Background: About a week ago, I took the leap of faith and had my hair dyed for the first time in nearly 5 years. In the past, I've had nightmarish experiences with highlights and was thus tentative to try out a new look. Most brunettes prefer to keep their hair color low maintenance and go natural, which I totally respect. I loved my deep coco-hued hair, but I was getting bored of it and looking for a fun way to mix it up. A good friend initially told me about the Balayage hair painting technique and at first, I was extremely skeptical. For those who have never heard of it, Style Lounge describes the technique perfectly: "In Balayage, there are dark pieces left on the bottom to create dimension and a more natural look. This technique looks like natural sun-kissed highlights throughout the hair." Because my hair is naturally very dark it was hard to imagine what it would look like after literally bleaching random strands. After contemplating for a month or so and researching extensively via Pinterest I took the plunge and had my hair consultation at my local AVEDA salon that I've frequented for 10+ years, followed by my actual 2.5-hour long appointment.
The Process: Upon sitting down in the hairdresser chair I talked with my stylist about the exact shades I wanted to incorporate. She left to mix up her concoction of hair enlightener. When she returned she slowly "painted" the bleach onto my strands, drawing a triangle shape into the long lengths and framing my face for a natural look. This specific technique leaves the hair roots their natural color, this way as the hair grows out, your style remains the same. This results in a low-maintenance and raw hairstyle that will literally never fade.
The photo featured below was my Pinterest inspiration, so to speak, for my new look.
I'm really happy with how it turned out on my hair! Check out this hair flip...
Results: Thus far I've been really happy with my new look. The highlights and colors are most noticeable when my hair is in its natural wave state or after I curl it. I generally love trying new things but was especially hesitant with this change just because it's nearly irreversible. I had concerns about hair damage and a "too-bright" result, neither of which occurred. Due to the natural look of this technique, I can see it becoming more popular than your classic full-foil hair dye, which generally looks over-done. I will say that I don't anticipate this look becoming widely popular in older generations of woman as their roots are generally not a desirable color, therefore requiring a root-to-tip hair coloring. Often times, when describing the "balayage", A.K.A. "hair painting" technique to others they immediately associate the finished product with the recent "ombré" hair trend, which fades between shades of similar colors, I'd just like to clarify that these two techniques are much different. The below photo aims to compare the differences between these two techniques.
Overall, I'd recommend giving Balayage a try if you're hesitant, and in general, don't be scared to try something different every once in a while!
Best, S.
