Balayage or highlights? Let me help you choose

It is one of the questions I hear most in the chair: should I go for balayage or highlights? After thirty years of colouring hair, my honest answer is - it depends on you, your hair, and how you live. Let me explain the difference the way I explain it in the salon.

Balayage is painted by hand. The colour is swept onto the surface of the hair, softer at the root and lighter towards the ends. It grows out gently, with no hard line, so you can go longer between visits. If you like a natural, sun-kissed look and a lower-maintenance routine, balayage is usually my first suggestion.

Highlights are woven in foils, from the root down. They give a brighter, more even lightness all over, and more lift - if you want to be noticeably blonde, foils are often the way to get there. The grow-out shows sooner, so plan on a visit every six to eight weeks.

A few things I always ask before we decide:

How often do you want to sit in my chair? Balayage forgives. Highlights ask for a little more commitment.

How light do you want to go? For a big change, foils give me more control.

What is your hair’s history? Hair that has been coloured, straightened or bleached before needs a gentler plan, and sometimes the honest answer is “not today - let us get your hair healthy first.”

And please, bring photos. A picture of what you love tells me more in five seconds than ten minutes of describing.

Whichever we choose, the condition of your hair comes first. I would rather do a little less today and keep your hair beautiful for years.

If you are not sure, come and sit with us. A coffee, a proper look at your hair in natural light, and honest advice - no pressure to book anything. That is how we do things at my salons in Knightsbridge and at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower.

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