Balayage is a highlighting technique that has become increasingly popular over recent years. As seen on celebrities such as Chrissy Teigen, Jessica Alba, Kim Kardashian, and Jennifer Lopez, this trend shows no sign of slowing down. Find out everything you need to know about this sleek and effortless look in our useful guide.
Balayage is a great way to achieve a natural, sun-kissed look. Meaning ‘to sweep’ or ‘to paint’ in French, balayage is when the dye is hand-painted onto the hair, creating an effortless look without any obvious or harsh lines.
During balayage, different tones are used to create a beautiful multi-dimensional colour. As the dye is painted on by hand, each balayage is unique and can be personalised to highlight or detract from certain facial features. For the best results, choose a shade that is 2-4 shades lighter than your current hair colour.
Traditional highlights use foils to dye entire sections of hair, whereas balayage is painted onto the surface of the hair freehand. Highlights create a more structured look compared to balayage, which creates a multi-toned and natural looking effect.
If your foil highlights are starting to grow out, a balayage can blend these in with the rest of your hair to give you a fresh new look. If you aren’t sure whether foil highlights or balayage would be right for you, our friendly hairdressers in Exeter can help you decide. Each one of our appointments starts with a consultation to make sure the service you choose is the best choice for the look you would like to achieve.
Ombre is a dyeing technique when the hair is left darker at the root to mid sections of the hair, and is lightened from the mid section to the ends. This creates a ‘dip dyed’ look.
During balayage, dye to swept through small, triangular sections of hair. This creates a natural looking blend of the highlights and your current colour, with no clear fade lines between the lighter and darker colours. Due to the natural appearance, balayage requires less maintenance compared to other colouring techniques such as ombre.
Balayage works on most hair lengths and hair types, apart from very short styles. It is the perfect way to make the most of hair with beachy, flowing waves. Straight hair will show more dramatic lines compared to wavy hair, but if your straight hair is prone to looking flat a balayage can give the illusion of volume and fullness.
If you have never dyed your hair before, balayage is a great place to start. Apart from your initial appointment, it doesn’t require much of a commitment as it can be left to grow out naturally over time. This also makes it a good option if you don’t have the time or budget to commit to regular salon visits.
Our experienced colourists can help you decide if balayage is right for your hair type and lifestyle. Book an appointment or call into our our hair salon in Exeter.
An expertly applied balayage will be a seamless blend between the highlighted sections and the rest of your hair. If the dye has not been placed correctly the colour will look patchy, and won’t achieve the desired natural look. Alternatively, if the dye is not left on long enough the hair colour will not lift correctly, which can lead to a brassy orange shade.
Balayage is a specialised technique and therefore it is important to visit a professional hair colourist who has the skills and knowledge to do it well. Our colourists at our Exeter hair salon have all undergone thorough training and you can see examples of our work on our Instagram page. If you would prefer a particular colourist, just ask when you make your booking and we will be happy to accommodate this.
Balayage needs to be carried out by a professional. However, once your initial appointment has been completed not much maintenance is required. You can either let your colour grow out naturally or book in for a touch up in a few months time.
Like with any lightening treatment, it is important to take extra care of your hair to keep it strong and healthy. Your hair will lose moisture during the bleaching process, so it is important to replenish this by using good quality conditioning treatments. Visit our online store to check out our range of salon quality products.
Use a sulfate-free shampoo to prevent your colour from being stripped away, and use toning shampoos and conditioners to help eliminate any brassy shades. Our Exeter hairdressers will give you tips for maintaining your colour for as long as possible based on your specific hair type.
Want to try out this gorgeous, sun-kissed look for yourself? Book an appointment at our Exeter hairdressers to add depth and dimension to your hair using this clever technique.
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