Our balayage techniques
From natural elegance to bold extravagance: hand-painted, individualised colour gradients for your unique hair.
Balayage is a hairstyle trend that has taken the hair world by storm. Originally from France (derived from the word "balayer", which means "to sweep" or "to stroke"), balayage has become a globally popular colouring technique that is known for combining natural elegance and individual expressiveness. Balayage has revolutionised the way people colour their hair. It offers a blend of naturalness, creativity and personalisation that has captured the hearts of people all over the world.
How does balayage work?
In our various balayage techniques, the colours are applied to the hair in broad brushstrokes to create natural and gentle colour gradients. The focus is on a soft transition between the colours, creating a sun-kissed effect.
Differences to conventional colouring techniques
What balayage techniques and variations are there?
Natural bounce, smooth transitions and radiant colour accents are characteristic of the fascinating hair colouring technique called balayage. In this overview, we present various balayage techniques that allow us to create a wide range of styles and add a vibrant dimension to the hair. From a classic balayage to modern variations:
The classic balayage technique is a hair colouring method that creates a natural and sun-kissed look. In this technique, the hair is coloured in a freehand manner, with the colour being applied in gentle strokes to the surface layers of the hair strands. This results in a flattering, gradual colour gradient where the colour is slightly darker at the roots and becomes lighter towards the ends. The transition between the colour tones is soft and seamless, creating a natural effect. Classic balayage is suitable for different hair types and skin tones.
Foliage balayage is a modern variation of the classic balayage technique, characterised by its intense colouring and use of foil accents. In this technique, selected strands of hair are wrapped in foil to maximise colour absorption and at the same time achieve a stronger contrast and a more intense colour change.
Compared to classic balayage, more sections of hair are selected to be treated with colour in foliage balayage. These sections can start closer to the roots and extend to the ends, creating a more vibrant and bold colour gradient. The use of foils makes it possible to control the colour intensity and create different nuances that can accentuate or contrast the natural hair colour.
It offers the opportunity to incorporate different colours and shades into the hair. By combining freehand techniques and precise foil work, foliage balayage creates a modern and vibrant style that emphasises individuality and personality.
Ombre balayage is a sophisticated hair colouring technique that creates a smooth and harmonious colour transition from dark to light. It combines the properties of the ombre and balayage techniques to create a seamless colour gradient in which the hair gradually becomes lighter from the roots to the ends.
With ombre balayage, the colour is applied freehand in a similar way to classic balayage. The special feature, however, lies in the way the colour transitions. The roots are usually left in their natural colour or slightly darkened, while the colour gradually becomes lighter from the middle of the hair length to the ends. This results in a gentle and flattering colour gradient in which the dark and light colours merge seamlessly.
Ombre balayage creates a subtle yet eye-catching look. By combining two colour tones, an effect is created that makes the hair appear longer and more voluminous. This technique can be adapted in different colour combinations and intensities to emphasise individual style and hair colour.
Sombre balayage is a modern hair colouring technique that combines a subtle and soft version of the classic ombre effect with the freehand painting techniques of balayage. The name "Sombre" is derived from the words "subtle" and "ombre" and aptly describes the characteristics of this technique.
In contrast to ombre balayage, where the colour transition from dark to light is more pronounced, sombre balayage is characterised by a softer and more subtle transition. The colour is applied to the hair in fine strokes, creating a natural colour gradient that lightens the hair in a subtle way. The colour differences between the roots and ends are less pronounced, resulting in a natural and flattering effect.
Sombre balayage is particularly suitable for subtly lightening and accentuating the hair colour without creating a strong contrast. This look is versatile and can be created in different shades and intensities to suit individual style and hair colour. Sombre Balayage gives hair a soft dimension and subtly emphasises natural beauty.
Babylights balayage is a subtle and delicate hair colouring technique that aims to create an extremely natural and subtly lightened look. This technique combines the principles of babylights and balayage to achieve a particularly soft and flattering result.
With babylights balayage, fine strands of hair are coloured in a freehand process, similar to the classic balayage technique. The difference is that the selected strands are even thinner and more delicate. This results in an effect that is modelled on natural sunlight and gives the hair a subtle shine. The colour lightening is minimal, creating a similar effect to the natural highlights that often occur in children (hence the name "babylights").
Babylights balayage is ideal for creating a subtle and slightly radiant look without the changes being obvious. This technique gives the hair a soft and youthful radiance while retaining its naturalness. The subtle colour lightening can be applied in different shades to emphasise individual hair colour and style.
Ecaille balayage, also known as "tortoiseshell balayage", is a sophisticated hair colouring technique inspired by the warm colours and patterns of a tortoise shell texture. This technique aims to add depth and dimension to the hair by mixing different warm shades together.
Ecaille balayage involves applying several different colour tones to the hair to create a rich and multi-faceted effect. The colours often vary between different shades of brown, caramel, honey and gold to create a warm and natural look. The technique combines the principles of classic balayage, by applying the colour freehand, with the idea of styling the hair like a rich layering of tortoise shell patterns.
The Ecaille Balayage is ideal for a multi-layered yet natural hair colour. The combination of different warm tones creates depth and lustre in the hair, giving it a vibrant and textured look. This technique is highly adaptable and can be varied to suit individual preferences and hair colours, while delivering an elegant and rich result.
Pastel balayage is a creative and playful hair colouring technique that adds pastel accents to the hair. This technique combines the freehand painting technique of balayage with delicate pastel colours to create a unique and eye-catching look.
With pastel balayage, the selected strands of hair are coloured freehand in a similar way to classic balayage. The difference, however, lies in the colours used, which usually include soft pastel shades such as pink, lavender, mint green or baby blue. These pastel colours are applied to the strands to create subtle or stronger colour accents, depending on the desired effect.
Pastel balayage offers the opportunity to add an individual and eye-catching colour dimension to the hair without appearing too intense or overwhelming. It is particularly suitable for a playful and unique look where people like to experiment with colours. This technique can be applied in different intensities and colour combinations to emphasise personal style and the desired effect.
Reverse balayage is an innovative hair colouring technique that reverses the concept of classic balayage to create an unconventional and eye-catching effect. With this technique, the darker nuances in the hair are lightened, while the lighter sections are accentuated with darker colours.
Reverse balayage uses similar freehand colouring techniques to classic balayage, but here darker colours are applied to the already light or natural sections of hair. The aim is to create a reverse play of colour where the hair becomes darker at the ends or in selected areas, creating a contrast to the original hair colour.
This technique is ideal for a bold and dramatic look. It makes it possible to create a striking contrast and add depth and texture to the hair. Reverse balayage can be created in different colour combinations and intensities.
Flamboyage is a creative hair colouring technique that combines elements of balayage and ombré to create unique and vibrant effects in the hair. This technique is characterised by the use of wafer-thin adhesive strips coated with colour to create precise accents and colour gradients.
In the flamboyage process, thinner sections of hair are selected and placed on these wafer-thin adhesive strips. The colour is then applied to the adhesive strips, creating a precisely controlled colour distribution. This makes it possible to create vibrant colours, contrasts and nuances that appear in fine and seamless transitions in the hair.
The flamboyage technique is particularly suitable for a creative and individual look. The precise application of colour can create intense effects that make the hair shine. This technique offers the flexibility to incorporate different colours and patterns to create a unique and eye-catching style. Flamboyage can be applied in different colour combinations and intensities to emphasise personal style and visual impact.
Vivid balayage, also known as fantasy balayage, rainbow balayage or galaxy balayage, is an exciting and vibrant hair colouring technique. It uses bold and intense colours to create eye-catching accents in the hair. This technique uses the principles of balayage to accentuate the selected sections of hair with vibrant and expressive colours.
Vivid Balayage combines the freehand painting technique of balayage with colours such as vivid red, bright blue, bright green or vibrant pink. The colours are applied to the selected strands of hair to create targeted colour accents or to give the hair an eye-catching colour gradient. The result can evoke an imaginative spectrum of colours ranging from the colours of the rainbow to galactic patterns.
This technique is ideal for those who are looking for a bold and creative hair colour change and want to express their personality through their hair. The bold colours of Vivid Balayage give the hair a vibrant dimension and a unique character. The technique can be applied in different colour combinations and intensities to emphasise individual style and the desired visual effect.
Money Piece Balayage is a contemporary hair colouring technique that aims to frame the face with bright accents reminiscent of sun-kissed highlights. This technique focuses on the area around the face and uses targeted bright colour accents to create a radiant and flattering effect (face framing).
In money piece balayage, light colours, often in blonde or caramel tones, are applied to the front sections of hair close to the face. The freehand painting technique of balayage is used to integrate the colour naturally and gently, creating a natural, lightened effect. These light-coloured strands act like a frame around the face and can brighten and accentuate the overall appearance.
The Money Piece Balayage is ideal for people who want a subtle yet effective hair look. It gives the face a fresh look and emphasises the facial features. This technique can be implemented in different colour nuances to suit the individual hair tone and the desired degree of lightening.
Each of these techniques offers us a unique opportunity to customise the balayage look to your wishes and to adapt it to your individual preferences and hair type.
What are the advantages of a balayage?
Compared to other hair colouring methods, balayage offers a number of advantages that account for its popularity. Here are the most important ones, emphasising the natural elegance, low maintenance and versatility of balayage:
Overall, balayage stands out for its ability to emphasise natural elegance, minimise touch-ups and offer a wide range of looks. These benefits have contributed to balayage becoming one of the most sought-after hair colour trends.
Care of balayage-coloured hair
To maintain the brilliance and radiance of your balayage for a long time, it is advisable to establish certain care habits. Careful maintenance is the key to preserving the vibrant colours and radiant shine of your balayage colouring over time. We would like to give you some valuable advice and tips to help you maintain your balayage colour in the best possible way:
We recommend the use of Goldwell Dualsenses care products specially formulated for this colouring technique and the styling products from the Stylesign line that we stock in our salon. These products have been developed to optimally protect and preserve your balayage colour. They all have the necessary UV protection. Here are some recommendations:
We are at your disposal to advise you on choosing the right products for your individual balayage and your needs.
Costs for a balayage
Our first-class hairdressing services not only stand for outstanding quality, but also for transparency and fair prices.
Every balayage is individual and is customised to you due to the diverse range of possible designs and techniques. Factors such as initial hair colour, hair structure and length play an important role in calculating the costs. In view of this unique variety, it is not possible to quote a standardised price.
For treatments that are as individual and special as balayage, we will be happy to provide you with a customised quote. This offer provides a transparent overview of all details and costs so that you are clear about the costs involved right from the start.
We cordially invite you to visit our salon for a free, no-obligation style consultation. Our experienced team will be on hand to help you find your perfect dream look.
It is our pleasure to offer you a first-class service and to welcome you to our salon.
Experience your dream balayage at CUT & STYLE
You can look forward to selected balayage examples that come directly from our salons and have been individually designed according to the wishes and ideas of our customers.
