Balayage Highlights Are About To Take Over Your Instagram Feed
When you think of getting your hair dyed at the salon, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? A head full of foil, right? Well, there is another popular technique that colorists use to get a more diffused, lived-in highlight. It’s called balayage (that’s pronounced bah-ley-ahge). “Balayage is a hand-painted highlight,” Brooke Jordan Hunt, co-owner and head stylist at The Bird House salon in Brooklyn, tells SELF. “It’s much more free hand, and you look at the whole picture, which you can’t see as easily when you do a foil.”
The final result of this meticulous painting process is part surfer girl, part laid-back model. "It has such a natural effect. It really doesn’t look like highlights,” says Jordan Hunt. “It has this glow, and you look like you spent time in the sun.” The best part about balayage is that it is super low maintenance. Below you'll find the most common questions women have about balayage highlights, answered by a pro.
Related: I Channeled My 13-Year-Old Self And Squeezed Lemon Juice In My Hair To Get Natural Highlights
Courtesy of The Bird House Salon1Does the balayage process take longer than foil highlights?
It depends on a lot of factors—like if your hair has been dyed before, or how long your strands are. However, in general balayage does take a bit longer than foil because the stylist goes through piece by piece to customize the color. This highlighting technique is also a bit more expensive. “[It’s] more expensive because it takes more thought and creativity from the stylist,” says Jordan Hunt. “And you also don’t have to do it as often, so you’re paying a little bit more for that convenience.”
Courtesy of The Bird House Salon2How long will balayage last between hair color appointments?
Jordan Hunt explains that some clients with balayage can go six months before coming in for a touchup, and others prefer to come in more often. Because the highlights are hand-painted, they look pretty natural as they grow out, whereas foil can leave a stark line of demarcation at the roots. And if you have a double-process color (meaning your whole head of hair is dyed a new color before adding a second layer of highlights), you can get your roots touched up without re-doing the balayage.
Courtesy of The Bird House Salon3Does balayage work for curly or red hair?
Balayage can work for many different hair types, from fine to curly. It’s also not just for blonde highlights. “For the fall, a lot of people are coming in wanting a bronze or copper-toned balayage,” says Jordan Hunt. “You can even do a rose gold balayage if you want to.”
Courtesy of The Bird House Salon4Are balayage and ombré the same thing?
Jordan Hunt admits that a lot of her clients get confused about the difference between ombré and balayage. "Balayage goes up higher [on the strand] than an ombré," she says. "And balayage looks much more natural than an ombré.” Bottom line: Many ombré looks change dramatically from dark to light near the ears, but balayage goes up closer to the roots. And both looks are lightest at the very ends because it's all about achieving a sun-kissed effect. “If you’re living in Hawaii or someplace with lots of sun, that is how your hair is going to lighten, and as it grows the ends will be naturally lighter.”
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Courtesy of The Bird House Salon5What should I ask my hairstylist before I get balayage?
Before you book your balayage appointment, make sure to gather inspiration photos, so that your stylist knows exactly what you want your balayage to look like. Also, ask the receptionist about the products the salon uses. There are bleaches made specifically for the balayage technique. These products keep the highlights from smearing during the process. Some salons also use Saran wrap to keep the bleach from spreading. And if this isn't your first time getting color, you’ll definitely want to ask about Olaplex. This professional treatment helps strengthen bleached hair. It's a three-step regimen used during and between color appointments to keep breakage and damage away.
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