What is Balayage? Your Complete Guide

Balayage is a free-hand coloring technique that creates soft high- and low-lights. The word balayage is a French word that means “to sweep” describing the motion stylist use to paint color onto the hair.

Unlike traditional highlights or ombré, balayage offers radiance-boosting scattering of color and a multi-tonal effect. Think seamless tones with no harsh lines, giving your hair a natural and multi-dimensional glow. Whether you're looking for a classic blonde balayage or searching for something bolder, keep scrolling for the full details...

1. WHAT IS A BALAYAGE?

Balayage is hand-painted highlighting technique where stylists paint the hair where light would naturally hit it.Much of the color is focused from the mid-lengths to the ends, but the most flattering effects happen when subtle ribbons are swept through the hairline, too.

When you hear the word “‘balayage,”’, blonde highlights may be the first thing that come to mind. However, this technique is about so much more than adding a sun-kissed glow to strands. All manner of shades -— from pastels to dark browns to rainbow brights -— are getting the balayage treatment, making this one of the most versatile color services your clients can choose.

2. HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE BALAYAGE?

Worried you might be pronouncing it wrong? Say it with us: bah-lay-ahge.

3. HOW LONG DOES BALAYAGE LAST??

• Balayage can last from three months to a year, as it’s designed to grow out naturally and seamlessly. Factors that affect how long it lasts include:

• Placement and height from the root: A higher balayage and lighter pieces that are close to the roots will need to be refreshed sooner (around 6-8 weeks), whereas a lower balayage lasts up to a year.

• Hair growth rate: If your hair grows faster, there will be a more noticeable contrast between your natural color and the balayage tones, meaning you’ll need a touch up sooner.

• Home care –: Using a color protection shampoo such as Colour Motion+ Shampoo can help to maintain color vibrancy.

• Overall tone of the balayage: whilst the lightened pieces will stay, the toner applied over them will need to be refreshed to maintain the salon finish. This is especially important if the tone of the end result is much cooler, like a platinum balayage.

4. WHY IS BALAYAGE SO POPULAR?

Balayage is one of the leading salon trends because it’s flattering, customizable and easy to maintain. It creates some of the dreamiest hair looks out there, with celebrities like Jessica Alba, Lily Aldridge and Anne Hathaway proving it looks incredible on different hair lengths and textures from long waves to short pixies.

And if you’re wondering whether it’s too late to jump on the balayage bandwagon, rest assured: this look has been around for years now, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. If anything, painterly processes appear to be getting more and more popular, proving this is one trend that’s set to stand the test of time.

5. Balayage vs. Ombré vs. Dip-Dye

In the images above, you have balayage on the left, ombré in the middle and a dip-dye on the right. The key difference between balayage, ombré and dip-dye lies in the placement and application of the contrasting color. Let’s break it down:

• Balayage: Soft, hand-painted highlights that blend seamlessly for a natural look with dimension.
• Ombré: A gradual fade from darker natural roots to lighter ends, painted in a more uniform transition with or without foils.
• Dip-Dye: The dip-dye is ombré’s blockier cousin. A bold two-tone look where the ends appear “dipped” in a contrasting colour such as blonde or something bolder, like blue or pink, creating a visible line separating the two colors.

6. WHO DOES BALAYAGE SUIT??

Anyone and everyone. Because balayage can be tailored to flatter the base hair color, the warmest of blondes, the darkest of brunettes,the most radiant of redheads iit’s even a great option to use for both blending and enhancing gray hair. Balayage is perfect for anyone who craves lower-maintenance color and softer regrowth, as highlights tend to start inches down from the root, meaning they’re meant to look grown-out.

Rather than wondering whether balayage is going to suit a certain eye color or skin tone, the bigger question is whether hair is in good enough condition for the lift required. Balayage almost always involves a pre-lightening product, so remember to remind good care of mid-lengths and ends in the run-up to their color appointment. A cosseting mask, like INVIGO Nutri-Enrich Deep Nourishing Mask, is a must in everyone’s routine, as it pampers hair back to its nourished best, resulting in the perfect base for balayage.

7. IS BALAYAGE GOOD FOR GRAY HAIR?

Balayage’s freehand technique isn’t best suited to cover gray hair but, it can help to blend grays into the hair seamlessly. Ribbons can be tactically placed to disguise a few salt ‘n’ peppered strands, but full gray coverage requires a permanent tint that saturates the roots. That doesn’t mean you have to give up on balayage altogether, though; after shading gray patches, you can start sweeping on those light-reflective, radiance-boosting ribbons. Simple.

8. HOW DO YOU AVOID ""BAD"" BALAYAGE??

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: always have photos on hand. Your idea of a subtle balayage might be different to your colorist’s, so take along photos to avoid confusion. You could show this article to your hairdresser or download some images from the Wella Hair Pinterest page.

9. WHAT IS HAIR FOILYAGE?

Foilyage is the name for balayage that’s processed using foils. You still paint highlights freehand and get creative with your placement, but the strands are wrapped in foils to ensure plenty of lift from the pre-lightener.

Balayage FAQs

How long does balayage last?

Balayage lasts anywhere from 3 months to a year before needing a touch-up, depending on hair care, hair growth rate and the root placement.

Is balayage better than highlights

Neither balayage or highlights is the better choice; it depends on the look you desire, your lifestyle and your maintenance preferences. Highlights can create a more defined result, but they require more frequent salon visits compared to balayage, which is applied freehand with less noticeable regrowth, meaning less salon visits.

How do I maintain my balayage?

Maintain balayage by using a color-safe shampoo, hydrating masks and heat protection. Also, using a toner every 6-8 weeks or purple shampoo can help to keep tones fresh.

Want more balayage inspiration? Head to the @WellaHair Instagram for endless creative looks, or check out our blog for more hair inspiration.