Babylights Are the Low-Maintenance Way to Add Dimension to Hair

Rachel Spits, Balmain Hair’s Couleurs Couture developer, agrees and likens the effect to highlights that occur naturally—like when you were a little kid or when you spend time in the sun frequently.

“Babylights is a hair coloring technique that involves adding very fine, delicate highlights to the hair,” she says. “These highlights are meant to mimic natural, sun-kissed strands. They are typically much finer and subtler than traditional highlights, and they are strategically placed to create a soft and natural look.”

To create babylights, colorists take broader sections of hair to get a finer, more natural effect.

“The key difference between babylights and balayage lies in their application technique and the resulting effect,” says Hong. “Babylights involve very fine, strategically placed highlights for a subtle and natural look, while balayage is a freehand painting technique that creates a more intense and artistic effect with a more grown-out appearance at the roots.”

Most important, babylights suit all hair colors, especially dark hair colors like red hair, brown hair, and black hair. “Almost every natural hair color could benefit from babylights by adding dimension and vibrancy,” says Hong. “It looks fresh yet not too dramatic. It’s best suited on finer textures or straight hair, as it give body and depth. Babylights are still customizable. For instance, babylights can be painted brighter around the face frame or just enhance the natural color.”