If you’ve been scrolling Social Media or researching modern highlighting techniques, you’ve probably come across AirTouch or Teasy Lights.
Both techniques are designed to create soft, blended, lived-in color, but they get there in different ways. Choosing the right one for you can make a big difference in how your hair looks, grows out and feels.
I’m going to break it down in a way that makes sense and hopefully clear up which technique is right for you.
What Is AirTouch ?
AirTouch is a technique where the stylist will use a blow dryer to push out the shorter, finer, baby new growth hairs before highlighting. Only the longer hairs will be highlighted yeilding a blended, softer end result. If you highlight those baby hairs, they end up looking harsh and like breakage. Here I am taking a section and blowing the shorter hairs down.
Why clients love AirTouch and who it’s best for:
- Gives an ultra-soft, diffused grow out
- Minimal harsh lines or striping
- Less need for frequent maintenance
- Feels natural, elevated, modern, and believable
- Best for fine hair
- Clients who prefer brightness closer to the root
- Anyone who wants a blended, low contrast result
- People with fragile or sensitive scalps and don’t want the untangling process at the end of the service.
What are Teasy Lights?
Teasy lights involve gently backcombing (teasing) sections of hair before applying the lightener. (Essentially the same as AirTouch but moving the shorter hairs out of the way by teasing rather than blowing).
This creates built-in depth at the root and a brighter, more noticeable ribbon of lightness through the mid lengths and ends.
Why clients love this and who it’s right for:
- It creates more visible brightness and dimension
- That “Beachy,” Lived-in ribbon effect.
- Strong contrast between light and depth
- Best for thicker, dense hair.
- Generally, darker natural bases (but can be used on everyone)
- Clients who want their highlights to start lower (not right at the root.)
- Hair that can handle teasing without excessive breakage or tangling.
Neither one is better. They are just different and I often do a hybrid where I use teasy lights in the back where the client wants more depth, AirTouch in the front where we want more brightness or may be doing some gray blending.
What most people don’t realize:
The technique itself is only part of the equation.
Your hair type, density, how much gray you have, what your lifestyle is, budget, time all matter as much as the technique we use. That’s why two people can ask for the same thing but, I may need to approach it in different ways. T
This is all spoken about in a pre-appointment consultation. Listening to my guests is as important as what technique may or may not be right for you.
I don’t believe in one-sized-fits-all highlighting. No two clients are the same and we design a custom look for you based on a holistic approach.
Most of the time I’m using several different techniques to create a custom end result.
Final Thoughts:
If you’re deciding between, AirTouch, Teasy Lights, Balayage or Foilyage and wondering which one is right for you, or if one is better than the other, remember that your stylist is the expert and together as a team you can create a plan that is right for you.
The right technique for you may not be trending or be something you’ve heard of but the right technician will be able to listen and guide you the best version of you.
Thinking About Trying one of These?
If you are in the Thousand Oaks, Simi, or Conejo Valley area and are looking for a hairstylist near you, I’m always happy to guide you through it. Visit my booking page for more info.
You don’t need to know the technique name, you just need to know how you want to feel when you look in the mirror.
Leave a Reply