Balayage: what does this technique consist of and its variations

Surely you have already seen thousands of manes on the street wearing balayage, due to the furor around this technique that has been around for a long time. However, it is a method that is still valid and this time we tell you everything you need to know about this wonderful hair coloring technique.

The truth is that, although balayage has become very fashionable in recent years, it is a quite timeless and natural-looking coloring method that continues to become popular among women around the world and that the application of hair colors has changed.

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What is the balayage highlighting technique?

Balayage is a French hair coloring technique. Its name in French comes from the verb balayer, which means “sweep” in Spanish and refers precisely to the way in which this method is carried out: sweeping the color dye along the hair with a brush to achieve an effect of degraded. As a result, we get a natural-looking hair that is full of shine, including various subtle but vibrant color nuances like the one that the sun leaves us during the summer.

We will explain it to you in more detail. When you do highlights under the traditional coloring method, usually your stylist separates the hair into individual sections, applies the dye and the bleach from root to tip and leave it on for a while on aluminum foil or foil under heat. This technique leaves you with quite defined highlights despite the variety of shades that have been used.

With balayage the application method is totally different. In this case, you take the hair directly in your hand and with a brush you sweep the color along the hair until you reach the ends. Thus, the roots remain intact and the variation in the color of your hair is much more subtle.

The Balayage allows you to apply shades of different intensities to better define the contour of your face and emphasize. In addition, the colors flow through your hair without drastic transitions, so that the result is much more natural and appropriate to each one. Of course, if you are a little more daring, with the balayage technique you can also achieve a more risky change of look by playing with the volume of your hair. It all depends on the shades you choose.

Is the balayage only for long hair?

Fortunately, the balayage coloring technique is applicable to any type of hair: who wears it quite long, those who prefer a bob cut to the shoulders or, even, those who decide on a pixie. We can all choose this type of coloring. In any case, it is true that the degraded of fluid colors and tones Balayage have a greater effect on long hair, as the dye can be more easily “swept away”.

In the same way, you can decide on the lively and intense effect of the balayage whether your hair is straight or with waves. The result is just as impressive. And the best, whatever your natural color, all color tones are the protagonists under this technique.

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Other trends in hair highlights

As I mentioned, the balayage has been used for the last few years. What if, is that we are now seeing different evolutions of this technique in new styles.

For example, foilyage is a shed of balayage that has been in use since last year, which uses the dye sweep method but It also includes the use of aluminum foil or foil to achieve a little more color contrasts marked.

Another variation of the balayage is the tortoise-shell hair, in which honey, chocolate, gold and chestnut tones are used under the sweep technique, looking for a more natural look with darker colors but that maintains the summer reflections with the sun. It also provides more volume.

The tiger eye it is another very trendy style lately that also takes the balayage as a base. It is inspired by the semi-precious stone "tiger's eye", which combines shades such as hazelnut, honey, amber and other varieties of browns in the form of threads and veins. For this technique, 1 or 2 shades darker than the natural base are used, unlike the balayage that uses lighter tones, and seeks to apply the dyes in strategic areas to illuminate the face, but not in the entire mane.

Now that you know what balayage is and you know the trendiest variations of the moment that have emerged from it technique, we are sure that you can go visit your stylist for that change of look that you were waiting. So, enjoy that stunning mane!

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