It started as a French coloring technique a very long time ago, and now balayage is pretty omnipresent (and incredibly popular) in U.S. salons. While the “freeform” hair painting gets points for creating amazing dimension, multi-tonal results and a low-maintenance look, we had to ask: Is it still in style in 2024?
What Is Balayage?
At its very basis, balayage is a French highlighting technique. “Every strand of highlights is hand painted and feathered to the root so there are no harsh lines of demarcation,” explains Michelle Hong, hair expert and founder of NYC the Team Salon. “Balayage creates soft natural highlights and creates dimension to the hair.”
Kate Reid, director of COLOR.ME by KEVIN.MURPHY says balayage really is the perfect example of how a high-fashion movement completely went mainstream. “As fashion evolved and sun-kissed hair became fashionable, clients want to look effortlessly chic, and this is a low maintenance, yet high-fashion look. Because of this, balayage has established a solid place in every salon globally.”
What’s more, Reid says, is that it’s a cost-efficient way to keep up with your color. “What I love about this look the most is that it’s an affordable way of high-impact color because it grows out seamlessly (because it’s not super close to the roots), thus having to make less trips to the salon.”
Of course, your color is only as good as the person doing it, and Reid recommends first asking your stylist if they are comfortable with the technique and requesting to see some of their previous work. “Images are the best tool of communication with your hair colorist. You can show them and also explain what you love about the look, what you would like to achieve with your specific hair, what you like about the tones and your desired end result.”
And don’t be shy about taking a few different inspiration images to the salon with you, Reid says. “Give your stylist options so he/she can discuss which inspiration looks best on you based on your skin tone, hair texture, cut, style, etc.”
Is Balayage Still in Style?
Hong gives a resounding “yes!” to this one.
“Balayage is still a technique that is much used. I personally only specialize in balayage and create various looks by hand painting all the highlights,” she says. “With balayage, the highs and lows of light and dark can be accentuated as you can paint exactly where the hair falls around the face frame and layers.”
Plus, Hong points out, there is a healthy-hair bonus to the technique: “From babylights, sun-kissed, lived-in and ombré looks, balayage is very versatile and less damaging for the hair.”
One New York color duo, Bianca Cox and Chi Tang, co-owners of Bianchi Salon in the East Village, also agree that balayage is here to stay. Their salon specializes in it (they even offer a five-hour balayage treatment), and they say they truly view it as an art form because it’s so focused on color that can be customized, yet it’s an option that is still accessible.
“We use different tools during the painting process: small and large hair brushes, large paintbrushes and roller blending, similar to brush strokes or smudging used in art,” the duo explains. “We use three to six different toners in their hair, as opposed to one or two. We are literally creating art in their hair and customizing it to fit their natural color and features. The effects of all the techniques and tools bring on different results.”
The best part? “Because clients are getting hand-painted color that transitions between multiple tones, in some cases, they can’t even tell where the color is beginning from, making it timeless as it grows out,” they add.
How to Maintain Your Balayage
Maintenance is low, as the balayage grows super soft and subtle from the root, Hong says. “Usually, depending on preference, balayage can be done every two-to-three months or even just once or twice a year. Always use a great shampoo for colored hair and a mask to keep the hair nourished and hydrated.”
