Balayage is a hair coloring technique that is used to give a natural look to hair by coloring it in patches and opting for shades that are only slightly lighter than the base color of the hair. It is a subtle freehand coloring technique, where the color is painted directly on the designated sections of the hair without using aluminum foil. The result is a more natural shade, bathed in the sun, without any sharp contrast between colors. The color of your balayage can be customized for you, and it's a great way to renew your look without making too many striking changes.
Balayage is a softer, more natural-looking result than traditional laminated wicks. The lines that grow back are less noticeable and the lines are more delicate, creating a golden, bronzed look that recreates a few weeks spent in a warm place. It has a mixed look: it's a soft and subtle way to add graduated color, and there should be no rough lines or blocks of color. The term balayage comes from the French word for “sweeping”, which refers to the way color is applied, not to the color itself.
It is usually painted with dye or lightener, starting in the middle of the shaft and becoming denser as it progresses through the hair section to the ends. Because the color is spread over the surface of the hair, the effect is a natural sun-drenched glow that doesn't have as strict a pattern as regular highlights. Balayage is generally considered to be a hair coloring technique that requires little maintenance because it creates a natural-looking graduated effect that doesn't require frequent touch-ups. It also allows the colorist to have more control, and is crucial for creating all those tones inspired by mixed drinks, such as dark beer and raspberry bourbon.
Many stylists agree that balayage is much less harmful than a full layer of bleach or brushing your roots every six weeks. Some celebrities who love balayage include Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Olivia Palermo, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian and Miley Cyrus. Keep scrolling to buy some of the best products that will help you keep your color looking fresh between appointments. In short, balayage is an amazing hair coloring technique that can give you a natural sun-drenched glow without requiring frequent touch-ups or causing too much damage to your hair.
It's perfect for those who want to add some subtle highlights or change their look without making too many drastic changes.