Did you recently get yourself a balayage and now you are on cloud nine? We hear you, but that’s just really half of the work. If you want your balayage or are perhaps considering having it done, the moment you step out of the salon, the rest depends on what extent you commit to a balayage hair care routine.
Though balayage may be regarded as low maintenance, it certainly deserves special balayage hair care, that is, if you want it to look its best. This means using the right balayage hair care products; these include investing in color-protecting shampoo and conditioner right from the start.
Balayage hair has certainly become a popular hair color technique, one that can provide a full transformation to your persona. Experts go on to say that it brings a natural radiance to the complexion and complements the skin tone. And though it all sounds dreamy, it should go without saying that all the benefits balayage has, cannot be achieved without implementing a balayage hair care routine.
You see, the right balayage routine steps will ensure you get the most from their color, and for longer. This is why proper balayage maintenance is so important. If you have no idea where to start you are in the right place. Keep reading and find below the ultimate balayage hair care routine step-by-step guide.
Products Reviewed In This Article
Best Color-Safe Shampoo: Semi Di Lino Moisture Sulfate Free Shampoo
⇣ Jump to ReviewBest Conditioner: Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing Conditioner
⇣ Jump to ReviewBest Deep Condition: Alfaparf Milano Reconstruction Reparative Mask
⇣ Jump to ReviewBest Hair Oil: Coconut Spray Mist Oil
⇣ Jump to ReviewBest Heat Protection: Sun Bum Heat Protector Spray
⇣ Jump to ReviewBalayage Hair Explained
Balayage hair is a highlighting technique intended to mimic “natural†highlights from the sun. A good balayage will create a soft, smooth transition between your natural color and the highlighted, balayage pieces. It is actually a Frech word that means ‘to sweep.’
How is Balayage done?
- Balayage highlights are painted on the sections of the hair using a highlighting board and brush.
- Color is applied to sections of hair where the highlights will look best, while the roots remain untouched. This makes Balayage less damaging to the hair than other coloring and highlighting techniques.
Balayage hair vs. Ombre hair
Balayage is a highlighting technique, that consist of highlights throughout the hair. It is a more subtle look, whereas ombre hair is harsher.
Ombre, which means shadow, is the transition from dark to light. Ombre hair is when the bottom half of your hair is bleached. As opposed to balayage where dark pieces fall throughout your hair, ombre hair leaves the entire bottom half of your hair light.
Balayage Hair Care Routine Steps
Step 1 Use color safe shampoo: Semi Di Lino Moisture Sulfate Free Shampoo
The general rule is to wash your balayage hair sparingly. Too much washing may end up damaging the quality of your balayage. When you wash your hair every single day, the beautiful color in your hair will fade more quickly.
Ideally, you shouldn’t wash your balayage hair more than 2 or 3 times each week. To nail your balayage hair care routine, make sure you only use sulfate-free shampoo.
We recommend Semi Di Lino Moisture Sulfate Free Shampoo. It moisturizes your hair and makes it soft and silky. Sulfate, paraben, and paraffin free. Safe on color-treated hair.
The Semi Di Lino sulfate-free moisturizing shampoo is specially made to help with dry hair. It gently cleanses, improves comb-ability, and nourishes and hydrates hair fiber. The professional hair care product adds brilliant shine and softness to your hair.
The low shampoo will help dry hair quickly regain a healthy, soft, and silky appearance.
You will feel the difference with luminous hair that is soft to the touch and extremely smooth. Your hair will look and feel healthy, hydrated, moisturized, and glossy.
How to use Semi Di Lino Moisture Sulfate Free Shampoo:
- Distribute over damp hair and emulsify with water
- Massaging gently
- Rinse thoroughly. Repeat if necessary
Step 2 Conditioner: Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing Conditioner
When it comes to conditioners, nutrition is the keyword. The better the conditioning agents, the smoother the hair fiber, and the shinier the hair will look. Shine is the color’s best friend, revealing the different shades created with the balayage technique.
Remember to use a conditioner to keep your hair healthy. However, make sure you don’t leave the conditioner in for more than 30 minutes, as this can cause damage and make your hair brittle.
Try Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing Conditioner. This thirst-quenching formula provides moisture, softness, and protection for dry and color-treated hair.
This creamy, sulfate-free, vegan conditioner deeply hydrates normal to thick, dry, damaged, frizzy, and color-treated hair, providing superior moisture, touchable softness, and extraordinary color protection.
The hydrating conditioner creates a creamy, luxurious experience that deeply softens and nourishes normal to thick dry, color-treated hair. Jojoba adds moisture, while Sage & Green Tea stimulate hair follicles & support a healthy scalp.
How to use Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing Conditioner:
- Apply a dime-sized amount to wet hair
- Using your fingers, lather and work the conditioner down to the ends.
- Rinse.
Step 3 Deep condition: Alfaparf Milano Reconstruction Reparative Mask
A quality hair masque spreads a layer of conditioning agents along the fiber, which then has the time to penetrate and smooth the cuticles before the excess is rinsed away.
Since your hair tends to dry more easily after balayage, moisturizing treatment is going to be beneficial. A hair mask will nourish your hair with essential vitamins and natural oils.
You will love Alfaparf Milano Reconstruction Reparative Mask. It offers to strengthen the hair and makes it healthy, stronger, soft, and shiny. Increases your hair’s resistance to breakage.
A professional salon-quality reparative mask is recommended for extremely damaged hair. The intensive deep conditioning and color-safe mask treatment reconstruct and repair the hair fiber. Sulfate, SLS, paraben, and paraffin free.
It is formulated with the innovative Alfaparf Milano Color Fix complex, which is uniquely designed to protect and maintain cosmetic hair color.
How to use Alfaparf Milano Reconstruction Reparative Mask:
- After shampooing, apply 1 or 2 dollops on lengths and ends
- Leave on the hair for 5 minutes
- Rinse thoroughly
Step 4 Apply hair oil: Coconut Spray Mist Oil
Apply a small amount of lightweight hair oil to the ends of your damp hair after washing. Argan, avocado, and macadamia oil will do.
Coconut Spray Mist Oil For Hair is what you need. This paraben-free formula revives damaged, brittle hair, and prevents hair breakage and split ends.
It will leave your balayage hair with a shining luster and a soft feel. The rich blend of oil derived from Coconut palm, and the essential nutrient lauric acid nourishes the hair with vitamins, minerals, and medium-chain fatty acids.
How to use Coconut Spray Mist Oil For Hair:
- Spritz the hair oil on damp hair after a shower to detangle your hair
- Use it whenever your hair feels dry or frizzy and needs a moisture boost
Step 5 Minimize heat: Sun Bum Heat Protector Spray
Heat can damage your hair and cause your highlights to fade prematurely. If you must use hot tools, use a heat protectant spray beforehand.
You can try Sun Bum Heat Protector Spray. This beautiful-looking product it’s great for making your hair dry a little faster and protecting against heat damage, with nourishing ingredients like Noni and Sea Kelp Extract.
This heat protector dramatically decreases blow-dry time and protects against thermal heat that causes damage and breakage. The two-phase formula delivers a lightweight nourishing blend to eliminate frizz.
It is enriched with vitamins and sea minerals and is Vegan, Gluten, Cruelty, Sulfate, and Paraben Free.
How to use Sun Bum Heat Protector Spray:
- Shake well to mix this two-part formula then spray throughout the hair
- Use before blow drying or when using heat styling tools
- If using dry hair, remember to let it completely dry before using any hot tools.
Balayage Hair Care Routine Additional Tips
- When you’re deciding on blonde Balayage hues, keep in mind that darker shades will make your skin look paler while lighter shades can wash out the color. You can also choose to go with a variation of light browns or beiges.
- When you swim in chlorinated pools, chlorine and copper can ruin the color and turn light hair green. Apply a hair conditioner generously to prevent chlorine from entering the hair shaft to minimize its damaging effect on the hair.
- Look for gentle ingredients when it comes to balayage haircare, and avoid strong surfactants that strip color.
- Hair that has been lightened by several levels, or repeatedly over the years, is more prone to dryness. Smooth, moisturized hair cuticles are the key to color retention.
- Try to minimize heat styling and use only low to medium heat settings. If you do blow-dry or heat-style your hair, use a heat protector.
- For hair that has been lightened considerably and/or multiple times, dryness and frizz may become an issue. This is where a weekly hair masque can really help as part of a balayage haircare routine.
- Avoid going too light, since blonde has the tendency to show any imperfections in your roots. You may want to consider getting an ombre or darker shade on top of the blonde layer instead.
- Apply a leave-in product with sunscreen before going outside in the sun to protect the hair from UV damage, color fading, and brassy tones. Using a protective leave-in conditioner helps minimize the effects of external factors and environmental pollution.
Common Questions About Balayage Hair Care Routine
Is balayage maintenance needed?
Your balayage hair does need a little maintenance between treatments. Color your hair once every four months to refresh the balayage.
Because a balayage hairstyle requires less maintenance than traditional hair color, it’s not necessary for you to go to the salon every month or 6 weeks. Instead, you can wait a few months before redoing your color.
How often should I maintain my Balayage?
Hair grows fast about an inch per month. So techniques, like balayage, which involve hand painting the hair and not going all the way to your roots, help you to get a gorgeous look with less maintenance.
In general, experts recommend scheduling a balayage touch-up every 12-14 weeks.
How to refresh your balayage hair care routine?
If your balayage color is on the blonde side, use a purple shampoo to keep the color fresh and remove any brassiness.
If your balayage color is more on the caramel or blonde side, use a color-depositing product in the shade closest to yours. This will maintain that fresh-out-of-the-salon color for weeks to come.
Is coconut oil good for balayage?
Totally. Coconut oil can benefit all hair types, especially dry, damaged, and color-treated hair. The chemicals present in hair dye can make your tresses dry and rough, but coconut oil counteracts these effects.
What shampoo is good for balayage?
To avoid overuse of chemicals and to keep your hair hydrated and shiny, use gentle sulfate-free shampoo designed for color-treated hair and moisturizing color-protecting conditioner.
What balayage hair care products do you need?
- Dry shampoos are a must-have if you want to keep your hair clean without getting it wet. You also want to use a moisturizing conditioner after every shower.
- Different hair colors also produce different brassy hues. This means that they also require different pigmented shampoos to resist these unwanted hues. You’ll need this about a month into your balayage.
- Leave-in conditioners also belong in your balayage hair care products arsenal, this product should moisturize and protect your balayage while you are out and about.
- Sulfate-free shampoos clean the hair just as well as regular shampoos do without harsh cleaning agents, which is why they can lock in moisture and protect hair color from fading.
- A hair mask at least once a week after the procedure is the right extra moisturizing dose for your balayage needs.
Will my hair get lighter after balayage?
Because a balayage involves lightening certain sections of your hair, the effect is permanent, although the color might fade slightly after a few months if not looked after properly.
What’s the difference between a full balayage and a touch-up?
Approximately three or four months after your balayage is when your pigmented shampoos can’t counteract the brassiness anymore. at this point, experts suggest you get a full balayage procedure.
A partial balayage will only retouch the obvious sections of your hair, usually the top and outer sections, and disregard the hidden sections.
Is balayage hair recommended on textured hair?
Balayage is the perfect solution for those who want to maintain their natural texture.
The Balayage highlights will give your strands a sense of dimension and depth while still maintaining enough length on top that can be styled with heat tools like flat irons or curling wands.
What should you avoid in your balayage care routine?
If you want to nail your balayage hair care routine, don’t wash your hair for at least three days after you do a balayage. After getting your balayage, wait for at least three days before you wash your hair. The purpose of doing this is to allow the cuticles to close and the color to set.
You also should avoid getting your hair wet during these days, so avoid engaging in strenuous exercises.
