Balayage on straight hair is technique of freehand painting that blends two colors to create a natural-looking color. Balayage blending works best on straighter, clean hair. Instead of highlighting color into the hair, balayage blends colors throughout the lengths of hair. This gives straight hair dimension.
It’s all about the expertise of your stylist, as doing balayage on straight hair means showing off a seamless transition from one tone to the other. When done right, the result is an amazing color combination that makes your strands look perfectly smooth and soft.
One major reason why this hairstyle’s a total must-have is the surprisingly low maintenance! No need to worry about grow-outs! A balayage can work naturally with your roots and look intentional even if your tresses grow.
You’ve seen this look on celebrities Selena Gomez, Beyonce, and Jessica Alba as they parade they’re stunning highlighted straight locks on red carpets! Now, it’s your time to get into the spotlight!
If you’re looking to add a burst of life into your straight strands, you’ve come to the right place. Here is an updated list of only the trendiest balayage straight hair looks!
#1: Brown to Blonde Balayage Ombre
The tricky part here is getting all those varied brown and blonde colors and making it seem like they’re just one color. Good thing there’s a professional for that.
#2: Messy Straight Hair with Dark Roots
If you have messy straight hair with dark roots, a soft textured bob might be your best style. Add deeper roots with a high-contrast blonde on the ends for maximum dimension. My favorite way to create contrast is a foilayage for a balayage session. You could ask for brightness around the face frame to stay bright. We call this a money piece.
#3: Balayage Deep Red Bob
A balayage deep red bob is a unique and modern look. If you’re looking for something different, this could be the perfect choice for you! Ask for highlights throughout the top layer of your hair using balayage techniques. A helpful way to finish off the look is a deep side part that creates an interesting zigzag shape. I recommend using Redken Color Extend Blondage Conditioner to keep your color vibrant.
#4: Air Touch Straight Balayage
If you are looking to warm up your blonde balayage, consider softening your base color. This is a great way to add warmth and brighten up your features. Pay attention to how the new base adds contrast that blends with golden/neutral blonde. Consider a color melt to make your blend more seamless.
#5: Amazing Blonde Balayage with Dark Roots
An amazing blonde balayage with dark roots is a perfect low-maintenance color! Balayage techniques are perfect for a softer grow-out. So, you have more time in between salon visits. I suggest maintaining your blonde with purple shampoo and toning masks to keep it bright.
#6: Blonde Balayage Highlights
It takes the right mix of colors and coloring techniques to create a flawless masterpiece like this. Good thing you can easily ask your stylist about this and come out of the salon looking like perfection.
#7: Waist-Length Straight Hair with Balayage
Getting a balayage on straight, waist-length hair displays more movement than hair that’s shorter.
To avoid long hair looking heavy add a balayage to create a seamless illusion of movement and brightness through the hair.
#8: Beautiful Ashy Brown-Blonde Balayage
If you’re looking for a dimensional color, ask your stylist for balayage with ash blonde and brown. This color will have a blended root, allowing for a natural grow out. And for allowing you to go longer in between your salon appointments. The best way to keep your color ashy is to use purple shampoo at home. This will act as a toner canceling out any warm tones in between your appointments. Try to avoid washing your hair more than 2-3 times a week as toners will fade with each wash.
#9: Sleek Long Bob with Balayage
If you’re opting for a new look and have fine hair, this is a perfect fit. My advice is to cut the perimeter blunt and add long layers for movement. You can do this while maintaining thickness. Add playful lightness around your face to brighten your look that can be worn sleek and curly.
#10: Very Sleek Long Blonde Hair
Try this very sleek long blonde hair if you want a simple but elegant look. One of the best products to use to wear your hair straight is a shine serum or spray. You will have that sleek glass-like finish that you will be obsessed with!
#11: Cappuccino Balayage on Mid-Length Hair
When it comes to color on straighter tresses, a cappuccino balayage on mid-length hair is the way to go. This softer color transition looks more natural on straight locks and doesn’t require added texture or styling to make it blend.
#12: Medium-Length Balayage
See this two-toned flowy curtain draped majestically on your head. What a sight!
#13: Straight Dark Brown
With this kind of hair, you might be scouted for a shampoo commercial!
#14: Bronde Balayage
If you favor a natural effortless looking hair color, try a bronde balayage. This color is extremely flattering on most skin tones and is very low-maintenance for most women. Not going extremely blonde saves the integrity of your hair and your budget.
#15: Golden Blonde
Milky caramel balayage has never looked this hot!
#16: Caramel Balayage
The combination of blonde and brown hues creates a kind of dimension that the straight hair needs.
#17: Ash Blonde
This balayage straight hair creation perfectly leads to a healthy grow out. Plus, the milk cutaway from the coffee-colored roots is to die for.
#18: Rose Gold
A new trend that is definitely here to last! Try a delicate sweep of muted pink on your hair and bring your crowning glory to life.
#19: Light Brown Balayage
One would think that it’s just a simple dye job but the balayage makes it so exquisite and unique.
#20: Short Black Hair
A classic that never lets a lady down. Go for the trusty black bob and see what you can do with such a versatile hairstyle.
#21: Champagne Blonde
Pop the bottle open and let’s celebrate this grand hair color! Just the right amount of blonde and brown for this bubbly look.
#22: Honey Blonde on Short Hair
A lot may be going on for this colored bob but the colors and the cut harmonize wonderfully, creating a flattering effect.
#23: Brown Balayage
Effortless transitions on black and brown colors for the hair. The cut and length bring out the blend of the colors.
#24: Straight Dark Hair
Dark hues like black, brown, and burgundy can be wonderfully blended to give little flashes of each color every time the light strikes your locks.
#25: Balayage on Asian Hair
This look is a mix of teal and blue highlights on Asian hair. Teal is a popular color. I think everyone has a certain color they really vibe with, and this vibrant yet calming teal and blue shade can definitely reflect your soul’s colors. My favorite thing about this style is the juxtaposition that it creates. If you’re naturally a very calm and introverted person, you can still comfortable in this color, which is definitely more eye-catching and noticeable.
The vibrancy of the color will fade. If you don’t want to come back into the salon every 3 months to refresh the color, you will have to get a direct dye either from Sally’s Beauty or your local drugstore ie. London Drugs/Shoppers to refresh your own color. Some brands that have these type of colors are Punky Colors, Pulp Riot, Joico Intensity or Splat.
#26: Ash Brown
Q&A with style creator, Nina Purton
Freelance Stylist @ Dolce Hair & Beauty in Victoria, Australia
How would you describe this look?
This particular balayage took some time and technique to achieve. First, I pre-lightened the hair with a full head of foils, as the client already had a dark balayage, to begin with. The client wanted a lighter look. A level 5 natural was used on the roots of the hair then blended with 10.1 to achieve the ash blonde.
After blow-drying the hair straight, I finished with a hair straightener with a trim on the ends of the client’s hair to complete this look.
Any advice for someone considering it?
It’s a subtle highlighting technique that isn’t as drastic as changing your hair color, so it doesn’t matter whether you have brown, blonde, or red hair. Also, if you’re looking for highlights that are as low maintenance as you can get then the balayage is for you. As the highlights grow out, it’ll look totally intentional.
Keep in mind that a balayage requires lightening and that means you will need your hair bleached. The darker the starting color, the more work it will take to achieve your desired look. As with any dye job, there are certain things you can do to help maintain your color. One of the best things you can do is use good quality products that are sulfate-free. It is also important to shower in lukewarm water, as hot water can strip essential oils leaving your hair dry.
This might be the most important thing for balayage hair – you’ll want to wash it once a week with purple shampoo and conditioner made just for ash blondes. No matter what color your root is, this stuff helps maintain your ashy toner on your balayage.
#27: Long Dark Red Balayage
Q&A with style creator, Lindsey Cook
Cosmetologist @ Douglas J. Aveda Institute in East Lansing. MI
How would you describe this look?
This look has a fiery violet wine vibe. Our goal was to have lots of dimensions yet intense color. She just wants a sassy look and feels to her hair. She has a face frame that she loves with her face shape and that looks fabulous with lots of curls. Lots of layers were a must as well. My favorite part is the color we achieved using Aveda color. A lot of people think Aveda is hard to use for intense looks, but it can be done!
Any advice for someone considering it?
Make sure your hair can handle lightening enough to build up being intense. Use lots of protein treatments and trims to keep it looking fresh overall. I always inform intense hair color lovers to not over shampoo to keep color bright. Always have fun with your hair!
#28: Black Balayage
Q&A with style creator, Elyse Bistodeau-Smith
Hairstylist @ Absolute Spa in Great Falls, MT
How would you describe this look?
It is a deep multidimensional brunette balayage on a long bob. My favorite thing is the subtlety to it. It’s definitely got different tones and levels to it, even though there isn’t a lot of contrast. Although, it’s still eye-catching. The best part is that it complements the long bob very well too, but I think it would be a good option for any length.
Any advice for someone considering it?
It would depend on their hair to start with. This client had dark long hair, and she’s petite with an oval-shaped face. She’s incredibly low maintenance (I’d like to add that I did a demi-permanent black color as the lowlight that I painted through.), so this was an easy choice for her! Also, she’s letting it grow out a little bit now, so it’s just an easy even longer bob. The grow-out is easy and so cute at every step.
As far as styling goes, I used a blow-out cream through her ends, a root lifter on her roots, and a Denman brush for the blow dry. Then, I sprayed it with a heat spray and lightly straightened the ends with low heat. Although, she could have gotten away with just the blowout.