The Difference Between Ombre and Balayage

Understanding Different Hair Colouring Techniques – Afrotherapy Hair Salon, Edmonton

Hair colour has never been so exciting now that we have so many colour techniques and gorgeous shades to choose from. Having said that, it can also be a bit confusing trying to work out whether you should have an ombré, balayage or  a dip dye!  To help you, we’ve put together this guide to explain the differences.

Remember, if you are having a new hair colour or have not had your hair coloured in the past seven months or more, please pop in for a quick skin allergy test at least 48 hours before your appointment.

Balayage for sun-kissed hair

If you’re looking for sun-kissed hair colour that is low maintenance and super cool, ask your hair colour technician about the balayage technique. Balayage means ‘to sweep’ or ‘to paint’ in French. The idea is to create a soft, natural beachy look with less symmetrical, random highlights.

This looks great on thick hair that sits below the shoulders and it can be worn straight or wavy. Balayage grows out beautifully and more naturally than other hair colouring techniques, so you don’t get an obvious regrowth line between appointments.

Ombré gives a more defined line of colour

Ombré is very similar to balayage but gives you a more obvious colour difference with darker roots and hair that is lighter at the ends.

More of a fashion statement than the sun-kissed balayage, it looks particularly good on wavy or curly hair because the line between the two shades is more blended with the curls.

Usually around half to two thirds of your hair will be coloured and there will be a fairly straight line showing the change in colours from dark to light.  

Funky dip-dyed hair for fashionistas

If you want to add a bold colour to your hair without opting for a full head of colour, try a dip-dye hair colour. The colour is added towards the tips of your hair. This is very similar to the ombré but usually only coats the ends of the hair. The intention is to make it look as if your hair has been dipped in paint!   The model (pictured left) shows a very bold two toned hair colour but yours can be much more subtle if you wish and any colour you fancy!

The team at Afrotherapy hair in Edmonton, North London, are experts in hair cutting, styling and colouring afro and multi-textured hair.

If you see a hair colour you’d like to explore, why not come in for a complimentary hair colour consultation so we can talk through the options?