Everyone who knows me knows I am obsessed with my hair. I’ve tried just about every colour going (even black box-dye from those emo days) But now that I’ve dabbled in balayage, I think I’ve finally found a look that suits me.
The balayage technique is a rooty approach to hair colouring, whereby colour is painted onto the lengths of hair. And better yet, the look suits almost everyone, making it one of the most sought after (and most pinned) hairstyles going. I headed down to London’s Soho to visit the seriously lush Salon 64 team for a hair make-over.
As soon as I meet celeb colourist April Pattara I know I’m in seriously good hands. Here’s what went down
“The beauty of balayage is that it’s bespoke to the client,” says April. “It can be tailored to what you want and need. It should be a sweeping technique, void of that harsh, dip dye look. Lived in, and low maintenance are your buzz words,” she says.
But just because balayage is extremely versatile, it’s definitely not a case of one look suits all.
“Consider things like skin tone. For the most natural look, darker tones should gravitate towards caramels, where lighter colours can look towards silvers and ash. “
Wanna sit comfortably in the middle?
“Then consider a creamy blonde or beige.” A good hairstylist should help you here, but its defs worth doing the research first so you have at least a bit of an idea of what to expect. “You want to think dimension without the upkeep,” says April, “And that’s why everyone loves balayage.”
With all this taken into consideration, I’ve opted for cooler, ashier tones. So after a couple of hours sitting supping on cocktails (hard work) flicking through Salon 64’s Instagram (hello Pixie Lott, Laura Whitmore and Jodie Kidd) and flicking through mags (none as good as heat) it’s time to get my hair washed.
And once blow-drying and styling is done (head to heats Instagram for a lush Cloud Nine styling tutorial with salon director Ricky) the end results are nothing short of celeb worthy.
But how can I upkeep my new lush colour at home? “Toning shampoos,” says April. “Keep in mind that bluer shades neturalise orange tones, while violets neutralise yellow, so be aware of this when considering the shade you’d like."
So there we have it, celeb worthy hair courtesy of Salon 64 💁🏼.
Follow Salon 64 on Instagram @salon64london.