To think my hairdresser has no clue what baleyage is

[Playdoughy]

He was amazing doing highlights for me, but I wanted something more natural and less maintenance - he himself suggested baleyage.

I know of it, said let's do it - and first thing I noticed he was still doing the foils, very much still close to the root - the color of the highlighted strand ended up the same throughout the entire length. So definitely no gradual highlights, no seamlessness - just slightly misplaced highlights - with a higher price tag.
He is super experienced, the most senior in the salon (and it's not a cheap salon either) - I simply didn't dare to question his technique. And I went back for more few months later - I was more specific about what I expected - but he again did highlights and called them baleyage.

I don't know what to do, he's been my hairdresser for years, we exchange messages for holidays too, are contacts on social networks - I can't just disappear.
Or am I being too harsh to begin with - perhaps that free hand painted baleyage I know of is just something that is rarely done and is exclusive to super high end hairdressers?

Are you happy with the results, whether they are balayage or not? That's the main thing. But you might want to consider taking in photos next time and ask him to replicate the look.

I’m sure he knows what it is, he’d have to have been living under a rock! It’s maybe just a technique he’s not perfected yet. I think find someone new, I think hairdresser loyalty is only a thing if you like how they do your hair!

My hairdresser also uses foils for 'balayage' and it confuses me. That said it doesn't grow out with a noticeable line so must be doing something different 🤷‍♀️ if you are happy with the result that is the important thing.

I'd like to know this too! My hairdresser also does foils when asked for a balayage. I'm going somewhere new next week to see if I prefer a different technique.

I remember years ago they'd freehand it

My hairdresser uses foils for balayage but they apply the bleach in a chevron-like pattern, so it’s higher in some places and lower in others, giving a more natural look. If your hairdresser qualified 10+ years ago and hasn’t bothered to undergo any more recent training then it’s very possible they don’t know how to do it properly.

Could you find a picture of how you’d like it for next time, assuming you haven’t already

Yes this is me too!
I even changed to a more expensive hairdresser and they did the foils too!

My hairdresser uses foils for balayage but with the blended effect in the folded package.
The results are spot on with no colour change line and nicely blended.
It must be his technique.

So apparently balayage with foils is known as foilayage. It uses the balayage technique of hand-painting color but places the painted sections into foils to achieve brighter, more dramatic results more quickly than traditional open-air balayage. (thanks GPT)

Using foils during balayage is pretty common now. It's an update of the technique that gives a more blended look.

The issue for me is that in parts it seems more blended than the usual highlights, but in parts I still have very harsh lines so unless I revisit fairly soon (as you would with traditional highlights) my hair looks unkept and as if I am not bothered to maintain the color.
So no I am not happy with the results - it it was highlights I asked for they are good - he was always good at that. But baleyage I think he doesn't know how to do it.
Super uncomfortable because I don't know now how to swap hairdresser without offending him 😔

I would say in take into a photo next time and talk about the soft blend - and if that doesn't work then change your hairdresser.

Why don’t you just ask him about it? IMO your relationship with your hairdresser should include being able to question him and discuss things.

Not being facetious, genuine question... why does it matter if he's offended?

Hmmm, tell him you want to be able to go longer between appointments and need a more blended look.