Ba•la•yage (n.): With a sweep of a brush

People colour their hair for many different reasons. Some want to cover greys, others want to lighten or darken their original colour and many just want to change things up. As hair-colouring technology advances, how we colour our hair is no longer a root-to-tip, all-over permanent colour that needs to be touched up every few weeks. Enter balayage—a hair-colouring technique that gives people a more natural, sun-kissed look to their hair. Here’s how it works.

Not a New Trend

Balayage (pronounced bah-lee-azhe or bah-lee-aghe) is French for “to sweep” or “to paint.” This hair-colouring technique emerged in
the 1970s at a Parisian salon named Carita. The technique was developed to create a hair-colouring effect that resembles sun-kissed hair that’s darker at the roots and lighter at the tips. At the time, it remained under most people’s radar as frosting caps and foils were the technique du jour. That, however, has changed, and balayage has become one of the hottest trends
in salons.

With a Sweep of a Brush

Highlighting hair using balayage is a tricky process, as is anything that’s man-made to look natural. Typically, the gradation of colour involves a gradual saturation process where the darkest colour is at the roots and the lightest colour is at the tips—think of a sunrise where the higher up you look the darker the sky is. To achieve this, the stylist applies the colour freehand, using light brushstrokes near the crown and applying more dye towards the tips. Since the dye is fast-drying and won’t rub off, there’s no need for foils.

The look of balayage also lessens the need for constant root touch-ups since the hair’s growth-demarcation line is less visible because the dye has been gently blended near the roots. There are at-home balayage kits on the market, but don’t expect salon results. Hair stylists spend many hours and lots of money to become balayage experts, which is why (A.) good balayage looks natural and (B.) it comes with a hefty price tag.

A Full Range of Colour and Styles

Balayage will suit most hairstyles, colours and lengths of hair but is particularly popular cut into a bob. A balayage stylist will choose colours that will suit your hair’s natural colour, texture and movement—assuming you want a natural look. A popular trend for blond balayage is the beach look with
sea-sprayed loose waves that give the impression you’ve just stepped off a surfboard. For “hairspiration,” check out celebrities like Dascha Polanco (silver balayage), Jessica Alba, Sarah Jessica Parker, Beyoncé and Olivia Wilde. t8n

Popular Shades

Brown-blond—(a.k.a., brond) seems to be the colour that both women and men are choosing because it’s “beachy” and it gives a more caramel hue to your hair.

Red-brown—This tone is popular with those who have dark brown hair. It creates a deep mahogany colour, or if you opt for a stronger red, a black-cherry colour.

Silver balayage—If you already have an ash-blond base colour, silver may be the bold way to go.