You’ll find balayage to be our favorite art form, and we think you’ll agree since it creates an original, stunning look that is both timeless and on-trend due to the gorgeous way it creates light and movement in your hair.
Balayage used to be known as a free-hand painting technique. You probably have seen and experienced stylists use strokes of lightning in your hair and we use plastic wraps to strands of hair to create an overall look full of dimension.
It’s been a popular way of coloring hair for years, initially starting with the highlighting trend that gave more natural dimension than using a cap (those rubber hats with all the holes, where you hook hair through in small strands all over the head). It enabled stylists to (more comfortably) color thicker strands, and the results were stunning from the start.
Balayage technique continuously evolves, and is no longer limited to only free hand painting. Balayage is a combination of different techniques depending on the end result you want for your hair.
A true balayage artist uses highlights, ombre, and hand paint to achieve a style you love, elevating your hair and sending you away with a look that is specific to you.
First, our fantastic stylist will analyse your head shape, hair length, and texture to understand how your hair flows and how it compliments your face shape. This match will determine where the color goes, and if it should be lighter or darker.
They’ll choose strands that accentuate your facial features by playing with light and movement that is specific to your natural beauty. This is different depending on how curly or straight your hair is, and where your natural hairline falls.
Balayage creates the perfect combination of depth and highlights which compliments your face shape and bring out your natural hair with vibrancy and dimension. It is singularly spectacular by the way it gives hair a nuanced, not-trying-too-hard color that turns heads. Each one of you are new canvases, and every painting is fresh and different.
The finishing touch of this balayage process is the toner, which balances the overall look to achieve an extra “wow” factor.
Your balayage toner can be warm, ashy, neutral, or vibrant. Whichever overall shade it is, a balayage toner compliments your natural hair and brings the strands together to create the natural look unique to balayage.
Balayage elevates your look by catching the light when you turn your head.
It’s your secret that the gorgeous color came from a skilled artist and chemist (or, if you’d like to tell them who did it, we’d never complain!
Balayage is a free form of hair painting technique. This technique gives natural-looking highlights, lighter near the ends and softer on top.
Full balayage is a type of hair-coloring technique in which a stylist hand-paints the highlights throughout the hair so that they look even more natural, with depth and dimension that resemble the effects of the sun.
A partial balayage is a freehand coloring technique. With this technique a stylist will apply highlights only to specific areas instead of throughout the whole head — generally, the top layer, or just around the face. Partial Balayage is also usually placed around the face for a brightening or framing effect.
Highlights are simply pieces of hair that are lighter than your natural color. If your base color is brown, you can add highlights that are a lighter brown, or even have brown hair with blonde highlights. For blondes, blonde highlights incorporate lighter blonde shades. It’s important to note that there are different types of highlighting techniques, too. Traditionally, foils are used to strategically isolate parts of the hair in various shapes and patterns.
Scared of dark roots? Don’t be!
Root shadowing, allows you to embrace your root color by blending it into your highlights—or by making a huge statement with it. With this technique, either your natural root shade gets to shine through as part of the hair color, or roots of a different shade are created and blended.
It makes your roots part of the overall package deal. The trend is incredibly customizable.
Hair toner. It does exactly what it sounds like—tones your color to control brassiness and keep hair looking healthy. Toners can be described as a “topcoat for your hair.” It usually comes in a gel or gloss-like formula, and works to emphasize or reemphasize certain tones in your hair–as well as add shine.
Strong words just then, using cold water for your hair needs. Let’s clarify: there is a time and place for both hot and cold water in hair care. And we can easily reap the benefits of both of them through a balanced regimen.
Using Warm Water:
Warm water should be used when cleansing your hair, often at the beginning of your day. Warm water allows the cuticles of the hair, as well as pores on the scalp, to open up – helping remove any dirt, residue, or buildup from the scalp and hair. Similar to the process of washing your face – warm water is preferable to opening up those pores and removing oil and dirt. However, warm water should be limited to the cleansing process.
Using Cold Water:
Cold water should be used when rinsing out the conditioner in your hair, at the end of the washing process. The cold water will close the cuticles and pores in the scalp and help add a luster and shine to your hair. Cold water is far more conducive to sealing the hair’s moisture, and in helping gather the hair together (coils, curls, etc.). However, not that as warm water often results in frizz, cool water tends to flatten the hair.
Hair care requires intention and effort, after, balayage is a nuanced and detailed process. Pay special attention to everything, from which products to use to which water temperatures to use.
Hair is not simply a superficial part of someone, it often plays an essential role in how one expresses themselves. Healthy, vibrant hair can fundamentally boost one’s confidence, and who wouldn’t want that? Through balayage, that goal is very obtainable – and once you obtain it, it’s important to maintain that health and vibrancy at home.
This process might sound intimidating, you might be asking – “What exactly am I maintaining?” Totally fair question, but don’t be intimidated. The two most important things to care for after balayage is the health and moisture of the hair, and the new tone and color of the hair.
Hair Repair and Preventing Dryness:
Bleach is the primary agent used to lighten the hair. Even though only the safest and common lightening products are used, people often experience a dryness in their hair. Just like our bodies require water to stay hydrated and healthy, hair requires moisture to stay healthy, and certainly for it to appear healthy and vibrant. It is often recommended that using a hydrating hair mask once a week for four weeks following a color service helps repair damage or dryness caused by the lightening process. Other alternatives include coconut oil or black seed oil, as well as a host of others. The point is to care for your hair by giving it the moisture it needs.
Preserving Tone and Color:
As tempting as it may be, avoid washing your hair for 3 to 4 days following a color service. Enjoy the volume and color your stylist gave you for a few days, and if you feel that it’s necessary – use a dry shampoo to help remove oils from your scalp.
We all enjoy the feeling of shampooing (or being shampooed) with warm water, but the unfortunate truth is that cool water is better for your hair. Cold water closes the hair’s cuticle, results in a sheen and helps preserve the toner. Whereas hot water opens the cuticle, results in a frizzy texture, and can more easily wash the toner out.
