We hear all of these words floating around, but as a client you don't know what's what.. and thats okay! Let's break it down together.
Highlights used to be the name for anything blonde.. but the hair world has changed so much. Think of highlights as a singular service, as Kelly Clarkson, and think of balayage as anything blonde that doesn't start right at the root.
Balayage and lived in hair also go hand in hand. Lived in hair is just as it sounds, something that doesn't look crispy and fresh, it looks like it's worn in the moment you leave the salon. Lived in hair is that cool girl sitting at the coffee shop, she always looks good even if it's in old jeans and a sweatshirt. THAT is lived in hair, it looks effortless and beautiful from the moment you get it done, until months later.. like 4-6 months later. That's a win.
You may have noticed that the price and time of these services has changed aver the last few years. Your mom used to get a highlight and haircut for eighty bucks and be in and out of the salon in under two hours, and that's just not the way it is in a modern salon getting modern hair color. Lived in hair takes much longer because there is so much effort put into the artistry of making it look soft and natural. It's much easier to put in a chunky highlight and head straight into the blow dry, but it's not going to grow out looking soft and natural like we want today.
Instead, at your balayage or lived in color appointment you can expect much more effort going into the application of your lightener, more time and care for the integrity of your hair. We now let it process to the lightness you need on it's own rather than popping you under a dryer to speed up the process, in turn causing more damage to your hair. And after you're done processing? We don't just wash & dry and send you on your way. You've probably heard of root melts, shadow roots and root smudges.. it's all different variations of the same thing. These are all examples of applying a darker toner near the root of your balayage than to the ends, creating a soft gradient of color making it look more natural and ensuring a seamless blend and grow out. And toner, let's not forget that one step that seals the deal (and the cuticle) of your new look, just about any blonde that you see walking down the street today has a toner at the end of their appointment, a step that was completely ignored by many salons any stylists just five to ten years ago.
So yes, there are a million variations of words you can search instagram and pinterest for to find your next dream hair style, but don't stress. Find a few pics of absolute hair goals, find a stylist who's work looks like it has the same vibe and style, and book your next appointment. We can all be that gorgeous effortless beauty sitting at the coffee shop, you're just one hair appointment and an iced latte away.
XOXO Honey
Loveeeeeeeeee