BALAYAGE: If you’re a devotee or considering getting it done, read on... Is balayage a trend? And is it over? The style that has been cropping up on celebrities, models and the fashion cognoscenti for years now is not actually a style per se, but a technique, practised by the French for decades. So lets explain a thing or two about why it’s hasn’t, and probably won’t, go anywhere. * Balayage is French for ‘to sweep’ The word translates as ‘to sweep’ and for the non-Francophiles it has distinct French origins dating from the 1970s. Bleach is applied in horizontal strokes freehand, usually to the ends and around the face to emphasize movement and create depth and dimension. Remember those naturally lightened ends and edges you got when you spent long summer days running around in the sun as a child? Well this ‘halo’ effect or ‘effet soleil- sunkissed look’, is what balayage should emulate. * Ombre and balayage are two different things Ombre refers to the look where the ends are lighter than the roots, whereas balayage refers to the way the colour is applied (as above) which can indeed result in an ombre-look, also known as the dip-dye effect. Ombre, on the other hand, does not need to be applied with any particular technique and so ends up looking like block colour that is graduated through the hair. A great balayage illuminates a woman’s face: It should be natural, personalised and above all unique. It should blend into her hair’s natural colour. * It is often applied on the surface of the hair This is to keep it looking natural, to mimic the aforementioned sun kissed look. If the sun wouldn’t usually hit your hair in a certain area, then it should be left alone in balayage. * Balayage was originally done on blondes In its early days, balayage was mainly done on long and blonde hair, created as a more natural look than the one we know today. * It should not be attempted at home however one night application can be! If you’re trying to give the illusion that you’ve spent many a summer in the great outdoors, with hair that has a soft subtle lightening you might want to head to the salon. It might seem simple, but like most permanent colours, it’s best left to the professionals. HOWEVER if youre unsure if this look is for you and want to road test this summer sun-kissed look then youre in luck....! For a temporary try before you buy, pick up a canister of Spilt Milk Mineral Hair Powder in a contrasting colour and apply from your mid-lengths to tips or if you have blonde hair why not apply from roots to mid-lengths leaving your ends beautifully blonde! One application takes between 5 - 10 minutes depending on the length of your hair and will last around 20 hours unless washed out sooner. Alternatively get an in-salon application from any Spilt Milk Mineral Hair Powder stockist. You wont cry over Spilt Milk, but you will fall in love with it! xx
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 23:00:01 +0000
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