10 Ways to Perfect a Balayage

Balayage is extremely popular now because everyone wants low maintenance lived-in color that delivers a sun-kissed look without having to visit the salon too often.  Jessica Scott Santo, owner of Jessica Scott Hair and social media influencer, specializes in natural-looking Balayage, and she has 10 tips for perfecting it.

“Hair painting is becoming one of the most highly requested services in the salon, I teach classes on everything from basic to advanced Balayage, and these are the 10 things I teach colorists that are crucial for pulling off a seamless service and avoiding spotty results,” explains Santo.

10 Ways to Perfect a Balayage

1. Avoid making lightener too runny – Go for the consistency of cream cheese.
2. Clean sectioning – “If you paint a knot, you’re gonna get a SPOT!”
3. Keep a light hand – Don’t push product into the hair shaft. In French, Balayage means “to sweep,” not “to push.”
4. Blend well – If coating the back side of a section, make sure it’s well blended!
5. Even consistency from TOP to BOTTOM – If not, the hair will lift unevenly, and if hair is peaking out of the lightener, it won’t lift well.
6. Use a hard brush – Avoid the top of it, just use the body or flat side to prevent pushing the product down into the hair shaft, keep the brush parallel to the hair.   And, never touch the bristles to the hair unless skimming the hair, once bristles are felt, it starts to wipe product off of the hair.
7. Keep brush clean – Never let a Balayage brush live in a bowl.
8. TENSION, TENSION, TENSION – If that section doesn’t have good tension, the lightener will drive into the hair shaft, or be pushed there, instead of laying on top of the hair.
9. Position – Never paint in “toward” the body, especially with a very thick lightener, it’s easier to have a heavy hand, versus standing parallel to the hair (elbow and pinky out) and letting the product do the work!
10. Use insulation – It helps incubate, but also keeps sectioning clean

Jessica Scott Santo is an influencer and owner of Jessica Scott Hair (PA).  With over a decade of experience, she is known for her natural-looking Balayage on beautiful long hair.  She is a Balayage and Foil Design Specialist serving as a Schwarzkopf Professional Ambassador and Sunlights Balayage Educator.  She is also a DesignMe.Artist and certified in Hair Talk and Great Lengths Extensions, as well as Brazilian Blowout. She was named “Best Hairstylist in the Lehigh Valley” (2018) for Style Magazine, and recognized as a Modern Salon’s Top 100, and BTCTeam 3X Finalist.  Scott believes that encouraging and celebrating the accomplishments of others on social media leads to personal growth and success.  Website: www.jessicascotthair.com; Instagram: @jessicascotthair.