Balayage vs. Foilyage: What’s the Difference and Which One Should You Choose?

When you’re getting used to balayage, a new color technique comes into play. While it’s easier to pronounce, what exactly is foilyage? So, Balayage vs. Foilyage: what’s the difference? By reading on, find out if balayage or foilyage is the better color technique and which one is right for you.

BALAYAGE VS FOILYAGE: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

The results of a balayage and foilyage are very similar. The main difference between them is that foilyage tends to look brighter and is closer to highlights in terms of color.

Balayage is a technique in which lightener is swept down the mid-lengths and ends of the hair to create that beautifully blended look we all know and love. Instead of allowing sections of hair to air dry, foilyage uses the same sweeping method. 

Balayage	Foilyage
In general, balayage lights hair, but the roots remain slightly darker.	Foilyage gives you a lighter base than traditional highlights, but a traditional foil takes less time to grow out at the beginning.
Balayage is a little easier to take care of and doesn’t need to be touched up as often.	A foilyage creates a brighter contrast at the base and requires regular appointments and glaze treatments.
Balayage is best for sun-kissed colors and soft finishes because it gives less lift.	Foilyage has more contrast and depth, and it makes the color softer as close as possible to the root.
Balayage is more mixed and gentler.	Foilyage has more effect and is more accurate.

WHAT IS BALAYAGE?

This color technique has been around the block a few times. Yet it has cemented itself as a permanent fixture in the hair industry, and it never seems to fade. Traditionally, the balayage technique is characterized by hand-painted patterns that slowly blend back into your natural or chosen root color with sweeping sections of lightness.

A balayage looks similar to an ombré but does not have a solid gradation around the head as an ombré does. In order to keep this technique more natural, your stylist will hand paint up and down the hair. Continuing this process, he or she might start and stop in different areas to create a more natural, organic sun-kissed look.

A sweeping technique differs from foilyage because it utilizes sweeping paper, or open-air techniques, rather than foils. Further, you may not see as many foiled, hand-painted highlights at the roots as with foilyage. However, some stylists use foils on their balayage clients as well. Many of these color techniques depend on the stylist and the client.

WHAT IS FOILYAGE?

The popularity of foilyage is on the rise because, in many cases, it looks more natural than balayage. Foilyage is a relatively new color technique that has been surpassing balayage in popularity. By combining freestyle hand-painting with foils, the professional can highlight more precisely as they go up the hair and brighten the hair within the foils as they go up.

The heat exchange within foil makes foil hair lift faster and lighter. Lightener, or hair bleach, actually heats up as it oxidizes and lifts. In addition to boosting the hair to its lightest possible level faster, the heat allows it to retain its integrity and still achieve the desired lightness at the same time.

The biggest difference between foilyage and balayage is that foilyage feels closer to a traditional highlight without harsh outgrowth lines or noticeable roots. Faithyage fans also love this technique. Usually, a foilyage coloring technique is characterized by subtle highlights closer to the roots and a brighter overall appearance.

Which Highlighting Technique Should I Get?

As a result of understanding the difference between foilyage and balayage, you might wonder which one is best for you. This technique creates a uniform, consistent look from roots to ends, so it depends on what look you’re going for and how much maintenance you’re willing to commit to. If you are confused about Balayage vs foilyage, then read ahead to know when to use which one.

When Should I Use Balayage?

Balayage is a great highlighting technique if you want a natural-looking dimension without changing the color of your roots or lightening your strands excessively. You can use it to add subtle dimension to your strands without changing your root color or lightening them too much. 

Balayage is great for women who want a sun-kissed look or a “just got back from the beach” feeling.

It looks natural and warm, which is great for people who don’t want to make a big change. Balayage creates highlights that are soft and look natural.

Balayage highlights are perfect if you don’t want to go to the stylist often for touch-ups. The difference between the top and the tip of your hair stays small as it grows.

In addition, if you want to upgrade your dark hair without tons of maintenance, this is the best method for you, as you won’t have a harsh regrowth line. The whole haircut is meant to highlight this difference. Balayage is a low-maintenance method that lets you put off touch-ups, so you won’t feel awkward as your hair grows out.

When should I Use Foilyage?

Foilyage is usually used for dark hair that wants light highlights. That doesn’t mean you’ll get the unblended appearance of a traditional blonde highlight. But what about a beautiful blend that is nuanced and beautiful?

It’s the perfect highlighting technique if you want vivid, dimensional highlights. Since this is similar to balayage, it’ll create a natural-looking. And it gives multidimensional highlights throughout your mane. And with the addition of foils, it’ll make your highlights appear brighter and lighter. 

The foilyage gained popularity due to its low care requirements. Hollywood stars, actresses, singers, and models began getting the procedure, so it’s not a secret in most salons. 

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, the foilyage hair technique is a great option for those who want to add some dimension to their hair while keeping it natural-looking. This versatile technique is tailor-made to suit your personal needs and look.

It is important to consult with a professional stylist to determine if this technique is appropriate for your hair type and to make sure you get the best results.

I hope this article helps you to know the differences between Balayage vs. Foilyage, which also helps you to decide which technique you should choose for your hair.