Balayage (meaning “to sweep” or “to paint” in French) is a freehand highlighting technique. Color is applied to the surface of the hair, creating soft, blended highlights that look totally natural, like sun-kissed hair. Unlike traditional foils, balayage offers a customized, seamless blend of colors, perfect for any hair type – short, long, fine, thick, straight, wavy, curly, or coily.
They all lighten hair, but here’s the breakdown:
• Balayage: Creates soft, blended, natural-looking highlights with a seamless grow-out. Think sun-kissed, beachy hair.
• Highlights: Uses foils to create more uniform, structured highlights. The grow-out is more noticeable.
• Ombré: A gradient effect, transitioning from darker roots to lighter ends. Balayage can create an ombré, but they aren’t the same thing.
• Partial: Targets specific sections for a subtle refresh or added dimension.
• Full: Lightens a larger portion of hair for a brighter, more overall look.
• inspiration photos, and discuss maintenance.
• Application: The stylist hand-paints the lightener or color onto your hair.
• Processing: Time to relax while the color lifts.
• Toning: Neutralizes brassiness or adds custom tones (ash blonde, golden blonde, rose gold, etc.).
• Shampoo & Conditioning: Your hair is washed and conditioned with color-safe products.
• Styling: Your stylist styles your hair to showcase your new balayage.
• Color-Safe Products: Use sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners for color-treated hair, like Acidic Color Gloss and Redken Color Extend Magnetics.
• Deep Conditioning: Treat your hair to a weekly deep conditioner, like Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate range.
• Minimize Heat Styling: Protect your color (and your hair!) by limiting heat styling and using heat protectants.
• Hair Gloss: Refresh your color and add shine with a gloss treatment, like Redken’s Acidic Color Gloss Shine Trio.
• Salon Touch-Ups: Schedule regular appointments to maintain your balayage and address root growth.
