Hair Advice at Your Fingertips!

50 Greatest Balayage Hair Ideas for Your Next Salon Visit

Sure, each of you at least has heard about balayage hair or maybe even tried it – well, today it’s one of the biggest hair trends! This hairstyle is amazing and so well-loved because it doesn’t require frequent visits to the hairstylist and, undoubtedly, is able to make the hair look many times more beautiful, and your image – much more stylish. In addition, balayage is a technique #1, which visually adds volume and enhances the texture of the hair. Isn’t it exactly what we always want the most?

What is balayage? Balayage is a special hair coloring technique, related to highlights. This technique is mainly used to give soft shades to the locks and to create a natural sun-kissed effect. The bleaches are applied to individual strands and not from the roots, but at some distance, so that the emphasis on the new color is mainly on the tips of the strands.

The dye is applied to the strands in vertical strokes in a V shape, while the intensity of the coloring is unequal all over the hair – so the transitions between the shades are soft and smooth. In such a way a colorist can emphasize the shape of layered and textured hairstyles, as well as create a beautiful face-framing effect. This is especially important in case you have a non-standard face shape.

There is a huge variety of colors used in balayage coloring, starting from the natural hair shades and ending with all the colors of the rainbow: pink, lavender, blue, yellow, burgundy, purple etc. Which one to choose? It depends on your preferences and courage!

1. Bright Tiger Eye Coloring. Soft amber-chocolate shades of the “tiger eye” look great on brown-haired women and brunettes with a warm skin tone and brown, green or hazel eyes. Works for both long and short hair.

Sure, each of you at least has heard about balayage hair or maybe even tried it – well, today it’s one of the biggest hair trends! This hairstyle is amazing and so well-loved because it doesn’t require frequent visits to the hairstylist and, undoubtedly, is able to make the hair look many times more beautiful, and your image – much more stylish. In addition, balayage is a technique #1, which visually adds volume and enhances the texture of the hair. Isn’t it exactly what we always want the most?

What is balayage? Balayage is a special hair coloring technique, related to highlights. This technique is mainly used to give soft shades to the locks and to create a natural sun-kissed effect. The bleaches are applied to individual strands and not from the roots, but at some distance, so that the emphasis on the new color is mainly on the tips of the strands.

The dye is applied to the strands in vertical strokes in a V shape, while the intensity of the coloring is unequal all over the hair – so the transitions between the shades are soft and smooth. In such a way a colorist can emphasize the shape of layered and textured hairstyles, as well as create a beautiful face-framing effect. This is especially important in case you have a non-standard face shape.

There is a huge variety of colors used in balayage coloring, starting from the natural hair shades and ending with all the colors of the rainbow: pink, lavender, blue, yellow, burgundy, purple etc. Which one to choose? It depends on your preferences and courage!

1. Bright Tiger Eye Coloring. Soft amber-chocolate shades of the “tiger eye” look great on brown-haired women and brunettes with a warm skin tone and brown, green or hazel eyes. Works for both long and short hair.

2. Strawberry Blonde Balayage with White Highlights. The combinations of warm and cool shades are very in. White blonde and strawberry blonde strands give completeness and a luxurious look to the image.

3. Shoulder Length Dark Root Balayage. Shorter hair is an excellent base for experimenting with balayage. The caramel balayage with dark roots looks attractive and quite natural as if the hair has slightly burned out in the sun.

4. Caramel Mocha Balayage. Toffee and caramel balayages are among the most fashionable color trends. You just have to decide whether you want to refresh the ends or to make caramel highlights along the entire hair length.

5. Cinnamon Brown Balayage. If you want a natural-looking yet unusual balayage hair color, search no more. Cinnamon brown is the hue that will blend with dark hair perfectly, creating a stunning gradient and contributing to the overall glow of your locks.

6. Brunette Balayage Hair with Warm Sandy Highlights. This color job keeps most of the hair on the neutral side, except for the brighter front pieces warmed up with strategically placed splashes of gold.

7. Partial Balayage on Dark Hair. The beige blonde balayage hair color contrasting with a dark base is a beautiful sight. Add highlights to the front strands so that they frame your face and make you look even more irresistible!

8. Auburn Balayage on Dark Hair. There is a variety of balayage color options that work incredibly well with dark hair. Auburn, cherry, and burgundy red are great shades to try if you are up for adding some fire sparks to your usual look!

9. Brown to Blonde Contouring Balayage on a Bob Cut. Dark roots and a smooth transition to the bright blonde tips: seems impeccable and fits almost everyone! Strands near the face are lighter than in the back of the head, which makes the appearance more expressive, and gives more depth to the main hair color.

10. Caramel Balayage with Bleached Ends. With a soft brown balayage like this, you can grow your hair in style, as well as see for yourself whether blonde suits you or not.

11. Wavy Lob with Balayage. Balayage hair works perfectly with all hair lengths. Yet, there is something extra alluring about a lob hairstyle with partial balayage highlights. Look how classy and chic it is!

12. Iced Coffee Brown Waves. The dark coffee-toned base of this style gains tons of dimension and movement with medium brown highlights carefully painted atop the waves to accentuate their pattern and intensify the light reflection.

13. Lived-In Blonde Balayage Highlights. The hand-painted light blonde ‘surfer’ balayage on dark hair offers wonderful dimension. The flashes of both icy and honey blonde undertones added some enticing glitz to this long hair.

14. Subtle Balayage Highlights. If high contrasts are not your cup of tea, a balayage can still work for you. Try this simple style variation that creates a soft gradient from the roots to the hair ends and enjoy a refreshed look!

15. Bronze Partial Balayage. The balayage hair dyeing technique is beloved by many ladies for the classy and trendy look it creates. So, if you want to freshen up your look, this delicate bronze balayage will do the trick!

16. Stunning Beige Blonde Balayage. The darkened blonde balayage is so mouthwatering and for a good reason. The freshness of cool blondes meets the depth of darker browns, creating an altogether hypnotizing dimension.

17. Beige Balayage Hair. This piece of balayage goes much lighter toward the ends to land a fairly beige blonde look yet inserts the highlights into the mid-length sparingly to ensure a low-maintenance grow-out.

18. Illuminated Brunette with Golden Highlights. This beauty shows how to balayage hair and score a twofer — her medium brown locks get plenty of shine from the golden hues while her olive skin glows with the added warmth.

19. Brown Hair Balayage with a Touch of Honey. This honey bronde formula offers a stunning concoction of brown and blonde hues ranging from natural walnut and greige to gold-tinted saffron and butter cream.

20. Shiny Honey Balayage. A gentle and warm honey hue creates a compelling balayage hair variation. Combine it with shades of gold and amber for an even more attractive blend fit for a Hollywood star!

21. Dark Blonde Hair with Vanilla Accents. Here, the balayage technique is used to create impressive dimension on medium-length tresses by melting a creamy golden blonde shade into a neutral base.

22. Caramel Balayage on Dark Hair. The caramel balayage looks as sweet as it sounds! This delicious shade will really catch the eye in contrast with a dark hair color and contribute to your romantic style.

23. Chocolate Hair with Subtle Balayage. Use your favorite balayage technique to bring more volume and movement to your hair. Some delicate babylights are a flawlessly stylish way to do so.

24. Brown Hair Balayage. Balayage for brown hair comes in a variety of hues. All you have to do is pick those that suit your skin tone and eye color best! Some great shades are vanilla, honey, caramel, and sandy blonde.

25. Soft Face-Framing Balayage Highlights. If you are looking for the hottest trends in the brunette hair world, these layered and softly bronzed strands shimmering against the dark chocolate base will give you a clue.

26. Caffè Latte Balayage. Apart from the shine invoked by the bright blonde bits popping out here and there, this creamy color scheme delivers amazing depth and dynamics created by the hand-painted streaks flowing from the crown.

27. Partial Caramel Highlights for Brunettes. Make your brunette locks twice more fun with random balayage highlights woven through the length of your hair. Not only will it look fresher, but also beneficial for your facial features.

28. Ash Brown Balayage. Ash brown is a classy balayage hair color that will not keep you waiting for compliments! It is a tasteful styling choice that looks especially flattering with waves or soft curls.

Partial Blonde Balayage for Dark Hair
By Mika

29. Balayage and Money Pieces. Need balayage highlights that draw instant attention to your face? Try money highlights. An amazing splash of color frames your face and brightens your complexion.

Light Brown and Blonde Balayage Highlights
By Mick

30. Smokey Blonde Balayage. Do you want to become a platinum blonde, but hesitate to make this bold leap? Lay it on the balayage – bright blonde ends will, of course, attract a lot of attention, but the shade of the strands near the face will be warmer and softer, blended with your natural root color.

31. Golden Blonde Balayage Highlights. The golden blonde hair family is seriously in vogue right now, and combining golden butterscotch highlights with a touch of very light blonde is a great way to elevate your hair game.

32. Fall-Ready Copper Chocolate Balayage. The depth of this autumnal red-brown mane gets even more stunning with the light streaks of copper scattered across the perimeter, not to mention the extra sheen they produce.

33. Light Brown Balayage. The sun-kissed signature of balayage hair shines all over this fabulous mane. The shadow root is a smart move – it keeps the hair looking new even when new growth begins to sprout.

34. Face-Spotlighting Honey Blonde Drama. You are wrong if you believe that high-contrast balayage hair colors are out of style since this mix of caramel and honey hues is extremely flattering for olive skin and, thus, totally timeless.

35. Seamless Beige Blonde Balayage. Beige blonde is another top pick of the season, and this balayage blends warm and cool hues in the right proportions to conjure a pale yet perfectly neutral bronde look.

36. Caramel Mocha Balayage Highlights. Starting at the midshaft and becoming more pronounced down to the ends of your hair, this caramel balayage sweeps through your hair dripping fascinating glow and allure.

37. Golden Caramel Balayage. Ideal for long and very long hair: some strands are lightened almost from the very roots, and some are colored only at the tips. The blend of warmth and shine is rich and gives an unsurpassed brilliance to the curls.

38. Delicate Balayage on Brown Hair. You can bring color and shine to your brunette hair with this technique. That’s why balayage is so popular. Leave your base dark and untouched and use a soft balayage hair color to lighten up the rest of your mane.

39. High Shine Caramel Blonde Balayage. For lots of dimension and seductive waves, give a blonde balayage a go. Add chunky curls to feel like a hot Hollywood star.

40. Reddish Balayage with Dark Brown Roots. Ask your stylist to mute your roots. Shadow root on your balayage will reduce the number of touchups. As your roots grow out, they blend in softly with the colored sections of your hair.

41. Chunky Blonde Balayage Highlights. Paint chunky blonde balayage highlights on your dark hair for a classy flair. Balayage allows you to achieve splashy strips of color like in the picture below.

42. Rooty Blonde Balayage Hairstyle. A good balayage is not only about lifting the color, so this one adds shadow roots and beige lowlights to better set off the creamy blonde pieces and make the whole style more dimensional.

43. Dark Mocha Hair with Chunky Highlights. Girls with olive skin can opt for an ashier take on brown balayage hair, such as this toned-down combo of warm and cool caramel hues, that still falls within the neutral range.

44. Smokey Balayage on Short Black Hair. After you’ve given your hair a chop, get fitting balayage highlights to add a sun-lit glossy finish to your short hairstyle. This combo is gorgeous!

45. Red Brown Balayage. One more thing to love about the balayage technique is the way the highlights blend in seamlessly with your base color. This makes for better depth and more natural-looking locks.

46. Soft Caramel Balayage on Short Beach Waves. If you’re a brunette and want to get the most natural effect, you can use such win-win shades as caramel, milk chocolate and coffee in your balayage. You’ll end up with an awesome and rich color shine.

47. Sandy Blonde Balayage Color with Platinum Ribbons. This blondie rocks a darker version of cream-colored, beige-tinted blonde spiced up with bright platinum spots around the face and through the mid-length — the perfect fit for her fair skin with pink undertones.

48. High-Contrast Strawberry Balayage. Here is another gorgeous example of dramatic contrast created with blonde highlights against a brown base, but this time, it has a more muted feel due to the neutral shades and the denser highlights placement.

49. Metallic Caramel Brown Highlights. Imagine a jar of salted caramel poured over your head with a high shine effect added. It’s definitely how we’d describe this mouthwatering sun-kissed honey bronde balayage color to our stylist when making the much-needed appointment.

50. Dimensional Dark Blonde Balayage. A natural dark blonde looks very stylish. With the help of the balayage technique, you can create a wide variety of shades and soft highlights that resemble sun-bleached strands.

Don’t be afraid of changes. It’s never too late to make your image even more stylish and modern. And balayage hair is one of the easiest ways to achieve it!

by Editors
We are a creative team of "hair maniacs" who can't live a day without surfing the Internet in search of new hairstyles and haircuts, stunning hair shades, innovative coloring techniques, and life-saving hair hacks. To share them with you, of course. Feel yourself at home!