Can you balayage without bleach? | Abingdon | Didcot | Wantage | Oxfordshire

The short answer is yes, it is possible to achieve a balayage without bleach. The longer answer is that it’s not always the best option, nor will every client be able to achieve a balayage without bleach so it really requires a considered approach to determining which is the best option (bleach or colour). Your options will be determined by the overall look that you are going for, health of hair and the starting point of your hair. Case in point and as a rule of thumb, colour (tint) cannot lighten colour (tint), so if your hair is already coloured either in full or in part having used a tint, your sole option to balayage your hair is using bleach only. Bleach is highly effective when lightening hair (which we need to do in order to add sun-kissed ends). Balayage without bleach is most effective when hair is virgin where no other hair colours coexist which may negatively influence your new application of balayage. However whilst bleach can still be used effectively on virgin hair, tinting virgin hair in balayage form works best for those who want a subtle, tonal enhancement rather than a dramatic lightening effect. For example, if you have medium brown hair and want caramel colour, a stylist can use hair colour to create a soft balayage.

When balayaging without bleach, your stylist will take advantage of a hair colouring and deposit between foils for a softer and more subtle finish. While this method is gentler than using bleach, it has limitations. Hair colour alone cannot lift the hair significantly, typically only one to two levels lighter than your natural shade so if you seek a more understated result, this is a sound option.