It was the easy, breezy, and cool-girl look that defined the early 2010s: blonde balayage. And the search for blonde balayage inspiration continues to be never-ending: the seamless blending of light highlights was—and still very much is—one of the easiest ways to give your hair natural-looking dimension. (And who doesn’t want to look like they just came back from an island-hopping vacation?)
Balayage, which in French means “to sweep,” is a hair coloring technique used to paint on lighter shades onto the hair to give you that soft, sun-kissed effect. As George Papanikolas, celebrity hair stylist and Matrix global brand ambassador, puts it, it’s all about a seamless blend rather than harsh streaks. “It stays softer and more delicate at the root, gradually becoming bolder and brighter towards the ends,” Papanikolas says. “Essentially mimicking the way the sun would lighten your hair naturally.”
When it comes to blonde balayage, he says you’re basically getting anything from golden ribbons to cool champagne tones to give hair that lighter feel. The best part? It’s a pretty universal coloring technique that works on all hair shades. There are just a few things to take note of.
What is the difference between balayage, highlights, and ombré?
While balayage, highlights, and ombré hair may all look the same, these color treatments are slightly different by nature. Celebrity hair colorist Jenna Perry says that balayage is a hand-painted technique that offers a soft, natural blend of colors. Papanikolas adds that it is achieved with a foil or a freehand teasing and backcombing method. “Isolating the [hair] lightener in a foil generates more power and heat, which helps break through darker pigments more effectively,” he explains. “That means we can push past the unwanted orange tones and achieve those desirable, cleaner blonde shades.”
Highlights are more structured, Perry says. Even though it is also done with foils, the goal of highlights is a more precise, brighter, and more defined look. “Great for maximum lift, but they can look streakier and give a harsher grow-out compared to balayage,” adds Papanikolas. As for that ombré effect, Perry says to think of it as a gradual fade from dark roots to lighter ends. But these coloring techniques don’t have to be mutually exclusive, and you can mix and match techniques for a more dynamic look.
How much does a blonde balayage cost?
This will depend on where you get this done and the colorist you see, but Perry says that a balayage treatment can cost anywhere from $350 to $800. “Balayage is a bit more expensive because it’s super customized and takes more than just using foils like traditional highlights,” she says.
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