3 Pro Tips for Creating the Perfect Beachy Balayage

Take Your Balayage from Basic to Beachy With These Expert Tips

Create natural, sun-kissed dimension with pro tips from Kenra Professional Brand Ambassador Lo Wheeler (@lo_wheelerdavis). Based right on the PCH in Orange County, California, Lo draws inspiration from her proximity to one of the world’s most competitive surf spots. Lo has spent over ten years studying and recreating authentic ocean-kissed hair making her your go-to educator for surf-inspired styles. 

“Over the last decade, I’ve had the honor of working on several of the world’s [most incredible] female surfers,” shares Lo. “And what I’ve seen is a connection of what the salt water does to the hair. I’ve noticed patterns present in all of these womens’ hair.”

Natural ocean-kissed hair features organic patterns of light and depth, similar to how a child’s hair develops natural swirls of color after playing in the sun. The salt water’s effect on the hair is particularly noticeable in texture changes—even naturally curly hair often develops straighter, skinnier ends from regular exposure to salt water, creating the signature lived-in look. 

Learn how to recreate this beachy look with key techniques from BTC-U’s “Surfed-In Balayage.”

Tip #1: Build on Your Base

Lo’s signature technique centers around enhancing the existing hair color to create more dimension. Rather than following strict sectioning patterns, Lo looks to the hair’s existing color as her roadmap. She observes where the hair is lightened and builds upon that, maintaining much of the natural, darker base. This helps create the same contrast as organic highlights. 

See how Lo uses the existing color as a guide here:

Lo’s go-to products for lived-in, beach-inspired highlights:

• Kenra Simply Blonde Blue Powder Lightener 
• Kenra Color Creme 30 Volume Developer
• Kenra Color Demi-Permanent 5NUA 
• Kenra Color Demi-Permanent 9PV
• Kenra Color Activator 9 Volume

Products Used

Hair Color

Simply Blonde Blue Powder Lightener

Kenra Professional

Demi-Permanent Color

Kenra Color Demi-Permanent

Kenra Professional

Tip #2: Know When To Saturate Vs. Surface Paint

The secret to achieving natural-looking dimension? Knowing when to saturate fully and when to surface paint. Lo’s technique depends entirely on the existing color and warmth present in each section.

If a client has pre-lightened ends, she recommends saturating the hair for even more brightness. But what if a client has darker hair? To avoid getting stuck in the middle/warm phase, Lo suggests surface painting. This will help to maintain the contrast between light and dark that defines this lived-in hair color.

Watch Lo demonstrate both techniques here:

Click here to learn every tip & technique needed to achieve the perfect surfed-in balayage.

Tip #3: Be Bold With Your Placement to Create Dimension

When it comes to placement, Lo reveals a game-changing insight about section size: A bolder placement creates more diffused, dimensional results. 

It may seem like thin highlights will create more subtle results. However, many small highlights placed throughout the hair create more areas of contrast between dark and light, which isn’t how hair naturally lightens in the sun and salt water. Instead, Lo favors heavier placement, which creates a more natural-looking outcome. 

See how placement affects contrast and dimension here:

Click here to watch the full class on BTC University!