The buzziest hair term that ever was. But what actually is balayage, and is it something that could work for you? 

Let's go over the pronunciation (bah-lay-ahge) 

The word is French, meaning “sweeping.” The term refers to the way that color is applied, not the actual color itself. The effect is a soft, natural graduation of lightness along the hair. 

The look has become so popular because of how nicely it grows out with a very effortless, lived-in look. Balayage is also very customizable and tailored to you! While the look may be effortless, the actual work behind the chair that goes into creating one is far from it, which is why it carries a hefty price tag. In turn, depending on the look you are going for, balayage could allow you to go longer in between appointments, meaning fewer visits to the salon. Although, you will likely need to come in for an occasional gloss to maintain the overall vibrancy and as always, proper hair care at home will play a huge factor in how well the color holds up. 

Balayage started as a hand painting technique using a lightener that is directly applied to the hair. The term has transformed over the years. At this point, it’s safe to say that balayage is an overall look and less about the technique itself. Highlights, baby lights, and teasy lights are all techniques to achieve the same goal: which is to take the hair lighter. Your stylist can best determine how to go about achieving your desired look and they may be doing a combination of all three of these techniques to get the look you want.

When you are interested in a specific hairstyle it’s best to supply your stylist with photos of your hair currently, in natural indirect lighting, along with your inspiration photos. After a thorough consultation, you and your stylist can come up with a plan to get you to your desired look and that may take a few visits to the salon, but I encourage you to trust the process and never be afraid to ask questions!