Hair Art

B A L A Y A G E

"Once you go Balay, you don't go back."

ba·lay·age
ˌbalāˈyäZH/


Origin
French, literally ‘sweeping,’ from balayer ‘to sweep.’


noun: balayage
a technique for highlighting the hair in which the dye is painted on in such a way as to create a graduated, natural-looking effect

Grid of nine images showing a woman with blonde wavy hair, wearing a white blazer and black top, looking down.
Back of a woman's head with shoulder-length, wavy hair styled with highlights in shades of brown and blonde.
Long, wavy hair with dark roots and blonde highlights.

Leslie believe’s that "Once you go Balay, you don't go back" and many of her returning clients are proof of that. Her love of painting hair has helped her convert many foil clients over to the "beachy" side and change the health and texture of their hair as well as their maintenance levels. 

Balayage is a french technique and she is often creatively inspired by “french girl” hair, which is effortlessly chic. She is also inspired by children’s and surfers hair that has been beautifully touched by the sun.

Balayage requires a high level of skill which she humbly obtained through numerous extended education classes. She is considered a Balayage Specialist and some say she makes it look easy by diligently performing the technique on almost all of her highlight clients. She considers it healthier on the hair than foil and the health of someone’s hair is always the most important thing to her, even over the color.

Balayage is a technique, not a trend. It is classic and has been around since the 60's-70's beginning in Paris. It is healthier for the hair because you can give the hair a longer break in between appointments (less maintenance). Painted at an angle on the hair instead of weaving out pieces and saturating the entire shaft of hair makes it grow out softer than placing the hair in metal for foil highlights. Leslie always says, "the healthier the hair, the better the color. And if your hair isn’t healthy, the color isn’t going to look as good anyway. Regardless of the trends, healthy hair never goes out of style."

The results of Balayage is sun-kissed natural looking highlights – similar to what nature gives us as children – with softer, less noticeable regrowth lines. The principal idea; less is more while creating soft, natural looks. It is classic and customized for each individual client.

French Balayage is lower maintenance than foil highlights and her Balayage clients typically book every two-six months depending on the hair.

Long wavy hair with blonde highlights on a woman in black lace sleeves standing next to a green plant against a white wall.
Back view of a woman with shoulder-length blonde wavy hair wearing a gray sweater, standing near a white wall with a shadow and green plant leaves visible.
A woman getting Balayage hair color applied at a salon in Nashville, Tn, with a close-up of her hair and a stylist's hand holding a hair extension tape.
Back view of a woman with long, wavy blonde hair wearing a beige knit sweater, standing next to a large green houseplant against a plain white wall.
Leslie Shores is applying Balayage to a client's long hair in a salon. The stylist is wearing a black, floral dress and a black hat. The client is seated with foil in her hair, and the salon has a modern decor with orange flowers in the background.
A woman with shoulder-length wavy hair, half dark and half light with blonde highlights, looking down with a gentle smile, wearing a dark green t-shirt against a plain white wall.
Profile view of a woman with long wavy blonde hair, wearing a white sleeveless top and a gold necklace.
Back of a woman with long, wavy blonde hair wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans.
A woman getting Balayage at a salon, with streaks of white and blonde hair dye applied to her long hair, covered with plastic wrap.
A woman with long, wavy blonde hair with darker roots, wearing a black top and standing next to a green plant indoors.
Close-up of a woman with long, wavy, blonde hair standing next to a green houseplant, facing away from the camera.
Side view of a woman with long wavy blonde hair, wearing a black top, standing near a green leafy plant.
A woman with long wavy hair styled with caramel highlights, wearing a light-colored textured sweater, standing next to a green leafy plant, facing sideways in front of a plain white wall.
A woman with long, wavy blonde hair and a light-colored sweater, looking down with her eyes closed.
Woman sitting on a concrete ledge by the water, gazing into the distance, with Chicago skyline in the background.