The Money Piece: What Impact Lightening Does Between Full Appointments
A money piece is a bright section of lightening right around your face. Our Impact Lightening service places it, along with brightness on your part and crown. You get the brightness people see first without lightening your whole head. Many clients book it between full appointments to keep their color looking fresh for longer.
Key takeaways
- A money piece is face framing brightness at your front hairline.
- Impact Lightening covers your face framing, your part and your crown, not the back or sides.
- It's a smart in between visit when a full refresh isn't due yet.
- Toner and a blowdry are included every time.
Why is it called a money piece, and what does it look like?
It's called a money piece because it gives you a lot of brightness for a small amount of lightening. The pieces sit at your front hairline and frame your face. They catch light every time you look in a mirror or turn toward someone.
It can be bold, with a clear bright stripe up front. Or it can be soft, with fine pieces that melt into the rest of your color. Most of the clients we see ask for something in between.
What parts of my hair does Impact Lightening cover?
Impact Lightening covers your face framing pieces, the hair along your part and your crown. The back and sides stay as they are. Your stylist uses balayage or foilayage, depending on how soft or bright you want it. Then we finish with a toner and a blowdry.
Returning clients have two express options without a blowdry. Express Impact Lightening covers the face framing, hairline and crown. Express Framing Highlight focuses on the pieces around your face.
What happens at an Impact Lightening appointment
- Talk it through. You show us photos and how you part and wear your hair. We agree on how bold the money piece should be.
- Section the front. Your stylist separates the face framing pieces, the part line and the crown from the rest of your hair.
- Paint or foil. Lightener goes on with balayage or foilayage, placed so it blends into your existing color.
- Tone. Once the pieces have lifted, we rinse and tone them to the shade you picked.
- Blowdry. You leave with styled hair, so you can see exactly how the brightness frames your face.
How does a money piece stretch the time between full appointments?
It refreshes the spots where grow out shows first. Your part and the hair around your face are what people see. Brightening them makes your whole color look newer, even while the back waits its turn.
For a lot of clients, that means one impact visit between full lightening appointments instead of rushing back for everything. Related guide: Balayage, Foilayage or Highlights: How to Choose the Right Lightening covers how each method grows out. If you want to plan your timing, read how long balayage lasts.
The front of your hair does most of the talking, so that's where we start.
Dubé New York
Will a money piece suit my natural color?
Yes, a money piece works on almost any base color, but the shade should match your starting point. On brunettes we often go caramel or honey so it looks warm and natural. On blondes it can go brighter, close to the lightest pieces already in your hair.
Width matters too. Fine, painted pieces look lived in. A wider, solid section reads bolder and shows grow out a little sooner. Your stylist will look at your skin tone, your part and how you style your hair before choosing.
Should I book Impact Lightening, half head or full lightening?
Book the one that matches where you want brightness. Impact keeps the lightening up front. Partial lightening covers about half your head for more dimension from more angles. Full lightening goes all the way through, so your color looks finished even in a ponytail. See our Service Menu for pricing on each.
Impact, half head or full lightening
- Impact Lightening. Where the lightener goes: Face framing, along your part, crown. A good fit if: You want brightness up front between full visits.
- Partial Lightening. Where the lightener goes: About half your head. A good fit if: You want more dimension but like keeping natural depth.
- Full Lightening. Where the lightener goes: Your whole head, front to back. A good fit if: You want brightness everywhere, even in a ponytail.
How do I keep my face framing pieces from turning brassy?
Protect them from heat first. The pieces around your face get the most hot tool time, sun and touching. So they fade faster than the rest of your hair.
Use a heat protectant every time you style, and keep your iron at a moderate setting. When the brightness is still there but the tone looks warm, a gloss brings it back without lightening again.
Your money piece questions, answered
Can I get a money piece if I've never had highlights?
Yes. A money piece is one of the easiest ways to try lightening for the first time. It's small, and it sits where you'll enjoy it most. Your stylist will keep it soft enough to blend with your natural color. If you like it, you can build more brightness through the rest of your hair later.
How wide should my money piece be?
That depends on the look you want. Thin, painted pieces look soft and grow out quietly. A wider section looks bolder and more graphic, but the grow out shows a little sooner. Bring photos of both styles to your consultation, and your stylist will suggest a width that suits your face and your part.
Will my money piece show when I wear my hair up?
Mostly, yes. The face framing pieces stay around your hairline in a ponytail or bun, so you still get brightness at the front. What you won't see is lightening through the back, since Impact Lightening doesn't cover it. If you often wear your hair up, full lightening may suit you better.
Can a money piece look subtle instead of bold?
It can. We can keep the pieces fine and choose a shade only a little lighter than your natural color. The result looks like sunlight around your face instead of a stripe. Tell your stylist you want it soft, and bring a photo if you have one. We'll adjust placement and tone to match.
How often do clients touch up a money piece?
It varies, but many clients brighten their face framing pieces every couple of months, sometimes between full lightening visits. Fine, painted pieces can go longer. A bold, wide money piece shows regrowth sooner. If only the tone has faded, a gloss can hold you over until your next lightening appointment.
Want brightness right where it counts?
Book Impact Lightening online, or start with a complimentary consultation in person or by video call.