Balayage is one of the most-loved looks we do — soft, hand-painted colour that grows out gently and doesn't leave a harsh regrowth line. Because it's painted by hand rather than saturated all over, it's kinder on your hair and lower-maintenance than a full head of foils. But "lower-maintenance" isn't "no-maintenance." A little care at home is what keeps that fresh-from-the-salon glow going for months instead of weeks.
Here are the seven habits we recommend to every client leaving the chair.
1. Give it 48 hours before the first wash
After colouring, the hair cuticle needs time to close and the tone needs time to settle. Try to wait at least 48 to 72 hours before your first proper wash. If you can't bear it, a dry shampoo at the roots will get you through.
2. Wash less often
Every wash gently fades colour and strips natural oils. Stretching your washes to two or three times a week keeps tone truer for longer — and your hair will thank you for it. A good dry shampoo between washes is your best friend.
3. Switch to a colour-safe, sulphate-free shampoo
Sulphates are the strong detergents that make shampoo foam up — and they're also very good at pulling colour out. A sulphate-free, colour-safe shampoo cleans gently and helps your balayage hold its tone and shine. We're always happy to recommend one that suits your hair.
4. Turn the temperature down
Very hot water opens the cuticle and lets colour escape faster. Wash and rinse in cooler water where you can, and finish with a cool rinse — it helps seal the cuticle and boosts shine.
5. Use a toning shampoo (if you're blonde)
Lightened blondes can drift warm or brassy over time. A purple toning shampoo, used roughly once a week, neutralises those yellow tones and keeps your blonde looking cool and expensive. Don't overdo it, though — once a week is plenty for most people.
Lightened hair is thirstier hair. The single biggest thing you can do for balayage is keep it hydrated.
6. Feed it with a weekly mask
Because the lightened sections are more porous, they lose moisture faster. A weekly hydrating or bond-building treatment restores softness, reduces breakage and keeps your ends looking healthy rather than straw-like. Leave it on for the full time on the tube — the extra few minutes really do matter.
7. Protect it from heat, sun and chlorine
Always use a heat protectant before straighteners or a hairdryer, and keep the heat setting moderate. In summer, UV and chlorine can shift your tone and dry out the ends — a hat, or a protective spray, goes a long way. Wetting your hair with clean water before a swim helps it soak up less pool water.
The easiest tip of all: book a gloss
Between full appointments, a quick toner or gloss at the salon refreshes your tone and shine in under an hour, without lightening again. Most clients find a gloss every 8 to 12 weeks — alongside a trim to keep the ends tidy — keeps their balayage looking brand new for far longer than colour alone.
Thinking about balayage, or want to refresh what you have? We'll talk you through the right option for your hair.