Balayage and highlights are both hair coloring techniques used to add dimension and depth to the hair, but they differ in how the color is applied and the resulting look.

Balayage is a French word meaning "to sweep" or "to paint." In the balayage technique, the color is painted onto the hair in a sweeping motion, creating a graduated, natural-looking effect. The color is usually applied to the mid-lengths and ends of the hair, with little or no color applied to the roots. This allows for a more subtle and gradual transition from the natural hair color to the dyed color.

Highlights, on the other hand, involve sectioning off small chunks of hair and applying color to them. The color is usually applied to the entire length of the sectioned hair, from roots to ends. This creates a more noticeable contrast between the natural hair color and the dyed color. Highlights are often placed around the face to frame it and add brightness to the hair.