I’ve been the proud owner of a bob haircut for the past year and a half. It came after accepting the fact that as much as I love the idea of long, Rapunzel-esque hair, short styles suit my face shape better. However, I’m now starting to feel a bit bored with the colour, which has been a variation of dark brown for as long as I can remember. I feel a familiar aesthetic itch creeping up on me, which has seen me get a tattoo and helix piercing in the last six months alone. After trawling through the social media pages of some of my favourite influencers and celebrities, I’ve well and truly warmed to the idea of going for a soft balayage.
Hailey Bieber proves just how flattering softly blended ends can be on a bob.
What Is Balayage?
Tom Connell, hair art director at Davines, describes the technique as sweeping and painting colour in a way that it won’t look like it has been placed in one static area. "Balayage will show a lighter colour blending from [the] natural colour rather than a solid place, which is achieved [with] traditional highlights.”
A quick Google search for "balayage", and you’ll most likely be served images of those with longer, lighter hair embracing the trend, but it’s important to remember the technique not only works on all hair colours, but textures and lengths too. "It comes down to tailoring it to the individual,” says Connell. "Eye colour, skin tone and how much shadow you want to create around the face should all be taken into account.”
So if like me if you have a lob, bob or pixie cut, I’ve searched high and low for the best short hair balayage inspiration to save for your next trip to the salon.
Short Hair Balayage Inspiration
A perfect example of balayage on short, dark hair. I'm definitely tempted by these copper tones for autumn.
Halle Berry's cropped, caramel curls perfectly complement her skin tone and face shape.
Soft waves and balayage are a match made in heaven, as seen on Taylor Hill.
All-over icy blonde can be hard to maintain. Do it like Saoirse Ronan so that any regrowth will blend in seamlessly.
I love how Tia Ward's darker roots blend out into a subtle caramel balayage.
When it comes to balayage, you can be as subtle or bold as you like.
Balayage is super versatile and looks as good on wavy hair as it does straight.
Say goodbye to monthly root touch-ups by pairing curtain bangs with soft balayage à la Rose Bryne's lob.
Caitlin Miyako demonstrates how low-maintenance a balayage bob and fringe can be.
These blended blonde and copper tones are *chef's kiss*.
If you have naturally dark blonde or light brown hair, running a lighter shade through the ends will really help to lift the look.
Shop the Best Products for Balayage:
"For any bleach service, you need to ensure you’re adding the right amount of moisture and protein," says Connell. "The added benefit of the Heart of Glass range is that it contains natural pigments which control the warm blonde tone over the coming weeks."
For cool-toned balayage, a dedicated silver conditioner will help neutralise any orange tones that might develop in between appointments.
As the balayage technique often involves bleaching the hair, you need to keep it well looked after. This deep-conditioning mask not only strengthens the hair, but also prolongs the life of colour treatments.
This is a great hair mask to run through the ends of the hair if you have cool-toned blonde balayage.
This gorgeously scented hairspray will give your balayage a super-shiny finish.
An all-rounder for every hair type and texture. Not only will this smooth and volumise the hair, it will also help to really nourish coloured and bleached ends.
Next Up: The Stacked Bob Is This Year's Most Unexpected Hair Trend
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