What the hell is Balayage?

This week I wanted to talk about Balayageˌ pronounced (balāˈyäZH), this is a French term for sweeping. This is a haircoloring technique that applies the color free handed with a paint brush or color brush, the color is swept on the hair and creates a soft, sun kissed look. This can create a subtle effect or a more dramatic look.

This trend has been in fashion for the last couple years and seems to be going nowhere. With more clients asking for it and not really knowing what it is (or how to pronounce it) I wanted to take a moment to educate the community about this hair trend.

The reason why this trend is so popular is because it’s a softer way to highlight and color hair, compared to the traditional highlighting techniques that we have seen in the past. This creates a ‘sun kissed’ look when traditional highlights can create more of a ‘streaked’ look. The grow out of this coloring technique is also very subtle, with this color you can bring the lightest colors to the roots or drop them a few inches from the roots to create a shadow at the root. This shadow can lengthen the longevity of the color, meaning fewer visits to the salon. This technique may cost more money but will save the client more money because it will be less visits to the salon.
                       
If you’re wondering, 'Is balayage right for me?' The answer is most likely yes, the reason why is because it can be subtle for those who have never colored their hair or dramatic for those people who like a change. The tonality of the color can be adjusted to fit your skin complexion. It doesn’t have to be blonde, you can do variations of brunette, reds, or even fashion colors, although I would discuss this with your hairdresser to find the color, shade, and tone that best suits you.

Below are some photos of different examples of balayage and a video on the pronunciation of the word,.

Until next week.  
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DJH