Balayage Hair: What You Need To Know

1. What does Balayage do to your hair?

Balayage (pronounced as bah-lee-ahge) is a popular hair coloring technique that enables individuals to achieve more natural-looking, sun-kissed hair. Originating in the 70s, "balayage" means "to sweep" in French.

Balayage hair is a freehand hair technique wherein highlights are “swept” from midway down the hair. With this technique, they apply highlights using natural or synthetic brushes in different areas of the hair to achieve a more natural and well-blended look. These brushes are stroked vertically, and in time, you will notice these highlights are darker at the start and lighter at the tips.

With balayage hair, it is possible to achieve multi-dimensional hair with depth and softer tones. Regrowth lines (aka those annoying lines that make you want to visit your stylist asap!) are also less apparent as the hair colors are seamlessly blended. You don’t have to worry about visiting the salon more often to have your roots retouched.

We highly recommend getting balayage if you want to achieve warmer hair colors like classic blonde, caramel, rose gold, ash blonde, copper, and honey!

2. What are the different types of Balayage?

There are different types of hair balayage, the most popular ones are full balayage, partial balayage, reverse balayage, and money piece balayage. If you’re unsure of what these are and their differences, we’ve got you covered.

Full Balayage

With full balayage, hair color is hand-painted from the middle part of your hair towards the end. While the top part of the hair is untouched, the hair color is blended seamlessly, making it hard to spot where the added color starts.

Partial Balayage

In partial balayage, only a portion of your hair is hand-painted with color. Our stylist will select specific sections of your hair to highlight, leaving the other parts with your base color. Although the top part of your hair remains untouched, the hair color will have a seamless transition from top to bottom.

Reverse Balayage

In reverse balayage, the top part of the hair is darker and it transitions to a lighter tone towards the tip. The multi-tone of the hair is more visibly apparent.

Money Piece Balayage

Money piece balayage features striking highlights at the front part of the hair while the rest has a darker tone. This is ideal for framing your face further, and our clients usually select blonde or bold shades for their highlights.

3. Balayage vs Highlights

A common question is, “What is the difference between highlights and balayage?” The highlights you get from balayage are more natural-looking and well-blended, while the highlights from foil highlights look more uniformed.

When it comes to hair regrowth, regrowth lines are less apparent with balayage and more apparent with highlights over time. Additionally, with balayage, you don’t have to worry about color bleeding, where some areas of the hair get affected by bleach from the highlights.

The common ground for both balayage and highlights is that they can be done with or without bleach, depending on the desired hair color. Generally, if the customer wants to achieve a hair color that is 2 shades lighter than their natural tone or prefers ash shades, bleaching is required.

4. How long does Balayage last?

On average, balayage hair lasts around 3 to 4 months. This depends on how you care for it after your appointment and the hair care products you use regularly.

To ensure your balayage hair lasts longer, we recommend using shampoo and conditioner specifically made for colored hair, preferably sulfate-free to prevent color fading.

Avoid bathing with hot water immediately after your hair appointment, as it strips essential oils that help retain hair color. Wait 24 hours after your appointment to wash your hair.

When using heat styling tools, use heat protectant products like the Lucicare Styling Mist C.

5. Is Balayage high maintenance?

Balayage is known to be a low-maintenance hair technique. Regrowth hairlines are less apparent, so you don’t need frequent salon visits for root touch-ups. Properly maintained balayage hair can stay looking fresh for months.

However, if you want more warmth and dimension, visit the salon at least twice a year for maintenance. If you want your base hair color to be lighter over time, you will need more frequent visits.

6. What happens at a Balayage appointment?

Prior to your balayage appointment, research the hair color and type of balayage you want. Save reference photos to show our hairstylists in Singapore.

a. During your appointment, our talented hairstylists will first ask what hair color you want to achieve. Show the reference photos you gathered. If you don’t have photos or are unsure, we provide a complimentary consultation at the start of your appointment. Our hairstylists can recommend colors that suit you, considering your skin color and face shape.

b. Once decided, our hairstylists will prepare the necessary hair colors for your service and start working on your hair afterwards.

Ready to get your balayage hair at Kimage Salon?

If you're looking for a hair salon in Singapore and a personalized hair colouring experience, our hairstylists are here for you. Established in 1994, we are a boutique hair salon chain renowned for enhancing individual personalities through expert hairdressing. With nine outlets across Singapore and a team of skilled hairdressers, we offer a wide range of services, including hair colouring, treatments, perming, and straightening.

At Kimage, our experienced stylists take the time to understand your preferences and skin tone to recommend the perfect hair colour for you. If you’re looking for a subtle change or a bold new look, we provide a comfortable and professional environment to help you achieve your desired style. Plus, we often have some of the best hair colour deals here in Singapore, so you get top-notch quality without breaking the bank.

Visit Kimage Salon to schedule an appointment here and discover the perfect hair colour that complements your skin tone and personal style.