Balayage is a hair coloring technique that gives the appearance of natural, sun-kissed highlights. While this style has been around for decades and continues to be popular among celebrities and everyday people alike, some say it’s going out of style. Is balayage still in or is it time to move on? The debate over whether or not balayage is going out of style lives on. This article explores the changing trends of balayage types and whether or not balayage is still a popular look.

What is Balayage?

Balayage is a hair coloring technique that can be applied to any color of hair. The word “balayage” comes from the French verb meaning “to sweep.” Hairstylists use this term when referring to how they apply highlights and lowlights by sweeping or combing dye onto sections of the hair in such a way that mimics natural sunlight. This technique is the most natural form of highlighting because it does not use foils or capes to separate sections of hair for color application.

What’s Different About Balayage?  

Balayage vs. Ombre

Balayage is similar to ombre in the sense that both techniques require lightening your hair. The difference between balayage vs. ombre is that while balayage applies highlights on small sections of the hair, ombre colors larger chunks which makes it appear less natural. On top of that, you can easily cover up balayage with darker hair colors. Ombre however looks best when your hair is light brown to blonde.      

Balayage vs. Highlighting

Highlighting applies the color on one large section of hair while balayage colors each strand individually which makes it look more natural and way less noticeable after growing out. Both techniques work best on those with dark base tones as they can be hidden easily. If you are not a fan of harsh lines you may skip these techniques.                      

Types of Balayage    

Balayage is a hair coloring technique that was popularized in the late 2000s. It has gone through many changes and trends since its introduction, with some types of balayage coming back into style after years of being less trendy. Here we’ll discuss the different types of balayage, their own unique style and look, as well as where they are on trend currently.                                     

   Reverse Balayage

This type of balayage starts with applying the desired color substance right from the roots and, as you move towards the ends, gradually changes to a lighter tone. This type is best for those who want to give the illusion of longer hair as it makes your locks seem thicker.

Reverse Balayage is a color application that’s been around for quite some time, but its popularity has been increasing since its introduction. It is best known for being one of the most natural-looking types of balayage as opposed to highlighting just the tips or random sections of hair.    

   Partial Balayage 

Partial balayage is another method of balayage application. However, instead of covering the entire head with light strands, this type involves highlighting only a selected portion of the mane such as the top and bottom halves or the crown and front sections.   

Why is partial balayage so popular? For one because it’s less time-consuming than other types of balayage, making it more accessible for people with busy schedules. It also helps keep your hair healthy and strong by avoiding overexposure to lighteners. Thus, Partial Balayage is considered to be healthy, less time-consuming and an innovative technique for hair.                        

Babylights

Another famous balayage technique among women is Babylights, which is known as a great alternative to foil highlights. It’s called Babylights because the color and lights placed on the strands of hair are very subtle, it creates the look of baby hair and adds so much dimension and lightness to the color. This type of balayage hairstyle is perfect for those who want to add tone and dimension to their locks without getting too bold with the highlights.

Babylights are popular because they create such a pretty and natural-looking color that can easily be maintained over time by just getting your roots touched up every now and again. This type of color doesn’t require too much work since all of the hair is receiving lightness. The difference between Babylights and traditional highlights is that with Babylights, there’s less bleach involved in the process because it’s diffused throughout all of your hair.              

   American Balayage

American Balayage or sometimes referred to as diagonal balayage, is a technique in which color is painted diagonally on each section of your hair, starting from the mid-shaft and ending at the ends. This is considered one of the most frequently done balayage styles because it’s very useful for adding shine to dull-looking locks.

The balayage look has been around for so long that most American women are already fully aware of the term. The female population is constantly looking for new ways to enhance their unique features with color, and this is one of the reasons why the American Balayage’s popularity continues to grow not just in America but also all over the world.                                                   

Fallayage

Fallayage is a French Balayage where color is painted on in a streaked pattern. It is considered as an extension of the balayage hair coloring technique, it starts with the same idea of balayage, where color is swept through the hair without foils to create an ombré effect. It’s differentiated by cascading the hair in different directions and hacking away at it while dyeing.

The Fallayage is a fairly new hair coloring technique that gained popularity only in recent years. This hair coloring trend was popularized by celebrity hairstylist Adir Abergel (styled the famous Kardashian/Jenner hair), who is the founder of the Art Department and a hair color expert for brands like L’Oreal.         

Why did it become popular in the first place?

The technique was first used by the French hairdresser Michel Renden where he would take small sections of hair and paint them with a lighter color so they would blend into his client’s base, creating a more natural look. Originally created in France, balayage has grown in popularity over recent years due to its versatility and ability to suit all skin tones.

This technique was first introduced into the United States by celebrity stylist Oribe back in 1991. It wasn’t until after 2000 when it really grew in popularity due to its ability to create natural sun-kissed highlights on dark hair without damaging the overall integrity of your hair color. The best part about balayage? You don’t have to sit under a dryer and wait for hours for your new look!

There are many reasons why Balayage has become popular in the hair industry. Some of them include; it is easier to maintain, it looks more natural and healthy, and you can even customize your own color when having this technique done! This technique became very popular due to its ability to create different effects such as sun-kissed highlights or a shadow root look. The best thing about balayage is that if done correctly, there will be no regrowth line making it easier for clients to maintain their blonde hair at home between salon visits. There are many other reasons why this color technique became popular throughout the years. 

To sum up:

  • The color is much more natural-looking than traditional highlights because it’s not applied all over the hair. 
  • It’s low maintenance and grows out in a way that looks natural. You never have to worry about roots because there aren’t any
  • Since balayage is created with a freehand technique, you can make the highlighted sections as dark or as light as you want.
  • The color is much more versatile than traditional highlights, which don’t look good against darker hair colors. Balayage has a slight gradation between the highlighted roots and darker ends, which creates an ombre effect.

Is it really losing popularity?

Although the balayage technique has been around for many years, there’s no denying that its popularity has surged in recent times. As more and more celebrities sport the look and more high-end beauty brands offer variations of the style, you’re probably wondering whether or not this hair trend is on its way out.

Worry not, though! While there are certainly some signs of the fading away of balayage’s popularity, many of them are just myths that you’re sure to hear on the street—and they’re simply untrue. So why is it really losing popularity? According to stylists, it’s because people who have used the technique for years are growing bored with it and moving on to new looks.

Some suggest that the coming trend is all about ombré, while others believe it could be mermaid’s hair. While these are both popular coloring techniques, this doesn’t necessarily mean they will completely replace balayage. Knowing how to do all three techniques certainly isn’t a bad idea!                                       

In the world of hair color, it seems you can’t get away from the latest trend. Whether it is ombre or balayage, stylists and salons are going crazy for these new techniques. While many people understand the hair care practices and products best reflecting and benefiting their hair color needs, they are way more experimental in choosing colors than everyone thinks. In fact, in this year’s survey conducted by AllThingsHair, 27% of women said they were dying their hair every month! The same study also found that 12% of all respondents wanted a red color on their hair next season!

Caramel balayage as this fall’s hottest hair trend              

Caramel balayage is the new fall hair trend that everyone is talking about. This beautiful color technique was made popular by celebrities like Kim Kardashian, who have been seen with this gorgeous look. 

Caramel balayage is one of the most popular hair trends because it fades into blonde seamlessly and smoothly to enhance your look very well. You can also use caramel color on every type, even though the choice for this color is better if you have a lighter skin tone.

Conclusion

Balayage is not going out of style. The trend has been around for decades and it’s here to stay (and we’re happy about that). With the right hair color, you can create a timeless look with minimal upkeep. Give balayage a try and see how others react!