If you are looking for a hair colour specialist Manchester clients can speak to about their next colour appointment, you may already have one question in mind: should you choose balayage or highlights?
Both are popular ways to add lighter tones and dimension to the hair, but they do not create exactly the same finish. The placement of the colour, the amount of contrast and the way the lighter sections blend with your natural hair can all change the final look.
That is why choosing between balayage and highlights is not simply about following the latest trend. It is about finding a colour approach that works with your existing hair and gives you the result you actually want.
At Boombae, colour services in Manchester include balayage, highlights, face framing, root fading, T-bar, ombre and bespoke colouring. So, if you are unsure where to start, a consultation can be a useful first step.
Balayage and Highlights: What Is the Difference?
The simplest way to explain the difference is through the way the colour is placed.
Balayage is a freehand technique. The colour is painted onto selected sections of the hair, creating a softer transition between the lighter pieces and the rest of your hair.
Highlights, on the other hand, involve adding lighter strands through selected sections of the hair. They can give you a more noticeable highlighted effect, depending on the placement and tones chosen.
Neither option is automatically the better choice.
Think about the finish you have in mind. Do you want something soft and blended? Or would you prefer lighter pieces that stand out more against your base colour?
That answer can help point you in the right direction.
Why Is Balayage So Popular?
There is a reason balayage continues to be requested in salons. The technique allows colour to be placed in a very individual way.
Instead of creating exactly the same pattern on every client, the stylist can consider where lighter pieces will work best within the hair.
For someone who wants a softer change, this can be appealing. The colour can be worked through the lengths to create a gradual effect rather than a strong contrast from root to end.
Balayage can also be adapted to different colour ideas. You might want warmer tones, lighter blonde pieces or a subtle change from your natural colour.
The important thing is that the finished colour should make sense with the hair you already have.
When Might Balayage Suit You?
Balayage could be worth considering if you like the idea of:
- Soft, blended lighter pieces
- A more gradual change through the lengths
- Bespoke colour placement
- Natural-looking dimension
- A colour that works with your existing base
It can be particularly useful if you do not want your hair to look as though one block of colour has been added.
Of course, your starting colour still matters. A photo of someone else’s balayage may look very different on your own hair. Your natural colour, previous colour and the result you want all need to be considered.
What Can Highlights Do Differently?
Highlights give you another way to add lightness and dimension.
Instead of painting colour in a freehand balayage style, selected strands are lightened to create a highlighted effect. The placement can be adjusted depending on how much brightness and contrast you want.
Some people love very fine highlights that create a subtle change. Others prefer more noticeable lighter sections.
Highlights can also be combined with lowlights. This can help create variation within the colour rather than making every section equally light.
At Boombae, highlights and lowlights are part of the Manchester colouring service. The aim is to select tones that work with your existing base colour and the result you are hoping to achieve.
When Should You Consider Highlights?
Highlights may be a good option if you want:
- Noticeable lighter strands
- More contrast within your hair
- A brighter overall appearance
- A traditional highlighted look
- Highlights combined with lowlights
They can also be a useful choice if you already have highlights and want to refresh or change the placement.
The final result depends heavily on the tones and placement, so it is worth discussing exactly what you like about your inspiration photos.
Balayage vs Highlights for Blonde Hair
Blonde colour gives you plenty of options, which can make the choice between balayage and highlights even harder.
If you like soft blonde pieces that blend into your natural colour, balayage may be something to discuss with your stylist.
If you prefer brighter and more defined blonde strands, highlights may be closer to the look you have in mind.
For anyone looking specifically for a blonde specialist Manchester, it is helpful to choose a salon where blonde and highlight services form part of the colouring work.
Boombae offers blonde and highlight services alongside balayage and bespoke colour. This means your appointment does not have to begin with a fixed decision.
You can explain what you want your blonde to look like, show your inspiration and talk through the options available for your hair.
What About Money Piece Highlights?
If you want to brighten the front of your hair, money piece highlights may be worth discussing.
This style focuses on lighter pieces around the front of the hair. It can create a brighter frame around the face without necessarily making the whole head much lighter.
The amount of contrast can vary. Some people prefer a soft face-framing effect, while others want the lighter pieces to be much more noticeable.
Boombae offers face framing as part of its colour services in Manchester, so this is another option that can be discussed during a colour consultation.
Money piece highlights can also form part of a wider colour appointment. For example, you may want softer colour through the lengths with brighter pieces around the front.
The overall placement matters. The front sections should work with the rest of your colour rather than looking disconnected from it.
Which Option Is Better for Your Hair?
There is no universal answer.
Your current hair colour is one of the first things to think about. If your hair is naturally darker, you may prefer a gradual approach to lighter tones. If your hair is already light, you may want to build on that with brighter highlights or additional blonde pieces.
Previous colour is important too.
If your hair has been coloured before, your stylist needs to know about it. This is one reason a consultation is so useful. It gives you the chance to explain your hair history and talk honestly about what you want to achieve.
Your desired result matters just as much.
Perhaps you have seen a soft balayage that you love. Or maybe you want a brighter highlighted blonde with clear pieces throughout the hair.
Rather than choosing a technique because it looks good on someone else, start with the finish you want.
Why Your Inspiration Photo Is Only the Starting Point
Taking a photo to your appointment can be helpful. It gives your stylist something visual to work from.
However, it is important to remember that your hair will not necessarily produce the same result as the hair in the photograph.
Hair colour, texture, previous colour and the starting point can all be different.
A good consultation is therefore more than showing a picture and asking for the same thing.
Tell your stylist what you like about the image.
Maybe it is the brightness around the face. Maybe it is the soft blend through the ends. Perhaps you like the contrast between the blonde and the natural base.
Those details give your stylist a much clearer idea of what you are looking for.
Why a Colour Consultation Makes a Difference
Choosing between balayage and highlights becomes much easier when you have talked through your options.
At Boombae, colour consultations are part of the colouring process. The team can discuss your colour goals, look at your existing hair and consider the inspiration you have brought with you.
A patch test is also part of the colour process, with a strand test carried out where needed.
This gives you an opportunity to ask questions before your colour appointment.
You can talk about how much change you want, whether you prefer a soft or brighter finish and which parts of your hair you would like to highlight.
It is also the right time to be realistic about your starting point.
Sometimes the colour you want may need a different approach from what you first expected. Being open to your stylist’s professional guidance can help you find an option that suits your hair.
Can You Combine Different Colour Techniques?
Hair colour does not always have to be one technique from start to finish.
Depending on your colour goals, different services can work together as part of a bespoke colour appointment.
For example, you might want balayage through the lengths with lighter face-framing sections. Another person may prefer highlights with a root fade.
Boombae offers a range of colouring services in Manchester, including balayage, highlights, root fading, face framing, T-bar and ombre.
This gives you more flexibility when discussing your colour.
Instead of asking, “Which trend should I have?”, think about the result you want.
Do you want more brightness? Softer blending? More visible contrast? A change around your face?
Once you know that, your stylist can help you explore the techniques that may work for your hair.
How Do You Choose Between Balayage and Highlights?
If you are still undecided, start with the finish rather than the technique.
Choose balayage if you are drawn towards a softer, more blended effect through the lengths.
Consider highlights if you prefer lighter strands and a more defined highlighted appearance.
If your main goal is brightness around the face, ask about face framing or money piece highlights.
And if blonde is your main focus, discuss your ideas with a blonde specialist Manchester clients can consult about their colour goals.
There is also nothing wrong with asking for advice. You do not need to know exactly what technique you want before your appointment.
Your stylist can look at your hair, listen to your ideas and help you understand your options.
Your Colour Should Feel Personal
Hair colour trends come and go, but the best colour choice is usually the one that feels right for you.
A balayage look that suits one person may not be the best choice for another. The same applies to highlights.
Your natural colour, previous colour and the finish you want all play a part.
That is why bespoke colour and consultation are so important. Rather than copying a look exactly, you can take inspiration from it and create something that works with your own hair.
If you are searching for a hair colour specialist Manchester and want to explore balayage, highlights or another colour service, Boombae can help you start with a clear conversation about what you want.
You can visit boombae to explore the salon’s hair colouring services and find out more about the options available.
When you are ready to talk about your colour, contact us to arrange your appointment.
Final Thoughts
So, balayage or highlights?
There is no single answer that works for everyone.
Balayage can be a good choice when you want softer, graduated colour. Highlights can work well when you want lighter strands and more visible dimension. Face framing and money piece highlights offer another way to bring brightness around the front of the hair.
The most important part is choosing a colour approach based on your own hair and your own goals.
Take your inspiration photos with you, explain what you like about them and let your stylist guide the conversation. With the right plan, you can choose a colour technique that feels much more personal than simply following a trend.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is balayage or highlights better?
Neither is automatically better. Balayage creates a softer, graduated effect, while highlights can give a more defined lighter appearance. Your choice should depend on the colour result you want.
2. Are balayage and highlights the same thing?
No. Both add lighter tones to the hair, but they use different colour placement techniques and can create different finishes.
3. What are money piece highlights?
Money piece highlights are lighter sections placed around the front of the hair. They are designed to bring more brightness to the face-framing area.
4. Can I have balayage and face framing together?
Different colour techniques can be considered together as part of a bespoke colour plan. Boombae offers both balayage and face-framing services in Manchester.
5. Should I bring a photo to my colour consultation?
Yes. An inspiration photo can help explain the type of colour and finish you like. Your stylist can then discuss how that idea may work with your own hair.