Hairdressers

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This hair colouring technique has become an extremely popular trend of late, being the ultimate go-to for those wanting soft, effortless highlighted looking hair.

Firstly, what is balayage?
The word is French and means ‘to sweep’, reflecting that it is a freehand painting technique used to apply colour at random to add reflective dimension and luminosity. Most of the colour is usually focussed from the mid-length to ends of the hair but often colour can be swept through at random near the hairline too.

Is balayage just for adding blonde highlights?
No! When we hear the word balayage we often have an image come to mind of beautiful blonde highlights, however balayage is a technique rather than a specific look, meaning it is used to add all manner of shades and colours including dark browns, pastels and rainbow brights. Balayage works on all hair types and colours with the colourist adjusting the technique to suit the particular hair they are working on.

Is balayage the same as highlights?
Generally, highlights are a more structured technique than balayage, segmenting hair carefully and applying from the roots through to the tips to create more coverage and an overall lighter look. Balayage is more of a random technique used to blend natural colour into a different shade, focussed mainly on the mid-lengths to ends of the hair.

How is balayage different to dip-dye or ombre?
Dip dye is a much blockier technique than balayage, with the finished look often seeming like the hair has been dipped in dye which contrasts the natural colour, rather than the subtle, natural, blended look of balayage.

Ombre is where the roots are left as the client’s natural colour and then the mid-lengths to ends of the hair are coloured in a graduation, often from dark at the root to light at the ends.


Does Balayage work for everyone?
Definitely! Balayage can be tailored to flatter any base colour of hair and works on all different hair types and styles. It’s also the perfect way to try colouring your hair in a more low-maintenance way than highlights or all over colour as it has a much softer re-growth.
If you are considering balayage, remember that it often involves a lightening product in order to lift hair colour, so be sure to try and get your hair in the best condition possible in the lead up such as using nourishing and repairing masks.

How to avoid bad balayage?
If you’re thinking about balayage hair for yourself, firstly, spend time looking at lots of different pictures of other people’s balayage in order to find a look that most closely resembles what you want for your colourist to reference. Also be sure to choose a colourist who knows what they are doing and has legitimate experience not only balayage, but in colouring hair generally.

Sharnie at Salon One has years of experience in colouring hair and prides herself and her salon on delivering the highest of quality hairdressing and colouring. She has completed numerous colouring professional training courses including TiGi advanced colour and GOLDWELL permanent and semi-permanent colour and has also be trained by the likes of GHD and Beautyworks. Sharnie has become a go-to hair stylist, colouring the hair of some of the North West’s biggest celebrities.

For more information about the services that Salon One offer, to book an appointment or to book a personal consultation with Sharnie, please visit saloneone.com, call +44 (0)1695 227310 or email info@salononeormskirk.