Balayage for brunettes. 'Sun-kissed' looks aren't just for blondes.
Balayage and ombre are, first and foremost, highlighting techniques designed to give a natural sun-kissed look to the hair, similar to the effect of having been away on the riviera for a month.
Since these techniques are applied more organically and painted onto the hair, the natural regrowth is much softer and shows less of a telltale line when the hair is pulled back and parted. The brightest pieces are always placed around the face and ends of the hair, as would happen naturally with extended exposure to the sun.
Balayage and ombre are popular with Hollywood stars and models because it's quite easy to maintain and allows them to go lighter without it looking cheap. As such, it's perfect for those with a busy lifestyle.
However, it is often assumed that these highlights are only suitable for blondes. That is simply not true!
In fact, any hair colour can benefit from these techniques. Use them to add depth to over-lightened hair, or some lightness and movement to darker tones. Both techniques work very well in corrective colouring as well. The options seem limitless.
For brunettes, I love to combine both balayage and ombre to achieve a stunning natural look—what I refer to as a 'French brown'—similar to the effect seen on Penelope Cruz. Those with darker shades who have had unfortunate lightening experiences in the past should consider giving balayage a try.
Simply put, so much is possible with balayage because of the way in which each piece is painted on—softer at the root and thicker thru the mid-shaft and ends—leaving you with beautiful and shimmering summer-kissed locks.
About the author. Jack Howard is an internationally recognized balayage expert and educator based in London. His work has been seen in British Vogue, Tatler, Marie Claire, Town and Country Home and many more. http://www.jackhoward.co.uk
Find more tips on balayage for brunettes on Jack's blog.
Plus, see additional images of Jack Howard's work on the Primpt app.