Blonde Balayage is THE low maintenance colour to ask for, which won't compromise on quality. QUE has been a blonde balayage salon for the past 10 years, and we're STILL as obsessed with it now as the day we opened. Read on to find out why!

Why is Que Colour a blonde balayage specialist salon? 

Balayage is the hair trend that changed the way colourists worked forever. Founder of Que Colour, Monique McMahon can be considered a queen of all things hand painting, balayage and freehand application from her years of training in Europe and her master colourist certification. 

Born in France, balayage began as a secret of celebrities, who only trusted the best colourists in Europe to paint their hair. This is where Monique travelled to train in Paris with the iconic hair colourist Christophe Robin who looked after the likes of blondies Kylie Minogue and Claudia Schiffer  “In his Paris salons, they use hand painting rather than foils; that’s where I get a lot of my inspiration. I draw a lot of my motivation from him and his team; healthy hair is very important for them (and the French in general) and they have so much access to hair powders, brands and utensils. Being in Europe itself; just walking the streets there… I can never describe that feeling I get when I am in Europe” 

Monique has passed on her balayage techniques with the QUE team over the last 10 years, with the increasing popularity of blonde balayage, it is now one of our most highly requested looks from our clientele. 

What does blonde balayage look like?

You know that colour you had as a child when you had never touched your hair and wished for your old colour back? That’s the sort of result that balayage can give you. For people with naturally light blonde or mousy brown hair, balayage will make it look naturally kissed by the sun. The exact tone is then up to you as once your colour is rinsed you can finish off the look with the tone you desire. Whether that be a honey blonde, creamy blonde or strawberry blonde. Blonde Balayage travels from the roots seamlessly and often includes a halo around the face for the most natural looking dimension.

How long does balayage last?

Balayage lasts a lot longer than your standard foil colour or regrowth application. This is because the lightener is swept onto the hair leaving a much softer grow out line at the roots. This is great news if you love low maintenance colours. Some clients we will see every 12 weeks for a touch up, some only every 6 months for upkeep. As long as you have a great home hair care routine this is all you need! 

Can you do balayage on short hair?

Whilst it’s more common on Instagram to see balayage on super long hair, balayage is one of our favourite techniques for EVERY hair type. Whether that be curly, short or even a razor sharp bob. If you are thinking about moving from foils to balayage and have shorter hair it is definitely worth investing in a balayage specialist colourist. It takes a more precise sectioning and application technique to give you the best natural result.  

What’s trending next in Blonde Balayage? 

Coming out of winter (and lockdown) in Sydney I am definitely expecting there to be a shift in Blonde Balayage trends and popularity. To transition from a foiled blonde to a balayage blonde you often need a good amount of regrowth (4-6 months) to work with and some clients can’t wait that long normally. This will now be the PERFECT time to transition to a more natural blonde if you have been thinking about it! 

Our balayage salon process

Step 1: Consultation 

Before your colour appointment, we go over no less than 3 photos with clients to determine exactly the end result they are after and what is achievable realistically for them.

Step 2: The Appointment

Once the colour process begins, sections of the hair are painted with clay lightener and we often separate each section with plastic wrap or cotton wool, instead of foils. We use pre cut plastic wrap to keep the lightner from drying out. Once the colour is processed, we then head to the basin and apply a toner if needed or a treatment to finish the hair.  

Step 3: The After-care 

Crucial to any good hair colour is your at home haircare routine to make sure you get the most out of your new hue! We always recommend a sulphate and silicone free shampoo/conditioner to ensure the colour pigment and toner doesn't escape. To see our top hair care recommendations, check out our last article about the best hair care products for your hair type! 

If you are in need of a balayage specialist to take care of your hair our team of hair colour specialists will ensure to deliver stunning results every time. Book a consultation appointment here.