Low-maintenance balayage hair looks that disguise dark roots: 8 inspo pics for your next appointment
Low maintenance but high impact!
A low maintenance high impact trend that continues to earn its spot on our hair inspo boards? Balayage. The freehand hair-painting technique creates seamlessly soft, sun-kissed, natural-looking highlights, often starting darker at the root and getting lighter towards the ends. Plus, it means you can go a lot longer between salon appointments by expertly disguising those dark roots, and who can be mad at that?
“Typically, when you have traditional foils, the regrowth line is really strong, so it makes you feel like you need your hair coloured as soon as you see it,” explains colour director of Cutler Salon & Keast Heather King. “Balayage is a great low-maintenance colour option because it gives minimal lines of regrowth, allowing for a subtle, soft grow out.”
The good news? Variations of the balayage trend work on the full spectrum of hair colours, making it the ideal low-maintenance option for most of us. Even though it’s been doing the rounds for a long while now, new versions of the trend continue to pop up, showing it has firmly established itself in the beauty hall of fame.
“We are seeing lots of trends like the 'no bleach brunette' which involves running lighter colours through the end of darker hair tones with high-lift colour, toners, or deposit-only dyes, and a soft ombré where you’re seeing more of the natural root come through.”
Sounding like a bit of you? Here are eight inspo pics to screenshot for your next appointment.
1. Sun-kissed balayage
Jodie's ombré highlights add dimension and brightness, especially around the face and toward the ends, giving it a sun-kissed, natural finish.
2. High contrast balayage
Even when the balayage is more pronounced, the blend and placement itself is still smooth and subtle. The blonde has a slightly ashy, neutral tone rather than golden warmth, which keeps the overall look modern and understated.
3. Soft brunette balayage
A great option if you count yourself as a brunette but fancy a change. Start with a soft, natural-looking brunette base with warm caramel and honey-blonde highlights seamlessly blended through the mid-lengths and ends.
4. Coily balayage
When highlights are painted through curls and coils, they really help to accentuate the curl pattern. Here, dark brown roots perfectly blend into warm caramel and honey-blonde highlights. Chefs kiss.
5. Warm balayage
A perfect example of the 'no bleach brunette' trend. The dark brunette roots perfectly blend into a warm chestnut brown
6. Bob balayage
Bobs can sometimes look flat if they’re one solid colour. Balayage introduces lighter and darker pieces that create depth, making the hair look fuller and more modern without adding layers.
7. Dirty blonde balayage
For a lived-in, 'just woke up like this', Kate Moss-esque effect, avoid platinum and go for a mix of neutral-beige and golden tones to keep it effortless.
8. Honey balayage
Disguise darker roots with honey tones—golden, slightly amber, and softly warm. A gloss or toner every few months keeps the honey from getting brassy, and moisturising products help maintain shine.
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