Painted Highlights on Natural Hair: "As more and more women are embracing their natural textures, I'm loving the freehand painted highlights that I'm seeing make a big comeback," Mensah said. "Rather than using the traditional foil technique, to create these looks pre-lightener is painted through the curls [using a balayage technique] to enhance coiled shape." And by adding these pieces of balayage throughout, it adds dimension to darker hair in a way that isn't overpowering or super damaging to the hair, she added.