Balayage is more than just a hair coloring method; it’s a true art form. Unlike techniques such as ombré, babylights, or traditional highlights, balayage stands apart due to its unique approach and stunning results.
Derived from the French term meaning “to sweep,” this technique involves hand-painting lightener onto the hair to achieve a natural, sun-kissed gradient that brightens towards the ends. Its freehand style creates a multi-dimensional look that grows out beautifully, avoiding the harsh lines of regrowth.
Ideal for both first-time color experiments and seasoned dye enthusiasts, balayage offers endless customization to suit individual aesthetics and preferences. Whether you’re seeking soft blondes, rich brunettes, fiery reds, or icy silvers, balayage adapts seamlessly to your vision. To help you find your next look, we’ve curated a collection of balayage inspiration for every hair color.
Top Balayage Styles to Elevate Your Look
Honey Blonde
Balayage midlights in soft honey tones are a fantastic choice for blending new highlights with your natural roots. This “in-between” shade ensures a seamless transition, making it perfect for growing out previous dye jobs while maintaining a polished, refreshed look.
Bronde Balayage
If you’re unsure whether to go blonde or brunette, bronde balayage offers the best of both worlds. This versatile shade softens blonde tones or adds brightness to brown hair, creating a subtle yet striking change ideal for those exploring color for the first time.
Warm Blonde
A melted blonde balayage creates an effortlessly natural regrowth effect. The darker roots blend flawlessly with buttery blonde ends, delivering a soft, low-maintenance look. This timeless shade exemplifies the beauty of a natural, sunlit glow.
Ruby Red
Bold and eye-catching, ruby red balayage is perfect for making a statement. With a touch of plum at the roots transitioning into vibrant red curls, this style adds depth and drama to your look, perfect for anyone who craves a vibrant transformation.
Dark and Milk Chocolate
For those who prefer understated elegance, dark-to-milk chocolate balayage is the ultimate choice. By maintaining deep brown roots and gradually painting lighter, subtle highlights through the mid-lengths and ends, this style exudes sophistication without overwhelming contrast.
Mixed Balayage
Lily Aldridge is a big fan of balayage and has tried many iterations over the years. But we must admit—this mix of alternating bronde color and wheat blonde shade is one of our favorites.
Candied Ginger
The candied ginger balayage looks as delicious as it sounds. A fusion of both carrot and blonde shades, this color adds a dose of warmth to the skin while allowing you to dip your toe into the red hair color waters.
Balayage Locs
Vivid, rich, and dimensional are just a few words we’d use to describe Kerry Washington’s brownie batter-hued locks that fade softly into a vibrant carrot color.
Rose Gold
This cotton candy-coated light brunette fade has satisfied our sweet tooth. It’s a great way to dabble in the world of non-natural hair colors without fully committing to an all-over dye.
Platinum Balayage
One can never go wrong with a classic chin-length bob and cool-toned balayage. Subtly wavy styling really shows off this masterpiece of handpainted bronde, cool blonde, and platinum as the colors catch the light with each bend.
Smokey Balayage
Natural brunettes—keep your roots dark while “smoking out” your cascading ends (in traditional balayage fashion) for a super-cool, silvery masterpiece. It’s also a great option for those transitioning into their gray hair era, with natural gray streaks and strands blending into the look seamlessly.
Light Brown Balayage
Want to subtly enhance your brunette without going too bold? Light brown balayage adds soft, glossy highlights to dark bases, creating dimension and shine. It’s a perfect way to refresh your look without a dramatic transformation.
Sunkissed Bronde Balayage
Sophia Bush’s face-framing balayage blends warm chestnut tones with bronde highlights, offering a sunlit glow that accentuates her features. This style brings warmth and brightness, making it ideal for anyone seeking a natural, radiant look.
Pixie Balayage
Balayage isn’t just for long hair! Evangeline Lilly’s grown-out pixie rocks a bronde-to-blonde gradient, proving that short cuts can shine just as brightly. The tousled style adds a cool, effortless vibe to this bold color choice.
Extended Money Piece
Elevate the classic money piece with an extended version that highlights more than just the bangs. Miranda Cosgrove’s golden-tinged curls demonstrate how this technique adds brightness and frames the face with extra dimension and light.
Strawberry Blonde Balayage
For a fresh spin on blonde, pale strawberry balayage is a stunning choice. Its subtle shift toward platinum at the ends offers a modern twist, creating a soft and unique look that’s perfect for standing out.
Cool Wheat Blonde
Avoid brassiness with cool wheat blonde balayage, inspired by Ciara’s sleek style. This shade keeps the tones neutral and icy, offering a chic alternative to warmer blondes while still maintaining a soft, polished look.
Money Piece Balayage
Beyoncé’s signature money piece balayage brings face-framing waves to life. This luminous style highlights her complexion beautifully, offering a radiant, lit-from-within glow perfect for any occasion.
Coffee Tones
Jessica Biel’s balayage leans into a bold ombré vibe with its caramel coffee tones. By starting the blend at varied lengths rather than a uniform point, this style creates depth and movement, making it perfect for those who want a striking yet natural finish.
Cream Soda
Rihanna’s cream soda balayage is a masterclass in soft sophistication. This style brings lighter brown highlights to naturally dark hair, adding dimension and a touch of brightness without overwhelming the base color.
Beach-Blonde Balayage
Jennifer Aniston’s iconic beach-blonde locks remain timeless. For a low-maintenance approach, opt for shadow roots or root smudging, ensuring a seamless grow-out while maintaining the signature sun-kissed effect.
Pastel Balayage
Pastel tones like baby pink and light blue take on a dreamy vibe when paired with a melted rose gold balayage. This playful combination creates a whimsical, soft look that’s perfect for anyone wanting to experiment with unconventional colors.
Fire Orange
FKA Twigs’ fiery orange balayage is bold and captivating. Highlights at the temples emphasize the vibrant color, while her wavy locks create a dynamic flow that draws attention to the striking shade.
Red Velvet
Zendaya’s rich merlot-to-red velvet balayage is a show-stopper. This luxurious color fades beautifully into a deep red tone, making it a perfect choice for anyone seeking a dramatic, statement-making look.
Deep Plum
Justine Skye’s deep plum balayage starts high on the hair, creating a more dramatic contrast. This rich purple hue is ideal for those who love bold, eye-catching colors that stand out while still looking polished.
Copper Balayage
Camila Morrone combines the copper cowgirl trend with balayage for a subtle yet striking effect. Tousled waves tucked behind the ears enhance the texture, letting the rich copper tones shine through beautifully.
Box Braid Balayage
Storm Reid’s ash-blonde balayage on box braids is a game-changer. Tossed into a high bun, the ombré effect highlights the intricate braiding and creates a cool, modern aesthetic that blends natural tones with icy highlights.
Auburn Balayage
Selena Gomez’s auburn balayage offers a low-contrast alternative for brunettes. Subtle auburn brown streaks add warmth and depth without overwhelming the natural dark tones, making it a versatile and flattering choice.
Amber Balayage
Face-framing highlights, like those on Jasmine Tookes, are a timeless choice for adding brightness and dimension. Amber tones offer a high-contrast yet natural look, mimicking the way sunlight naturally lightens the finer strands around your face. This style is perfect for anyone looking to enhance their features with a warm, golden glow.
Silver Balayage
Silver-blue balayage paired with dark roots delivers a striking, modern twist on classic balayage. This cool-toned combination offers a chic alternative for brunettes who want to lighten up without going fully blonde. To maintain the vibrancy of the ashy tones, incorporate a blue or purple shampoo into your haircare routine to neutralize any brassiness.
FAQs
1. How do face-framing highlights complement facial features?
Face-framing highlights draw attention to your face, adding brightness and depth that enhances natural features like cheekbones and eyes.
2. Can silver balayage work on warm skin tones?
Yes! Silver balayage can suit warm skin tones when balanced with darker roots or complementary warm undertones to create harmony.
3. How often should I tone silver or ashy balayage?
To keep cool tones fresh, consider toning every 4–6 weeks and using color-safe products to prevent fading between salon visits.
