If you’ve been scrolling through Instagram or flipping through magazines, you’ve probably noticed that everyone seems to be talking about balayage and highlights. But what’s the difference, and more importantly, which technique is right for your beach lifestyle here on 30A?
As a premier hair salon serving Rosemary Beach, Seaside, Panama City Beach, and the entire Emerald Coast, we’re constantly asked this question. Let’s break down both techniques so you can make the best choice for your hair goals and lifestyle.
What is Balayage?
Balayage (pronounced bah-lee-ahge) is a French word meaning “to sweep.” This hand-painted highlighting technique creates a natural, sun-kissed look with softer, less noticeable regrowth lines. Our balayage service starts at $220, or $310 when combined with an all-over color service.
Benefits of Balayage for Beach Living:
- Low Maintenance: Perfect for busy 30A residents who don’t want to visit the salon every 6-8 weeks
- Natural Look: Mimics what the sun naturally does to your hair during summer days at Grayton Beach or Seagrove Beach
- Customizable: Can be subtle or dramatic depending on your preference
- Grows Out Beautifully: No harsh lines mean you can go 3-4 months between appointments
- Works on All Hair Types: Whether you have fine, thick, straight, or curly hair
What are Traditional Highlights?
Traditional highlights involve using foils to lighten specific sections of hair from root to tip. We offer both partial highlights (starting at $185) and full highlights (starting at $230). When combined with color services, these start at $275 and $320 respectively.
Benefits of Highlights for Beach Living:
- More Dramatic Results: Creates bolder, more noticeable contrast
- All-Over Coverage: Full highlights lighten hair throughout, perfect for significant color changes
- Precise Placement: Foils allow for exact color placement
- Faster Process: Generally processes more quickly than balayage
- Great for Gray Coverage: When combined with color, highlights effectively blend gray hair
Which Technique is Better for Salt Water and Sun Exposure?
Here’s the truth: both techniques work beautifully in our coastal environment, but balayage often edges out traditional highlights for beach lifestyles. Here’s why:
Balayage and Beach Life: The hand-painted nature of balayage means color is concentrated where the sun naturally hits your hair. When you spend time at the beach in WaterColor or Inlet Beach, your balayage will actually be enhanced by sun exposure, creating an even more natural look. The softer regrowth pattern also means that if you’re delayed getting back to the salon (hello, busy summer season!), your hair still looks intentional.
Highlights and Beach Life: Traditional highlights create beautiful dimension but can become brassy more quickly with sun and chlorine exposure. The good news? Our toner add-on service ($45) can neutralize any unwanted warmth between appointments. If you love a bolder, more high-contrast look, highlights might be your perfect match.
Protecting Your Investment
Whether you choose balayage or highlights, protecting your color investment is crucial in our coastal climate. Here are our top recommendations:
- Get a Gloss Treatment ($45+): This service seals your color, adds shine, and helps your color last longer between appointments.
- Consider Quicklights ($100+ for 12 foils or less): Perfect for maintenance between full color services, especially if you just need to brighten your face-framing pieces.
- Add a K18 Treatment ($45+): Color processing can damage hair bonds. K18 repairs this damage, leaving your hair healthier and more resilient against environmental stressors.
What Our Santa Rosa Beach and Miramar Beach Clients Choose
We’ve noticed some interesting trends among our 30A clientele:
Year-Round Residents tend to prefer balayage for its low-maintenance nature. When you’re living the beach life full-time, spending less time in the salon means more time enjoying what brought you here in the first place.
Seasonal Residents and Vacationers often opt for highlights to make a dramatic change during their time on 30A. There’s something special about getting a fresh new look to match your beach vacation vibe.
First-Timers usually start with partial highlights or balayage to test the waters before committing to a full highlight service.
The Best of Both Worlds
Can’t decide? You don’t have to! Many of our clients from Destin to Seaside love combining techniques. We can do balayage on the lengths of your hair for that beachy look while using traditional highlights around your face for brightness. This hybrid approach typically falls within our balayage + color pricing ($310+).
Let’s Find Your Perfect Color
The best way to determine whether balayage or highlights is right for you is to schedule a consultation. We’ll assess your current hair condition, discuss your lifestyle (how often do you swim? how much time do you spend in the sun?), and create a customized color plan that works for your 30A beach lifestyle.
Whether you’re preparing for a season in Rosemary Beach, touching up before a trip to Alys Beach, or you’re a local from Panama City Beach looking for a change, we’re here to create the perfect sun-kissed look for you.