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- Balayage highlights by (S)Andra Vasilescu
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- Foils highlights by (S)Andra Vasilescu
I used to get my highlights done at another salon. Unfortunately, I had to stop going there and I was very nervous for the change. I prefer balayage to foils for highlights and there are only few salons who use this technique. Sandra made me happy! My highlights are perfect. Change is good! Thank you.~ Guest
With so many hair coloring techniques, so many top hair colorists, no shortage of celebrity hairstylists and “designers for Oscars”, how would YOU, a “simple mortal” choose where to go for your highlights? Searching for the ideal hair color, the quality you see in glossy magazine pages (never mind the flawless hairstyles they get for the photo shoot, the hair extensions or the heavy airbrushing practices) can confuse the best of us.
The debate of what coloring technique delivers better color for your tresses is still going strong. Foilers ( colorists who highlight hair by using foils) say :
Balayage is messy and uneven; the lightening product dries up before the hair gets the chance to process, highlights are orange! Balayage, no good!“
Balayagers (hair colorists who highlight hair by using the balayage technique; ok, we don’t call ourselves that, but it works for this purpose 
) declare with a snort:
Foils are messy, dated and foiled hair looks like spaghetti!”
Depending on what kind of technique you are used to and how much your colorist talked down the other technique, you are now nervous and confused about trying a new hair salon and a new colorist. Sigh, I don’t blame you…
Alas, I am a foiler and a balayager. While I’ve used foils since the beginning of my career, I am now specialized in the art of balayage which I love. However, I still reach for my foil dispenser because one size never fits all!
I’ve heard both sides of the argument, so here’s my advice to you, the regular consumer trying to get a few darn highlights around your face:
- Foils and balayage are tools that require skill, time and patience to be mastered. The outcome of the color depends on the maestro, not on the technique.
- A inexperienced hair colorist can unfortunately make color mistakes such as spots, uneven color, stripy highlights aka “spaghetti” and “tarantula legs” either by foils or by balayage.
- If you are unsure about a particular hair salon, request a pre-consultation. Most salons will happily book you 15-30 min to discuss your concerns.
- Look at the environment, look at the other clients, look at the hairstyles around you. Most salons have a style, does that particular style suit YOU?
- Do you like your hair colorist? Do you trust her/him? Is she asking you questions about you and your hair, or is she too busy naming the celebrities who sat in her chair?
- Have you met the owner of the salon? Try to get a sense of the environment he or she creates for employees. Happy workers perform better.
- Be realistic about what can or can’t be done in one session.
- Remember that it is always easier to go from light to dark, than from dark to light.
- Your hair color should be a function of the integrity of your hair. Some hair types are prone to damage & porosity more than others and hair processing should be minimal.
- Don’t be averse to change, change is good!
