We are interested in everything that has to do with hair, the haircuts that are trending, the hairstyle, the color and even the technique with which it is applied. And as if it were just another accessory, it also follows fashions.
One of the trends that has hit the hardest in recent times is the technique of balayage highlights who has come to replace to the traditional Californian Wicks. balayage translated from French it means to sweep, and that explains the secret of this curious technique. The wicks balayage They are achieved by applying the dye evenly throughout the hair, as if it were sweeping, from the roots to the ends, thus achieving a natural and luminous result. The main difference that we find with the Californian wicks, is that in the wicks balayage it starts the application from the root.
How to do balayage highlights step by step
As explained by Raquel Saiz, director of Salón Blue by Raquel Saiz and color expert, “balayage is a color technique that creates a root effect, but it is not the only one, melting also does it. Playing with the chiaroscuro, the areas of greater illumination, and those of lesser light, what we achieve is a work of hair contouring that allows us to highlight or correct our features”.
For its part, charo garcia of Ilitia Beauty & Science comments that “They are already a classic that does not go out of style and with them we achieve a carefree result. They are characterized by freehand work, creating reflections of an irregular shape and with a root effect. The color appears from the middle to the ends and that is what the has become popular: its low maintenance and high results. With balayage we can highlight our face, playing with the area where we apply the highlights and giving it a greater sense of movement.”
So the first thing we have to do, as we always say, is put ourselves in the hands of a good professional who not only assesses the state of our hair and advises us, but is also an expert in technique and coloration.
In any case, we will have to be at the result we are looking for but, as a general rule, these highlights try to leave a root effect (i.e. they are not applied from the scalp) and therefore we would start by applying from about a quarter of the length of the hairputting greater color emphasis on the tips.
One of the advantages over other styles is that it should not leave very strong lines of color since is applied, above all, by freehand in a subtle way and thus the hair is left with a soft and gradual finish of color which is subtle and seamless compared to other more traditional techniques.
The normal thing is to choose colors a couple of shades lighter than our base and from there apply the highlight. However, in the case of very dark hair, a little bleaching will be necessary before applying the color.
as pointed out Immaculate Garcia of MENTA Beauty Place the technique “Consists in sweep color from root to tip using brush and freehand bleaching, air bleaching can be used to achieve more subtle gradients or covered bleaching to achieve more lightening tones. The result will depend on the skill of the colorist since it is a very personalized technique, and it is necessary to have a great command and know how to apply the wick and blend it to achieve a greater lightening of the ends. The result is very natural since, being blurred, it is not possible to see where the wick begins and ends”.
In any case, when choosing the strands, as pointed out Rachel Saizwe must bear in mind that blondes illuminate the face when the light reflects on them, on the other hand, darker ones correct the features, which is why it says that “the light of blondes is responsible for highlighting an area of our face. Thus, if we leave the reflections in the part of the gaze and cheekbones we will make the eyes look bigger. If we give light from part of the chin, what we achieve is to lengthen the face, also stylize it, since dark tones reduce.”
Finally, what we do have to highlight is that the biggest advantage of balayage is the little maintenance they need, since they can be retouched every four months. By not touching the root, the natural growth of the hair will not be perceived, according to Inmaculada García. “We should only keep the hair very nourished with specific products such as conditioners or masks because bleached hair always tends to be drier, even with violet or bluish shampoos so that our wick does not tend to take on unwanted tones such as yellow or orange, but if this happens we can always reapply a color treatment between touch-ups to refresh the wick and always look like the first day”.
This same expert also guides us when it comes to knowing What type of hair do these highlights look good on? since it says that “balayage highlights are flattering in all lengths and shades of hair. In blondes, both cold tones (platinum, gray, ash or sand) and dark tones look great.
warm (golden, honey or chestnut) more used during the summer months as they feel better on tanned skin. In dark hair they are more flattering if we illuminate them with warm tones, the choice of chocolate, brown, hazelnut or honey colors, even copper for the most daring are the best option.
fifteen balayage highlights ideas
Once we know how to make this type of highlights, we want to give you 15 ideas to take very good note of to renew your hair.
Ash blonde hair is a very special shade, many blonde babies are born with this type of highlights in their hair. This tonality applied with the technique balayage it’s just gorgeous.
The bronde It is still the fashionable shade, it is the fusion between brown and blonde, great for those who want to lighten their natural color but without going totally blonde. Like this mane, the spectacular result.
People with dark hair who are looking for that touch of light and light reflections at the same time, it is better to mix them with other tones such as chocolates. You will get a striking mane, although less natural than if you opted only for copper or chocolate.
Caramel tones illuminate this mane, the sweep has been made with highlights from the root and others further apart. With straight hair you can see a very silky mane.
The style of Nordic highlights is risky but also very impressive.
An almost white blonde is only suitable for the most daring and better if you have a clear base, otherwise you will only have to bleach and bleach to get the tone.
A hair that is too flat, even if it is neat and beautiful, needs a little help, a subtle sweep with very fine reflections is great. Don’t you like the result?
If you have done a bob cut but you think that you lack light, this is your technique, the balayage reflections will bring movement and the hair will look much more chic. The waves from medium to ends are the hairstyle Item.
The higlights in two shades more than the natural base, they are ideal for those looking for a natural finish but with a more lively hair result.
The darkest hair can also choose other shades, such as copper, they will gain in light and dimension, making the hair not look so flat.
This hair looks beautiful and natural with a baby blonde in which several shades are intermingled and the reflections are fine from the roots to the ends. Very bright result.
This technique is not only exclusive to the most natural shades, it can also be recreated with other colors such as gray and violet.
For those looking for a mermaid mane beach blonde and the waves are the most representative. With this technique it will seem that your hair has been molded in the sun.
Light-based manes can withstand lighter shades and play with more accentuated gradients. The sweep of color in this case gets thicker as it moves away from the root.
And of course, we couldn’t help but end up with some balayage in ginger hair that continue to be one of the trends of each fall. Without a doubt, a fantastic bet and the most successful.
The best products to achieve balayage highlights
If you are one of those who dares with everything and you want to bet on some balayage highlights at home, we also have some recommendations to get them although, as we have already mentioned, it is best to bet on a professional who knows the technique.
Effect Ombre Californian by Colorista which, if we apply it thinly as we have indicated, will result in balayage. Its price is 6.49 euros.
Effect Ombre Californian by Colorista
Olia Highlights ammonia-free kit with a price of 6.30 euros.
Olia Highlights ammonia-free kit
Intensive Creme Color Highlights Palette with a price of 4.99 euros.
Intensive Creme Color Highlights Palette
L’Oreal Paris Preference Mechas Sublimes Prefrerence, Tone: 004 Brown to Light Brown with a price of 6.89 euros.
L’Oreal Paris Preference Sublime Preference Highlights, Shade: 004 Brown to Light Brown – 225 g
Nordic Blonde Radiant Wicks priced at 7.99 euros.
Radiant Nordic Blonde Wicks
Other interesting offers
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