What looks more natural, balayage or highlights
When it comes to lightening your hair, two of the most popular techniques are balayage and traditional highlights. But which one looks more natural? If you’re aiming for a subtle, sun-kissed effect, the right choice depends on your hair type, maintenance preferences, and the overall look you want to achieve.
At Salon No. 100, we specialise in both balayage and highlights, helping our clients find the perfect colour to complement their features. In this blog, we’ll break down the differences between balayage and highlights, explore their pros and cons, and help you decide which technique will give you the most natural-looking results.
What’s the Difference Between Balayage and Highlights?
Before deciding which looks more natural, let’s break down what each technique actually involves.
Balayage: A Soft, Hand-Painted Glow
Balayage is a freehand colouring technique where the stylist paints the lightener onto the hair, creating a soft, natural gradient. The colour is focused on the mid-lengths and ends, blending seamlessly into the natural base colour without any harsh regrowth lines.
✔ Mimics natural sun-lightened hair
✔ No harsh regrowth lines
✔ Works well with a variety of hair colours and textures
✔ Lower maintenance than highlights
Traditional Highlights: Defined and Evenly Distributed
Traditional highlights involve sectioning off small strands of hair and wrapping them in foils to lighten them from the roots to the ends. This technique creates a more uniform, structured look, with lighter pieces throughout the hair.
✔ Brighter overall effect
✔ Can create a bold contrast if desired
✔ Great for those who want consistent, all-over brightness
✔ Needs regular maintenance to avoid visible regrowth
Both techniques are popular in salons, but the question remains—which one looks more natural?
Does Balayage Look More Natural?
If your goal is to achieve a soft, subtle, and effortlessly blended colour, balayage is usually the more natural-looking option. Here’s why:
1. No Harsh Lines or Regrowth
One of the biggest advantages of balayage is that it doesn’t start at the roots. Because the colour is painted on freehand, it blends seamlessly into your natural shade, meaning no obvious regrowth line as your hair grows out.
2. Mimics Natural Sun-Kissed Hair
Balayage is designed to replicate the way the sun naturally lightens hair over time. The lighter tones appear where the sun would naturally hit—around the face and on the mid-lengths and ends—giving your hair a natural glow.
3. Works with Your Natural Colour
Unlike highlights, which lighten the hair from the roots, balayage blends into your existing shade, creating dimension and movement rather than an even, all-over lift.
For those who want low-maintenance, natural-looking colour, balayage is often the better option.
Does That Mean Highlights Look Less Natural?
Not necessarily! Highlights can still look soft and natural, especially when done with fine sections and a skilled blending technique. They’re also ideal for people who want a more structured and even lightening effect.
1. Highlights Can Add More Brightness
If you want an overall lighter hair colour, highlights will provide more lift than balayage. Since they go from root to tip, highlights can create a sunny, bright effect that still looks natural when done correctly.
2. The Right Placement Makes a Difference
While some highlight applications can look stark, when done correctly, fine baby lights or soft weaving techniques can make highlights blend naturally with the base colour.
3. Maintenance is Key
The biggest difference between balayage and highlights is how often you need to maintain them. Since highlights start at the root, they require more frequent touch-ups to keep the colour looking fresh. However, with toners and root shadowing, they can still be softened for a more natural grow-out.
Balayage vs. Highlights: Pros and Cons
Now that we’ve discussed how natural each technique looks, let’s compare their pros and cons to help you decide which suits you best.
Balayage Pros:
✔ Soft, natural look
✔ Low maintenance—less frequent touch-ups
✔ Blends seamlessly into natural hair colour
✔ Great for adding depth and dimension
Balayage Cons:
✖ Can take longer to apply in the salon
✖ Not as bright as highlights
✖ Doesn’t provide root-to-tip lift
Highlights Pros:
✔ Creates a brighter, more noticeable effect
✔ Can be applied in different tones for variety
✔ Works well for those who want full coverage
✔ Structured look with precise placement
Highlights Cons:
✖ Needs regular maintenance to avoid harsh regrowth
✖ Can sometimes look less natural if not blended well
✖ More prone to brassiness if not maintained properly
Which One Should You Choose?
Choosing between balayage and highlights depends on:
✔ Your natural hair colour – Balayage blends beautifully on brunettes, while highlights can give blondes a bright, even lift.
✔ Your lifestyle – If you want low-maintenance hair, balayage is the better choice. If you’re happy to visit the salon more often, highlights might be a great option.
✔ The look you’re after – If you want a soft, sun-kissed effect, go for balayage. If you want defined, consistent lightening, highlights are best.
Still unsure? At Solihull Hairdresser, our expert team at Salon No. 100 can help you decide which colour technique suits your hair and lifestyle best.
Final Thoughts – What Looks More Natural?
Balayage generally looks more natural because it mimics sun-lightened hair and blends seamlessly with your natural shade. However, highlights can still look natural when done correctly, especially if you want brighter, more noticeable colour.
At Salon No. 100, we’ll help you find the perfect shade, whether you opt for a soft balayage or classic highlights. Want to discuss your options? Book a consultation today!
For the best Solihull hairdresser, look no further than Salon No. 100! Serving clients from [cities], we’ve gathered hundreds of five-star reviews over the past few years. Call [xfield_phone] and book your appointment today!
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