Hair color trends come and go so quickly. Even hair enthusiasts find it difficult to keep up. People think it’s better to keep it the natural way. Fortunately, you can rock a natural hair look but be stylish at the same time with Balayage hair color.
This free-hand hair color technique has been a trend for several years and has never left the list of the most sought-after hairstyles. It can make your hair look effortlessly natural and stunning at the same time.
You might wonder what this hair color technique is? And why is it taking social media by storm? Learn everything about this hair color trend so that you’ll never have a bad hair day again.
What is Balayage?
Back in the 1970s, a French colorist tinkered around to develop a new style of hair color. Then, they created this free-hand technique. Balayage is a French term for “sweep,” which describes how the hair color is applied. Contrary to the popular method of applying highlights, this technique doesn’t use foil.
Instead, your hair colorist will hand paint the color directly to your hair. Since it is entirely free-handed, the colorist can get creative when applying the dye.
The result looks originally blended, like you’ve spent summer on the beach. It gives you subtle, lightened, and sunkissed hair. You can slay any event effortlessly, may it be parties, catwalks, or just regular days with this hair color technique.
How is it done?
As mentioned earlier, rather than the traditional foiling method, this technique involves hand-painting of the hair. The colorist will choose a highlight suited for your skin tone and hair to accentuate your features. The process includes sweeping a color using a paddle to paint vertical highlights.
Then, the colorist will handpick the strands of hair to bleach or lighten. They’ll leave out some strands in purpose to create a soft blended look. It would be best to consult a professional’s opinion first before booking an appointment.
The process of turning your dull, monochromatic hair into blended-drink-inspired hues is not an easy step. There are several steps that you will undergo before achieving gorgeous-looking hair. These are:
- Hair evaluation
Your colorist might ask you how often you dye your hair, which way you part it, and how you usually style it to find a suitable look for you.
- Sectioning the parts of your hair
This step will help create layers and variations to achieve a natural look. Your colorist will work section by section, painting the specific strands of your hair and then wrapping it with a cover to avoid bleeding.
- Sitting under the dryer.
Your colorist will ask you to sit under a dryer to speed up the process.
- Rinsing the dye and applying hair treatment
This will help you maintain the health of your hair after bleaching since the solution is quite harsh. You’ll most likely receive a protein treatment to restore the bonds of your hair.
- Applying gloss
Your hair will most likely turn dry due to the harsh chemical used during the process. As a result, your colorist will apply moisture-restoring treatment to make it shine.
- Trimming and blow-drying
The final step is cutting your hair and blow-drying it. This step will help you achieve a cleaner look at your ends.
Is it right for my hair?
The good thing about this free-hand technique is that it can suit anyone’s hair color. If you’re afraid of a drastic change in your appearance, this hair color is ideal. It provides a minimal switch to your look and can be tailored to your liking.
How much does it cost?
The cost for a balayage hair color may vary depending on your location and your hair colorist’s fee. Some may charge you based on how much experience and training they have. Also, the length and thickness of your hair may contribute to the pricing.
On average, a full service can cost $200-$400. Other hair salons offer treatments as low as $75-$150. In all, it is not easy to give exact pricing since it can vary depending on the current state of your hair and the credentials and rates of the colorist.
It’s wise to ask for the fee first before booking an appointment to avoid over budget.
The Benefits of Balayage
Let’s now talk about the benefits of this hair color technique. Aside from its covered result, this treatment also has many advantages. Such as:
- It’s customized
The hair color is not the same for each person. The color placement is randomized as it’s freely painted. Also, the procedure depends on your hair texture, length, and hair health. Aside from that, the stylist will match the highlights according to your skin tone. This type of highlight is tailored to your liking and looks.
- It’s trendy
Since then, this hair color technique has been a trend and has never left the limelight. Thanks to its minimal appearance, you can rock this hairstyle on any occasion.
- Low maintenance
Its natural look makes it easy to maintain. The lightened streaks give a soft appearance that when your roots grow, it looks natural.
- Less damage
This process uses less bleach and can lessen your hair damage than the usual hair color. It also doesn’t touch the roots of your hair, thus ensuring its healthy growth.
The Drawbacks
There are only a few downsides to this technique. The only issue is with people with dark hair color since the bleach may not work well, and the highlights might look a little bit orange or warm. You could also be prone to fragile ends or split ends since it uses a higher potent dye.
So far, those are the only setbacks, and this treatment is entirely safe for all hair types, especially for curly hairs.
Tips before getting Balayage hair color
After discussing the things you need to know about this hair color treatment, you can now book an appointment at your nearest hair salon. But be sure to follow these helpful tips to keep you on the same page with your stylist.
- Bring a reference picture
If possible, you can take multiple photos of your desired look on all sides so that your hair colorist will have an idea of what look you’re going for.
- Clean your hair
Before your appointment, make sure to take a shower so that there’s no buildup or oil that can decrease the product’s effectiveness.
- Prep your hair
You can have a hair treatment days before your appointment to lessen your hair damage.
Balayage hair color produces softer lines of highlights and enables your roots to grow out looking more natural. If you have a highlight that you want to recreate, discuss it with your expert colorist and achieve that surfer girl hairstyle.
