What is Balayage ? The term comes from the French word “balayer,” meaning to sweep. It’s a term that refers to the way the color is applied, not the color itself. Balayage is basically a technique where hair color is painted onto the hair to create a graduated, more natural-looking highlight effect. Since the process is designed to give the look of grown out roots in a way that’s flattering and natural instead of stark and skunky, it’s less work to maintain. That translates to less time and money spent at the salon, and in turn, less damage done to the hair. there are variations in application preferences, some colorists don’t separate the hair, while others separate the hair with cotton pieces, and others prefer using foil as a divider. There are different application nuances that produce slightly varied results, but the main reason balayage has become so popular is that it allows colorists to hand select the pieces of hair they want to highlight. Due to the customized, natural-looking placement, balayage also allows for a softer grow out.
What is Ombré?
Ombre is a gradient hair coloring technique that is sometimes confused with Balayabe. Ombre, which means ‘shadow’ in French, hair color gradually transitions from a darker base color at the roots and midshaft to a lighter color at the tips. It usually involves two colors, but three or more can be used to create complex color gradients. Any color can be used in the two-toned Ombre technique, but it’s common to see a progression from darker shadow roots to a lighter color at the tips. The Ombre look has only been growing in popularity over the last few years. It’s a common choice for anyone who likes the soft, blended look of the freehand Balayabe technique but wants a bolder color shift at the ends.
