Hair Foiling Techniques: Placement How-To & Tips

Table Of Content

• How to Create a Modern Mullet With a Drop Fade
• Image of a hairdresser is dyeing female hair, making hair highlights to his client with a foil.
• Foilyage 101: Everything You Need to Know About the Hybrid Highlighting Technique
• What’s the Difference Between Foils, Balayage and Foilayage?

Balayage may be too drastic of a change, but this is something that will create a similar look to what the client is used to. Foilyage gives the stylist freedom to customize the color on each client instead of repeating the same foiling pattern every few weeks. The fun part about colouring with foils is the endless ways to add beautiful and glossy colour to your client’s hair. From full heads of colour to foilayage and root touch-ups, foiling is a go-to colouring technique that offers your clients maximum results with creative new ways to see their colour.

How to Create a Modern Mullet With a Drop Fade

Some may believe that the only way to create a low-maintenance look is to do a traditional balayage. However, with the foilyage hair color technique, this is no longer the case. A developer is mixed with the bleach to help it penetrate the hair strand, and the volume refers to how much of your natural pigment it lifts. A lower volume developer, like 20 volume, will lift less than a higher volume like 40. Your stylist is trained in how to best use these developers to get the desired result, which is why it’s recommended to get any lightening treatments, like hair foils, done by a professional. Just as your natural hair boasts an array of hues, so too can your highlighted strands.

Image of a hairdresser is dyeing female hair, making hair highlights to his client with a foil.

From customized color to long-lasting results, hair foils have revolutionized the way we can express ourselves through our hair. Depending on the state of your hair, other treatments may be recommended or required. "I always apply the Olaplex Standalone treatment to help repair the hair," Cunningham says of her foilyage clients. Depending on the level of change you desire, stylists will either do partial highlights vs full highlights. The type of treatment you choose will greatly affect how much the appointment will cost, how much time you can expect to spend in the salon chair, and the amount of upkeep needed. If your aim is vivid, dimensional highlights, foilayage is your perfect highlighting technique.

Foilyage 101: Everything You Need to Know About the Hybrid Highlighting Technique

Foilayage, as you may have been able to guess by now, is a combination of foils and balayage. The process involves your colorist hand painting highlights throughout your mane before wrapping each in a sheet of foil. This combines the natural look of balayage with the sped-up process of foils and helps to create a brighter look. And, of course, when you’re bleaching a specific strand of hair, you want to make sure it stays separate from the unbleached hair and foils act as the perfect barrier. The second way I use the foilyage technique is by painting the lightener onto the hair like a balayage and then wrapping the hair in foils. Wrapping the hair in foil will produce a more dramatic result because the heat allows the hair to process evenly.

1 Demi-Permanent Gloss Hair Colour

Taming the temperature of your shower is another crafty trick, as reducing the heat can help extend the life of your carefully crafted hues. Kristin also suggests a periodic clarifying treatment to keep your color palette fresh and radiant. The classic approach is where individual strands are painted and wrapped in foils for stunning contrast and dimension. Traditional foils lighten locks from roots to ends, giving the hair more of a consistent and patterned-based look. Foilyage allows the hair to be softer at the root and lighter on the ends, resulting in a more natural grow out.

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What Is Foilyage?

The fold and lock application of foils avoids colour seepage which can create a demarcation or bleeding of colour onto the scalp or hair. "Like balayage, roots stay a bit darker than the rest of the hair, so unless you need a root touch-up for gray hair, foilyage can be touched up every 4-6 months," Cunningham tells us. To maintain the vibrancy of your color, prolong its lifespan, and keep your hair's strength intact, you'll need to invest in quality products to use at home. "Purple toning shampoo and conditioner can keep brassiness and dullness away," says Cunningham, who also recommends weekly bond-building treatments to maintain good hair health. Now that you understand the difference between partial and full foiled highlights, and what you can expect when you go to the salon, you can make your hair appointment with confidence.

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What’s the Difference Between Foils, Balayage and Foilayage?

At Studio One Salon, our stylists are all experts at hair foils, balayage, and other color services. Schedule an appointment with our hair experts to see how to achieve the hair of your dreams. Much like an artist's palette, there's a wide array of foil placement techniques that your stylist can use to achieve different effects. From peekaboo strands that create subtle pops of color to bolder statements that demand attention, the world of foil placement is as vast as your imagination. Highlights are usually achieved by sectioning off thin and small sections of hair, painting them with lightener and then wrapping them in foils to let them process. The desired color and effect depends largely on the pattern of the foils and the amount of time the color spends on the hair.

Demystifying Hair Foils: Discover the Secrets to Stunning Hair Color!

Either way, hair foils allow for a more natural color look that adds dimension as opposed to flat all-over color. Salon Dior-favorite brand Kevin Murphy color.me shows the variety of warm and cool looks you can get with this technique. If you can skip heat styling, you’re never going to regret it, it’s always the best option for your color-treated strands. In place of hot tools, we recommend a heatless style like a messy bun or a sleek, low bun.

Luckily, your hairstylist will use developers of different volumes to combat this. The cost will also be lower than a full foil service, starting at around $30. But like a full highlight, the cost will vary greatly based on what salon you choose and what level your stylist is. If full foils are used to create a dramatic change, then partial foils are perfect for those who are seeking a more understated effect. However, just because the effect is subtle doesn’t mean you can’t get an exciting new look, as Hair.com demonstrates.

To infuse new life into dulled blonde ends, a twirl with the balayage brush while the foils work their magic can be the perfect rejuvenation potion. Depending on the kinds of highlights your client wants, you will find the desired style in one of these foil methods. Whether you want to give your hair a bit of sun-kissed glow or completely revamp your head with some chunks of dyed hair, you will need to know how to high or lowlight your hair. The process is a little tricky, but with some time and patience you should be able to do it at home. Simply apply dye to your hair using foils, let it sit, and then rinse it out.

A full hair foil targets the entire head, including the underside of your hair. Because the entire head is done, anywhere from 45 to over 100 foils will be used. Just like any masterpiece, foil highlights come with their own set of maintenance secrets.

Take notes as we break down everything you need to know about foils, balayage and foilyage so you can choose the best technique for your hair with confidence. The processing time boils down to length, density, and pre-existing treatments on the hair. If you have a darker natural hair color, it may take more time to lift the hair to the desired level of lightness. If you have extra long hair (or simply a lot of it), you're probably used to the drill by now— your treatment may take a while. Trying to choose what type of highlights to get next time you visit the salon? If you are looking to add subtle highlights to darker hair, or dramatically lighten your hair's base color, it is more than likely your stylist will use the foil technique.

It will be a more gradual transition via foils, which is better both for the overall effect, as well as the health of your hair. If you like more of an effortless look, I would definitely choose foilyage. However, if there are multiple colorists in the same salon, the cost can also differ among them.

To keep your highlights looking fresh and vibrant, reach for a shampoo and conditioner that is formulated for color-treated hair. All three methods can help to give your hair brightness and add dimension, but one may be better for your hair type and hair goals over the other. When it comes to transforming your tresses into a work of art, few techniques rival the sheer brilliance of hair foils. From enhancing your natural color to crafting mesmerizing highlights, hair foils have taken the world of hairstyling by storm, offering a spectrum of possibilities that can leave you spellbound.

Foilyage Hair Color Technique from A to Z

Table Of Content

• Using a Hair Color Developer
• Clear Tint Set 7pce Salon Pack
• Use Purple Shampoo
• Proper Home Care After Foilyage
• Spa Services
• What Is Balayage?
• Products & Services
• What’s the Difference Between Foils, Balayage and Foilayage?

"It's best if you show up [to your appointment] with clean, dry hair," says Cunningham. This doesn't mean you need to be fresh out of the shower when you arrive at the salon, but perhaps wash it the night before and stay clear of any products. Some colorists will send you straight to the shampoo bowl for a wash and dry if they find your scalp too oily, resulting in additional costs. "Impurities can block the bleach and other materials [and] you won't get as even of a lift," Cunningham explains.

Using a Hair Color Developer

With a wide range of applications and techniques available, the uncapped level of styling and creativity is a big reason why clients are big fans of the foil. A far cry from the days of ‘streaks, adding highlights and lowlights to a colour appointment is more than just the standard ½ head/full head applications. Now that we understand how hair foils work, let's explore why they have become a go-to technique for hair coloring enthusiasts worldwide. Stylists will use a special comb to weave individual strands from larger sections of hair, apply the bleach, and secure the hair in the foil to process. The foils ensure that the bleach only touches strands you want lightened, as well as traps heat to help the bleach process more effectively.

Clear Tint Set 7pce Salon Pack

You can expect to spend at least $75 on a full treatment, but the cost can surpass $300, and keep going. A haircut and blowout are typically not included in the price regardless, so plan to pay extra for that. For those with darker hair looking to completely transform their hair, a full hair foil service will be the best approach. Foils can be used to lighten hair several levels, or go for a dramatic blonding effect. Even if you are hoping to go from dark brown to platinum blonde hair, your stylist is probably going to recommend a full foil to start. First, cleanse your scalp and hair with the shampoo, then spray the in-shower glaze on wet hair and let it sit for one to three minutes, (do not rinse) and follow up with the conditioner.

Use Purple Shampoo

By combining the two, you get hair that is lighter and brighter than a typical balayage but with more of a color lift than hand painting alone can achieve, explains Cunningham. So when the goal is natural, sun-kissed hair color, Kandasamy says foilyage is the popular choice. If you commit to a full foil, you will likely need to return to the salon for maintenance appointments, as your root regrowth will be obvious.

This duo contains purple dye to neutralize brassy, yellow and orange tones from blonde and highlighted hair. Once a week, switch out the conditioner for the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Anti Brass Purple Mask Treatment to give your hair an extra dose of hydration while banishing brass. The color is hand-painted onto your hair, creating a natural, sun-kissed effect that seems as if you've spent endless summers frolicking on the beach. Unlike foils, balayage is a freehand technique where the color is more heavily applied from the midsection to the ends of the hair. Also, this method is the perfect way for clients who typically get traditional highlights to change things up.

Depending on how much pigment you want lifted, you will sit for anywhere from ten to forty-five minutes. Your stylist may put you under a dome-shaped hair dryer for heat, or not use heat at all. As you step into the realm of highlights and balayage, remember that these techniques are not just styles, but extensions of your self-expression. While some stylists may interlace both methods to orchestrate a symphony of shades, the ultimate choice rests in your hands. For those yearning for the coveted creamy blonde, foil highlights take center stage. Stylists like Kristin have mastered the art of wielding foils to achieve that ethereal, light blonde that seems straight out of a dream.

What Is Balayage?

The other big perk to this technique is simply getting the best of both worlds between hand-painting and the foil placements. "It'll give you that pop [of brightness] that regular balayage might not be able to do [on its own], especially if you have hard-to-lift hair," says Bonilla. Partial hair foils are also used to create “babylights,” which are intended to subtly brighten overall color and mimic the sunkissed strands from childhoods spent playing in the sun.

Products & Services

The technique foilyage (or foilayage) comes from combining traditional foils and balayage effect. Traditional foils are done in a pattern throughout the client’s head, resulting in a more consistent look. Balayage is hand-painted highlights, resulting in a more natural, sun-kissed look. The foilyage method helps give clients the best of both worlds by combining the two techniques.

What’s the Difference Between Foils, Balayage and Foilayage?

Of course, if you choose a more budget-friendly salon, the cost will be lower than if you go to a high-priced boutique salon or prestigious chain. It’s best practice to use your hot tools on the lowest temperature setting and only pass through each section of hair once to avoid damage. To preserve your newfound kaleidoscope of color, consider adopting a gentler washing routine. Resisting the temptation to wash daily can shield your hues from unnecessary fading, while adorning your crown with a chic hat provides a stylish barrier against the sun's potent rays. Regardless of which service you choose, there are some things you can always expect.

Luckily, our stylist friend Samantha Harman wrote this article with all the important details about foilyage technique. Keep reading to know how foils plus balayage can help you get the color you’ve always dreamed about. And if you have naturally darker hair that has a hard time lifting to shades of blonde, Bonilla says foilyage is a safer way to brighten and lighten things with a low-volume developer. In the realm of hairstyling, hair foils stand as a beacon of possibility, guiding you toward a tapestry of color and creativity. So, the next time you find yourself in the stylist's chair, ponder the radiant allure of hair foils—the enchanting path to a world of hair transformation that's uniquely your own.

As trends come and go, hair foils have proven to stand the test of time, consistently delivering gorgeous results that turn heads. Techniques like foil highlights, balayage and foilayage offer a similar look but they all have key differences that can influence how they fit in with your hair color goals. So, if you’re wondering what separates these three highlighting techniques, you are not alone.

As we mentioned above, this technique will create a uniform, consistent look throughout your mane from roots to ends. Imagine a sun-kissed glow that seems to dance and shimmer in the sunlight – that's the power of foil highlights. Whether you're dreaming of blonde highlights on your darker hair or looking to spice up your already gorgeous strands, foils are the secret ingredient. For more subtle highlights, babylights are very fine, subtle hair foil strategically placed on the to mimic the effect of sun lightening. Hair foils have become a beloved staple in the world of hair coloring for a good reason. Their versatility, precision, and ability to create beautiful, multi-dimensional color make them a go-to choice for hairstylists and hair enthusiasts alike.

Because the amount of hair foils used is much less, you save both time and money with this service. Application of the foils shouldn't take more than an hour, not including time spent processing. Another determining factor is the amount of hair foils used, as some places even charge by the foil.

This technique is perfect for clients with really dark hair who still want the balayage effect or for someone who wants a really drastic change. The first way I like to foilyage is to go through and foil the entire head and then balayage the pieces that are left out in between foils. When doing this, I try to apply the lightener in a different pattern so the hair will have more of a dimensional look. Using both of these methods helps avoid any type of lines throughout the hair, creating a more natural grow out. If you have blonde highlights then you’re probably no stranger to brassy strands.

Foilyage is the most common coloring method I've seen in salons over the last ten years, but we never really had a name for it until recently. It isn't balayage, and it isn't foil highlights; as the name would suggest, it's something in-between. And in most situations, it provides the client with the best of both worlds. This means you’ll sit with the foils in your hair while the bleach lifts your color to the desired level.

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The undeniable advantage of foil highlights is the visible line of demarcation that allows new growth to make a fashionable entrance. But fear not, for there are strategies to gracefully navigate this dance of regrowth. The main benefit of foilyage is how low maintenance it is. "The color grows out naturally without a stark line of demarcation," Kandasamy says.