Nowadays, whether or not you actually request balayage hair color in the salon, chances are you’re going to get it. That’s because balayage is one of the most modern, natural-looking, gorgeous hair color techniques around and more and more hair stylists are adding the service to their repertoires. If you have any doubts about the popularity of balayage, take a close look at any celebrity “It girl”—Hadids, Kardashians, Jenners, Swift, etc. On all of those constantly-scrutinized heads of hair, you’ll see evidence of carefully crafted balayage highlights. So if you ask your stylist for sunkissed, dimensional hair color, chances are he or she will incorporate balayage into your color service.

So what exactly is balayage?  Matrix Celebrity Spokesperson George Papanikolas is a balayage expert—his work can be seen on the tresses of Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Jenna Dewan Tatum, Hailey Baldwin, Hannah Jeter and loads more. “Balayage is actually a French word for painting,” says George. “And the technique originated in France. It’s a method of hand-painting sections of hair with lightener or hair color in order to create highlights that look as if the sun had lightened the hair naturally.” 

Typically, balayage highlights are concentrated on the center and ends of the hair, for the most natural-looking result. Many hair color experts also like to frame the face with balayage highlights. Because they’re not placed right at the root, regrowth is not noticeable, so frequent touch-ups aren’t necessary, making balayage a cost-effective hair color service. However, sometimes color artists like to combine balayage highlights with traditional, foil highlights for a more substantial lightening effect.

The best part about balayage highlights is that they are completely customized. That means your colorist will place them in the precise sections that will make your hair and your complexion look their very best.

You may think balayage is just for blondes, but that’s not the case. Balayage can be done on any color—blonde, brunette, red and more—and it can also be adapted for any length.

So — ready for hand-painted hair color?  Here are 10 of our favorite balayage hair color designs.

Platinum Balayage
Ice princesses rejoice! This clean, clear blonde balayage is completely Frozen-worthy, and has the cool impact of a Scandinavian blizzard. The roots are light, beige blonde and the wide balayage highlights in the center and on the ends are snowy pale.

Light Blonde Balayage
It’s blonde hair shot through with moonlight. Champagne strands are embellished with glistening silver balayage highlights to produce this shimmering effect. Applying the highlights with a delicate touch produces the all-over, gleaming result.

Medium Blonde Balayage
Also referred to as “bronde,” this medium blonde confection combines the best of both palettes. It’s a mélange of milk chocolate and cocoa brown, plus mocha and light cream highlights.

Dark Blonde Balayage
Perfect if your hair is on the dark side naturally, this combo maintains some of your rich, natural hue, then enlivens it with streaks of smoky blonde. Highlights should be heavier on a darker base, and for the most natural-looking results, your stylist will mix up the sizes, making some highlights thicker and some finer.

Light Brown Balayage
As innocent as a little kid, these subtle tones of sandy brown and buttery blonde will look like you spent the summer building sandcastles on the beach—even if you never left your desk! The key to placing these balayage highlights is to aim for the spots where the sun would hit your hair—around the face, on the crests of the waves and on the tips.

Medium Brown Balayage
Warm brown haircolor is lovely on its own. But add a few golden blonde highlights and, whoa! The results turn heads! Subtlety is the key to highlighting this hue. George Papanikolas recommends placing highlights in a v-shape on select sections, leaving the center of the “v” un-highlighted, for delicately beautiful results.

Dark Brown Balayage
Chocolate, caramel and honey work beautifully on the dessert tray, and the combination is equally delicious when it comes to balayage. These dramatic hues are bold and glamorous, and they reflect your confident approach to style and fashion.

Watercolor Balayage
If you’re looking for a cross between natural and high fashion, unconventional color, consider Watercolor balayage. Here, pale moss highlights are nestled in a smoky base, for a result that’s fashion forward yet still classic.

Grey Balayage
Grey is the new black. Rather than running screaming at the onset of a few greys, fashionistas are flocking to their color pros for cool versions of slate, steel, violet and blue-grey shades. One of the most popular “grey-dient” approaches is balayage. A deep base gradually morphs into lighter tones on the midlengths and ends. For example, if the base is inky blue, the lighter sections may be pale blue-grey and blue-silver.  If the base is deep violet, the ends could be done in variations of steely lavender.

Red Balayage
Think balayage is just for blondes and brunettes? Nuh-uh! It’s a gorgeous technique for redheads, too! Balayage provides the natural-looking dimension that redheads need, and the results are super subtle. For the most realistic results, your stylist will create a warm base color of auburn or chestnut, and then add balayage highlights in lighter tones of strawberry and toffee.

WHAT IS BALAYAGE?
Balayage is the most exquisite highlighting color technique to storm the coloring industry in decades, however, the first notable celebrity to have the sun-kissed treatment was Audrey Hepburn in 1961’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The technique tasks the colorist with taking a small section of hair and sweeping the color towards the top. Then, they use a paddle to apply more color toward the bottom for a balanced, lightened look. Colorists and clients alike fall in love with the natural, sun-kissed results from this handcrafted technique. Trained Balayage color placement produces a natural and organic style, similar to the effortlessly random color you’d receive after a summer at the beach.

Balayage was truly revolutionary, created at a time when the industry standard was a frosting cap. The ‘80s brought a wave of foil highlights, so it wasn’t until the ‘90s that balayage made its first inroads in the U.S., mainly among celebrity-early adopters.

Today, balayage is offered in many salons, unfortunately not all results are consistent (it’s not as easy as it looks!). A Balayage colorist must be well-trained and have a keen sense of the hair’s texture and movement. After all, it’s just the craftsmanship of the colorist and the balayage brush. The most natural-looking results are usually those that look the most random, which calls for a very specific placement strategy which is addressed in depth theory portion of our balayage classes.

WHY BALAYAGE?
The balayage technique can be used to achieve so many different effects from soft, sun-kissed, natural highlights to a strong and punky look. Not only does it look effortless but its low-maintenance upkeep attracts many to the salon begging for the gilded results. Balayage color is painted in soft brush strokes across the surface of the hair, leaving you with natural-looking swipes of color that flow from thick to thin and play off the hair’s natural movement. Even better, balayage won’t leave you with any signs of demarcation, creating a softer and more manageable grow-out. However, if a balayage isn’t done correctly you can end up with excessive overlapping that can cause damage.

The balayage technique is quickly replacing its metallic predecessor- foils. Foils can often result in a contrived, neat row of uniform highlights rather than the naturally placed balayage treatment. When a section of hair is colored using a foil, the entire section is saturated with color resulting in dense, unnatural stripes of color. During our advanced class we show you how to combine the best of both of these techniques to brighten expression areas by adding stronger, sweeping pieces of light framing the face, in order to give your client’s face a painless lift.

It’s important to note that balayage is absolutely not just for blondes. Brunettes, redheads, even those with black hair can benefit from a dose of hair painting. The results are generally more subtle, but they add the multifaceted dimension that so many crave.

This article first appeared on The Business of Balayage

What is Control GX Shampoo?

Control GX Shampoo by Just For Men claims to use breakthrough technology that can gradually reduce gray hair with each shampoo for subtle, natural looking results.

The manufacturer tells us that you'll use Control GX just like any other daily shampoo. After a few washes, you'll notice a subtle reduction in the number of gray hairs. From there, you have complete control over how gradually your gray disappears at the start by using every day, or every other day.

When you’ve achieved the look you want—often within two to four weeks—you’ll continue using Control GX three to four times per week for maintenance. Results can last up to eight weeks.

In addition to gradually reducing your gray, Control GX Shampoo also promises to gently and thoroughly clean and revitalize hair, while increasing volume for a thicker, fuller look.

Just For Men’s lineup has been a staple among hair and beard coloring products for decades, but does this necessarily mean that their Control GX Shampoo is worth the money? Even then, is it really “shampoo with a brain”?

Click here for a review that will discuss all the essential facts so you can make a more empowered purchase.

Legit or Scam?  

This was a stand out comment for me from the article:
“most dyes that promise to gradually reduce gray hair use metallic salts, which:

“… react with the sulfur in the protein chains of the hair to create a natural looking color in the hair over a period of repeated exposure.””

Be wary of home color products that may contain metallic salts. Metallic salts fall under the category of progressive dyes, this means with every application the hair color is going to go darker and darker. Over time the hair is going to feel rough. Metallic salts are extremely reactive to other chemicals! If you try to use most hair color removers (because the hair is too dark now from the progressive darkening) major chemical reactions with the metallic salts are going to occur inside the hair shaft and that can result in horrible burning fumes or even smoking!

All I know as a Cosmetologist is that if you have used a product containing metallic salts, or even henna, there will be no way to predict the outcome, resulting color or condition of your hair if you ever decide to remove or color over your hair after using these products.

My best advice: 
If you want to blend away that grey, schedule an appointment with your hairstylist and let us take care of hair. Most of these services only take 10 to 15 minutes and can be done while you’re resting your head in the shampoo bowl.

If you've dyed your hair at least once, then you're well acquainted with the whole new world of hair care you have to submit to in order to keep your locks looking healthy and undamaged. But there are still some things you should do when you color your hair that your stylist wish you knew, ensuring that your next hair appointment won't be derailed with them trying to bring your dry, fried hair back to life. Or worse, trying to fix an accidental color that was so not what you envisioned.
 
While we might use our best efforts to deep condition and shower with purple or red shampoos at home, beauty care is sometimes rough — and expensive. But there are simple steps and measures you can take before coming to the salon that will ensure your coloring process goes as smoothly and stress-free as possible. You don't have to keep your fingers crossed underneath the hair cloak that your hair actually turns out blonde and not brassy, or brown and not ashy. If you follow the steps below, you'll leave the salon looking just how you imagined. Ahead are tips straight from stylists and colorists on what to do when you color your hair at a salon.
 
1. Get A Water Filter For Your Bathroom 
While many of us obsess with getting color treated shampoos to keep our hair healthy and primed for color, we might overlook the actual water running out of our taps. But according to Meredith Morris, stylist, colorist, and owner of MAVEN Beverly Hill, that's a huge oversight.
 
"Before you do anything, invest in a water filter for your shower. The water from the shower contains many minerals and it can deposit onto your hair. These minerals cause buildup and can discolor your hair, so purifying your shower experience is an absolute must," she says.
 
2. Wash With A Detoxifying Shampoo
In order to get the cleanest color, you have to make sure you don't have any buildup in your hair before you sit in your stylist's chair. "A few days prior to your hair color appointment, clarify your hair with a detoxifying shampoo. This will clean and rid your hair of any buildup from both the environment and products," Morris shares.
 
3. Wash Your Hair The Day Of The Appointment
"It's best to go to the salon appointment with your hair as your normally style it day to day. This will help tremendously in the consultation portion of your appointment. Your stylist/colorist will be able to better accommodate your needs when seeing what and how you do your hair on a daily basis," Morris points out.
 
In fact, coming in with dirty hair will throw your colorist off her evaluation. "Dirty hair is stinky and the excess oils can dull and visually darken the natural color of the hair preventing the stylist from being able to make a proper assessment of the situation," Morris stresses.
 
4. Be Honest About Your Hair Coloring History
This isn't the '50s anymore and we shouldn't be embarrassed for being bottle blondes, red heads, or what ever color you chose. Because of that, be upfront with your colorist when they ask about your salon past.
 
"It is a very common misconception that once you can no longer see colour visually, it means that the colour is gone completely. Color does not dissappear, but fades or is covered with the truth laying underneath," Jaymi Van Horne, a hairstylist at Toronto's Good Day Hairshop explains in an email interview with Bustle. "I frequently hear clients say 'it’s all my natural' when in fact they coloured it 4 years ago and I will come across it about 10-15” down. It is imperative that you mention any and all color or relaxer services that have been performed in the past to ensure the best outcome," Van Horne stresses. That way different sections of your hair won't turn a different shade because they absorbed the color incorrectly.
 
5. Brush Your Hair Out
It can be tempting to throw your hair into a ponytail and leave for your day of pampering, but be sure you brush it out properly before you go. "Sometimes I spend 20 minutes just brushing out a messy bun when I really should be focusing on my formulation," Van Horne says. "Services are based on time and adding steps like straightening or brushing can intervene with how much time is spent actually doing your colour." Be courteous to your stylist and do that little step!
 
6. Come With Plenty Of Research Ready 
While not many of us say "do whatever you want" when sitting in the chair, trying to describe the color with your words is just as vague. Instead, do yourself and the colorist a favor by coming in ready with pictures.
 
"Since no color can be exactly recreated (as everyone’s hair varies in texture and thickness — and we’re artists, not robots) I like to tell a client that we will personalize their look based on the three they have shown me. A customized combination that suits their look and lifestyle," Van Horne explains. This way, you'll be able to get the color you've been daydreaming about in your head.
 
7. Chill On The Softness
If you're a serial hair dyer, chances are you're diligent with treatments and masks to keep it soft. But, Van Horne points out, there is such a thing as overkill.
 
"People often come to me with overly hydrated hair — that is, their hair is breaking and won't roundbrush because the hair is so bogged down with moisture. Like skin, too much of a good thing in your hair can cause inflammation and leave you with the exact opposite of what you were trying to achieve. Just because it’s colored, doesn't mean it needs a moisturizing treatment seven days a week," Van Horne shares. Instead, stick to a hair mask about once a week and let your hair breathe.
 
8. Stay Still 
While it might be tempting to look around the salon or down at your phone during a long color job, fight the urge. "You don't have to be a statue, but nothing is worse than trying not to overlap (and over-process) bleach while your client is looking in every direction. We know it’s hard to sit there for hours on end, but asking if you can grab your coffee before actually doing it can make the difference between bleeding tiger stripes and the sun-kissed (healthy) blonde of your dreams," Van Horne points out. Try to stay in one spot.
 
9. Pay Attention To Your Hair Texture After The Appointment
Everyone's hair reacts differently to color, so keep an eye on your texture to see what your locks need after the process. "If your hair is feeling limp like an overcooked spaghetti, you need protein. If it's dry and and flakes off when you brush it, you need moisture. Look for products that support each role for ideal results," Van Horne explains. That way you keep your hair looking healthy for longer.
 
Keep these simple tips top of mind next time you book your next color appointment — your hairstylist will love you for it!