Balayage: Let’s discover one of the most popular treatments

Is balayage still in demand in salons? Is it still a popular treatment? Let’s discover together where it originated, how it evolved, and how to maintain it at home.

What is balayage?

Balayage is a freehand hair coloring technique that creates natural, luminous highlights for a sun-kissed look. The term comes from the French “balayer”, meaning “to sweep” or “to paint,” and describes the movement with which the hairdresser applies the lightener. It creates a natural effect and is the ideal choice if you want something subtle.

Balayage originated in France in the 1970s as an alternative to harsher, more artificial colors, and quickly spread to the United States and then throughout Europe. Its success has therefore been enduring, continuing to this day. It is still one of the most requested treatments in salons because it allows you to achieve a luminous, natural look in a short time. It doesn’t cause growth issues because the color is blended evenly without sharp contrasts. The success of a perfect balayage depends on the stylist’s creativity, technique, and harmonious blending. Finally, balayage shouldn’t be confused with shatush: shatush focuses only on the ends for a more dramatic effect. With shatush, you backcomb and separate the strands, while balayage is done freehand. Highlights are yet another technique that creates sharp contrasts and more pronounced lines.

Blonde balayage, from cool blonde to honey blonde

The most popular balayage is blonde. Blonde balayage creates a nuanced effect, adding movement and volume. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, it’s less demanding than traditional dyeing because there’s no rooting effect.

Balayage on blonde hair allows you to achieve not just one shade of blonde, but infinite shades of blonde: it’s a true play of light and depth. Warm tones (honey blonde, golden, sand) are ideal for those with olive skin, especially with wavy or slightly wavy hair. For light or pink skin with blue or green eyes, a cool blonde is best.

Balayage on brown hair

The traditional balayage technique is perfect for hair with shades ranging from light brown to medium brown. Typically, the ends are saturated and richly colored at mid-length (at face level) before being blended down to the roots and brushed all the way across the surface. On brown hair, many colors can be chosen depending on the complexion and face shape: from red balayage to hazelnut, mahogany, and honey blonde. The result is a luminous glow on brown hair, as if kissed by the sun.

How to maintain balayage at home?

Home maintenance is truly essential, as is selecting the right products. Since the time between balayage treatments is longer than the time between dye treatments, it’s necessary to take care of your hair daily at home to keep it fresh and vibrant.

For blonde balayage treatments, we recommend using products specifically designed for blonde hair, like our Blondie line. For other types of balayage, from hazelnut to mahogany to caramel, you can use products for colored hair. With the right products, balayage will last longer and your hair will be more hydrated and shiny.