With the new year right around the corner, I know many of you are getting restless with your hairstyle. It’s OK to admit it and it is definitely OK to change things up a bit. One of the first things women turn to when looking for a change is color. It’s a quick fix for your boredom, and can easily be changed to many other colors.
The first time I put color in my hair was when I was 18, and it was only highlights. Up until then I had never done a single thing to my hair to change the color or even add a little oomph. My hair was always getting lighter in the summer and darker in the winter so I didn’t see a point on spending money when I could just wait until the seasons changed. However, that was all while I was straightening my hair.
Now that I wear it wavy 95% of the time, my waves sometimes need a little help standing out, and that is where balayage comes in. (WARNING: The following information is all technical. If you know what Balayage is, feel free to skip this.”> Balayage is a type of highlight that creates a very natural-looking color with hardly any grow out. The word balayage if French for “to sweep” and that is how the stylist applies the color. Many stylists use a brush to apply the color lightly at the root, and heavier at the tip of your hair. The light amount of color at the root means very little grow out. There is no foil used for these highlights, and you leave the salon looking like your curls have been sun kissed.
So what’s so special about balayage that should make you want to get these highlights right now? Glad you asked. There are two thing in particular.
First of all, the little grow out is absolutely amazing. I had balayage done in early October and then made an appointment to go back in 6 weeks, which is usually when I start looking like I don’t own a mirror. When I sat in the chair Anna, my stylist at Trashy Roots Salon & Spa, commented that my color still looked really good and I could wait longer to get it touched up. And what made her say this? No grow out! No joke. The words came out of her mouth.
Second, it’s amazingly natural. I like to have the color to enhance my curls, but by no means do I want to walk out a blonde with perfectly even highlights. When I was getting regular highlights from my salon in Dallas I would leave with very uniform color that started in place A and ended in place B every time. That happened because of one thing: foil. When stylists use foil, the color is stacked and systematically put throughout your hair. It’s nothing against any stylists, that’s how everyone does it. I always wanted to leave the salon with something more natural looking instead of so uniform. With balayage each curl is individually colored so it is scattered throughout the curls instead of an even line all the way across your head. Your curls look like they were naturally blessed with variety because the highlight isn’t perfectly placed.
After getting Balayage done twice I do not see myself ever going back to regular highlights. I love how natural they look, and I especially love not having to get them done once every six weeks. There’s nothing like a good money saver!
One thing to keep in mind when looking for someone to color your hair is to remember that not everyone is trained to color curls. When color is done poorly it can make your curls look dull and even frizzy, but if the highlights are done correctly you will have an added definition to your curls. Balayage takes a little longer than regular highlights because they stylist is basically hand-painting each curl, but it is well worth the extra time.
