Babylights vs Highlights: Difference & Cost
By Milajne, Founder & President of Zennkai — professional hair care across Metro Vancouver since 1984.
Babylights vs highlights, in one line: Highlights are woven sections lightened several shades for visible contrast and brightness. Babylights are ultra-fine, closely-placed highlights that mimic natural, sun-kissed lightness — softer, more blended, and slower to show regrowth. Babylights are technically a highlighting method, not a separate one.
HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights can have different end results depending on what your ideal finished look is, but if you’re looking to add more dimension to your hair, highlights will achieve that natural sun kissed look. To avoid too much contrast, highlights are usually a maximum of 3 shades lighter than your natural hair to prevent it from looking stripy & keep it looking natural. However, if you prefer more of that contrast, that’s okay too, chunky highlights are making a comeback!
The application process of highlights involves your stylist taking sections of hair, possibly weaving each section, & applying lightener to create dimension. These sections are neatly wrapped in foil, which conducts heat to allow lightener to penetrate deeper into the hair. Sections of your own hair are weaved out or left out of the highlighting process to create a blend throughout your hair. This dimension can be created through a full head, half head, or partial head of foils.
BABYLIGHTS
Babylights are a similar technique to highlights but provide a more delicate look. The main difference is the amount of hair in & between each section. They are finer micro-strands but there are more of them & will give the illusion of a subtle all over colour & make your sun-kissed glow last for longer. Babylights are a more current method used if you’re looking for a big change like going from brown to blonde without the harsh process of a colour correction.
For the application, your stylist will create a more natural blend of colours by highlighting more sections of your hair. These sections will be finer than traditional highlights & generally takes longer with a higher cost, as it is a much more precise process. Babylights are so versatile & work great for many hair types, especially clients with thin/fine hair because more dimension is added to the hair without looking stripy which can make the hair look even more fine.
For balayage, a type of highlighting technique, a freehand painting method is used to apply lightener instead & processed in open-air rather than foils. Specific placement of these painted sections of hair leaves you with beautifully blended dimension. This is the most popular highlighting method being used currently, along with foilyage which combines traditional highlight techniques with balayage.
WHICH DO YOU CHOOSE?
Babylights & highlights may achieve your desired look on their own, but your stylist may also combine the 2 techniques or use other coloring techniques like a root melt to achieve different dimensions.
If you still aren’t sure which technique is right for you, consult with your stylist & show them inspiration pictures that you like. They are well educated on the different techniques, & can make recommendations as far as what technique will achieve your desired look & if multiple techniques are needed. Keep in mind, multiple sessions may be needed depending on the end goal for your hair. Your stylist will educate you further & make the recommendations they think would be best!
Book Your Colour at Zennkai — Six Metro Vancouver Locations
Ready to book? Zennkai's colourists do babylights, highlights, and blends of both across all six Metro Vancouver locations. Not sure which suits your hair? Start with a colour consultation and we'll match the technique to your base, length, and maintenance.
After Your Appointment: Keeping Your Colour Bright
Babylights and highlights both lift the cuticle, and lightened hair fades and turns brassy faster than virgin hair — especially in Metro Vancouver, where hard water pulls warmth back into blonde tones. The maintenance that protects your colour between visits: a purple or blue toning shampoo to neutralise brass, a bond-repair step to strengthen chemically processed strands, and gentle sulfate-free cleansing to slow fade — available at every location, so you can pick it up at the same visit.
→ Explore the professional colour-care range in our Blonde & Bleached collection
FAQ
What is the difference between babylights and highlights?
Highlights are woven sections of hair lightened several shades for visible contrast and brightness. Babylights are ultra-fine, closely-placed highlights that mimic natural, sun-kissed lightness for a softer, more blended result. Babylights are a technique within highlighting rather than a separate service.
Are babylights more expensive than highlights?
Usually yes. Babylights use finer, more closely-placed sections than traditional highlights, so they take longer to apply and often use more foils, which raises the cost. The trade-off is softer, slower regrowth that can mean fewer touch-ups over time. For an exact quote on your hair, book a colour consultation at any of Zennkai's six Metro Vancouver locations.
Do babylights last longer than highlights?
Babylights tend to grow out more gracefully than traditional highlights because the fine, blended sections don't create a hard regrowth line. Colour-wise both fade at a similar rate, but babylights often stretch the time between salon visits, while bold highlights show regrowth sooner.
Are babylights better for fine hair?
Babylights suit fine hair well because the delicate, closely-placed sections add dimension without the chunky contrast that can look heavy on finer textures. They create the look of natural brightness while keeping the result soft and blended.
How do I keep babylights or highlights bright at home?
Lightened hair needs colour-safe care: a purple or blue toning shampoo to control brassiness, a bond-repair step to strengthen chemically processed strands, and gentle sulfate-free cleansing to slow fade. Metro Vancouver's hard water can dull tone faster, so periodic clarifying helps too.
Where can I get babylights or highlights in Metro Vancouver?
Zennkai offers professional babylights, highlights, and blended colour services at all six Metro Vancouver locations — South Granville, Metrotown, Coquitlam, Guildford, Willowbrook, and Pitt Meadows. Book a colour appointment or a consultation to match the technique to your hair, and pick up the colour-safe products to maintain it at the same visit.