still the application of toner which covers most of the hair.
For example, with partial balayage, only the front sections framing the face are lightened. The back and underneath layers are left darker. Highlights usually involve lightening strands throughout all sections of the hair, requiring more product.
Color Maintenance
Maintenance is required with both highlight and balayage techniques as the hair grows out. But balayage requires less frequent touch-ups. The regrowth is less noticeable because balayage involves painting or dabbing the lightener to feather it out at the roots. Highlights use foils for defined separation of color, resulting in obvious regrowth lines.
The touch-up schedule can impact the overall cost over time. With balayage, touch-ups may be needed every 4-5 months. Traditional highlights require maintenance every 6-8 weeks as the regrowth becomes visible.
The Costs
On average, balayage costs between $150-$300 per session. Partial balayage concentrating on the front sections may cost $100-$250. The price varies depending on the extent of lightening, how much of the hair is colored, and the overhead costs of the salon.
The average cost of traditional highlights ranges from $100-$250 per session. Partial highlights such as face-framing strands may cost $80-$150. All-over highlights can run $150-$300 depending on the length and thickness of your hair.
| Service | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Balayage – Partial | $100 – $250 |
| Balayage – All-Over | $150 – $300 |
| Highlights – Partial | $80 – $150 |
| Highlights – All-Over | $150 – $300 |
Based on the cost ranges, balayage and highlights have similar starting prices. Partial highlights can be slightly cheaper than partial balayage. But all-over highlighting is usually on par cost-wise with a full head balayage.
Factors Impacting Cost
There are several factors that go into the cost of both balayage and highlights:
- Extent of lightening – More dramatic color changes or lifting dark hair to very light blonde will cost more in time and products. Consider how many shades you want to lighten your hair.
- Amount of hair colored – Partial balayage/highlights will take less time and products than all-over color.
- Length and thickness of hair – Long, thick hair takes more time to color than shorter, fine hair.
- Salon pricing – Hair color prices vary based on the salon’s overhead costs and expertise of the colorists.
- Specialty hair treatments – Extras like Olaplex to strengthen hair or haircuts done the same day will add to the cost.
Cost Saving Tips
To save money on balayage or highlights:
- Go partial – Opt for partial balayage or highlights focused on the front face-framing sections.
- Space out sessions – Extend the time between sessions to 6-8 weeks for highlights or 4-5 months for balayage.
- Use toning products – Use at-home toners or coloring conditioners to refresh between salon visits.
- Choose student salons – Take advantage of lower pricing at hair schools with supervised student colorists.
- Ask about discounts – Inquire about any current salon specials or discounts on social media.
- Get a consultation – A free consultation can provide an exact quote for pricing at a salon.
Conclusion
While balayage and highlights come in around the same average price range, balayage can offer more cost savings in the long run. Less frequent touch-ups are needed, allowing you to stretch out the time between salon visits. Going partial with balayage also keeps costs down without sacrificing a fresh look.
If you want to minimize hair color costs, consider starting with partial balayage. Space out the sessions by 4-5 months and use toning products to keep the color fresh between appointments. Shop around for pricing and take advantage of any discounts. With the right techniques, you can achieve beautiful, low-maintenance hair color on a budget.