What is balayage?

Most hair fads come and go but with the continued interest in balayage it’s seeming like a trend that is here to stay.

Ten years ago balayage wasn’t the coloring phenomenon it is today. But, over the last decade it has become especially popular with celebrities and is now even a classic look for the red carpet. After spotting it on celebrities like Jessica Alba, Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Aniston there has been a surge in interest for the technique as people request similar looks.

What is balayage?

In French, balayage means “to sweep.”  In a balayage technique, highlights are hand-painted (or swept) along the surface of the hair. Beginning a distance from the roots, the application gradually becomes heavier as it travels along the section, culminating in the heaviest application of the color at the ends. Because the hair color or lightener is concentrated on the surface of each section, the underside remains darker, which gives the hair a very natural, dimensional effect. The resulting subtle balayage hairstyle mimics a natural, sun-kissed effect that has been in high demand from celebrities, models and high profile “it” girls for some time now.

Is balayage right for me?

Balayage can be done on any hair color, from blonde hair to red hair to brown hair, although it’s typically not the first choice for super dark brunettes. It’s beautiful on long hair and on medium-length hair. Like ombré, balayage highlights are cost-effective because they don’t require frequent touchups, since the hair at the top is kept darker.

How long does it take?

Because balayage is a hand-painting technique, the artistry of your hair stylist comes into play and allows for many variations and beautiful color compositions. Hair color artists might combine several shades, for example, for a shimmering, dimensional result. If your hair is dark, they may opt for a foilayage technique.

Because of these variations, the process can go from a few small highlights that will only take a matter of minutes, to a full on, triple process look that can take up to 3 hours.  But, even though it can take quite a long time to do a multi-tonal, layered balayage compared to regular color the benefit of the application means you will be able to leave longer between your next appointment.

Book a free 15 minute consultation with one of our color experts and explore your balayage options. We promise a no pressure no commitment consultation. We’re happy to share our knowledge.