Balayage vs. Highlights: What’s the Difference?
Understanding Two of Toronto’s Most Popular Colour Services
At HOLDENGRACE, clients often ask, “What’s the difference between balayage and highlights?” Both techniques create beautiful dimension and brightness — but the approach, maintenance, and final look are completely unique. Here’s how to know which one is right for you.
What Is Balayage?
Balayage (pronounced bah-lee-ahge) is a French word meaning to sweep. It’s a hand-painted colouring technique that creates a soft, natural gradient of lightness from roots to ends. Rather than starting colour at the root, your stylist paints strategically to mimic how the sun would naturally lighten your hair.
At HOLDENGRACE, our balayage process includes:
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Consultation & Goal Setting — We begin by discussing your natural tone, lifestyle, and desired brightness.
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Custom Colour Mapping — Each section is painted freehand for a bespoke blend.
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Toning & Glossing — We finish with a gloss to enhance shine and refine tone.
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Styling & Care — Hair is styled to reveal dimension, and you’ll receive home care recommendations.
Balayage is ideal for clients who love low-maintenance, lived-in colour that grows out beautifully without harsh regrowth lines.
What Are Highlights?
Highlights use foils to isolate strands and lighten them from root to tip. This creates a more uniform, brighter look throughout the hair and is perfect for achieving full blonde transformations or crisp contrast.
Our highlighting process includes:
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Precision Foiling — Each foil is placed to achieve even lift and maximum brightness.
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Custom Toner Application — After lightening, we tone to perfect your ideal shade — whether warm, cool, or neutral.
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Bond-Building Treatment — We use products like K18 and Olaplex to maintain hair health and strength.
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Finishing Touches — Your stylist blends and styles your hair for a polished, luminous result.
Highlights are ideal for clients who prefer a brighter overall look, or who love that classic, root-to-tip lightness.
How to Choose Between Balayage and Highlights
The best choice depends on your maintenance preferences, hair type, and desired look:
| Preference | Choose Balayage | Choose Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Low — grows out softly | Higher — root touch-ups every 6–8 weeks |
| Result | Natural, sun-kissed gradient | Bright, uniform dimension |
| Technique | Hand-painted, no foils | Precision foil placement |
| Ideal For | Lived-in blondes, brunettes, or soft contrast | Full blonde transformations or high-impact brightness |
Still unsure? During your colour consultation, we’ll assess your hair, talk through your goals, and recommend the perfect technique for your tone and lifestyle.
The HOLDENGRACE Colour Experience
Every balayage and highlight service at HOLDENGRACE is customized using professional colour lines and luxury care products like Oribe, Authentic Beauty Concept, and K18.
Our team of stylists in Bloor West Village, Toronto, are trained in advanced blonding techniques to ensure your hair looks and feels healthy, glossy, and modern.
Book Your Colour Consultation
Whether you’re dreaming of sunlit dimension or a full head of blonde, we’ll help you find your perfect match.
Book a consultation at HOLDENGRACE Toronto today and let our colour experts guide you through the process.
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