Balayage: what is and how is the most natural lightening technique there is!
Lightening the hair is a desire shared by many women, this is because generally a lighter color illuminates the face, softens the hair and makes us look more beautiful. However, it is not always easy to intervene on one's own color without distorting it and in any case guaranteeing a natural effect; for this to happen it is necessary to rely on proven bleaching techniques and above all in the hands of expert hair stylists, able to give our hair the much desired sun-kissed effect, that I see I do not see that we all want to aspire to to show off an impeccable color, but not too far from the base one.
But what exactly is balayage?
It is a permanent color that lightens some areas of the hair to create a rather sharp, but at the same time natural, contrast.
How is it done?
This technique designed to lighten the hair in a natural way, is carried out by dividing the hair at the top of the neck forming a star: from each tip you take a tuft of hair at a time and streaks of bleaching are applied on the lengths with a spatula and brush. The hair is thus lightened by a few tones in a less evident way on the roots and more marked on the lengths and ends. About twenty years ago, a balayage treatment consisted of a real bleaching of the entire hair by about a lower tone. Now, on the contrary, we talk about balayage only when you want to lighten ends and lengths, to give lighter but not too demanding reflections.
There is no division of the strands or backcombing of the lengths, as is the case with the shatush, but the lightening and retonalization take place uniformly, from root to tip.
The final effect will be a general illumination of the hair, with more evident highlights, concentrated on some strands, just as if it were natural reflections generated by the sun.
The balayage, as already anticipated, provides that only the tips are lightened and that the chosen shade respects your natural color, so there will not be a real distortion of colors but a very natural attenuation of your tones.
Balayage and shatush: what are the differences?
In both cases, these are treatments aimed at lightening the hair in the most natural way possible, which act mainly on the length of the hair, leaving the root almost intact, but if the shatush provides only a lightening phase after having backcombed the hair, the balayage is also characterized by a first phase of bleaching followed by a second one, of coloring, to guarantee a more uniform result and a natural effect, almost kissed by the sun.
The division of the hair into a star and the use of a brush that is managed on the hair in a more irregular and free way, means that the application of the color - which must be slightly lighter than the tone of the base - is much more uniform and natural. : unlike shatush, in fact, the dye is not applied to the entire teased strand, but streaks are created on the lengths, guaranteeing a decidedly more harmonious effect and less sharp contrast between root and tips.
Who is it more suitable for
The balayage is ideal on natural hair and not treated at the root, and should respect the starting color as much as possible, choosing tones not too far from this: one-two tones lighter would be ideal.
It is a technique particularly suitable for medium and light colors, but do not despair blackberries: if you have the foresight to choose the right shades, even on dark hair it can give the best of itself.
Remember, in fact, that the final effect must be natural and uniform.
The blond and brown balayage are definitely the most popular variants, just think for example of the wonderful hair looks of Sarah Jessica Parker, Gisele Bündchen and Jennifer lopez: in the first case, you will choose very bright shades by drawing on the various types of blond, in the second instead, excellent colors tending to caramel and honey - undoubtedly the ideal colors to illuminate brown hair. On this front, we can draw inspiration from stars like Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel or Bianca Balti.
It is also possible to apply it also on red hair: in this case the amber effects will be the best choices for a result as natural as possible.
Mistakes not to commit
It is good to respect some rules for a self-respecting balayage and avoid falling into the following mistakes:
- Do balayage at home. In fact, it is a technique that is only apparently simple, in reality for a good result it is necessary to master the coloring techniques and have a good skill in application.
- Making it more than 3 times a year. Rather, proceed with a retouch, without intervening on the entire hair. Repeating it too many times over the entire length can damage the hair fiber and put too much stress on the hair.
- Do not take care of your hair after undergoing the treatment. Then choose nourishing, moisturizing products and once a week proceed with a more intensive mask.
- Trim after balayage. If anything, the cut should be made before the treatment, to have renewed and bright tips. In no case will you have to choose balayage if the starting points are weak and damaged.
Is it possible to do this on short hair?
Let's say immediately that the best result is obtained on long or medium-long hair, especially if they have a layered and not too full styling, which creates an even more vibrant and suggestive natural chromatic movement.
After all, being made mainly on the lengths, this can only be the most suitable measure if you want to get an impeccable look.
However, it must be said that even on short hair it can find the right enhancement: however, it will be necessary to rely on the hands of experts in the sector who know how to dose the lightening in a natural and uniform way on a much more limited and concentrated surface. Jane Fonda or the gorgeous, notoriously brunette Natalie Portman who succumbed to a touch of golden honey on the tips of her bob.
The benefits of balayage
Having minimal contrast with the root, balayage allows us not to be forced to take it back every month. The retouch, if you consider it necessary, can be done every three months, if instead you prefer not to continue with the treatment or return to your base color, you can safely let six months or a year pass, so the effect will not be unsightly, but it will go down. only more on the tips, distancing more and more from the root, all with great class.
The costs of this beauty treatment are not minimal, but precisely because of its long timescales, they allow ample breathing space in the following months, without being forced to go back to your hairdresser every month.
