Switched from foil highlights to balayage and never looked back

For about 15 years I did nothing but foil highlights on my clients. Every single appointment meant sectioning, weaving, and wrapping each piece in foil. It worked fine but it took forever and my hands started hurting after a while. About three years ago I took a weekend class on balayage in Columbus and decided to give it a real try. Now I do maybe 80 percent of my clients with balayage or some variation of it. The biggest difference is how much more natural the regrowth looks compared to foils. I also save around 20 minutes per full head appointment which adds up fast. Has anyone else made a big switch in their technique like this and found it worked better for you?

2 comments

2 Comments

king.aaron5d ago

Bright clean striped effect" is the exact reason I switched to balayage, that look ages so badly.

the_hayden5d ago

You really think saving 20 minutes is worth sacrificing the precision foils give you? Balayage is great for that messy "lived in" look but not every client actually wants that. Some people pay for highlights specifically because they want that bright, clean, striped effect that you just can't get with a sweeping motion. And the whole "less damage" argument with balayage? I've seen plenty of over-processed balayage where the painter left the lightener on too long trying to get that lift, causing just as much breakage as any foil job. Foils let you isolate exactly what you're lightening and control the process way better, especially on resistant hair or gray coverage. Maybe the real issue wasn't the technique but that you needed better ergonomics and a faster sectioning method.