"Summing up Summer Hair"

When it comes to a woman's summer look, we've seen it all over the years from today's multi-dimensional sirens of blazing blondes and brilliant brunettes to yesterday's one big blonde bang, to the years-past awful trend of streaky "chunk-lites".  Oh how I abhorred those chunky streaks!  I hated walking down the street and seeing an otherwise beautiful girl with hair that resembled the keys of a piano.   I always felt the urge to bang out "Chopsticks" on her head.  Thankfully the days of stripes and chunks are gone and hair has returned to a softer more natural look.  One of my favorite ways to affect a more subtle and modern color is by using the French technique of Balayage.  This technique uses no foils at all and involves the careful and selective painting of individual strands of hair by hand.  This application technique allots for a much more blended "beachy" look that grows out quite gracefully.  What I love about Balayage is that I can pinpoint the exact placement of each highlight.  For example, if my client desires a highlight that sweeps through her bang without having a whole chunk of color, I simply pick up the weft of hair that I choose and zip down said weft and she has her pop of color without a solid stripe. Each highlight follows its own path, not that of a long slice across the top of the head, which results in a much more subtle, yet discernible, cascade of dimension with pale vanilla strands swirling into toasted wheats or buttery blondes meandering with honey hues.  Even brunettes have  taken a more tone-on-tone feel mixing walnut and molasses shades or integrating chestnut browns with sandy toffee-colored pieces.

               Balayage is also a great way to "grow out" your hair color.  The execution of hand-painting hair can be utilized to achieve the "Ombre" hair color trend where the hair starts off a good bit darker at the root--almost matching the natural shade if desired--and gradually gets lighter and lighter to its most intense and lightest shade on the last few inches.  This is all the rage with the Victoria Secret models today.  I have seen this look take on a not-so-glamorous tone, however, with girls who have almost black roots that suddenly go platinum at the mid-lengths, it's not cute.  At that point it's just trashy and you need your roots done, unless your goal is to look like you pulled up in an El-Camino--on the hood of which you are about to dance for a reshoot of a White Snake video.  But this Ombre look can be great if you are in a more budget-conscious state or need something a little more low-maintenance yet trendy.

               Whatever your hair color goals, Balayage can meet pretty much any of them from just a few strands around the face that pop, or a full head of gorgeous Malibu Barbie tresses.  It tends to be a little faster than conventional highlights and generally has a softer grow out and prevents the dreaded "piano key" effect.  It also can be friendlier to the pocketbook with more time possible between color appointments (though don't forget to still get a cut every 8 weeks or so) thereby resulting in a lower maintenance "do' that still looks great over the long haul.  Balayage does require a carefully skilled hand, so if it's something you're interested in trying, make sure that your stylist is proficient in the technique. 

               Streaking is something best left as the drunken prank of college students, not something you do to your hair.  Trends come and go and the streaking trend will return again in some variation one day, but as for me, I prefer my clients' hair to look more natural and Balayage is one of the many techniques I employ to do this.  

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