Balayage Vs. Highlights Spring 2016 Hair Color Trend

Ready for a new spring fling? Highlights are a thing of the past. Check out the new color trend that’s turning heads fast.

Winter is on its way out and that can only mean one thing. Spring will be here before you know it and you’ll be ready to update your hair color with one of the latest hair coloring trends. If you’re ready to ditch the pastel colors, the bold colors or the “no” color granny looks of yesteryear, you’ll be happy to meet balayage.

The Difference Between Balayage and Highlights

Most people know what highlights are. Traditionally applied through a foil or a cap technique, highlights add a variation of tone in the hair color and are most often used with a bleach or lightener to create blonde streaks of different tone. Results can be drastic or created lightly to look more natural. Depending on the amount of highlights applied and their difference compared to your natural hair color, maintenance can vary anywhere between 8 weeks to once every few years, based on the desired look.

No matter which option you choose, the one thing that the cap and foil techniques have in common is that they both use a barrier to apply the lightener to your hair. Both the foil and the cap separate highlighted hair from the pieces you want to leave natural. This allows for a more even processing time and lowers the risk of bleed marks, which is a common challenge when hair lightening chemicals accidently run onto unwanted sections of the hair.

Balayage is a hair painting technique that originated in Paris in the 1970s. French for “sweep”, Balayage hair coloring is applied with a brush and painted directly onto the hair without using any foil or cap to separate the painted hair from the uncolored. Unlike cap or foil highlighting, balayage is a very organic and random way of creating highlights. Since there is no definitive technique or pattern the colorist is able to select pieces and apply thick amounts of bleach to sections in a more haphazard manner. While it may appear to lack rhyme or reason, balayage hair coloring results in a very natural and sun-kissed look, perfect if you want to appear as though your highlights were an “accident” from simply staying out in the sun too long.

Ombre vs. Balayage
If you’ve already tried the ombre hair color trend, you might be ready for a different twist on highlights if you’re wanting to be on trend for spring 2016 hair color. Instead of opting for a full head of highlights, balayage highlights can brighten up your complexion instantly and provide just the lift you need to grow out a ho-hum hairstyle or add a little oomph to winter’s brunette tresses. Just like ombre hair color, which is a technique where the bottom of the hair is made lighter than the roots, balayage highlights can be painted halfway up your hair shaft so that your highlights look intentional.

Dark or Blonde
Even though balayage is often used to apply hair lightener, the sweep hair coloring technique can also be used to add random sections of colored hair throughout your style. If you like the look of blue or purple hair, adding chunks of black or wide white highlights throughout with bayalage can take a common hair color trend and make it a little bit different.

On Trend for Men
Forget traditional man highlights. Balayage works great for adding subtle lift to mens’ hair styles as well. Brushing on bleach in a lower level can achieve sun-kissed tresses that make even Brad Pitt swoon. If your man needs a little lift, ask your stylist to paint on a bit of blonde and introduce him to a low-maintenance side of mens personal grooming.
Can I Do This Myself?
Before you go about thinking applying a balayage hair coloring process is a simple process, give your colorist a little credit. There’s a lot of stuff that can truly go wrong if you don’t apply balayage highlights correctly. For example, if you apply balayage in a messy manner or “sweep” you could get hair lightener halfway down the shaft or spotted throughout your tresses. In addition it can be pretty tricky to apply well-sectioned random parts throughout the back of your head. On top of that there’s the whole processing thing. Without a heat source many people will not achieve their desired results at home. There are plenty of reasons to justify doing your hair at home, but ease of application should never be considered one of them. If you know your skill level falls short of expert, we suggest you book a professional color service.

Growing Out Balayage
One of the best things about balayage hair color is that since it is so natural it’s not a hard coloring trend to steer away from if you later want to go for an allover color or add even more highlights and lift. Coloring over balayage is as simple as applying more lightener or color directly over the pieces that were previously painted. Just like ombre hair color, balayge lends itself to a more casual and beachy vibe, perfect for the girl who fantasizes about having mermaid locks. If you’re looking for an interesting hair coloring technique that’s a step away from highlights but similar in randomness to ombre, you’ll likely love the results a talented bayalage hair coloring service can achieve.

The Cost of Bayalage
The cost of a balayage hair color service will vary depending on the salon and its location. You should also consider any additional costs you might incur, especially if your hair is extra-long, if your colorist uses several different shades of color, or if you need a toner to neutralize color. A consultation with your colorist is the best way to determine if a balayage color service will work with your hair and your goals. Contact Juldan Salon today and book an appointment with one of our experienced and talented colorists.