What is the difference between balayage and highlights?

Highlights are woven into foil, which forces the lightener to work in a straight line from wherever the foil starts. Balayage is painted on freehand, so the colour can be feathered — heavier at the ends, barely there at the root. That soft start is why balayage grows out without a stripe, and why it needs far fewer appointments.

How much is balayage in Solihull?

At Jiggs a classic balayage or ombré starts at £88, balayage with a root smudge from £104, and balayage with babylights from £122. The price depends on which stylist you book, not on how the day goes.

How often does balayage need doing?

Most clients come back every three to four months, which is roughly half as often as foils. A toner between appointments keeps the tone honest and costs a fraction of a full colour.

Will balayage damage my hair?

Lightener is lightener — the difference is what goes in with it and what follows. We build Vitaplex into the colour and offer K18 as a standalone repair afterwards. If your hair is already compromised we will say so at consultation rather than book you in and hope.

Do I need a consultation first?

For a first balayage, yes, and it is free. Fifteen minutes, no obligation — we look at what your hair is actually doing, check for old box colour, and tell you honestly how many sittings it will take.

Colour

Balayage that grows out kindly.

Painted on freehand rather than packed into foil, so there is no hard line waiting for you in eight weeks' time. Three to four months between appointments instead of six weeks.

From £88
75–105 minutes
Free consultation first

A stylist painting colour onto long blonde hair with a tint brush

Which one you actually want

Balayage is a technique, not a look, and the three versions on our price list do genuinely different things.

Classic balayage or ombré

Lightener painted from roughly mid-length down, feathered so the top of the sweep disappears into your own colour. The most forgiving of the three, and the one to pick if you want to stop thinking about your roots.

Balayage with a root smudge

The same painted lightening, then a soft tint melted through the root area to close the gap between your natural colour and the lift. Choose this if your natural base is much darker than the ends you want, or if you have grey coming through at the parting.

Balayage with babylights

Painted sweeps plus very fine foiled highlights near the front and parting. It is the most work and the most money, and it is what you book when you want brightness around the face rather than only through the lengths.

What the appointment is like

Between an hour and a quarter and nearly two hours, depending which of the three you book and how much hair you have. Painting is unhurried by design — the softness of the result is entirely down to how carefully the lightener is feathered at the top of each section.

Colour is weighed on digital scales before it is mixed, so what worked on you last time is recorded to the gram. That matters more than it sounds: it means a repeat is a repeat, even if a different stylist is holding the bowl.

Nearly every balayage finishes with a toner. Lightener leaves warmth behind; the toner is what turns brassy into the colour you had in mind. It is priced separately because not everyone needs one — but most people do.

Balayage

Every price below is the real published rate. The range is the difference between our assistant designers and the salon director.

Balayage & Babylights online 105 min £122–£148
Balayage & Root Smudge online 90 min £104–£127
Classic Balayage / Ombré online 75 min £88–£106

Ranges reflect the stylist you book — an assistant designer through to the salon director. Pick your stylist when you book online .

Foil highlights

Full Head Foils — Extra Long online 90 min £104–£127
Full Head Foils — Long online 75 min £87–£106
Full Head Foils — Short / Medium online 60 min £70–£85
Half Head Foils — Long online 60 min £60–£85
Half Head Foils — Short / Medium online 45 min £52–£68

Ranges reflect the stylist you book — an assistant designer through to the salon director. Pick your stylist when you book online .

Toning & repair

Toner online 15 min £16–£24
Vitaplex Bond Builder (added to colour) online 15 min £12
K18 Molecular Repair online 15 min £27

Ranges reflect the stylist you book — an assistant designer through to the salon director. Pick your stylist when you book online .

See the full colour price list →

Questions

Before you book

What is the difference between balayage and highlights?: Highlights are woven into foil, which forces the lightener to work in a straight line from wherever the foil starts. Balayage is painted on freehand, so the colour can be feathered — heavier at the ends, barely there at the root. That soft start is why balayage grows out without a stripe, and why it needs far fewer appointments.
How much is balayage in Solihull?: At Jiggs a classic balayage or ombré starts at £88, balayage with a root smudge from £104, and balayage with babylights from £122. The price depends on which stylist you book, not on how the day goes.
How often does balayage need doing?: Most clients come back every three to four months, which is roughly half as often as foils. A toner between appointments keeps the tone honest and costs a fraction of a full colour.
Will balayage damage my hair?: Lightener is lightener — the difference is what goes in with it and what follows. We build Vitaplex into the colour and offer K18 as a standalone repair afterwards. If your hair is already compromised we will say so at consultation rather than book you in and hope.
Do I need a consultation first?: For a first balayage, yes, and it is free. Fifteen minutes, no obligation — we look at what your hair is actually doing, check for old box colour, and tell you honestly how many sittings it will take.

Appointments

Book a free colour consultation

Fifteen minutes, no obligation, no pressure to book on the day. We look at your hair, talk about what you want, and tell you honestly what it will take.

Book online 0121 743 3113