So, what is Balayage and do I need it?
What is balayage and is it for everyone?
Balayage is a technique not a look. Balayage is how a look is created, a skill that has to be learnt and practiced to perfection! Originating from the French word meaning “to sweep”, the technique involves painting the surface of the hair to mimic the way hair would naturally lighten in the sun.
Each ‘highlight’ is painted individually by a skilled, highly experienced hand. The effect on your hair is determined by how much colour is applied, how saturated the ends of the hair are, and the pressure applied to the hair when applying the colour.
There can be 1, 2 or 3 points on the starting area of a section. All hair on the ends covered in colour gives an “ombre” result. Leaving more hair between each section and creating more negative space (darker hair) results in a more naturally highlighted affect.
A balayage service is totally bespoke to you. Every service will be slightly different and often multiple sessions are needed to achieve that natural “lived in” look you crave 🙂
Pro's of balayage
Balayage is brilliant if you want to brighten up your natural hair and a classic application will do that perfectly.
Balayage is very low maintenance. Because your hair has less hair painted near the roots and more near the ends, hair effectively starts off with roots. This is great if you are busy or you don’t want to have your hair coloured more regularly.
Balayage grows out very naturally so you don’t get visible regrowth. It can also be kinder to your hair, make fine hair look fuller and more youthful, and can give thick hair more movement and more multi-dimensional texture and colour.
Con's of Balayage
Not all of your hair is coloured, so if you don’t like your base hair colour it won’t cover it!
If you are very grey, balayage may not be possible, or you may need a colour retouch as well as balayage.
If you like your hair very ashy, with all ash colours you will still need to regularly maintain the tone of your hair with professional hair glazes.
Not all “balayage” looks are achieved with the balayage technique. Many are created with foils as you benefit from more control and more colour lift. Don’t limit your Stylist to one technique if you bring a dream picture with you! 🙂
Typically hair can and will lift warmer using a free-hand balayage technique compared to foils, as the hair colour is not insulated and lifts in a different way.
Lastly, balayage is generally more expensive than foils as we need more time to achieve the desired look. Don’t forget, it is cheaper in the long run!!
Still not sure if balayage is for you? Have a question? Get in touch! We’re here to help and would love to hear from you 🙂
