Seoul Scissors · Brooklyn
Balayage & Highlights in Brooklyn
Dimensional Color That Looks Beautiful, Natural, and Made for You
Balayage and highlights can completely change the way your hair looks — adding brightness, dimension, movement, and depth without making the color look flat or overly processed.
At Seoul Scissors, every balayage and highlight service is customized to your hair, complexion, existing color, lifestyle, and the look you want. Whether you want soft natural dimension, brighter blonde pieces, face-framing highlights, or a more noticeable transformation, the goal is the same: color that works with you, not a formula.
With more than 25 years of professional hair experience, Nicole approaches every color service with the condition of your hair in mind.
The Difference
Balayage & Highlights — What’s the Difference?
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they’re not the same technique.
Balayage
A hand-painted technique that creates soft, dimensional color with a gradual transition from your natural hair. Because color is placed individually rather than in a uniform pattern, it can range from subtle sun-kissed dimension to a brighter transformation — and it typically grows out with a softer root line, which can mean more time between appointments.
Traditional Highlights
Use carefully placed sections for more consistent brightness throughout the head. A good choice when you want uniform brightness, a stronger blonde effect, or brightness from root to length. Highlights can be customized too — they don’t have to mean all-over blonde.
Which is right for you? Your existing color, hair texture, chemical history, desired result, and maintenance preference all matter. If you’re unsure, that’s exactly what the consultation is for.
Services & Pricing
Balayage Services & Pricing
Custom Balayage
Starting at $220
Personalized hand-painted color built around your natural hair, skin tone, haircut, and desired brightness. Placement is customized, not templated.
Full Highlights
Starting at $195
For clients who want consistent brightness and dimension throughout.
Partial Highlights
Starting at $150
A focused service for adding brightness where it matters most — refreshing existing color or brightening the top and front sections.
Face-Framing Highlights
Starting at $130
Brighten the pieces around your face for an immediate change without lightening the entire head. Can be subtle or pronounced, and can also be added onto a larger balayage or highlight service.
Money Piece Highlights
Starting at $140
A stronger face-framing highlight that makes the front of the hair stand out, from soft and blended to bold and high-contrast.
Your Look
Natural Dimension or a Bigger Transformation?
Not everyone wants the same balayage. Your color can be designed around the difference:
Soft & Natural
Subtle brightness that creates movement without looking heavily colored
Dimensional Brunette
Rich brunette tones with carefully placed lighter pieces
Brighter Blonde
More noticeable lightening for a stronger transformation
Face-Framing Brightness
Focused brightness around the face with more natural depth elsewhere
The goal isn’t simply to make your hair lighter — it’s the right balance of light, depth, and tone for you.
Dark Hair
Balayage for Brunettes & Dark Hair
Balayage doesn’t mean becoming blonde. Warm caramel, honey, beige, neutral, and cooler tones can all work depending on your natural color and desired result — for some clients, the best result is only a few shades lighter. The goal is dimension, not maximum lightness.
Dark hair needs particular attention when lightening. Depending on your starting color and history — previous permanent color, box dye, black color, prior highlights — achieving a lighter result may take one appointment or several. We’ll tell you honestly which, before we begin.
Color History
What About Previously Colored Hair?
If you’ve used permanent color, box dye, dark or black color, henna, previous highlights, bleach, or other chemical treatments, tell Nicole at your consultation. Your color history determines what your hair can realistically and safely handle.
Hair Health
Will Balayage or Highlights Damage My Hair?
Lightening is a chemical process, and it can affect hair condition — that doesn’t mean beautiful color and healthy hair are incompatible, it means the process needs to be approached responsibly. Every service starts with an assessment of your hair’s condition and history. If your hair isn’t ready for the result you’re asking for, you’ll be told honestly — sometimes the right move is to lighten less, or strengthen the hair first. The goal isn’t just leaving with lighter hair; it’s leaving with hair you still want to live with.
Maintenance
How Long Does Balayage Last?
Balayage’s softer grow-out is part of its appeal — lighter pieces placed away from the scalp mean less obvious regrowth than an all-over color. How long it looks its best depends on your natural color, how light you go, hair growth rate, wash frequency, hair-care routine, and sun/heat exposure. Some clients want a full transformation; others return periodically for a refresh, toner, or gloss.
Toner & Gloss
Starting at $60
Refines the finished tone (warmer, cooler, brighter, more neutral) and adds shine between larger services.
Consultation
What Happens During Your Consultation?
We’ll go over your desired result (bring photos if you have them), your current hair (natural color, history, texture, condition), your maintenance preferences, and your realistic options — including whether your goal needs one session or several. The consultation isn’t about upselling; it’s about determining what will actually work.
Real Work
Real Balayage & Highlight Work From the Chair
Every result shown here is Nicole’s own work, done for real clients at Seoul Scissors in Brooklyn.
Explore More
Looking for Something More Creative?
If you want something more expressive — vivid pink, lavender, fashion color, K-pop-inspired color — explore our Vivid & Fashion Hair Color services. If your primary goal is covering gray rather than creating highlights, see our Gray Coverage & Gray Blending services.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does balayage take?
Depends on hair length, density, amount of lightening, and starting color — a consultation gives you an accurate estimate.
Is balayage better than highlights?
Neither is automatically better — they create different effects, and the right choice depends on your hair and goals.
Can I get balayage if I have dark hair?
Yes, though the achievable result depends on your starting color and history; dark or previously colored hair may need a more gradual approach.
Can balayage cover gray hair?
It adds dimension around gray but isn’t the same as gray coverage — see our Gray Coverage & Gray Blending services if that’s your primary goal.
Can I bring a picture of the color I want?
Yes — reference photos help communicate tone, brightness, and placement.
How often will I need balayage?
Varies by natural color, desired brightness, growth rate, and maintenance preference.
Can you fix balayage or highlights done somewhere else?
Sometimes — corrective color requires an assessment of the existing color and hair condition at a consultation.
Ready for Your Color Consultation?
Beautiful color starts with a plan. Whether you want subtle dimension, brighter highlights, or a complete transformation, we’ll start with your hair and your goals.
Seoul Scissors provides customized women’s and men’s hair color, balayage, highlights, styling, and Korean & Japanese-inspired hair design in Brooklyn.
By Appointment Only – no walk-ins
Appointments are booked in advance so your visit can feel relaxed, personal, and fully focused on you. Your time in the chair is reserved just for you — cozy, calm, and never rushed. It’s a moment created for your comfort, your style, and your best hair day. You deserve that kind of care every time you come in.