32 Marvelous Balayage Styles For Straight Hair
Take the style appeal of dull, plain hair up a notch with this pretty coloring technique.
Julien Farel is a celebrity hairstylist who has worked with many famous celebrities, including Kate Moss, Salma Hayek, Greta Gerwig, Catherine Deneuve, and Richard Gere. He began his hairstyling career 35 years back in 1987 in Lyon, France, and later relocated to New York City to run the Jacques Dessange New York Training School on Park Avenue.
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Experience: 8 yearsArshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.
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Experience: 7 yearsMadhumati is an associate editor with seven years of professional experience. She has previously worked as an editor, proofreader, and a writer with various organizations, helping her navigate through the various facets of content creation and refinement with ease.
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Experience: 2.5 yearsBhumika is a content writer with 2.5 years of expertise in crafting articles across diverse genres. She graduated from the University of Delhi and completed her post-graduation from Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi.
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The balayage hair coloring technique has captured many hair coloring fiends’ mind, body, and heart! While it looks stunning on any hair type, a balayage on straight hair is *chef’s kiss*! This is why we scoured the internet to find the best balayage straight hair looks for you! But first, let’s learn a bit more about balayage. In this hair coloring technique, you paint highlights onto the hair with your hand in sweeping movements to have a natural flow. With this technique you can create a more blended look with subtle highlights and lowlights. The balayage adds color, depth, and dimension on different levels of your straight hair. It makes straight hair look thicker and more voluminous. It also accentuates your hair type and texture. And you don’t have to stick to one color only with the balayage; you can experiment with many shades! The famed ombre is done using the balayage technique. So scroll down, and check out some inspiring balayage looks on straight hair!
We advise you to get a balayage done professionally because it takes some practice to perfect. But if you would like to try it out for yourself, keep reading to find a balayage tutorial!
Before You Get Started- Research your hair professional before getting a balayage on straight hair. The balayage effect shows a seamless melt of hues which look great on wavy and curly hair. But for straight hair, the stylist needs to be skilled to execute a smooth transition.
- Plan the color, technique, and placement with your stylist beforehand.
- A balayage can be done at home but it is a messy process and requires a lot of practice to perfect.
- If your DIY balayage kit includes bleach, handle it carefully. Strictly follow the durations mentioned in the instructions of your kit.
In This Article
How To Balayage Your Hair At Home
A balayage is a highly versatile hair coloring technique that can be customized to your preference. The best thing about it is that it ages well compared to other techniques.
Celebrity hairstylist, Julien Farel says, “A balayage has a softer grow-out whereas the foiling technique has a more pronounced line of demarcation better suited for streaks and requires touch-ups more often. Not saying that one is better than the other, it just depends on the individual’s needs.”
This implies, once you successfully do your balayage, you can relax for about 3-4 months before you need a touch-up. Here are the basics of doing a balayage yourself.
What You Need
- An old towel
- Gloves
- Petroleum jelly
- Hair sectioning clips
- Paddle brush
- Balayage color kit
- Bowl
- Hair coloring brush
What To Do
- Put your gloves on and apply a layer of petroleum jelly all along your hairline and ears to prevent your skin from getting stained by the hair color.
- Drape an old towel around your shoulders to protect your clothes from staining.
- Mix and prepare the hair color in a bowl following the instructions given on the balayage kit.
- Section away and clip the top half of your hair.
- Start applying hair color on the bottom part of your hair in sections by streaking it on from the mid-lengths to the bottom of your hair.
- Concentrate more color at the ends and sparingly streak the higher parts of each section.
- Unclip the top half of your hair and repeat the coloring process.
- Once you’re done applying the hair color with the coloring brush, run the paddle brush through your hair to spread it more evenly.
- Leave the color on for the amount of time indicated on the box.
- Wash off the color and shampoo and condition your hair.
And you’re done! Now that you’ve perfected your balayage, let’s look at all the gorgeous ways that you can style it.
Key Takeaways
- Balayage provides a seamless gradient effect, keeping roots dark and gradually lightening toward the ends.
- It adds depth and dimension to straight hair, giving the illusion of thickness and volume.
- Opt for styles like vanilla blonde or ash-blonde for a natural yet radiant look with minimal upkeep.
- The creative mixes, like mauve and gray, or lilac and ash, elevate the sophistication of dark brown hair.
32 Breathtaking Balayage Styles For Straight Hair
If you are rocking straight hair and looking to add some dimension and flair, balayage is the way to go. These balayage hair color ideas are all about that effortless blend of colors, giving your locks a fresh, sun-kissed vibe. Get ready to be inspired by some seriously stunning styles!
1. Classy Ash
Following the path of the original balayage technique, the roots remain the same dark color while it keeps on getting lighter as it reaches the ends. The lighter ashy tones with a little bit of gray provide more depth and highlight the length of your straight hair, be it long or short.
2. Executive Mauve
This is an unusual combination of purple, brown, and gray. Although funky, it provides the complexity needed to lift simple dark brown hair to something spectacular.
3. Lilac Love
A beautiful and elegant combination of ash and lilac highlights the darker roots of the hair. A perfect choice for those who want to stick close to the classic ash-blonde balayage with a splash of color. This color is for you ladies who love a bit of edge while also enjoying the finer things in life.
4. Dijon Darling
A rich and luxurious blend of dijon and flaxen roots gives it a chic twist. This is an excellent choice for you if you want to venture into the world of balayage while also keeping it discreet.
5. Berry Blast
Are you looking for the perfect combination of pink and purple? This is the perfect choice for you. Peekaboo purple highlights are great with ash pink balayage. You can pull off the role of a playful yet classy individual with this gradient look.
6. Rose Gold Champagne
Do you prefer a rose gold color over plain black or silver? Worry not, rose gold pairs well with a champagne base color to give a classy vibe. Style and flaunt this hair with confidence.
7. Indigo Paradise
Dark hair fading to indigo is a dream come true. Indigo is uncommon, especially when it comes to the coloring hair treatment. Hues of indigo and denim bring out the dark roots of your hair. Play and style with it however you like.
8. Phoenix Ember
Play around with different hues of red and orange to create an animated effect, similar to the hues of a phoenix. It’s bold and stands out against the crowd. This is your cup of tea if you are a risk taker.
9. Turquoise Trouble
Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to mimic the beautiful turquoise-blue color of the gemstone? Well, it looks magnificent. The bright turquoise and ashy tones make this a perfect winter look.
10. Watermelon Punch
Do you wish to fulfill your long-standing dream of having pink hair? We have the perfect choice for you. Rather than using hair dye and coloring your whole hair bright pink, add more complexity by getting a balayage. Bright pink roots and lightened ends with purplish hues give more dimension to your hair.
11. Caramel Ripple
Imagine caramel sauce poured over a rich chocolate cake. Now, transfer that image onto your hair and this is the balayage style that you get. This luxurious caramel balayage done on straight dark brown tresses is as classy as it gets when it comes to colored hair looks.
12. Spectacular Sunset
Now this is what I call bold and beautiful. With a dramatic balayage done in a bright orange hue on a naturally dark mane, this look is certainly not for the faint hearted. The bold sweeps of color here blend marvelously to give off an effect as spectacular as the sky during sunset.
13. Blonde On Blonde
Now here’s a balayage look that plays perfectly on subtleties. With shades of blonde layered on top of each other, there’s no stark contrast playing a central role in this balayage look. But the shades of honey blonde and platinum blonde play off of each other perfectly on straight hair to create this stunning balayage ombre style.
14. Cool Toned Masterpiece
Long bobs done on straight hair work as the perfect canvas for balayage color jobs. Case in point, this cool toned look. The ash blonde balayage highlights stand out sharply against the cool toned coffee brown base to add oodles of dimension to her hair. Now this is what we call ‘sophisticated.’ These blonde balayage hair looks truly showcase how sophisticated and chic a subtle blend can be!
15. Copper Craze
Warm tones come together quite beautifully when it comes to balayage styles on straight hair. The subtle copper balayage highlights on rich chocolate brown hair here look like they were masterfully painted on by an artist. Besides looking gorgeous, they also lend a whole lot of dimension to her hair.
16. Butter Blonde
Get ready to look like the chicest girl in town with this blonde balayage style that’s one for the ages. The butter blonde balayage highlights here look like they have been melted onto light brown hair to create this super chic hair look.
Quick Tip17. Raving Red
Drive everyone stark raving mad with this breathtaking ruby red balayage hair look. The jet black tone of her straight hair serves as the perfect base for luxurious red balayage highlights boldly streaked onto it. The only thing you have to do now is hair ironing with a straightening iron to style it poker straight to complete this edgy hair look.
18. Quartz Pink Quarry
It’s amazing how the subtlest tinge of color can make a world of difference in your hair look. These super fine balayage highlights done in a pale pink hue are quite blink-and-you-miss-it as they’ve been done on a bright blonde base. But they come to life every time you toss your pretty straight long bobbed head around.
19. Sunkissed Delight
If a quintessential balayage is what you’re going for, then this subtle blonde balayage will suit you perfectly. The golden blonde highlights in this look have been fluidly handpainted onto her rich chocolate brown mane to create the most gorgeous sun kissed effect. Style this look straight and you’re ready for a vacation by the shore!
20. Liquid Fire
For all you ladies who love playing with fire, here’s a balayage style that will light up your style statement. Done up on a straight short bob, this gorgeous balayage style in auburn and copper tones is what dreams are made of. Be prepared to make some heads turn every time you step out with this look.
21. Champagne Dreams
Poker straight hair works like magic in showing off your balayage hair in all its glory, especially when cut in a sharply angled bob. This champagne blonde balayage ombre is a masterclass in looking funky and sophisticated, both at the same time. You can pair it with an evening dress for a black tie event or with a miniskirt and crop top for a concert without changing the style one bit!
22. Bronze Beauty
There’s a beauty to ‘barely there’ balayage styles that just can’t be replicated by over-the-top color looks. This touch of bronze balayage comes to life when hit by light and gives your mahogany brown locks some gorgeous depth. It also works to make your hair look more voluminous.
23. Toffee Temptation
Not a fan of going crazy with your hair color? Then, here’s a natural tone balayage that will add a touch of warmth and dimension to your monotone chocolate brown locks. These toffee brown balayage highlights will give you the perfect sun kissed effect without indulging in blonde hues and keep things just a few shades lighter than your natural hair color.
24. Galaxy Spell
When it comes to balayage styles, it doesn’t get better than this. This galaxy themed and hair glossing color job is quite literally out of this world because of the way the midnight blue and deep green shades have been blended to create this look. The colors here shimmer and add extra hair sheen when styled straight.
25. Green With Envy
Make everyone envy your cool new hair look by going for this green balayage style that is oh-so-edgy. These emerald green balayage highlights stand out brilliantly against poker straight jet black hair and look like magic. Balayage hairstyles for black hair like this one are perfect for adding that extra touch of uniqueness. All you need to up the cool-factor of this look is to get your bangs cut in a halfway style.
26. Pastel Princess
How cute and girly is this balayage style?! With soft magenta and glossy rose gold swept over a light brown base, this is a hair color look that is the epitome of feminine and flirty. Straight hair helps reflect the colors even more brightly and makes for an excellent way to showcase your new balayage look.
27. Mystic Grey
Coloring their hair might prove to be a challenge for women who work in organizations with strict dress codes. So, here’s an elegant and understated balayage style just for them. This shimmery grey balayage done on a cool toned brown base looks even better when styled in a straight long angled bob.
28. Banana Split
Quirky and whimsical are the only words that come to mind when I look at this cute balayage style. If that’s exactly what you’re aiming for, then get your straight hair cut in an angled bob and balayage it with a warm yellow hue. You can make the yellow pop even more if you color your base in a dark copper shade.
29. Cherry Bomb
For those of you out there who want to let their inner punk rock chick out, here’s a color job that will steal your heart. This cherry red balayage done in bold sweeping streaks on bob cut hair is edgy, cool, and bound to make you like the badass that you truly are.
30. Honey, I’m Home!
It’s crazy how well straight hair works to show off the blending and gradient of colors used in creating a balayage style. For instance, this beautiful warm toned look is a menagerie of honey, toffee, and caramel shades with subtle pink undertones that add tons of dimension and depth to it.
31. Ash Bronde Balayage
Ash-bronde balayage for straight hair involves hand-painting lighter, ash, blonde and brown tones into sections of hair, creating a naturally sun-kissed look. Its undertones are cooler, ranging from a silvery hue to a softer, ashy brown-blonde. This trendy choice can give your hair brightness and dimension, elevating its natural appearance.
32. Vanilla Blonde Balayage
Vanilla blonde balayage incorporates creamy, soft blonde tones into your hair, and works well with different skin tones. Lighter tones are applied to the hair using hand-painting to produce a natural, blended look. Also, it is a low-maintenance option for those who are looking to achieve a natural yet radiant blonde look.
Quick TipBalayage, a versatile hair coloring technique, is perfect for those who want to achieve more softer and natural results. If you are ready to embrace this versatile style, keep in mind that balayage requires salon touch-ups every few weeks. For more tips on maintaining your balayage, see our next section.
Balayage Maintenance Tips
As with any hair color, there are a few things to keep in mind to maintain balayage hair.
- One of the key aspects of maintaining your balayage is using the right products. Opt for sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners specifically designed for color-treated hair to preserve the vibrancy of your balayage.
- Use a color-protecting, deep-conditioning treatment once a week to keep your balayage hair looking hydrated and healthy.
- Limit the use of heat styling tools to prevent heat damage and color fading.
- Wear a hat or UV-protectant hair spray to shield your tresses from excess sun exposure and prevent color fading.
Following these easy steps can help your balayage hair look vibrant, strong, and healthy.
Infographic: 10 Best Balayage Styles For Straight Hair + How To Balayage Your Hair At Home
The best balayage styles for straight hair can add color, depth, and dimension. Whether you’re a fan of bold, beautiful colors or subtle, natural tones, there’s a balayage for everyone. Straight hair is a canvas for the perfect balayage look that would add dimension while creating an artful blend of tones. But how do you decide which balayage styling is the best for you, and can you balayage your hair at home? The following infographic can help you with the answers.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The balayage straight and sleek hair ideas shared in this post can look great on any haircut. Essentially, balayage is a technique to color hair and hence, can be done with any hair color that you choose. In this method, highlights are painted on the hair in sweeping motions so that a natural flow is maintained. Balayage hairstyles are perfect for you if you want to wear the sun-kissed hair look. This technique is absolutely great for straight hair as it can add color, depth, and dimension to it. As a result, straight hair can seem thicker and more voluminous. While it is recommended to get a balayage hairstyle done professionally, for better hair care throughout the process, you can still follow the instructions in this post to do it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does balayage last?
On average, balayage may last 3 to 4 months. As part of long-lasting color and hair maintenance, wash your balayage hair sparingly.
Is balayage more expensive than highlights?
Yes, balayage is more expensive than highlights as it requires the stylist to paint your hair strategically by hand.
Will a balayage damage my hair?
Yes, a balayage may damage your hair. However, it is less damaging to the hair than other hair coloring techniques.
Can I get balayage without bleach?
You can get balayage without bleaching your hair. But, it won’t always give you the desired results. For certain shades, bleaching is necessary.
How many sessions does balayage take?
It may take one session to do a balayage look. However, if your hair is dark brown or black, you may have to go for at least two sessions.
Is balayage more expensive than ombre?
Yes. Balayage is more expensive than ombre.
Illustration: Marvelous Balayage Styles For Straight Hair
Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team
Get ready to transform your look! Learn how to create beautiful, dimensional balayage on straight hair with this easy-to-follow video tutorial! Just press play.
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