Why Balayage is the Secret to Laid-Back Summer Style

The dog days of summer are officially here, and with that, many of our guests start to get the “itch” to go lighter. If you’re not blonde, or if you’re simply hesitant to trying highlights for the first time because of the commitment - balayage may be the right fit for you.

Balayage is the perfect option for those wanting to go lighter and brighter for summer without a dramatic all-over-highlights look. Especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors, your hair will naturally lighten in the warmer months, making balayage a great option to avoid going overboard and letting the sun rays complement your locks.

What is Balayage Anyway?

Not so much a trend but rather a technique, instead, balayage is a highlighting style that involves hand-painting lightener onto your hair - opposed to traditional partial or full highlight techniques. A huge advantage of balayage is that it is fully customizable. Based on your hair goals, your stylist may place a few strategic lighter pieces to frame your face, or even some subtle painting of the tips of your hair to create that desirable, lived-in look.

A huge advantage of balayage is combined with root smudging (included in every Mirror Mirror highlight appointment) your hair can grow out and still look great. Less maintenance, less commitment - most guests only need a couple balayage appointments a year or even less for their desired look! 

While balayage is significantly less maintenance than other highlighting techniques, it is of course important to retain the health of your hair as much as possible. Especially if you’re jumping in pools constantly! We recommend clarifying your hair once a month instead of relying on purple shampoo if your hair has a tendency to turn brassy.

Introducing our Balayage Specialist

This summer, many of our stylists have busier books than ever. We’ve grown our Mirror Mirror family with new apprentices as well as experienced talent to better support the busy schedules of our guests and offer more availability. 

For those looking to dip their toes into the world of balayage, we’re so excited to introduce our newest team member and Balayage Specialist, Greg! With 15 years of industry experience and over a decade working in top New York City salons, Greg has honed in his skills to focus on natural-looking balayage and sun-kissed hair perfection. See some of his work over on Instagram and give us a call to book your next appointment today!