A fashionable way to dye dark hair is balayage. Photos of Hollywood celebrities with contrasting hairstyles have made this type of coloring popular all over the world. You can paint using this technique at home or sign up for a salon to look like a TV star.
Method essence
Balayage on dark hair: a photo of a hairstyle clearly demonstrates what this paint technique looks like. The dyeing method creates a color contrast between the roots and ends. The border between bleached and natural hair is a zigzag, not a straight line, unlike ombre and sombre hairstyles.
When dyeing, up to 5 tones of paint can be used, which are applied only to the lower part of the hair. The top of the hairstyle retains its natural look. You can take natural shades of paint and create the effect of strands burnt out in the sun. Or you can paint your head in unnatural tones to stand out from the environment.
Pros and cons
Several reasons to try balayage:
- This hairstyle is suitable for girls with any face shape. Balayage softens the features and makes the face more oval.
- For a woman with any color type of appearance, you can find the perfect tones for lightening hair so that the hairstyle looks spectacular.
- Balayazh is combined with any style of clothing: from business to informal.
- Most of the hair retains its natural color. This allows you to change the hairstyle, but keep the look. If you don't like the balayazh or get bored, you can simply cut the ends.
- Dyed hair looks thicker and fuller. Stylists recommend trying balayage for girls with thin and thin hair.
- The scalp and hair roots do not come into contact with the dye. Coloring does not cause dry scalp, hair loss and other unpleasant consequences.
- If a not very contrasting shade is chosen, you can make a balayage without highlighting.
- It is suitable for women of all ages. Color contrast on the hair visually rejuvenates the face. There is also a psychological effect - a woman with a fashionable hairstyle is perceived to be several years younger.
- Balayage looks beautiful, even if you do not update your hairstyle for several months. Only the proportions of bleached and natural hair change.
- A simple balayage with 1-2 shades can be made at home with your own hands. To get a beautiful gradient of 3-5 shades, you need to visit a hairdresser.
But there are also disadvantages to this technique:
- The coloring effect is noticeable only on the styled hairstyle. Otherwise, light and dark strands are confused with each other, and the hairstyle looks unkempt. It is necessary to do styling every time before leaving the house.
- Even the gentle balayage technique does not go unnoticed for the health of the hair. Dryness and excision may occur at the ends. To prevent this from happening, you need to use moisturizers for colored hair.
- The guaranteed result can be obtained only in the salon. When painting at home with your own hands, the final result may differ from what was intended.
Stylists' recommendations
Balayazh on dark hair (photos of hairstyles prove that this dyeing technique is best suited for brunettes) will help brown-haired, red-haired and fair-haired girls to transform, if you choose the right tones when dyeing. It is best to visit a stylist and ask him to choose shades for balayage that will match your natural hair color, eye color and skin tone.
It is more difficult for blondes, light-blond girls or with gray hair. Classic balayage on blond hair is almost invisible. There are 2 options to solve the problem: take a paint in bright colors (for example, lilac or turquoise) or pre-dye your hair a dark color, and then perform a balayage.
The longer the hairstyle, the more lightening colors you can use. Balayage will look more impressive on shoulder-length hair than on short hairstyles such as a bob or bob. Therefore, it is best to grow your hair first and then lighten it. In the presence of diseases of the hair and scalp, you should also solve the problem before dyeing.
Black hair: rules for choosing shades
If the curls are dark, girls can use almost any shade of paint for lightening using the balayage technique:
- Blond.
- Ashen.
- Platinum.
- Wheat.
- Burgundy.
- Wine.
- Cherry.
- Red.
- Redhead.
- Golden.
- Chestnut.
- Caramel
- Blue.
- Pink.
- Violet.
Photos of girls with different hairstyles help you choose the desired shade. All of the above tones when dyeing balayage contrast well with dark hair.
Rules for short haircuts
- For a short haircut, you can take 1-2 shades of paint. Even a professional craftsman will not be able to produce a 5 shade gradient on a short length.
- The dyeing area starts from the middle of the strand and goes down in the shape of a triangle. The paint is applied from top to bottom with wide brush strokes.
- You need to separate the strands from each other with clips and hairpins, you can use foil.
- On short strands, the paint dries faster than on long ones. It is not necessary to warm your head to speed up the chemical reaction.
- Short dyeing is not gentle, as the dye can come into contact with the scalp and hair roots.
- As the hair grows back, the dyeing contours blur and the effect is lost. It is necessary to frequently update the balayage and model haircut.
- If the hair is very short and the length for dyeing is less than 3 cm, it is better to refuse the balayage technique.
Medium length strands
- Fashionable coloring is combined with any medium-length hairstyle, in harmony with straight and curly hair.
- The balayazh looks especially stylish on cascade haircuts and an elongated square.
- For dyeing medium hair, it is recommended to take 3-4 related dye tones.
- You can lighten only the lower part of the strands or start coloring from the middle of the length.
- Several fully lightened strands along the edges of the face look very impressive.
- If you do not tint the roots for several months, the hairstyle will still look well-groomed.
If your hair is long
- You can use up to 5 related paint shades to create a gradient.
- Coloring looks good on both straight and curled hair.
- You can start coloring anywhere below the middle of your hair.
- The highlight area is far from the face and eyes, so the choice of shades is much wider.
- If you don't like the result, you can cut the ends and lose almost nothing.
- The ends of long strands are prone to cutting and drying out. Coloring is a risk factor, so long hair should be treated with extra care.
Natural curls
- The balayage technique is almost harmless to natural hair.To mitigate the effects of staining, you need to use caring shampoos, balms and masks.
- The line between natural and colored hair can be pronounced or subtle.
- Brunettes and brown-haired women often need preliminary lightening before applying paint.
- Balayage allows you to create the effect of burnt strands. In this case, the hairstyle will look completely natural.
- Color correction in the salon is required less often than when performing the balayage technique on colored hair.
When painted black
- Re-staining is recommended only in the salon. Otherwise, mixing dyes can give an unpredictable shade.
- The lower part of the strands is discolored by the applied dye, and then painted again in a different tone. These manipulations lead to weakening and brittleness of the ends.
- Hair that has undergone frequent dyeing requires special care. It is important not to forget about revitalizing masks, shampoos and balms.
Straight and curly
- Balayage on curly hair looks more impressive than on straight hair, but it is more difficult to perform it. Owners of curls should contact the salon to get a quality balayage.
- It is very difficult to color the curls on your own, because when they get wet, they change shape. After the hairstyle dries, you can see that the location of the lightened zones is not the same as originally planned.
- The best option for owners of straight hair is to dye it first and then curl it. It is imperative to use thermal protective agents so as not to overdry the ends.
- Curly hair, whether natural or curled, needs to be well fixed with varnish after styling. On tangled strands, the balayage looks extremely sloppy.
With a bang
- Balayazh on dark hair (the photo demonstrates clearly) looks beautiful with and without bangs.
- When dyeing, the bangs can be left in their natural color or lightened. Both hairstyles will look beautiful and harmonious.
- If the bangs are wide, you can dye the center and edges in different shades. But this technique visually expands the face.
- The bangs should be dyed only by a master. There is a considerable risk of getting the colorant in the eyes.
- The paint is applied to the bangs last, after all other work is completed.
- To lighten the bangs, you should take one of those tones that have already been used in the hairstyle.
- The bangs grow back very quickly. If it is dyed, you will have to visit the salon more often to adjust the hairstyle.
Is it possible to dye hair at home
Balayage on dark hair: photos of girls from magazines make you want to get exactly the same hairstyle. But you won't be able to create a beautiful gradient of 3-5 shades on your own. It is possible to lighten hair using the balayage technique at home using 1 or 2 colors.
First, you should experiment with unstable dyes. When the result of self-staining is completely satisfied, you can proceed to discoloration of the ends and application of persistent paints.
You should purchase professional cosmetics that are used in salons. Economy paints contain a large amount of aggressive chemicals. In addition, using cheap dyes can lead to yellow or reddish appearance, instead of a beautiful lightening.
When performing balayage at home, it is important to follow the procedure technology. One of the most important points is the dye retention time. The table below shows the time intervals that are followed in hairdressing salons.
Lightening type | Dye concentration | Exposure time on hair |
Tone on tone or darker | 3% | 30 min. |
Lighter by 1 tone | 6% | 30-35 minutes |
Lighter by 2-3 tones | 9% | 35-40 minutes |
Lighter by 4 tones | 9%, 12% | 40 - 50 minutes |
Materials and tools
To perform the procedure at home, you will need:
- Permanent paint, 1 or 2 tones. Ink developer (usually included).
- Gloves. Protects hands from chemicals.
- Plastic, porcelain or glass container for mixing paint.
- Classic brush (no comb). The optimal width is 4-5 cm.
- Plastic comb with short and fine teeth (comb).
- Comb with sparse and long teeth to separate strands.
- Thermal paper. Used in salons as an alternative to the usual foil.
- Barber spatula. This tool allows you to create a blurry paint effect.
- Plastic clips or elastic bands for securing strands.
- Face cream. Apply to the forehead to protect against paint.
- Timer in any device for counting the staining time.
- A cape to protect clothing from accidental paint splashes.
- Towel to warm the head and speed up the chemical reaction.
- Large mirror for monitoring the paint application.
It is not recommended to use metal bowls and combs, as well as hairpins with metal elements. Metal can chemically react with paint. This will lead to the appearance of an unexpected shade in the hair.
Training
Preparation for the procedure should be started several days in advance to get the planned result. If the scalp has scratches, scaling or other imperfections, the staining should be postponed until the skin heals. Balayazh emphasizes the contours of the hairstyle, so a haircut is performed first, and then coloring.
An allergy test is imperative. To do this, grease the clean skin of the wrist with a small amount of paint. Leave on for 30 minutes. and remove with a cotton pad. If redness, peeling or rash does not appear on the skin within 3 days, the paint can be used. During this time, the treated area of the skin should not be washed in order for the test result to be accurate.
It is forbidden to wash your hair 2 days before the procedure. During this time, a protective layer of the secretion of the sebaceous glands forms on the skin, which will protect it from the aggressive effects of the dye. You should also give up any hair care products for 2 days. They envelop the hair shafts and prevent the dye from reaching the core.
Before starting the procedure, it is necessary to lay out all the necessary tools and materials in front of you. Make sure nothing is forgotten. Plan your time so that nothing distracts from staining. Otherwise, there is a risk of disrupting the timing and getting an unwanted shade.
Short hair coloring
- Comb dry hair thoroughly with a fine-toothed comb. Divide the entire volume into separate strands, fix them with clamps. Apply a protective cream to the forehead along the border with the hair.
- Always wear gloves and a protective cape before starting work. Prepare the coloring agent according to the attached instructions.
- The paint is applied in vertical strokes from bottom to top and slightly to the side (in the form of a triangle). The strands are dyed from the middle or lower third. You can use a barber's spatula to spread the paint.
- The line between bleached and natural hair should not be in a straight line. Therefore, you need to start dyeing the strands a little higher and slightly lower to create an uneven border.
- Work begins with strands in the occipital region. You need to paint them in turn, moving from the back of the head to the edge of the face. Strands with already applied paint can be wrapped with foil or thermal paper.
- After all the strands are processed, you need to wait a while. As a rule, this is 30 minutes. Each manufacturer gives exact instructions on how long to hold the paint.
- After the end of the set time, you need to immediately wash off the paint with warm water and shampoo. If you overexpose the dye composition, you can get a shade much brighter than desired.
- Once the paint is completely washed off and the water is clear, apply a conditioner balm to the ends. It refills damaged hair with nutrients and speeds up the recovery process.
- After 2-3 minutes. the balm needs to be washed off. It is advisable to let your hair dry naturally without using a hair dryer.
Coloring on long hair
Long hair is dyed in the same way.
You will need more paint, thermal paper and pins.
- Dry hair should be combed thoroughly using a comb with short and fine teeth. You need to comb it gently, slowly moving from the ends to the roots.
- Wear a hairdresser's cape and protective gloves. Mix the coloring composition according to the attached instructions.
- Divide the hairstyle into separate strands 3-4 cm thick and fix them with ponytails. You need to dye the strands in turn, one after the other. Move in the direction from the back of the head to the temporal zones.
- The dyeing process is as follows: taking one strand, move the elastic to half or the lower third. Apply paint in broad strokes from the gum to the ends.
- It is recommended to wrap the strands oiled with paint in foil or thermal paper. This speeds up the chemical reaction and prevents paint spreading. If you plan to make a gradient, then the elastic bands are not removed.
- After applying paint on all strands, you need to wrap your head in a terry towel and wait 30-50 minutes. The exact time depends on the shade of the paint, it is indicated in the attached instructions.
- When the gradient is executed, the insulation and the wrapping are removed after 20 minutes. Then the rubber bands are pushed down. The strands are colored again from the elastic to the ends. But at the same time, a dye of a different shade is used, as a rule, lighter than the first. It is again necessary to warm the hair for 10 minutes.
- After the allotted time has passed, you must thoroughly wash your hair with warm water and shampoo. A moisturizing and nourishing balm should be applied to the ends, and then also washed off after 2-3 minutes. Hair should dry naturally.
Treating Colored Hair to Prolong Color
- It is important to only use shampoos, conditioners and styling products that are designed for post-stain care. Moisturize hair regularly, apply masks, serums, balms and wraps.
- Many masks according to folk recipes contain coloring ingredients: chamomile, honey, turmeric, cinnamon and others. For colored hair, you can use masks based on yarrow, chamomile, nettle.
- Be sure to apply a heat protectant before using a hair dryer or iron. It is recommended that the use of these devices be minimized.
- Protect your hair from sunlight. Fashionable hats, hats and scarves can be worn.
- It's best to always take an umbrella with you. Acid rain occurs in large cities, which negatively affects the condition of the skin and hair.
Balayage technique is a great opportunity to transform dark hair due to the unique play of shades, alternating highlights and shadows. Photos of girls with similar hairstyles look very impressive.
Balayage dyeing allows you to emphasize the beauty of the face, visually increase the volume of hair and even make a woman several years younger.
Author: Abramova Anna
Article design: Mila Friedan
Video about balayage on dark hair
Balayage dyeing on dark hair:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APEPtbAE4Tg