Balayage has been around for a long time and is taken from the French word for “sweeping.” Unlike traditional foil highlights, which look more uniform, balayage is a free-handed colouring technique designed to give a blended and natural-looking highlight without any noticeable lines.
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It’s a less-is-more approach to highlighting and mimics a sun-kissed, multi-tonal finish. It’s an excellent way to refresh your colour without a major overhaul on your look.
Celebrities like Cara Delevingne, Jessica Biel, Chrissy Teigen and Emily Blunt are just a few of the A-listers who have rocked this lived-in look, and we wanted to recreate it with our client, Kelsey.
Kelsey was scheduled for an all-over colour service. She enjoys being a rich brunette, but was open to my suggestions.
I liked how her mid-lengths and ends had lightened and faded over time and I wanted to play up those lighter tones for spring. I knew balayage would be a great option to brighten up her hair while maintaining the rich, chocolate-brown she loves.
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For a natural-looking balayage, it’s best to only go three shades lighter than your natural colour.
I started by applying her background foundation colour using a deep chocolate-brown shade. I then hand-painted these ribbons of caramel-blonde throughout her hair for contrast and dimension, which compliment her complexion and eye colour.
The great thing about this colour application is that it’s very low maintenance and grows out effortlessly.
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