How to Care for Balayage Highlights: 7 Essential Tips

Balayage is a beautiful coloring technique that requires a series of care to maintain its spectacular finish. Here we tell you more!

If you’ve just gotten some beautiful balayage highlights, we’ll tell you how to take care of them. This French coloring technique allows you to lighten your hair in a cascade towards the ends, giving it a very natural look.

To do this, bleaching products and dyes are used that require proper maintenance so that the effect achieved is maintained for a longer period of time. That’s why, in this article, we’ve gathered seven tips that are essential to maintain the color and the effect given by this technique.

The 7 tips to take care of balayage highlights that you should follow

Balayage is a technique that requires great skill on behalf of the stylist, since a uniform coloring must be achieved in which no lines separating the different tones are visible, achieving a base color that lightens as it approaches the ends.

This is why it’s necessary to follow some care to maintain that professional effect that has cost so much to achieve. By following these guidelines you will notice that the color, shine, and health of your hair will last longer. So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the tips we have for you.

1. Use special products for dyed or colored hair

No matter how healthy your hair looks, after applying coloring techniques like balayage, you need to use products like shampoo, conditioner, and treatments specifically designed for colored hair.

These products will help maintain the color and vibrancy of your balayage strands because they are made with ingredients that are suitable for balayage. In addition, they are usually free of parabens and sulfates, among other chemicals, which prevent further wear and tear on the hair strands.

To do this, you should establish a cleansing and nourishing routine that goes beyond shampooing. Products such as conditioners are often neglected, but as specialized publications indicate, they are made with re-fattening, surfactant, and nourishing ingredients that make hair easier to handle and reduce damage.

2. Moisturizes your hair very well

Bleaching products and some dyes are prepared on a base of ammonia and peroxide, which are responsible for destroying the color layers of the hair. This produces porosity in each of the strands, causing hair dryness.

This is why it’s important that after a balayage session, you take time to moisturize and nourish the hair. In addition to using special shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair, use moisturizing masks, among other products.

3. Avoid using heat tools

As mentioned, the use of chemical products on the hair causes the strands to dry out and become brittle. In this state, the hair is much more susceptible to damage that can be caused by exposure to high temperatures, such as those produced by flat irons, tongs, hair dryers, and curling irons.

In case you like to wear hairstyles that include the use of these tools, then don’t forget to protect your hair. To do this, there are products such as thermal protectors and repair masks that minimize the side effects of their use.

4. Protect your hair from the sun

Regardless of whether you have had a balayage or not, your hair is always exposed to environmental aggressors, including the sun’s rays. These affect the deep fibers of the strands causing dryness and damage. However, as experts explain, colored hair suffers greater aggression.

Among the effects of the sun on the hair is damage to the amino acids present in the capillary structure that causes brittle hair, discoloration, and even cuticle alterations that could damage the inner layers of the scalp. To avoid damage to your balayage, use sunscreen products or wear hats and scarves, if you like, to avoid direct contact with UV rays.

5. Don’t wash your hair too often

Washing your hair too often can cause the color to fade faster. Try to space washes out and use dry shampoo or styling products between washes to keep your hair fresh and clean.

On the other hand, following the advice to avoid subjecting your hair to high temperatures, don’t bathe your hair with hot water as this can open the hair cuticles and cause the color to fade faster. Rinse your hair with lukewarm or cool water to keep the cuticles closed and prolong the life of the color.

6. Protect balayage strands from swimming pools

Swimming pool water and salt water can damage and discolor balayage strands. Before diving in, wet your hair with clean water and apply a conditioner with a UV protective agent. This will prevent the chlorine and salt from altering the color of the strands, especially if they are blonde, which can end up turning green.

After enjoying the pool or the sea, rinse with plenty of warm water to remove harmful residues. After that, carry out your cleansing routine: shampoo, conditioner, masks, and special treatments for color-treated hair. This will counteract any harmful effects.

7. Don’t forget about touch-ups

Finally, among the balayage care that you should follow to take care of your highlights are touch-ups. While it’s true that following the tips we’ve given you will keep the technique for much longer, every change of look needs to be sustained by touch-ups.

Schedule regular appointments with your stylist to touch up the roots and refresh the color of the highlights according to your expectations.

With this care, your balayage highlights will look great!

When it comes to the balayage effect, bleaching products and dyes are used that require proper maintenance so that the effect achieved is maintained for a longer period of time. That’s why it’s so important to look after this type of treatment.

Now that you know how to take care of your balayage, you can enjoy a professional finish for longer. Don’t forget to follow all the care tips we have listed for you and include those that, according to your particular needs, have been recommended by your trusted stylist.