Hair trends come and go, but one we’ve seen sticking around for the past couple of years and growing in popularity is the art of balayage. If you’re considering your options for adding some dimension to your look during your next visit to Tease Hair Boutique in Norwell, MA, read on to hear about the benefits of balayage and how this technique differs from highlights and ombre looks.
What is a balayage?
The term balayage is a French word meaning “to sweep”, referencing how the color is applied to the hair. Instead of fully saturating hair, stylists ‘sweep’ a brush of lightener or color onto chunks of hair, hand painting them with heavier color towards the bottom for a more naturally highlighted look.
So, when someone says they are getting “a balayage”, they are referring to the technique, offering a much more natural and low maintenance look. In most cases, the balayage technique is used to lighten hair, but there is also the option of a “reverse balayage” where darker color is added to give hair dimension.
What is the difference between a balayage, highlights and an ombre?
As mentioned above, the balayage technique uses a hand-painted approach to highlight strips of hair. While this style is sometimes done using foils, they are not required to accomplish this look. Balayage also differs from traditional foil techniques because hair is hand painted with more color towards the bottom, whereas traditional highlights are evenly lightened from roots to ends.
The biggest advantage to balayage over highlights is the level of maintenance; balayage hair looks natural as it grows out with no hard lines, meaning you can go longer between salon visits. Highlights, on the other hand, create a clearly grown out line of highlights, meaning your look may be brighter from root to tip but you’ll need to spend more time maintaining your roots.
Different from both of these techniques is the ombre, another French word that means “to shade”. This style also uses a hand-painted technique, though the outcome typically results in a larger contrast between the top and the bottom of your hair, creating a gradient look. Ombre’s offer the same low maintenance approach to hair, allowing more time between salon visits.
Who should get a balayage?
Whether it’s your first time coloring your hair or you’ve had every color of the rainbow, finding the right style that will fit into your lifestyle (and wallet) is important. If you’re looking to lighten your hair but allow for natural growth between salon visits, then balayage may be right for you. It’s also important to consider the health of your hair; obviously, lighteners can weaken hair strands, so if your hair is heavily damaged or breaking you may want to avoid any lighteners.
How much does a balayage cost?
The cost of receiving a balayage style at Tease Hair Boutique ranges between $150 - $400. This is pretty standard pricing for styles like ombre and traditional highlights as well.
Like most other salon services, the volume of hair and thickness affect how much product and time the service will take, so it is recommended to get a quote from your Tease Hair Boutique Stylist. It’s also important to note that since this is a specialty service, it may cost more upfront but it will make your visits to the salon less frequent than traditional highlights.
What products should I use?
With any lightened hair, you want to make sure you’re using the right products and taking care of your hair to keep locks hydrated and prevent damage or breakage.
Depending on the shade of your balayage, you may notice your hair beginning to look brassy after a few washes due to toner fading and hard water used to wash your hair. To avoid brassiness, use a purple shampoo and conditioner like the Kérastase Blond Absolut Bain Ultra-Violet purple shampoo and moisturizing Cicaflash conditioner to keep your look fresh and toned. For a toning hair mask, we recommend Kérastase Masque Ultra-Violet Purple Hair Mask for toning and hydrating hair.
If your balayage is on the warmer side (and preferred) a general strengthening and hydrating shampoo and conditioner like Kérastase Force Architecte Damaged Hair Deep Treatment Shampoo and Conditioner are great options to keep hair nourished and fresh. It’s also important to apply a hair mask to any processed hair at least once a week. In addition to the purple mask, we recommend Kérastase Masque Extentionsite Hair Mask, and make sure to always use thermal hair protecting products to avoid additional damage when styling hair.
When visiting the salon, a Fusio-Dose by Kérastase is a great way to give your hair a nutritional boost that will leave it looking healthy and soft. Your stylist can make a recommendation based on your specific hair type for which option is right for you. Plus, for the months of January and February Tease clients get $10 off a custom Fusio-Dose treatment!
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a low maintenance hairstyle that brightens up your look and adds some dimension to your locks, consider trying the balayage look. We also love to share beautiful balayage looks created by our stylists on the Tease instagram, so make sure to follow us on social to see more! If you’re still unsure, talk to your Tease Hair Boutique Hair Stylist who can provide you with additional insights around what is best for your hair type.