If you want a subtle and natural-looking blonde hue, ash blonde balayage might be your answer. This trend involves hand-painting color onto each strand for an easy gradient effect that’s effortless and seamless.
Cool-toned ash blonde colors work particularly well on light to medium skin tones, while they also can work wonders on olive or darker complexions, particularly when combined with silver highlights and lowlights.
It’s a natural-looking highlight
Ash blonde balayage offers a gentler and less obvious approach to adding sun-kissed highlights to your hair. With no harsh lines or harsh tones to worry about, ash blonde balayage creates beautiful blends of light and dark shades without harsh lines separating the hues. Plus, its cool shimmering tones work beautifully against all skin tones!
To achieve the ash blonde toner look, your stylist must first lighten your base colour before applying an ash blonde toner. This may take multiple sessions depending on the darkness of your locks; additionally, colour correctors may need to be used on brunettes in order to neutralise any red or orange tones before applying an ash blonde toner.
Create a soft, natural look with ash blonde babylights for added depth and dimension in your hair. Or go bolder with Lucy Boynton’s platinum money piece style of highlights!
It’s versatile
Ash blonde balayage is one of the most versatile blonde hair colors available, complementing any skin tone and styling choice. Wear it as an understated accent in the ends for a sun-kissed effect or use pastel tones for an unexpected spin on this classic shade.
Brown women looking to add dimension and warmth can benefit from adding an ash blonde balayage into their natural color can find this technique beneficial in adding dimension and warmth without the commitment of bleaching their entire head. Your stylist can simply lighten sections throughout your locks before using a toner to reach their desired shade – helping avoid brassiness between salon visits! In addition, your colorist can customize its intensity – making your new hue as light or dark as you desire.
It’s low maintenance
As the balayage technique involves lightening only the surface strands, it requires less maintenance than full head bleaches; however, an update every 8-12 weeks should still be performed in order to keep your color looking vibrant and fresh.
Ash blonde balayage works wonders on all hair textures. Pin straight strands look sleek and refined while wavy locks can be given extra body with pops of ashy brown hues that create a beachy, sun-kissed effect.
Ash blonde shades work particularly well against olive skin tones, while their cool tones look stunning against darker bases. Blondes may opt for icy silver highlights while brunettes can opt for warmer golden or smoky gray hues that suit their complexion better.
As with any hair color, certain products are recommended to help you create the ideal balayage look, such as sulphate-free shampoos and colour-safe conditioners. In order to protect the integrity of your colour from fading over time, limit heat styling sessions as much as possible and invest in an appropriate heat protectant product.
It’s easy to achieve
With some help from your colorist, you can achieve the ash blonde look of your dreams. Discuss different shades and tone options with them until you find what works for you – for instance if going platinum, consider asking your stylist to add warm brown highlights for contrast and dimension.
Balayage is an effective way of adding cool tones into a darker base without going all out silver or gray. Model Barbara Palvin showcases this technique perfectly, her ash blonde balayage featuring shimmering mushroom tones which work seamlessly with her light brunette base.
Consider adding some smoky face-framing highlights into your ash blonde balayage for an edgier, moodier effect. When sporting this hue, use sulphate-free shampoos and colour-safe conditioners as well as heat protectants when styling to minimise damage from hot tools.
