Does balayage damage hair more than highlights or is it better for your hair. Find out if you need bleach for balayage and it damages your roots.
Balayage has been a popular hair trend in recent years, transforming the way people style their hair and inspiring people to look their best.
But with this newfound trend also arises the debate of whether it can cause more damage to one’s hair than highlights.
Balayage, derived from the French word “to sweep”, is a hair colouring method that is designed to create a sun-kissed, natural looking style.
The technique of balayage sees the stylist painting on lightener or hair dye onto specific strands without having to part the hair, unlike more traditional highlight services.
The outcome of this can vary from a soft to an intense colour transition, depending on the individual’s preference.
With the differences between balayage and highlights being so distinct, my article will address the question of which hair colouring service has a more damaging effect on one’s hair.
Does Balayage Damage Hair More Than Highlights
Differences between balayage and regular highlights
Balayage and regular highlights are two of the most popular hair coloring techniques on the market. While they may appear to offer a similar result, there are several key differences which make each service special in its own way.
Firstly, the main distinction between balayage and regular highlights is the method of application.
Balayage is a freehand process where highlights are painted onto the hair for a more natural sunkissed effect.
On the other hand, regular highlights are applied using foils and require an even distribution throughout the hair.
Secondly, the amount of time it takes to complete each service varies significantly. Balayage generally takes longer due to the intricate care which goes into achieving a more subtle and blended result.
Balayage also tends to be less harsh on the hair as the dye is more gradually lighten over multiple sessions.
Compare this to regular highlights which are saturated in dye and lightened all at once and you can start to see how this affects the overall health of the hair.
As balayage requires fewer lightening treatments, this helps to avoid any kind of over-processing or damage which can occur from overexposure to bleach.
Ultimately, when considering which hair colouring process to undergo, it’s important to weigh up the benefits and differences between balayage and regular highlights.
Both processes can achieve beautiful and long-lasting results, but an experienced colourist will be able to advise the most suitable technique for you based on your requirements.
Related: Balayage Vs. Highlights Vs. Ombre
Is a balayage better for hair than getting highlights
When it comes to deciding whether to get a balayage or highlights for your hair, there is a lot of debate about which is better for the health of your locks.
Both treatments involve lightening your hair with chemical products, but there are some fundamental differences between the two.
Ultimately, whether a balayage or highlights will be less damaging for your hair will depend on several factors, including the type of your hair, the strength of the lightening products used and the expertise of the stylist performing the treatment.
Generally, when done properly, both treatments can be relatively gentle on the hair.
That being said, balayage can be better for the hair when the hair dye is painted on the hair in a more controlled and strategic way, avoiding the more extreme lightening that highlights often require.
Balayage also allows the hair to look more natural and effortless, without the striping effect associated with highlights.
On the other hand, if the highlighting products used are not of an especially high quality, then the hair can be at risk of dryness and breakage.
One of the most important things to consider when deciding is who will be performing the balayage or highlights and the safety measures they take.
In the end, it’s not so much about whether a balayage or highlights is necessarily better for your hair, but the techniques and products used.
When done correctly, both treatments can be amazing, however, balayage can be a more gentle alternative to highlights.
Therefore, if you’re looking to lighten your hair without the dramatic effects of highlights, balayage may be the right choice for you.
Do you need to bleach your hair for a balayage
When considering the options available for sprucing up your hair, there is a lot to consider.
One technique that has become increasingly popular is balayage, but many people worry that it damages the hair more than the traditional highlights. The answer comes down to the underlying structure of these techniques and how it affects your hair.
When you opt for a balayage, there is no need to bleach your hair. Instead, the stylist will use a special dye to paint the colour onto your locks.
The advantage of this is that it doesn’t damage the hair as much because it is not exposed to any of the harsh chemicals that are present in bleaching products.
With traditional highlights, you will have to bleach your hair before adding the colour. This process has the potential to cause more damage and lead to breakage if it isn’t done carefully or done frequently.
So the answer to the question is that you don’t have to bleach your hair in order to get the beautiful balayage look.
You can just enjoy the colour and texture of your locks in the end result with all of its natural beauty intact. This can be a great way to keep your hair conditioned and healthy without any extra damage from bleaching.
Does balayage damage your hair roots
It’s a valid question – does balayage damage your hair roots? After all, any kind of bleach or lightener used to create highlights or balayage can obviously have a damaging effect on the hair.
The truth is, balayage is a gentler and less intense form of highlighting your hair than traditional highlights.
It’s usually less damaging to the hair at the roots because the colouring starts further away from the roots, meaning the roots see less or no lightening.
Balayage is particularly good for those with thicker hair because the process involves less bleaching and more hand painting, meaning it doesn’t damage the entire length of the hair shaft.
In comparison, highlights on thick hair can take longer to apply and can involve more vigorous processing, which can have a damaging effect on the hair roots.
Overall, balayage is better for your roots because the bleach isn’t applied directly to your scalp, and so there is less risk of excessive damage.
That said, the process still involves the use of a lightening agent, so it’s important to talk to your hairdresser and to check if the product being used can cause damage if left on too long.
Additionally, if you’re going for a more drastic colour change, a patch test is recommended prior to going ahead to check for potential skin reactions.
Is balayage bad for thin fine hair
When it comes to balayage vs. highlights, the question of how it affects thin, fine hair is one that comes up often.
Balayage is generally considered safer for those with fine, thin hair because it gives a more natural, sun-kissed look that doesn’t require immense amounts of bleach or other harsh chemicals.
Highlights, on the other hand, do require more of these damaging chemicals including bleach and peroxide, which can cause hair breakage and destroyed follicles. So if you have thin or fine hair, it would seem logical to avoid highlights and opt for balayage instead.
However, it’s important to know that both methods can still cause harm to thin, fine hair, so it’s crucial to be wary.
The amount of damage will ultimately depend on the quality of the styling, amount of time spent under chemicals or heat, and overall maintenance.
If a stylist is overly aggressive and uses bleach in large quantities, it could cause significant damage. On the other hand, if applied and cared for properly, balayage will produce a beautiful outcome with minimal damage.
To minimize the damage to thin, fine hair, it’s important to seek out a quality stylist who understands the needs of those with delicately textured hair.
It’s also important to use good quality products and keep up with regular trims to avoid split ends and breakage.
Ultimately, both balayage and highlights can damage thin, fine hair if not applied and taken care of properly. With the right care, however, both methods can provide beautiful results without causing too much harm.
Summary on balayage and highlights
The balayage is a delicate hair coloring technique which can be used to prevent hair damage and give a beautiful, sun-kissed look.
While it does involve lightening hair color, it does not necessarily damage hair more than highlights, but is preferred due to its ability to create a natural look.
So, if you are considering coloring your hair, consider balayage as a low-maintenance, damage-free way to get beautiful highlights!
Also Read:
What Shampoo To Use On Balayage Hair
Why Pintura Highlights Are Perfect For Curly Hair
How To Choose the Right Toner for Your Highlighted Hair
How To Use Color Melting Technique For Highlighting Hair
To Summarize