Best Highlights for Covering Grays
Balayage Highlights for Gray Coverage:
A Transformative Hair Journey
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Today, I’m sharing an exciting transformation where I’m doing balayage highlights on a returning client who’s noticed some grays popping up around her hairline and part line. She’s not ready to embrace those grays just yet, so we’re going to cover them and give her the copper highlights of her dreams. Let’s dive into why balayage highlights are the best type of highlights for covering grays and how the process works!
Why Balayage Highlights Are Ideal for Covering Grays
When it comes to covering grays, you traditionally had two options: go dark and stay dark, or highlight your hair to blend with the grays. However, both options can keep you stuck in the salon with little variety. This is where balayage highlights shine! Balayage highlights are low maintenance, allowing you to play with colors without damaging your curls or spending too much time and money on constant salon visits.
Benefits of Balayage Highlights:
Low Maintenance: Balayage highlights are applied away from the scalp, meaning you can go longer without touch-ups.
Variety: Allows for more color options and creativity without worrying about gray hair ruining your look.
Healthy Hair: Less frequent processing means healthier, stronger curls.
The Balayage Process
Step 1: Base Color Application
To start, I mix my client’s base color close to her natural shade using a permanent color that will completely cover her grays. Permanent color is essential for full gray coverage and durability.
Step 2: Mixing the Bleach
Next, I mix blue bleach for her highlights and incorporate Olaplex within the lightener. Olaplex is crucial as it eliminates breakage from chemical services by rebuilding bonds, ensuring her hair remains strong and healthy throughout the coloring process.
Step 3: Applying Balayage Highlights
Balayage, a French word meaning “sweeping,” involves freehand painting the lightener to create soft, natural-looking highlights. This technique allows for a sun-kissed look, blending seamlessly from dark roots to lighter ends. It’s perfect for curly hair as it maintains the hair’s integrity and avoids a patchy appearance.
Step 4: Processing and Toner Application
After applying the highlights, my client processes with foils in her hair. Post-processing, I wash out the bleach and apply a toner to achieve the desired copper color. Toners, which are demi-permanent, refine the highlight color and provide the perfect finishing touch.
Silk Press Styling: Essential Products and Tools Used
Moisture Shampoo
Why I Use It: To hydrate and protect color-treated hair.
Benefits: This shampoo is color and keratin-safe, ensuring that it doesn’t strip away the color while providing necessary hydration. Color-treated hair, especially curly hair, can be very dry, so a moisture-rich shampoo helps maintain its health and vibrancy.
Deep Repair Treatment
Why I Use It: For intense moisture and strengthening after color treatment.
Benefits: This deep conditioner from my curly hair care line combines moisturizing and strengthening properties, infusing the hair with keratin to rebuild its structure while keeping it soft and manageable. It’s perfect for maintaining the health of both color-treated and gray hair.
Steam Treatment
Why I Use It: To enhance the deep conditioning process and provide extra hydration.
Benefits: Steam treatments help open the hair cuticles, allowing the deep conditioner to penetrate more effectively. This is especially beneficial for curly and color-treated hair, which often require more moisture to stay healthy and manageable.
Emergency Miracle Treatment
Why I Use It: As a leave-in conditioner to maintain moisture after washing.
Benefits: A leave-in conditioner is essential for curly hair, which tends to be drier and more prone to tangling. This treatment helps the hair retain moisture longer and prepares it for styling, ensuring it remains soft and hydrated.
Le Deux (Blow Dry Cream)
Why I Use It: To protect the hair from heat and add moisture during blow drying.
Benefits: This cream helps smooth out the hair, reducing the need for excessive heat and keeping the hair hydrated. It ensures a soft, smooth finish after blow drying, preventing the hair from feeling dry and crunchy.
Amethyst Oil
Why I Use It: For heat protection and to add shine and smoothness.
Benefits: This lightweight oil penetrates deep into the hair, providing a silky, shiny finish without weighing it down. It also speeds up drying time and offers excellent heat protection, making it ideal for both blow drying and flat ironing.
Aftercare Tips for Color-Treated Hair
To keep your hair color vibrant and your curls healthy, follow these tips:
Wash Less Frequently: Aim for once a week to retain moisture.
Use Color-Safe Products: Ensure all your shampoos and conditioners are formulated for color-treated hair.
Deep Condition Weekly: Helps keep your hair strong and hydrated.
Avoid Hot Water and Heat Styling: Keep your hair cuticles closed to prevent color fading.
Final Look
Here’s my client’s final look: beautiful, blended copper highlights that complement her natural hair and skin tone. The highlights are away from her scalp, ensuring a graceful grow-out and a natural appearance. She can go 6 months to a year without needing a retouch, making this a perfect low-maintenance option for covering grays.
Balayage highlights offer a versatile and low-maintenance solution for gray coverage, allowing you to play with colors while keeping your hair healthy and strong. If you’re considering balayage for your grays, I hope this guide helps you see the benefits and process involved. For more transformations and tips, check out my other videos and stay tuned for more content. Until next time, bye!