Balayage Hair Definition, Styles & Salon Styling

Let’s be honest. Most of us play around with hair color, and the results can’t deliver the perfect makeover. When you’re dreaming of sun kissed locks that give depth to your mane, then balayage is a famous hair technique from France that you should consider. When done by a salon pro, the effects look natural and gorgeous with less noticeable regrowth lines.

What Exactly Is Balayage?

Balayage has been around for a few decades in the United States now and is an exceptional technique that uses a brush to “paint on” subtle ribbons of highlighted tones that work with your natural base hair color and skin tone. In other words, it is a highlighting process tailored to your uniqueness that looks not only at the base color but at your hair’s texture, length, and where to begin placement and gradation.

By the way, balayage is pronounced like “baa – lee – ahge.”

Balayage is not a stripy kind of color highlight and is applied delicately to accentuate the hair’s movement and even to soften facial features. It looks natural while adding pops of brightness and contrast throughout your mane.

Balayage is all about painting only the top layer of the hair, and there’s a real artistry to its results.

How Long Does It Last?

Fans of balayage rave about the sun-kissed effects and its low maintenance routine. You don’t have to fuss with your roots so often. When a coloring expert performs balayage, you can expect the results to last anywhere from 6 to 10 weeks or even far beyond that.

For example, some balayage clients can get away for as long as 6 months without making a salon visit for touch-ups.

Another plus is the low hair damage the technique offers, and it’s economical in the long run.

Are Foils Involved?

No, balayage does not involve using foils to encase the highlights to do its magic. Your hair is not wrapped in anything.

Instead, your colorist will use a special brush to paint on your highlights to achieve the proper placement and saturation. Then, the lightener will process in the open air.

Even the brush used matters. When going for soft highlights around the face, many stylists choose a brush with a feathered or soft finish. 

Is Balayage Still On-Trend?

Balayage will never go out of style and is a major trend once again. Cinnamon balayage is a glamorous look that spices up brunette locks with a warm brown lift.

Chocolate chai is another balayage trend that features a brunette mane with pale brown or chai-toned highlights around the face. Actress Olivia Munn has been showing off this sexy look.

Golden topaz is another amazing mid-light that creates a chic balayage tone on the hair.

Celebrities like Chrissy Teigen enjoy playing around with balayage for that sun-kissed dimension.

If you’re looking for that natural brightness and contrast throughout your hair that is perfectly blended without the harsh lines, then balayage will deliver.