Balayage
What is balayage!?!? It’s my favorite form of blonding techniques but I sometimes forget that not everyone knows what it is! So here’s a little article explaining what it is… and what it’s not!
Definition:
Balayage is simply an “open air hair painting technique.” It’s done by taking sections and using a free-hand application of sweeping lightner sometimes seperated by cotton or cellophane wrap or left to air dry. Balayage creates soft and natural gradation of lightness from darker to lighter along the hair strand. Usually slightly deeper closer to the scalp and lighter towards the ends.
Finished balayage results on Stephanie
3 reasons why it’s my favorite:
1: It’s fun! I think after 16 years of doing hair is it the most fun to do and really makes me feel like a painter.
2: The results are always amazing the see the natural sun kissed effect on clients. There really is a literal graduation of darker blonde to lighter blonde mimicking the natural sun bleached blonde we see on kids playing outside in the summer.
3: It has the easiest grow out of all the blonding techniques and depending on your preference you could get away with only having this done once or twice a year!
Balayage technique process on Stephanie
Who isn’t a candidate for balayage?
Unfortunately if you have a darker brown natural base or any already existing permanent color on your hair you will need to do a highlight with “ root melting” to get a similar effect.
I sometimes have clients ask me for a balayage but they are not the right candidate for the technique. But not to worry! There are other ways to get a similar result on darker hair.
If you have darker hair don’t be committed to the technique but rather the result!
Show your hairstylist pictures of what you want and let them decide how to get there with their expertise. Trust me. If you try and force your hairstylist to give you balayage when you are not the right candidate you will end up with underprocessed hair that is not the right tone.
