The Back Story
Meg R: I used to highlight my hair and it was always a dirty blonde colour, until I started growing that out. As of recent I had a ombre mess happening, which is when I decided to try balayage.
Meg O: After a phase of all blonde to ombre, I decided to grow out my natural colour (boring, I know.) My hair has been super healthy because of it, but I was getting a little tired of the solid colour. Despite a few natural highlights, I wanted more body so I went for silver balayage to keep things cool.
What’s Balayage? Balayage in French means “sweep”, so unlike ombre, it can start higher up to the top of your head, with more colour around your face. Balayage is technically highlights, that are “painted” on either with or without foils so a more natural, lighter look can be achieved. Ombre is considered to be more of a solid look, balayage is more of a blend of colour for a softer, sun kissed look. Our take on it, ombre is out and balayage is in!
Let’s Talk
Most balayage is done to lighten your hair, this means you’re likely damaging it a little bit from the bleach. No worries, we got some great tips from stylists Matthew (at Bang Salon in Toronto) and Ayisha Borelli (at Salon Verve in Maple) on how to keep your blondes looking blonde!
Q : What are your tips for keeping colour looking fresh?
A : Wash your hair with cold water and try to minimize your hair washing. Try to keep it to shampooing twice a week, using cool water. Also, minimizing the amount of heat you use when styling your hair.
Q : What shampoo / conditioner do you recommend for colour treated hair?
M : It is inevitable for your fresh blonde to warm up after a while, and possibly become brassy and yellow. Fear not bleached babes, for there is purple shampoo. I recommend the Kevin Murphy Blonde Angel shampoo, it makes a HUGE difference.
A : L’Oreal Purology. All of their products are colour safe. You get the benefit of colour protection in your daily shampoo / conditioner as well as an additional benefit by targeting another area of concern like hair strength.
Q : What leave-in product do you recommend for colour treated hair?
A : Damage control Spray by Aveda. It’s safe for colour treated hair and virgin hair, it has tons of benefits for keeping hair healthy!
Q : What product do you recommend for in between colouring?
M : If you’re loving your current shampoo, you can also get the Kevin Murphy Blonde Angel treatment that you leave in for 1 minute after you washed your hair, then rinse! It’s suitable for all types of blondes, which is great for anyone who wants to keep their ombre or balayage blonde looking cool and fresh.