Balayage on short hair is an alternative to the popular ombre color melt on longer hair. To give your shorter hair depth and dimension, opt for balayage highlights. The difference between balayage and ombre is that balayage is more of a technique, while ombre is more of a style.
The balayage technique, from the French word “sweeping,” is the free-form painting to change the color of your hair strand. It’s the opposite of the old method of foil highlights.
An important thing to note is that your colorist’s level of expertise is a high priority, as precisely hand-painted highlights are needed to work with the short length.
Start with this popular trend by consulting an expert about which kind of tones would best suit you and bring out the beautiful texture and dimension you prefer in your hair. You will love your new short balayage hairstyle.
Make the most of your look with one of these stunning and best balayage short hair colors!
#1: Short Bob Platinum Blonde Balayage
A platinum balayage creates a dirty metallic and ashy ombre effect, a unique and high-fashion hairstyle! It’s perfect for a casual and business look and will suit any complexion. Getting your hair to a short blonde balayage takes great planning because your hair is shorter, and there is less to work with. A colorist will measure your hair to make sure the colors streak perfectly.
#2: Blonde Balayage with Very Dark Roots
A blonde balayage with very dark roots is a must-try if you’re planning on dyeing your hair. If you like this look and don’t currently have a short cut, remember to ask your stylist to cut your hair first to ensure that the color is placed properly.
#3: Balayage Choppy Bob
A balayage choppy bob is a sharp yet soft look. The contrast of a bob’s blunt edges with the softness of a balayage creates a beautiful balance that women love. When opting for this crop, be prepared to schedule a few maintenance appointments to keep your style fresh.
#4: Sleek Balayage Bob with Dark Roots
Dark roots allow your hairdo to look lived-in and natural, while the tonal changes give it a fresh feel. With little area for transition, this style can be high maintenance with alternating cut and color salon visits.
#5: Pink Balayage on Short Hair
Rock a pink balayage on your short hair for an edgy and fun style. A cool shade of pink will tone the blonde as it fades, so it looks posh at any point. Remember that a light pink color will only show up on very blonde hair, so make sure you’re prepared for a longer blonde session.
#6: Champagne Blonde Balayage on a Long Pixie
Champagne blonde balayage on a long pixie looks incredibly chic. The style is ready-made and stunning as long as you maintain the color and cut routine. It’s best for straight texture and thick to medium densities. Consider the investment and maintenance during your consultation.
#7: Ice Blonde Balayage Highlights on a Soft Wavy Blonde Bob
Are you tired of long hair? Switch to a fun and new sassy icy and metallic blonde balayage hair on a short cut. It looks cool to leave in your natural dark blonde roots. This balayage short blonde hair offers an edgy and interesting dimensional style.
#8: Dimensional Grey Balayage Highlights
Some layers on an amazing short bob balayage work so well with the grey-silver on black hair. The two neutrals create a deep dimension for your look. It’s one of the low-maintenance and new hair color ideas for short hair highlights you should try. Balayage short hairstyles like this are suitable for casual, and business looks.
#9: Dark Blonde Balayage on Dark Brown Hair
Play with a dark blonde balayage on your dark brown hair for a super chic appearance. The dark roots help to carry out warm hues to boost the contrast of hues and the rich color melt effect. The result looks pretty awesome on a shoulder-length haircut. Finishing it off with waves is a great way to achieve a beachy blonde balayage bob style.
#10: Unique Midnight Blue Balayage
What could be cooler and edgier than an A-line cut painted with an awesome blue balayage on natural jet black hair? This short balayage hair color delights your eyes with its beauty and uniqueness.
#11: Bold Short Auburn Balayage Hair
A nicely blended auburn/copper balayage with short hair is just what you need for this season. If you prefer a more vibrant result, hints of an amber shade will do. This hair color for short hair looks magnificent on light waves!
#12: Long Bob with Crimson Red Balayage
Ask for a long bob and go solid crimson with these reddish balayage highlights on your dark hair for a cool vampire vibe! Not much upkeep is needed compared to going all out on this balayage on short hair!
#13: Stunning Short Blonde Balayage Highlights and Lowlights
Deepen your natural color by getting lowlights balayage for that wonderful, stunning dimension on short hair! It’s a nice transition from a dark to a lighter color of locks. Go bolder and consider balayage highlights and lowlights for your short hair!
#14: Short Razor Cut with a Light Ash Brown Balayage
Spice up your short razor cut with a light ash brown balayage—the outcome will be dashing! The razor cut offers more detailed hair ends that match your color. Both the haircut and the shade give your tresses a more textured effect. Thus, choose this brown balayage short hair if you have fine and thin locks.
#15: Layered Bob with Bangs with a Golden Brown Balayage
An effortless way to brighten your skin and frame your face has vibrant gold balayage highlights around your wavy tresses! Short hair color ideas like this are an exquisite choice for women of all ages. Adding layers to this cut will make it defined and textured at the same time.
#16: Chin-Length Bronde Balayage Highlights
Chin-length bronde balayage highlights with a dark root are a chic addition to your short haircut. It’s recommended for ladies who like to try a new hair color for the first time. A short hair balayage is an ideal technique to go lighter without damaging your tresses. Pair it with beachy waves for the best outcome.
It also has dimensional highlights with a brunette and blonde shades throughout the ends. This is a great low-maintenance, lived-in color for women willing to spend time in the salon and at home to maintain the bronde hues!
#17: Short Blunt Cut with Honey Blonde Balayage Highlights
Beachy and sharp – this edgy neck-length honey blonde balayage short hair bob is a beauty! That sun-kissed finish works on ladies with any skin complexion!
#18: Neck-Length Balayage for Short Straight Hair
A neck-length balayage for short straight hair offers a sleek and fuller finish. If you have thicker locks, this is an excellent choice. The balayage straight hair blend brings out depth and dimension. Be one of those stunning blondes—wear it and shine daily!
#19: Cute Long Pixie with Mocha Balayage Highlights
A long pixie with mocha balayage highlights offers an exciting and low-maintenance look. Most of the time, this pixie would only require texture when styling. For a piece-y definition, use a texturizing spray. You can pull off this short haircut balayage the best if you have a pale skin tone.
#20: Brunette A-Line Bob with Face-Framing Highlights
A short A-line hair with face-framing balayage is a must-have if you want to keep the maintenance low with your locks. An easy-breezy, angled, layered, wavy cut appears gorgeous and brightening when painted with subtle highlights, especially near your face.
#21: Choppy Bob with Yummy Caramel Balayage Highlights
Consider trying a concave choppy bob with a lived-in caramel blonde balayage color. Keep your front strands lighter to brighten up your face. The cut and the caramel balayage color are for the low-maintenance woman! Concave bobs with choppy layers on curly hair can also be amazing.
#22: Cool Dark Blonde to Light Blonde Balayage Ombre
A dark blonde to light blonde balayage ombre adds texture and dimension to your locks. It may suit most haircuts, but it does better if you have fine short hair. This balayage idea combines warm and cool tones to brighten up brunette hair. It’s a stylish option to highlight the layers of bob hairstyles for women.
#23: Gorgeous Light Brown Balayage Bob
A textured chin-length bob paired with a side part and a dimensional lighter brunette balayage work perfectly straight or curly! This balayage short brown hair is great for women who see grays pop up but aren’t ready to commit to a permanent color. The light brown babylights and dimensional color can disguise your new grays. Meanwhile, the short sassy length with no fringe can elongate a square or heart face shape.
#24: Short Shaggy Rose Gold Balayage
Here comes a rose gold balayage on a short shaggy bob cut that offers a feminine style. This balayage shaggy hairstyle for short-length hair is optimum for women with natural brown hair color who have fair and pale skin tones. If you have thin tresses, add a dark or shadow root as they create fullness.
#25: Jaw-Length Maroon Hair with Subtle Red Balayage Highlights
The red balayage highlights on this cute maroon asymmetrical bob create a rich raspberry color and a sassy look. It’s perfect for ladies who always want funky and unique hair colors while maintaining acceptable work hair color. This balayage short hair color is a showstopper for shine and pushing the edge just enough to feel comfortably bold.
The haircut, on the other hand, is a very wearable short haircut for fine-haired women, especially because it has a full baseline! Change the length depending on if you have a strong or soft jaw, and again, voila! Color like this can’t be washed often, so it’s more for women who are into no-poo routines or wash 2-3 times a week.
#26: Short and Messy Balayage Brown Bob
A short and messy balayage brown bob is such an inspiration! The waves and highlights come together very well. Balayage for short hair requires more emphasis. So, style your tresses with waves to boost your texture. Finish it off with hairspray for a longer-lasting effect.
#27: Lob Cut with Blonde Balayage Highlights on Dark Hair
If you crave a new style, get a lob cut with blonde balayage highlights on your dark hair. A few blonde highlights can add freshness to any type of hair and cut. The balayage on this short chop creates a fuller-looking finish. Waves on bobs can also bring out a movement that ladies with fine hair need.
#28: Sassy Angled Bob Balayage for Very Short Hair
A balayage short angled hairstyle is full, textured, and sassy! The best things about a short hairstyle with balayage are the lived-in tones, the low-maintenance color, and the fact that you can have so much volume with little to no product! For ladies wanting this look, I recommend getting texture sprays such as sea salt or dry shampoo to give you that grit for great volume and bounce. Any face shape is ideal for this short hair balayage. Wearing an angled cut is a perfect way to remove extra bulk from your thick hair. It’s easy and fun to throw some beach waves in it, too!
#29: Amazing Ear-Length Silver Balayage
An ear-length silver balayage short hair with bangs can be considered balayage pixie inspiration. The shades aren’t the common pairing, and that makes it remarkable! This white blonde balayage is one that you need to style! Put in a little mousse to give it some body and grit.
#30: Golden Blonde Balayage for Short Curly Hair
This short balayage ‘do is a full head of warm and golden dimensional painted highlights and a stacked curly bob with bangs. If you want this short balayaged hair, book a full balayage highlight and curl shaping. Find a stylist who only uses balayage on short hair because it’s more gentle on your hair than foil highlights. It doesn’t conduct heat as foil does, which can cause your hair to overprocess and damages your curls. The result is a dimensional balayage highlight with many tones in one process.
Since balayage (a true balayage, not foils used to try and create a dimensional look) doesn’t use foil to conduct heat, you will only be guaranteed a blonde result if you have never processed your hair and have naturally blonde hair. Sometimes it takes multiple sessions to get to blonde, especially if you have naturally dark hair.
#31: Edgy Pixie Cut with a Purple Balayage
Short dark hair with balayage produces a pixie cut that complements an edgy vibe. This fits the bill for ladies who want to carry out a strong impression. This balayage short hair features long bangs, neat sides, and a nape. If your hair on top is tousled with a blow dryer, the style helps achieve greater density and volume. This is one of the excellent short haircuts for women with thin locks.
#32: Stunning Ash Blonde Balayage Highlights
This is a series of mushroom brown ash blonde balayage. If you want it more silvery than brown, play with formulating with similar tones. The money piece trend is in, and women are very vocal about wanting styles with money pieces.
Be mindful that these balayage highlights may not be achieved in one session. Be prepared to be there for about 4-5 hours, especially if you have darker hair. Rushing through this is the worst thing you can have your hairstylist do. It’s a high-maintenance color, so investing in products is a must. Try Isles Formula Shampoo, Conditioner, and their Finishing Serum. It enhances the color; you can go a week without washing it.
#33: Delicious Caramel and Chocolate Balayage
If it’s your first time getting highlights, consider using a balayage on your shorter hair for a low-maintenance color with soft chocolate brown and caramel honey tones. Adding the highlights will accent your cut, so opt for a short, slight A-line bob with some soft layering for movement.
This is a great example of how to balayage short hair, as almost any girl can wear even taking it a little shorter or longer. It has an easy, effortless style with a shape that works for most hair types with styling options. With a blowout balm, you can do a smooth blowout. Then the next morning, you can wand some loose waves with a little dry texture spray or scrunch some mousse in for a natural wave.