The Professionals at Matrix Explain The Difference Between Balayage & Ombre Hair Color Looks

Here is how to understand the difference
between ombré, balayage and everything in-between, and how to figure
out the best hair color solution for you!

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Balayage Hair Color Looks. Hair Color Credit: @constancerobbins

What is balayage?

In French, balayage means “sweeping.” In the hair color world, balayage highlights
are hand-painted or swept along the surface of the hair. The application
begins away from the roots and gradually becomes heavier as it travels
along the section, culminating in the heaviest application of lightener
or hair color at the ends. Because the hair color or lightener is
concentrated on the surface of each section, the underside remains
darker, which gives the hair a very natural, dimensional effect.

Balayage can be done on any hair color, from blonde
hair to red
hair to brown
hair, although it’s typically not the first choice for super dark
brunettes. It’s beautiful on long hair and on medium-length hair.

The different types of balayage:

Because balayage is a hand-painting technique, the artistry of your hair
stylist comes into play and allows for many variations and beautiful
color compositions. Hair color artists might combine several shades, for
example, for a shimmering, dimensional result.

If your hair is dark, they may opt for a foilayage technique. In
foilayage, instead of allowing the balayage highlights to process in the
air after they are applied, they are wrapped in foil, which provides
more heat, and therefore amplifies the lightening process.

Balayage may also be combined with conventional highlights placed closer
to the face, or with fine, baby-lights placed around the face and
hairline for a complexion-boosting glow.

What is ombré?

In French, ombré means “shade” or “shadow.” In the hair color world, ombré is
a dramatic, two-toned hair color effect that is typically darker at the
top and lighter on the bottom. Often the dark, top section is your
natural hair color shade and the bottom section is lightened with hair
lightener.

An ombré hairstyle can also be any color combination—natural blonde,
brown or red, or something unconventional like pink, blue, green or
purple. It’s versatile, customizable and suitable for most long and
medium hair lengths.

A big plus with ombré hair color is that it’s easy on the budget. You
don’t have to touch it up very often since the top section remains dark.
The overall look of ombré hair color can change as your hair grows out,
which many clients enjoy!

The different types of ombré:

A subtler version of ombré is called sombré. In a sombré hairstyle, the
contrast between the two tones is softer. Another variation is called
color melting. In color melting, two or three hair color shades may be
used on each strand, and each shade is blended with the side of the hair
color brush so that they appear to melt into each other. Like
ombré, color melting can be done with natural-looking hair color shades
or with any of the fun colors of the rainbow!

About Matrix Professional

MATRIX, the leading professional hair care and hair color company in the
United States, is part of Loreal USA's Professional Products Division.
Founded in 1980, MATRIX is committed to the development of the salon
professional and offers a wide range of products including: Biolage,
SOCOLOR, Color Sync, Logics, Light Master, Total Results, Style Link,
Oil Wonders and Vavoom (MATRIX professional products are available only
in salons and can be guaranteed authentic when purchased from authorized
retailers). Visit Matrix.com
for hairstyle and haircolor inspiration as well as MATRIX trends and
tips! Professionals visit www.matrixprofessional.com for
techniques, formulas, salon resources and much more!

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