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It seemed like overnight Balayage became the biggest hairstyle trend for women. A total game-changer! Suddenly all our social media feeds were filled with images of amazing coloured locks with ultra-bright, lush, face-magnifying style. Franck Provost Crows Nest takes you through everything you need to know about balayage and why everyone wants it!
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Why does everybody want it?
It’s the hair colour trend that came in like a wrecking ball back in the mid-2010s and unlike so many other hair colour trends, has stuck around! Think of effortless-looking beachy, sun-kissed hair and you’re probably envisaging one of the many incarnations of a Balayage!
The look can be seen on countless celebrities and influencers the world over for example Heidi Klum, Jessica Beil, Jennifer Lopez and just about every Victoria Secret supermodel! In Sydney, it was with the opening of our flagship CBD salon that the balayage made its debut in Australia!
As the technique is done freehand it allows your hairdresser to personalise their colour work, creating a bespoke colour result on each head of hair that they work on. It’s low maintenance as well which makes it the perfect colour for the busy city girl who can’t get to the salon all the time.
How is it different to highlights?
Traditional highlights are created by weaving small sections of hair and lightening the weaves from the roots through to the ends. The hair is usually placed into foils that are wrapped up into a neat little parcel keeping what’s inside of the foil separate from the rest of your hair. Highlighted hair gives a more traditional consistent overall light look. Highlights follow a structured pattern and can achieve very light results on darker hair types. As highlights sit close to the root, as they grow out it can look very obvious and so regular 6-8 weekly trips to the salon are required to keep your highlights looking their best.
Balayage is less regimented, more of a visual technique. This allows your hairdresser to look at your hair and decide which parts of your hair to colour in a more personalised way. The freehand colour placement gives a softness from a darker root to a lighter end allowing the final colour result to look more natural and blended than a traditional highlight which in some cases can look a little stripey. As the colour is not insulated with a foil it usually produces warmer, more golden natural sun-kissed tones than a traditional highlight. Balayage uses your natural depth to create dimension, letting the lighter pieces pop. As balayage tends to sit away from the root area it requires less maintenance than highlighted looks.
Is it suitable for me?
There is quite literally a balayage for everyone! It can work really well on both light and dark hair. Using the freehand, sweeping/painting technique a confident colourist can create soft and subtle results as well as strong and intense results using the technique by changing up the amount of hair they work with and the saturation of the lightening product. Suitable on almost all hair lengths except for very shortly cropped hair. Balayage can lend itself nicely to all different hair textures – Straight, wavy and curly!
How long does it take?
As there are so many variations available the time your balayage can take varies greatly. A standard half head balayage service would take around 3 hours and a full head of balayage may take up to 4 hours. If time is in short supply for you then it’s best to have a colour consultation with your hairdresser first so that they can let you know exactly how long they think you’ll be in the salon chair.
How often will I need to get it re-done?
One of the huge advantages of a balayage colour is the ‘growing-out’ process. Because of its super soft blendy-ness, there are no strong regrowth lines. Therefore, you only need to visit the salon for a colour refresh every 12 or so weeks, whereas with foils you’ll need to be back in the salon getting those pesky roots retouched every 6-8 weeks.
Can I do anything to help maintain it at home?
Absolutely! As with any colour treated hair, it is advisable to use a salon-quality shampoo and conditioner to protect and prolong colour tone, vibrancy and also to keep your balayage looking shiny – Our go-to is the Kerastase Reflection Bain Chromatique range. Nourish the ends of your hair where your balayage is its lightest with a deep conditioning mask once a week. – We love the Kerastase Nutritive Masque Magistral Treatment Hair Mask. To help keep your balayage looking swish then consider visiting the salon for a quick *DIAMOND* gloss/toning service in-between balayage retouches.
How much does balayage cost?
Prices start at around $165*. Balayage costs vary depending on your hair length and thickness, the experience of the stylist that looks after you and the overall result that you’re looking to achieve. To obtain an accurate quote for your balayage we recommend that you visit one of our salon locations for a complimentary colour consultation with one of our talented hairdressers.
*Prices as of April 2021
Why choose Franck Provost for your balayage?
Balayage was invented in France, with Franck Provost being one of its Pioneers and it’s how we’ve been colouring for years! Our comprehensive in-house colour training focuses on the fundamental French techniques that are renowned the world over, making our Franck Provost hairdressers the masters in the technique! We offer our exclusive Balayage 2 Ors technique which beautifully enhances radiance in all different hair types thanks to a mix of two subtle shades applied in very light touches with a special brush. By using a combination of freehand and veiling techniques, we can create results that show off gorgeous light and shade that are incredibly natural looking – It’s a fantastic way to make your hair stunningly lustrous and vibrant!
Are you looking to get in on the balayage act? Or do you already have a balayage that needs a little top up with a French touch? Visit one of our salon locations for a complimentary colour consultation with one of our talented hairdressers.
