3 Balayage Cheats You Didn’t Know

3 Color Techniques To Cheat Balayage
Balayage is one of the most-requested services in the salon, but do clients really know what they’re asking for? They see balayage as a finished result, not a technique, so if you’re struggling with freehand painting, here are some cheats that will create or enhance that sun-kissed vibe they love.

We scored these innovative, easy-to use techniques at L’ANZA Healing Haircare’s Recharge 2018 in Nashville, Tenn. from Healing Color Director Leah Freeman (@leahfreeman1) and Artistic Team Design Member Mark Dolan (@markdolan2)—keep scrollin’ to get educated by the best, then keep crushing it behind the chair!

Products Used

Blonde

Healing Color Powder Decolorizer

L'ANZA Healing Haircare

1. Master The Hi Low Foil Technique

Skip hand painting and achieve similar color results with Leah’s easy, three-step foil technique. Check out the color placement diagram, then watch the steps in action below.

Get The Steps 

1. Start by taking a wide panel section. To cheat the V-shaped balayage pattern, weave out the right and left corners, then twist and clip the hair out of the way, leaving out a wide center section.

2. Lay the center section of hair over a foil and apply lightener (Leah swears by L’ANZA Powder Decolorizer for healthy lifting) with a brush. Feather the lightener upward, then saturate from mids to ends.

3. Take another foil and place it slightly above the previously-lightened section so that it’s completely covered. Release the left and right corners (keep them separated) and apply lightener from roots to ends.

2. Long-Haired Clients? Swap Backcombing With Blow-Drying!

Sometimes backcombing wide panels on long-haired clients can result in painful hours of trying to detangle the hair later. That’s why Mark recommends an alternative technique—here’s how it works: 

• Take a section and hold the ends with tension, then blow-dry back and forth from the base to mids. 

• Why? Blow-drying opposed to backcombing actually pushes the unwanted hair away, allowing you to apply lightener closer to the base. Also, applying heat from the dryer warms up and activates the hair.

We are HERE for this innovative technique! 

3. Balayage Roller Set

Yes, cotton is a great way to separate balayage sections—but it’s high absorbency can prevent clean sectioning. That’s why Leah recommends busting out those old velcro and self grip rollers, and using them as an alternative tool to maintain moisture and separation.

Here Are 2 Different Ways To Use A Roller: 

1. After a balayage panel is complete, lift the hair up using a L’ANZA Balayage Board. Place the roller directly under the hair at the base and secure. Pro Tip: On fine-haired clients, try using a larger velcro roller.

2. You can use this tool to apply color closer to the regrowth area. Hold a section with tension, pushing the roller toward the base and directly applying lightener to the hair directly on top of the roller.

Click HERE to watch the complete balayage roller set video how-to!