The difference between balayage (French for “to sweep”) and ombre (French for “color that is graduated in tone”) is subtle.  Generally speaking, balayage like ombre doesn’t start at the hair roots, but balayage does start higher up the hair shaft usually.  The natural hair is blended seamlessly (sometimes called melted) to the highlighted hair.

The transition between darker and lighter in balayage color technique is longer and therefore more natural looking.  Not necessarily will all the ends be lightened.

In ombre color all of the ends will be lightened to the desired effect and the transition will be much quicker than in balayage techniques.  Therefore the result is generally more dramatic.  Usually the color transition although gradual and blended starts much lower on the hair shaft.

Lightener placement is vertical in balayage and usually more horizontal in ombre technique.

For both the result means less visits to the salon since they grow out naturally without a line of demarcation.   Aside from the resulting look, another difference from standard foiling is these services require a higher level of skill and so can cost more than foiling.  With foil highlights the result is even from root to ends.