Balayage. Just the word sounds so sophisticated, probably because it is French. In French, it means “sweeping,” and essentially, that is what you get when you ask for balayage, a gentle sweeping of color that creates a natural, almost “lived-in” look. Yet, that description still doesn’t quite capture the beauty of this coloring technique. Think of tresses that have turned just oh-so sun-kissed as you’ve laid out on a golden sandy beach all summer long. Or the ever-elusive ideal where your roots are just perfectly grown out and your ends are gorgeously glowing with a subtly lighter shade. (Yeah, like that ever happens in real life!)

What is balayage? The team at Therapy Hair Studio demystifies the term and helps you decide if the technique is right for you.

What Is Balayage?

Balayage isn’t just a hair-industry buzzword to get you to spend more at the salon. It is a technique where a colorist will free-hand paint soft and flowing highlights onto the hair. By painting the hair with a lighter shade, a colorist can achieve a subtler and more graduated highlighting effect. Think soft ribbons as opposed to stripy highlights.

What’s the Difference?

Balayage is sometimes hijacked as an umbrella term for color. It isn’t. Asking for a balayage will give you very different results than highlights or even ombre. Ombre is a similar technique, but the results are much starker and more dramatic between the colors instead of the natural transition created by balayage. Highlights and lowlights also employ a different technique where stripes of color are placed closer to the scalp. Most colorists will use foils to create highlights and lowlights.

The Benefits of Balayage  

Since the technique creates a more natural, softer, highlighting effect, it is much easier to maintain. The technique is meant to give the appearance of “grown out” roots but in the most beautiful and flattering way possible. Opting for a balayage can mean fewer trips to the salon. It can also mean much less work to maintain than other types of coloring processes. This technique also tends to be less damaging.

Another benefit of balayage is that because it can be more of a sweeping, free-hand technique, your results can be different than anyone else’s. You will have a unique and gorgeous look all to yourself.

Who Can Get Balayage? 

Balayage isn’t just for blondes. The technique can create beautiful results on a variety of different hair colors. Balayage can brighten blondes but also add dimension to brunettes. Talk to a colorist about your hair color goal and the amount of maintenance you want to put into your color. From there, an experienced colorist can determine which shades will give you the optimum color result. Caramel, golden, ash, and chocolate colors can all create beautiful results depending on your base color.

Balayage is a beautiful color technique that can add a subtle and natural brilliance to your hair color.

Ready to take the plunge? Contact the experienced coloring team at Therapy Hair Salon in Houston today for an appointment by calling (713) 355-HAIR. We want to help give you the hair color of your dreams. Bring us your dreams today.

It’s become the great debate of a generation. How often should you wash your hair? There is fierce debate on the topic, with some camps claiming you should never put suds to hair more than twice a week. Others are staunchly in the “wash every single day” camp. Who should you believe? That may depend on what type of hair you have.

What Does Shampoo Do?

Shampoos are cleansing agents that trap oil and dirt residues when you lather up. When you rinse out the suds, you are also rinsing away the oil and dirt. While dirt and product residue comes from the environment, the oil comes from within. Skin, including the scalp, produces a natural oil called sebum. This oil helps moisturize the skin and provides a natural protective barrier. Sebum produced by the scalp also coats the hair and keeps it from drying out. When hair is dry, it can be prone to damage and breakage. Shampoo doesn’t discriminate between dirt and oil; it cleans everything. Therefore, when you wash your hair, you are not only removing dirt, but you’re also stripping away the hair’s natural protective oil barrier.

Washing by Hair Type

When it comes to washing hair, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Hair is as unique as the person it is attached to. Some hair types may need daily scrubbing, while others can manage to go almost an entire week without soap and water. Before you ditch the shampoo bottle, consider your hair type:

Fine or Oily Hair 

If you have fine or limp hair or you skip a day shampooing, and it looks like the Exon-Valdez ran aground on your head, you may need to wash daily. Some people produce more sebum than others or have more oil glands on their scalp. The production of all this oil can leave hair feeling greasy, unmanageable, and looking limp and dull. Shampooing daily may be needed to help remove the excess oil. For people with oily hair, try using dry shampoo if you skip a wash. It can help absorb excess oil. If your ends feel dry, try keeping the bulk of the suds on your scalp.

Medium Hair 

For those with average to medium hair, you can typically get away with washing your hair every other day or every few days. Dry shampoo can help extend the time you can avoid a wash but be sure to scrub every few days to reduce product build-up on the scalp.

Coarse Hair, Curls, and Coils

Hair that is coarse, thick, curly, or has coils needs less washing than other hair types. Typically, people with these hair types produce less oil. Even for those who do produce more sebum, the texture of thick or curly hair tends not to show “greasiness” in the form of limp hair. These types of hair also tend to be more likely to become damaged and break. For these reasons, it is best not to wash this type of hair too often. Some may find that once or twice a week is enough. For those with type 3a to 4c hair, shampooing every two weeks may be sufficient.

Remember, the frequency with which you wash your hair can also depend on your lifestyle and environment. If you exercise, live in an area with heavy air pollution, or it’s hot and humid, you may need to shampoo more frequently. Also, take a cue from your hair. If it feels dry and brittle, skip a day. Looking dull and limp? Give it a good scrub. Just remember, shampooing is important. Your scalp is skin, and it needs to be cleaned and pampered just like the skin on the rest of your body for it to stay healthy.

Need a little scalp pampering? Turn to the team at Therapy Hair Studio in Houston. Our team of highly trained stylists can wash, dry, cut, and style. Whether you want to transform your look or give yourself some extra TLC, schedule an appointment with Therapy Hair Studio today. Call (713) 355-HAIR.

Adding multiple tones to your hair can be both subtly stunning and boldly beautiful. Getting “the look” can be as easy as requesting lowlights or highlights. These techniques may be the perfect way to change up your base color and freshen up your look. However, the terms are not interchangeable, and they aren’t just industry buzzwords. Asking for one over the other can give you completely different color results. That’s because lowlights and highlights are two different techniques with quite different end results. Which one is right for you? Let’s break down the difference between highlights and lowlights.

Highlights

Highlights are one of the most requested color processes in salons today, but what exactly are they? Highlights are woven or sliced sections of hair that tend to be colored two to three shades lighter than a person’s base hair color. Highlights can add brightness, dimension, and movement to a person’s natural base color. This technique may also add a boost to dull-looking hair and create a “sun-kissed” effect.

Lowlights

Lowlights are typically applied with the same woven or sliced technique. However, lowlights add hints of color two to three shades darker than a person’s base hair color. Lowlights are often used to add richness and the perception of depth to the hair. Lowlights can also help give the illusion of more volume and texture. One more thing to keep in mind. If you have never colored your hair, lowlights tend to be a little more low maintenance.

Which Process Should I Ask For and What Colors Work for Me?

It all depends on what look you want to achieve and your ultimate hair goals. Highlights are a great way to add a fresh, light, and bright dimension to hair. Lowlights can add more depth and the perception of volume. Both techniques can be applied in ways that make the final outcome look bold and dramatic or subtle and sophisticated, depending on preference.

A good colorist will be able to add either highlights or lowlights to just about any base color. Blondes can achieve a brighter, more sun-kissed look by adding highlights. This technique also looks gorgeous on those with dark blonde and brunette base colors. Honey, golden, and caramel colors can look stunning. Those with red hair may want to think about adding strawberry blonde highlights for a pop of color and dimension. Those with dark base colors can also add highlights. Just be sure to talk to your colorist about your hair color goals.

With lowlights, blondes can add more depth and richness by weaving in darker colors like caramel or toffee. Brunettes can also get the same effect by going just a few shades darker and adding mocha or chestnut tones. Looking for a little more drama? Try adding bronze or burgundy lowlights. The only base shades that can be tricky to work with are black or extremely dark brunettes. Dark shades can be more difficult to lowlight because it may be hard to find a color darker than the base color.

Still unsure which technique you should try? Pull out your phone and take pictures of hair colors that you like. Next, talk to a stylist at Therapy Hair Studio in Houston. Our highly trained and experienced team can help you narrow down the color and technique that will give you the look you are craving. Be honest about your routine and your hair color goals, and we can help you decide on whether lowlights or highlights are right for you. In some cases, the answer may even be both at the same time!

Ready to change your look? Schedule an appointment with a Houston highlight specialist today. Call (713) 355-HAIR. We promise it’ll be the highlight of your day.