Balayage is one of the most popular hair coloring trends of the moment. It is renowned for its soft, natural, sun-kissed color that is low maintenance and easy to care for. When this technique is requested, clients often come in desperate need of a way to keep their color looking vibrant and fresh between salon visits. Fortunately, there is a way to extend the life of your color, minimize fading, and best care for your hair.
At Kosa Salon SF, we have been providing salon services for years, perfecting balance techniques that allow our clients to achieve the desired look. We understand the specific needs of balayage-treated hair and offer various services and products to help you maintain your color and keep your hair healthy.
Understanding Balayage and Its Maintenance Needs
What is Balayage?
Balayage is a coloring technique, also known as ‘paint’ or ‘painted’ coloring; the hair is hand-painted with the color instead of the more traditional foil or cap highlighting. With balayage, the focus is on a softer, more gradual look. Ultimately, you get a much more ‘natural,’ sun-kissed result, often requiring less maintenance at the salon.
Why Balayage Needs Special Care
Balayage is generally considered a relatively low-maintenance coloring technique, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t plenty of work involved in maintaining it. This is especially true because the lightening of the hair during the balayage process can make it more prone to dryness, frizz, and damage if the proper care steps are not taken.
Without the right products, the color can also fade, and unwanted brassy tones can start to appear. Proper management and maintenance are required to keep balayage hair looking vibrant and healthy as long as possible and make it last between salon visits.
5 Essential Products to Keep Your Balayage Fresh
| Product Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Color-safe Shampoos | – Protects color from fading – Keeps hair soft and manageable – Nourishing ingredients | – May be pricier than regular shampoos |
| Purple Shampoos | – Neutralizes brassy tones – Enhances cool tones in blonde balayage | – Can dry out hair if used too frequently |
| Blue Shampoos | – Effective for brunette balayage – Balances warmth for richer color | – Requires careful application to avoid color buildup |
| Leave-in Conditioners | – Provides daily hydration – Reduces frizz and enhances shine | – May weigh down fine hair if too much is used |
| Hair Masks | – Deeply moisturizes – Repairs damage from color treatment | – Requires additional time for application |
1. Color-safe shampoos and Conditioners
A crucial part of balayage upkeep is using color-safe shampoo and conditioner. These products are formulated to protect your color from fading and keep your hair soft and healthy. Look for sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners that won’t strip your hair of its natural oils and will prevent the color from fading too quickly. You want nourishing oils and proteins in your shampoo and conditioner, as they help to strengthen and moisturize the hair.
We recommend Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner, a sulfate-free product for colored hair. It provides deep hydration and helps maintain balayage while keeping hair soft and manageable.
2. Purple and Blue Shampoos
Brassy hair is a curse for people with balayage, especially if they’re blonde or light. To neutralize those yellow and orange tones and make your balayage look cool and bright, you’ll want to use purple and blue shampoos.
Purple shampoo is usually recommended for blonde balayage, while blue is better for brunette. Depending on how fast the brassiness appears in your hair, use this type of shampoo once or twice a week.
Try using Joico Color Balance Blue Shampoo for something high-performance. You can get by with these pricier options a few times in between salon visits.
3. Leave-in conditioners and Hair Masks
Use a leave-in conditioner and deep conditioning mask to keep hydration in balayage hair. This will keep your hair moisturized, shield it from damage, and seal in the moisture to reduce frizz and enhance shine, thus making your balayage color pop and your hair soft.
A leave-in like the Unite 7SECONDS Detangler is excellent for daily moisture. However, if you really want to give your hair a drink, a weekly hair mask like the Olaplex Nº.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask is your best bet. It will repair any damage and leave your hair firm and hydrated.
4. Heat Protectants
The heat from blow-drying, curling, or straightening can damage balayage hair, especially if you already have dry, damaged hair or dark hair and are looking to achieve a light, blonde effect. If you use hot tools, protect your hair with a heat protectant before blow-drying, curling, or straightening. This will help protect your hair from heat damage and keep your color looking its best.
Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Heat Protectant protects hair from the damaging effects of heat, adds shine, and helps alleviate frizz.
5. Dry Shampoos
Too much frequent washing can strip your hair of its natural oils, so if your balayage is essential to you, try to slow down. Dry shampoos extend the time between washes so your locks don’t turn limp and greasy. They suck up excess oil at the scalp and add body, meaning you can avoid washing daily and keep it fresh looking for longer.
If you have balayage, look for a dry shampoo that cleans hair thoroughly without leaving a residue, such as Living Proof’s Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo. It helps brunettes keep their color fresh.
Additional Tips for Balayage Maintenance
Regular Trims
Regular trims are essential for keeping your balayage looking fresh. Trimming the ends every 8-10 weeks helps prevent split ends and keeps your hair looking healthy and polished.
Sun Protection
UV rays can cause your balayage to fade and your hair to become dry and brittle. To protect your hair, consider using products with UV filters or wearing a hat when spending extended periods in the sun.
Avoid Over-Washing
Overwashing your hair can strip it of essential oils and cause your color to fade faster. To keep your hair looking fresh, limit washing to 2-3 times per week and use dry shampoo in between.
Salon Treatments
In-salon treatments like glosses, toners, and deep conditioning treatments can help maintain the vibrancy of your balayage. At Kosa Salon SF, we offer a range of treatments designed to enhance your color and keep your hair healthy between visits.
Conclusion
Keeping your balayage looking nice between salon visits requires the right products and the proper routine. And if you’re thinking about getting the balayage treatment, as possible is your goal.
- Use color-safe shampoos to keep your color vibrant.
- Purple or blue shampoos are your go-to for keeping your color from turning brassy.
- For shiny, healthy-looking hair, apply a leave-in conditioner.
- Heat protectants are essential if you use a blow-dryer or heat-styling tools, and dry shampoos are great for extending wash days.
Kosa Salon SF is proud to offer a carefully chosen array of products and expert advice to ensure you feel comfortable maintaining your balayage. See us for suggestions and treatments to keep your locks looking beautiful with every wash.
