If you’ve even been close to a hair salon in the last ten years, you’ve probably heard the word “balayage” a few times. But what is balayage? How do you even pronounce this strange word and what will it do to my hair?
Don’t worry! There’s no need to panic. We’re here to answer all your questions about balayage. With this new information, we can hopefully help you determine whether or not balayage is right for you.
What Is Balayage?
Balayage (pronounced BAH-LEE-AHGE) actually comes from the French word “balayer” meaning to sweep. This term refers to the way in which color is applied to your hair. The balayage technique actually involves the hair colorist painting color onto your hair to create a more gradual and natural-looking highlighting effect.
Because the color is hand-painted, the final look is more natural than more traditional highlights, in which strands of hair are separated and wrapped in foil and lightener to “lift” color.
Balayage can be used on any hair color to add dimension, preserve your base color, and blend into your natural roots.
How Does It Work?
As we’ve already said, balayage involves a hairstylist painting directly on your hair, but what does that really mean? In the process, after getting a feel for what your hair goals are, your stylist will paint sections of your hair with bleach.
The strokes will start lighter near the top of your head and get heavier towards the bottom to create a soft and even blend of colors. This gradual shift in tones also helps to create a natural grow-out so the look is relatively low maintenance.
However, depending on what kind of look you want to achieve, it may take a couple of visits to get the high-dimension look that is dramatically different from your original hair color. You can learn more by talking to a hairstylist yourself!
Why Is Balayage So Popular?
Perhaps one reason why balayage is so popular is that it can be done on any hair type and any hair color. Every balayage is customized to the individual so it can work for everyone!
Balayage also requires less maintenance once you get it done. Because the process is specifically designed to even out the difference between your ends and your roots, it will continue to look natural as it grows out.
Balayage is also super popular amongst celebrities and influencers, from Chrissy Teigen to the Kardashians to Instagram stars.
Should You Try Balayage?
So, what is balayage? Balayage can be a foolproof way to add some dimension to your hair. If that sounds good, then balayage might be right for you.
It can feel overwhelming to see how many options there are out there for changing your hair color, but balayage is a great way to dip into the world of hair coloring with very few risks.
Continue exploring our site for more hair styling tips and tricks!
