Your hairdresser may as well be speaking a different language sometimes. Balayage, ombré, sombré, and foilayage. Please translate this for me! Learn the basics of hair coloring, from ombré hair vs. balayage and beyond, so you can choose the style that works best for you!
What is Ombre?
“Ombre” literally means “shade” or “shadow” in French. Ombre refers to a stunning two-tone hair color effect in which the top of the head is dyed a lighter shade than the rest of the hair. It is common to have lighter hair at the bottom and darker hair at the top, with the latter being the natural colour. Hair dyed in an ombré style can be any color, from natural blonde, brown, or red to more daring hues like pink, blue, green, or purple. It may be adjusted to fit hair that is anywhere between shoulder and hip length. One of the many benefits of ombré hair color is how inexpensive it is. You can go a long time without touching it up because the top will always be black. Many customers love ombré hair because the overall look can evolve as the hair becomes longer.
Types of Ombre
Sombré refers to a more subtle form of ombré. The two tones in sombré hair have a less stark contrast. Color melting is yet another variant on the style. Melting colors into one another is achieved by applying many colours of hair dye to a single strand and then blending them with the brush’s side. Color melting, like ombré, can be done with subtle variations in hair color or with a full rainbow of vivid hues.
What is Balayage?
To “sweep” something is what the French call “balayage.” Balayage highlights are applied to hair by painting or sweeping color across the surface. Lightener or hair color is often applied further from the roots and built up to its strongest concentration at the ends of a given hair area. Each section’s surface is treated with the hair color or lightener, while the bottom is left darker for a more subtle, natural look and feel. The resulting soft balayage hairdo is popular among A-listers, models, and “it” females because it gives the impression of being naturally sun-kissed. Balayage can be done on any hair color, from blonde to red to brown, however it is not usually the first choice for really dark brunettes. It looks great on both long and medium hair. Similar to ombré, balayage highlights save money in the long run because they do not need to be touched up as often because the hair on top is kept darker.
Types of Balayage
Being a hand-painted technique, balayage leaves a lot of room for creativity in terms of color combinations and design. For a shimmering, three-dimensional effect, hair colorists may blend multiple tones. They may use a foilayage method on your dark hair. Foilayage is a technique that takes balayage one step further by wrapping the freshly painted-on highlights in aluminum foil to speed up the lightening process. For an even more radiant look, you can mix balayage with traditional highlights closer to the face or delicate baby-lights around the hairline.
