Money Piece & Face Framing: Highlights that Brighten the Face
A money piece is two bright sections at the front of the face, while face framing is softer highlights around the outline. They brighten the face without a total colour change; highlights from €80, with balayage from €150.
A money piece is two bright sections right at the front, either side of the parting, while face framing is softer highlights that "frame" the whole outline of the face. Both techniques bring light to where we look first — the face — without you needing to change your whole colour. At Ikonomakis Hair Atelier, highlights start from €80 and the combination with balayage from €150.
What is a money piece
A money piece is a strongly bright zone on the front sections, from the root or almost from the root to the ends. The name comes from the fact that it "pays off" immediately: with a few highlights in the right place, the face looks brighter and more rested. It can be very visible (for example platinum on brown) or subtle, just one or two shades lighter than the base.
Money piece, face framing or hair contouring? The difference
The difference lies in how much light, where, and with what intention. The money piece is the most intense and concentrated; face framing is softer and spread around the face; hair contouring is a whole strategy of light and shadow, like contouring in make-up.
| Technique | Where the light goes | Result | Ideal for | |---|---|---|---| | Money piece | Two front sections, close to the root | Strong, "statement" contrast | Anyone who wants an immediate, visible change | | Face framing | Soft highlights around the whole outline | Natural glow, a "sun-kissed" face | Anyone who wants a subtle result | | Hair contouring | Light and shadow in strategic places | Visually "sculpts" the shape of the face | Anyone who wants to enhance or balance features |
In practice we often combine them: a gentle money piece at the front and face framing that fades towards the back.
Who it suits
It suits almost everyone, because the intensity and tone are adapted to the face and the base. On a round face, light that starts slightly below the cheekbones helps it look longer; on a long face, softer light at cheekbone height gives balance. The tone follows the undertone: golden and honey for warm, beige and creamy for cool.
If you want us to decide with greater precision, Face Metrics Pro (in Greek) — a 45-minute AI face analysis with Thodoris Ikonomakis (€100) — helps us pinpoint where light flatters your features most.
Money piece on dark hair
Yes, it works on dark hair too — the goal is usually caramel, honey or chocolate rather than platinum. On a very dark base, lightening passes through warm stages (red, orange), so the right toner is needed for a clean tone. A gentle money piece two or three shades above the base looks more natural and is less stressful for the hair.
If you are thinking more generally about light on a dark base, our guide to balayage on dark hair gives more ideas.
On short hair and bobs
On short hair and bobs the money piece works particularly well, because the light falls right at face height. On a bob we usually keep it a little finer, so it does not look like a "stripe" of colour. On a pixie or very short cut we work mainly on the fringe and temples.
The cut plays an equally important role: layers and curtain bangs bring out the highlights, because the light "moves" with the sections. See our guide to layers, curtain bangs & face framing.
How long a money piece lasts
The colour of the highlights stays, but because the money piece starts close to the root, regrowth shows sooner than with classic balayage. Usually a touch-up every 8–12 weeks keeps the result fresh, while softer face framing that starts lower lasts longer. Between appointments, a gloss or toner corrects any yellow or orange tones.
Money piece with balayage
Combining a money piece with balayage is the most balanced way to brighten both the face and the lengths. Balayage gives movement and dimension to all the hair, while the money piece highlights the front. That way you can refresh just the front area in between, without redoing the whole balayage — which usually lasts 4–6 months.
See more about the technique on our page for balayage in Athens.
How it is done in the salon, step by step
A money piece is not just "two blonde sections"; it is designed around the face, the parting and the cut. The process we usually follow is:
- Consultation and design. We look at face shape, undertone, natural base, colour history and how you style your hair day to day — because if you switch your parting, the light has to "work" from both sides.
- Choosing width and intensity. We decide whether it will be a wide statement money piece or fine, scattered face-framing highlights, and how many shades we will lift.
- Lightening with hair protection. We work in a targeted way only on the front sections, constantly checking progress so we stop at the right tone.
- Toner or gloss. The toner "locks in" the final tone — creamy, honey or beige — and unites the light with the rest of the base so it does not look disconnected.
- Cut and styling. A small refresh of the front layers makes the light fall properly around the face.
Care at home
The front sections are the ones we touch, straighten and expose to the sun most, so they need a little extra attention. Use a shampoo for coloured hair and, if your money piece is blonde, a purple shampoo once a week to stop it turning yellow. Apply heat protection before straighteners or a hairdryer and avoid straightening the same sections over and over at the same temperature. If yellow tones still appear despite the care, see our guide to fixing brassy blonde.
Does it damage hair?
Any lightening affects the hair, but a money piece involves only a few sections, so the stress is limited when it is done properly. Before we start we do a consultation on colour history and elasticity, and if needed we recommend a repair treatment such as K18. At home, heat protection and a shampoo for coloured hair make a big difference — see how to keep your hair colour fresh.
At Ikonomakis Hair Atelier
At Ikonomakis Hair Atelier in Chalandri, Athens (Irakleitou 80, Patima Chalandriou), we design every money piece and face framing around your face, not a standard pattern. We have been working with colour since 1995, as second-generation hairdressers, with 4.9/5 from 2,199 verified reviews on Fresha, and the team speaks English. Prices: highlights from €80, balayage with money piece from €150, gloss/toner from €55 — the final price is confirmed at the consultation.
See our balayage in Athens service or book online via Fresha or call +30 211 800 4132.