We review: balayage

04 May 2009 09:29 AM | Posted by Editor

Balayage, the popular hairstyle overseas that's making waves in Australia – largely down to Pip Edwards – creates a beautiful, strongly-lightened tip that emphasises texture within a haircut.

We sent bh's Olivia off to the hairdressers to have it done and report back so you know if it's the hairstyle for you or not ...


What: Balayage
Where: Oscar Oscar Salon, Paddington, Sydney
Spend: minimum spend $55 but exact P.O.A.
Treatment time: 60 minutes plus

Upon arriving at the Oscar Oscar salon in rain-drenched Paddington, I was greeted by Stephen, my colourist for the day, and then led to my seat where a cup of hot Aveda herbal tea was delivered. I knew I was going to enjoy this! First up was a beautiful head massage with Aveda essential oils and then Stephen gave me a bit of a run down on balayage so I fully understood what to expect. (Apparently Giselle, Sarah Jessica Parker and many Aussie gals are going mad for it!)

The method was really simple and delightfully unstructured. He sectioned hair using a pattern he had created to ensure the blocks of colour blended well with my layers. The pattern works on any haircut so a similar blended look can be anyone’s. He then pulled pieces of hair at random and coated them in a dark ash blonde. He was careful to explain that this was called ‘feathering’ and it would ensure a blended, more-natural result than foils. I noticed that Stephen didn’t start the colour right from the root of the hair so that regrowth wouldn't be as noticeable – music to my ears!

Instead of wrapping each coloured piece of hair in aluminium foil like traditional foils, he simply propped a piece of cotton wool under the root of each piece to lift it away from the other hair.

As I was left with a magazine while the colour was setting, one of the junior stylists asked if I’d like a complimentary Aveda hand scrub and massage – I gleefully accepted as my paws tend to get very dry and damaged come the winter months. And boy am I glad I did, the Aveda Soothing Aqua Therapy was simply beautiful on my skin.

40 minutes later, after the colour had set, I was led to the basin to have my hair washed and a gloss treatment put in, following this another junior stylist offered me a mini-facial, talk about spoilt!

Next it was time for my mop chop to make the layers ‘flow’ and blend the new colour successfully into my original colour. The end result was natural looking, randomly-placed, large streaks that blended effortlessly into my darker locks. I feel oh-so SJP right now, it's utterly fabulous!

 

– Olivia Mackinnon, bh Online Assistant