How to maintain balayage?
Hello x I have recently had balayage done on my hair and wanted to know what the best shampoo and conditioner would be to maintain not only the color but also the health of my hair. I also have an oily scalp so my hair (particularly at the roots) gets greasy really quick. Thank you!
Balayage is a natural-looking, sun-kissed hair color that has been so popular because it’s Instagrammable but also absolutely pretty in real life. It is important to learn how to maintain it at home to keep your hair healthy and make it look fresh longer.
Is Balayage Hard to Maintain?
It is actually quite easy to maintain balayage hair color, and it lasts for a really long time. It is so low-maintenance that you do not need to go regularly to the salon for touch-ups as with other highlights on your hair. This is because it grows out naturally, so there is no obvious regrowth line. While I will be providing general tips on how to maintain your balayage at home, there are some more specific tips based on the kind of balayage you could have done on your hair.
Most of my clients have a full balayage done 1-2 times a year and maintenance appointments in between. During a maintenance appointment, I touch up around the face, across the top, refresh the root shadow, and glaze. @ashliet_hair
How to Maintain Ash Blonde Balayage
For brass, yellow shades in ash blonde hair, the main rule is to use purple shampoo to prevent ruining that stunning platinum shade. This works because of the color theory. If you look at the color wheel, yellow and purple are on opposing sides, which means violet hues counteract brassy tones. Using purple shampoo works for all blonde balayage highlights.
Best Product: Kérastase’s Blond Absolu line: Not only does this bring out the radiance of light blonde hair, but it’s a luxury salon product that keeps hair strong yet soft with its blend of antioxidants and nutrients. They have everything from masques to shampoo and conditioner.
How to Maintain Balayage on Black Hair and Dark Brunette Locks
I would personally recommend you go for a balayage that doesn’t need a lot of maintenance, such as brown or light brown. For example, if your hair is the shade 1 or 2 (black or dark brown), it is best to get a 4 or 5 shade (brown) balayage.
Having to maintain blonde balayage is possible if you have black hair, but it will cost a fortune. While balayage is usually an easy-to-get-and-maintain kind of hair color as you use your natural hair color as the base, getting a blonde version on black hair would obviously be complicated.
Based on experience, to achieve such a look on dark hair, you would need at least 3 to 4 visits to the salon. And you’ll have to go through the whole process again when it’s time to touch up.
If you’re really set on it, though, follow the advice I gave above in the ‘Ash Blonde Balayage Maintenance’ paragraph for purple shampoos.
How to Maintain Caramel Balayage
If you have black hair, I think a caramel balayage would be good as it is a shade close to darker tones and can be easier to maintain.
For these types of colors, blue shampoo is the way to go. Back to the color theory and the color wheel, blue colors correct brassy orange tones in your brown hair to take down the warmth and make it bright and cool.
Best Product: Fanola No Orange Shampoo and Conditioner Package – This product is actually amazingly suitable for both brunette and blonde hair because it really neutralizes the brassy orange and reds.
How to Maintain a Chocolate Brown Balayage
As I mentioned earlier, blue shampoos are best suited to maintain brown shades of balayage while keeping it healthy, long-lasting, and on point.
Best Product: L’ange Brunette Boost Shampoo and Conditioner. This can be used on every shade of brown hair, from bronde to chestnut to chocolate – L’ange Brunette has you covered. A variety of blue pigments counteracts warm tones in the hair and gives you neutral-hued results. On top of that, it does not dry out your hair at all.
How to Maintain Red Balayage
When it comes to red hair, the best hair care routine is really to wash your hair less often. If you are the type who can’t help but wash your hair daily, you can alternate shampoo days such as using shampoo and conditioner today and just conditioner tomorrow. Using cool water will also help.
Best Product: Joico Color Infuse Red Shampoo and Conditioner. These are actually two products designed to extend the life and vibrancy of your red color within 25 washes. Therefore, washing less frequently is the key to a beautiful and long-lasting red balayage.
How to Maintain Rose Gold Balayage
Rose gold hair was the must-try hairstyle a year ago constantly popping up on my feed and it’s still going strong today. Just like the red balayage, hair washes shouldn’t be frequent. A color-safe dry shampoo washed with cool water after to keep the cuticle from opening and all the color from rinsing out should be incorporated into the routine if and when hair needs to be washed.
Best Product: Prêt-à-Powder – This soft, dry shampoo absorbs oil, adds texture, and creates volume in the hair. Only a small amount is needed to remove the greasiness from hair, and it blends naturally without leaving a white cast on the roots.
How to Maintain Gray Balayage
No, it is not your imagination; gray hair does fade faster than most. For me, it’s the hardest to get and maintain. Just like maintaining reds, gray should be washed as little as possible. For other readers who do not have oily hair, it is better to wash it only once a week. However, since you have mentioned your hair is oily, I suggest you wash your hair twice a week the maximum. Don’t forget to use dry shampoo as well to prevent it from looking oily and dirty.
Best Product: Redken Color Extend Color Depositing Graydiant Shampoo and Conditioner – This brand has gotten a lot of praise from hairstylists. Its formula contains customized pigments and amino acids that cut yellows, brighten, and tone gray hair into a more radiant color.
General Tips on How to Maintain Balayage at Home
Aside from the products I mentioned above to help you to maintain balayage highlights of specific colors, some other important tips to follow are:
– Minimize Heat Styling: Blow drying or heat-styling hair can cause your hair’s color to fade; it is especially a waste if you’ve had a gloss treatment done. If you must, however, don’t forget to use a heat protectant.
– Avoid Sun Exposure: Similar to applying heat to your hair directly, exposure to the sun can ruin your hair through UV damage, color fading, and brassy tones. Use a protective leave-in conditioner and quality hairspray with sunscreen any time you will be exposed to the sun.
– Avoid Swimming: Swimming pools can turn light hair green because of the water’s chlorine and copper. Use a quality swimmer’s shampoo to prevent damage.
– Touch Up: When it comes to the question of how often to maintain balayage to keep your hair looking as beautiful as it does, you can go to the salon for touch-ups every 3-4 months.
Although you don’t have to touch up your balayage every month, keeping up with a toner every 6-8 weeks will help keep your Balayage looking like you just got it done. Not only does a toner keep your hair looking fresh, but it also helps get rid of any unwanted tones. @colorbydamarys
Is Balayage Expensive to Maintain?
If it seems that freshening it up every 3 – 4 months is too costly, for inexpensive options, you can also purchase an at-home balayage kit. Still, it is always best to leave it in professional hands, as even if it’s just hair, no one wants to stay with a bad hairdo for a while. Consider at least an online consultation with a pro colorist. You may even dye your hair during an online zoom or face time session! Find what works for you best.
Now you know a lot about maintaining balayage in different colors at home. If there are any questions left – feel free to ask in the comments below, and we will discuss them!
Featured Image: Racool_studio – www.freepik.com
