Balayage or Ombre: Which Should You Choose?

Are you an ombre or balayage person? Do you know the difference?

To the untrained eye, the two lived-in, 'fresh back from Bali' holiday hair colours might appear similar, but there are key distinctions between each technique.

We've broken down the difference between balayage and ombre and provided some key advice on how to choose the #perfect solution for your hair.....let's go!

What’s The Difference

Balayage is a highlighting technique done by painting the surface of the hair with a lightener or colour to create a blended natural-looking highlight or lowlight. Only selected strands will be coloured creating a more subtle overall look.

Ombre is a colouring technique done by blending a darker colour into a lighter colour. Typically, ALL the ends are going to be coloured and the transition from the deeper roots and light ends is going to be pretty short. The definition for Ombre is the French word for "colour that is shaded or graduated in tone".

Many people get these two looks confused so it's always best to show your colourist example images so he/she can choose exactly how they plan to apply the colour to achieve your desired result.

Sometimes what you think is ombre is actually balayage so it's best to get specific with a visual example to show your stylist and then have an open mind about what they suggest to achieve that desired look.

Which is More Low Maintenance?

Both ombre and balayage are considered low maintenance options however ombre may be more expensive up front as each strand of hair is typically required to be saturated with product.

Once this is achieved though, it's straightforward to maintain as you'll only need to recolour the roots every 4-8 weeks to touch up the regrowth.

The same applies with balayage which should be less expensive up front, but will likely only require touch-up appointments after the initial lightening phase.

Which is Right For Me?

Choosing which one is right for you really depends on the look you’re trying to achieve.

Again, (pretty please!) find reference pics online (we LOVE Pinterest!) and consider how much change is required to get your hair from where it currently IS to where you want it to BE.

If a lot of colour is required to achieve the desired result, you may want to consider protecting your hair by scheduling multiple colour appointments 4-8 weeks apart with the intention of building up to your desired result.

Remember - hair colour is damaging to your locks so if you're planning to make a BIG change, make sure you discuss this with your stylist and be prepared for them to suggest multiple appointments.

Whether you’re looking for a blonde, brown, red, rose gold or even vivid colour look, your colourist should also be able to work with you to decide if ombre or balayage is best to create the colour effect you’re going for. He/she will consider things such as your existing hair colour, your hair health, lifestyle and aesthetic goals before they're able to suggest the best option moving forward.

Last but not least - don't forget to ask about the cost! Ask your stylist to give you a cost schedule so you can plan for your visits and have confidence moving forward that this is the right solution for you. Remember, it may be expensive upfront but will taper off once your desired colour is achieved.

Still can't decide which technique you like best? Book an appointment with Synergy Hair Melbourne and let's work together to achieve your dream hair!