The right hair color can make you feel confident and beautiful
It’s important to choose a hair dye that suits your skin tone and hair type so it will look natural as it grows out.
There are several low maintenance hair coloring techniques that can help you maintain a natural-looking color without requiring frequent touch-ups. These include:
Balayage
The word balayage (pronounced BAH-LEE-ahge) is French for “sweeping” or “painting in.” It’s a freehand highlighting technique that uses a brush dipped in lightener to paint soft, natural-looking gradation of color from roots to tips. Balayage is a popular hair coloring trend that gives your strands gorgeous dimension and a sun-kissed, beachy effect. It’s a hugely popular choice for celebrities, social media influencers and people of all colors who want to look effortlessly gorgeous!
This type of highlighting is typically used on layered hair. Your colorist can highlight the whole head, or only specific sections. The technique can be subtle or bold, depending on the desired result and your natural hair shade. If you’re looking for something a little more dramatic, your stylist can go lighter with the first few layers, then add more highlights closer to the bottom of your hair.
Balayage is often considered easier to maintain than traditional highlights. Its soft, blended appearance helps hide regrowth and avoids those harsh lines that can be seen from the back of your head. You might even be able to go longer between appointments than you could with a full head of highlights!
It’s important to note that not all stylists are trained in balayage, so it’s essential to find a professional who specializes in this technique. You can ask your friends and family for recommendations, or look for a stylist on Instagram who has a lot of beautiful photos of their work!
Once you’ve found a stylist, they’ll probably start by asking you a few questions and talking about how you normally style your hair. This is so they can create a look that’s perfectly customized for you! They may also take a picture of your face to use as reference when they’re painting the lightener on.
Once they’re done with the consultation, your stylist will get started on the actual highlighting. They’ll take their time with this step so they can get it right! They’ll work in small sections, and will use plastic or cotton between each one to prevent the color from bleeding.
Ombre
From dip dye to babylights, ombre seems like one of those hair color techniques that’s always in style. But when you’re scrolling through your social feed, it can be tough to keep up with all the different (seemingly overlapping) terms that your fave celebs use to describe their looks. Highlights, balayage, and ombré all sound similar, but what’s the difference?
Ombre is a color technique that combines darker and lighter shades to create a gradual fade. This fading can be subtle or dramatic, and it can also be used to add dimension or a pop of color. Whether it’s dark blonde to light brown or bright red to pink, this blending coloring technique is perfect for adding texture and depth to your look.
The term “ombre” is French for shaded or shadowed, and it’s a concept that’s been around for centuries. You can see ombre in pre-Civil War quilts, Victorian era ribbons and trims, and even 1970s disco wear. Ombre’s popularity has been revived in recent years with the rise of social media and celebrity trendsetters such as Khloe Kardashian and Chrissy Teigen.
While ombré is a great choice for anyone looking to try out a new color, it’s especially good for those with curly or wavy hair. Unlike other coloring techniques that require bleaching, ombré is more gentle on your hair and will help prevent the frizz-inducing damage often associated with over-processing. When done correctly, a well-done ombré will last for months without showing any signs of regrowth.
Another benefit of ombre is that it’s easy to maintain. Because it’s a natural transition from dark to light, the line won’t show when your roots start growing out. This makes it a great option for those who love to follow the latest trends but don’t want to commit to a drastic change.
One of the most popular ombre hair color ideas is to combine it with other highlighting techniques. “What ombre truly is, is a grown-out version of different forms of balayage,” Bryant says. “With ombre, you’re using foils to get the look of natural dark to light whereas with balayage it’s more hand-painted.”
Root shadowing
Root shadowing is a low-maintenance hair color technique that uses a darker shade to add depth and contrast to highlighted hair. It’s often seen in combination with balayage highlights but can be done on its own or even used to touch up roots after a regular single-process color. The technique aims to avoid the severe line where dark hair meets lighter colors by tinting only the roots with the darker hue and then blending it out with the rest of your strands. This creates a soft, seamless transition that looks more like your natural roots than an obvious dye job.
It’s also a great option for anyone who wants to experiment with fashion colors or lighten their base hair color but doesn’t want to make the switch too quickly. Your stylist will use a shade that is within a few shades of your natural hue so you can keep up with the trend without having to change your color as often.
If you’re looking for a way to refresh your hair color this summer, try the root shadowing technique! It’s a perfect way to add depth and dimension to your highlights while still allowing them to grow out naturally. Just remember to come in for a toner every 6-8 weeks to maintain your brightness!
Another popular highlighting technique this season is the root smudging. This process involves using toner or a gloss the same shade as your roots (or a shade slightly lighter) and “smudging” it down over the highlight area to blur the lines between the darker and lighter tones. Root smudging is a great option for anyone who wants to extend the time between salon touch ups because it helps to reduce the drastic line of demarcation that occurs when you bleach your hair.
While ombré and balayage are the most common highlighting techniques on the runway, other styles are popping up as well. One of the most exciting trends we’re seeing is the return of rainbow roots, a style that takes ombre to a whole new level by adding bright color at the top of the strands. This look can be worn on any color of hair and is a fun way to show off your personality!
Ecaille
Ecaille is a new hair color technique that has taken Paris by storm. This multi-faceted, softer look takes the ombre and balayage techniques and makes them more subtle. It is a great option for brunettes who want to add some lighter highlights without the harsh contrast seen in other styles. The result is a beautiful, golden, multi-faceted color that looks very natural and even more gorgeous when it shines.
The name of the technique comes from its French meaning “tortoise shell,” as it is similar to the hues found in a tortoiseshell frame for glasses or a hair accessory. The color uses a wide palette of warm tones, from burnished bronzes and honey tones to soft coppers and golds. Brunettes can use it for face-framing highlights or a rich caramel ombre. Blondes can lighten up their ends with ecaille or even do a light balayage on the bottom and sides of the hair.
This style is especially beautiful on clients with a more natural hair texture like curly or wavy, and it is a perfect option for anyone who wants to add a little bit of lightness to their roots. It’s also a great way to brighten up gray hair, without the need for bleaching or high maintenance.
It is fairly low-maintenance, as it doesn’t fade quickly and will last longer than other styles. However, it is recommended to use a shampoo and conditioner that will help keep the color vibrant. It’s best to shampoo every other day and use a leave-in conditioning spray to keep the hair looking shiny.
In order to maintain a gorgeous, radiant finish, it’s important to have an experienced stylist who understands the beauty of this technique. A skilled stylist will be able to blend the colors, create a natural shadow effect and help your hair to look its best. As the season changes, so does your hair, so be sure to have an expert who will give you the best results and a flattering, natural look. You can find the perfect stylist to do your ecaille by using our free online directory of professional hair colorists.
