Balayage is still a major hair trend and one that brings us back to the roots (literally). Focused on healthy shine and natural gradients, balayage is a coloring technique that has French origins. Nowadays, it has taken the beauty world by storm, owing to the effortless, pure beauty it provides. Explore these gorgeous balayage hair color ideas for inspiration.
Balayage highlights are a quick pathway to a refreshed, lovely hair color. This timeless hair coloring technique has rapidly grown into every woman’s favorite hairstyle. Whether you’re looking for a subtle, natural looking hair color, that sun-kissed look, or to experiment with more unconventional hair colors, balayage are an ideal way to get started.
Balayage Hair Ideas
Balayage, a timeless hair coloring technique, has rapidly grown into every woman’s favorite hairstyle. Whether you’re looking for a subtle, natural looking hair color, that sun-kissed look, or to experiment with more unconventional hair colors, balayage highlights are an ideal way to get started.
Hair stylists around the world endorse the trend, while hair salons still get requests for balayage highlights.
Find your hair inspiration here with these gorgeous inspirations of balayage highlights for blondes, brunettes or redheads.
1. Silver Ash Blonde Balayage
A wonderful way to bring a bit of color to your locks without getting too flashy is ash blonde. While it maintains the natural impact of blonde, it has silvery tones that bring this whole balayage hair color to life.
This type of balayage is ideal to refresh your natural hair color if you’re a blonde. The studied mess of curls frames the face and adds more luminosity thanks to the lighter shades of blonde.
2. Blonde Balayage Long Bob
One of the best things about balayage is how well it works on almost any hair length. Even if you don’t have waist-length locks, you can still pull off a blonde balayage on a long bob beautifully.
Blonde tones have a way of making deeper brown shades really pop, creating contrast and brightness in all the right places. The result is a sun-kissed, universally flattering look that feels fresh and effortless.
3. Sun-Kissed Brunette
Many brunettes opt for subtle blond accents to emphasize natural hair color. This is a great example of how these light blond tones can make your dark brown hair shine. Nevertheless, when you’re looking to spice up your look, get a layered haircut and chunky dark brown and caramel highlights to make your hair the star of the day.
4. Dark to Light Balayage Hair Color Gradient
Owing to the visible difference between the roots and tips, this example reminds us more of ombre hair. However, the gentle technique that fades the tones of brown and blonde is exemplary for balayage.
5. Soft Balayage Highlights
Natural, subtle, and healthy are the perfect words to describe balayage. It’s an easy way to move beyond basic highlights and create an all-over sun-streaked effect that looks soft and effortless.
Whether your roots are dark or light, balayage is incredibly flexible, making it a beautiful option for almost anyone.
6. Silver Ash Balayage
The image above shows how balayage can take ash blonde to the next level. The look keeps a rich, smoky base while adding sweeping silver tones that fade into almost-white tips for a striking finish.
This is a cool-toned, edgy upgrade that still feels wearable. It’s also incredibly versatile, looking just as great in casual settings as it does in more polished, formal environments.
7. Honey Brown Balayage
Honey, caramel, and latte are all popular tones to explore when playing with balayage. If you’re a natural brunette, you can blend all three beautifully to brighten and enhance your darker base.
For something even bolder, pairing fiery red with deep brunette creates a powerful, high-contrast balayage that feels edgy, rich, and full of personality.
8. Dark Balayage Hair Color with Auburn
Another beautiful way to enhance naturally dark roots is by fading into a slightly lighter shade. Instead of going blonde, you can choose a rich auburn tone as your secondary color for a warmer, deeper effect.
This looks especially stunning if your natural hair already has reddish undertones, creating a blend that feels seamless, dimensional, and incredibly flattering.
9. Curly Balayage Color Fade
Straight or wavy hair isn’t the only variety that looks splendid with balayage. Curly locks, for example, really accentuate the natural blend of colors quite like no other. Likewise, the impact can be enjoyed for both long and short curly hair.
10. Subtle Honey Hues
Want to make your balayage almost undetectable without losing all that natural glow? Try a tone that is just a shade or two lighter than your hair color and have your stylist ‘sprinkle’ some honey brown or blonde streaks here and there.
11. Black to Blonde Balayage for Straight Hair
Balayage really shines on perfectly straight hair, because you can see every detail of the blend. If that’s your case, you might want to try a slightly flashier version.
That doesn’t mean you need rainbow colors; it simply means choosing a look where the top-to-bottom gradient is more noticeable, and the transition can be fully appreciated from root to tip.
12. Curly Caramel Balayage
Corkscrew curls are always stunning, especially when they bounce in their natural color. Still, you can enhance that healthy, glowing base even more with a subtle caramel balayage that softly brightens the tips.
It adds just the right touch of warmth while keeping the look natural, dimensional, and full of life.
13. Shades of Gray Balayage
Gray hair, both dark and light, has become ever more popular in recent years. Another benefit of balayage hair is that you can combine your favorite nuances of grey, starting with rich charcoal and ending with soft ash tones.
14. Brown and Pink Mix Balayage
Pink and brown have always paired beautifully, hair color included. Recently, pink has made a big comeback in all kinds of shades and intensities.
For a balanced, wearable take, consider a light pink balayage over natural brown hair. The contrast is soft but noticeable, creating a feminine look with delicate pastel tones.
Whether your hair is straight or wavy, it’s a fun style to try. The blend of colors feels fresh, flattering, and surprisingly versatile on a wide range of skin tones.
15. Gray to Silver Balayage
As we previously mentioned, you can rock grey hair in various ways. The lighter alternative to the charcoal balayage is this grey-to-silver gradient. Fine detail is that all the grey tones in this style have ash blonde undertones.
Reserved for the daring ladies out there, this edgy look features silver blonde highlights on silver ash hair. The transition is smooth, yet the final result is nothing short of stunning.
16. Copper and Auburn Balayage
Some of the most beautiful red-based hair colors are rich auburn and honey copper. Thanks to balayage, you don’t have to choose just one. Furthermore, you don’t have to undergo a steep transition from one to the other (like with ombre hair).
17. Violet Red Balayage
The same goes for violet and red. This tone of burgundy looks stunning on black hair, adding just enough color to bring out those natural dark tones. Additionally, it’s super low maintenance and easy to refresh once or twice a year. Let your roots show if you’re a natural brunette. Add chunky red highlights for a chic glam look.
Wine-inspired red hues are a must-try if you’re planning to change your look with balayage highlights this upcoming season. Toned-down hair colors like this cherry-infused red are perfect for a soft, feminine touch to your hairstyle this season.
18. Steel Blue Balayage
Want to try something different? Balayage is a great way to experiment with unconventional hair colors. Green, soft pastels, purple, or blue are some of the most eye-catching options right now.
If you’re drawn to cooler tones, a steel blue balayage is especially striking when blended with black and hints of periwinkle. The mix feels bold and modern, and it looks even better on wavy hair, where the color dimension really comes to life.
19. Balayage & Braids
So what happens after you get balayage? Styling is where the color really gets to shine. A loose half-up, half-down French braid is a beautiful way to show off the color transitions and highlight the blend from root to tip.
If you have thick hair, this is definitely a look worth trying. It has that soft, romantic feel, almost like something straight out of a fairytale.
And if you’re ready for a slightly more dramatic change, this kind of braided style is a perfect finishing touch.
20. Natural Light Brown Balayage
If you have chocolate brown eyes, one of the best ways to complement them is with honey balayage hair. It maintains the natural essence of balayage, all while venturing into lighter shades that accentuate the rich color of your eyes.
The golden rule with respect to naturally looking balayage results is to use hair color shades in the same color spectrum, which are only slightly darker or lighter than your hair color. This is a beautiful example of light brown hair highlighted by a golden brown, almost blonde shade.
21. Colored in Fishtail Braid
Another beautiful way to style balayage hair is with a side fishtail braid. In this look, the braid really brings out the deep violet undertones and the copper-blonde blend, making the color shifts stand out even more through the woven texture.
22. Darker Brown Balayage Ash Blonde
You can also blend ash blonde and ash brown into a beautifully seamless balayage. It’s another one of the endless ways to melt tones together, creating the soft, smoky gradient you’ve always envisioned.
23. Balayage for Curly Black Hair Roots
Lucky enough to have a full head of voluminous curls? You can make those corkscrews stand out even more by adding copper-tipped highlights while keeping your base a natural dark shade.
It looks especially striking on extra-curly hair, but it’s just as beautiful on softer waves too, adding warmth, dimension, and a little extra glow.
24. Turquoise Balayage on Short Hair
So, you’ve made the big step of chopping off your hair for a chic A-line bob. What’s next? Spicing it up with a bit of color. Kylie Jenner has already proven that a turquoise ombre long bob can work like a charm, so you can try it without a doubt.
A perfectly smooth bob haircut on black hair, embellished by subtle balayage highlights in complementary colors that everyone can rock.
25. Copper Melt Balayage
With rich tones of copper, bronze, and caramel, it’s hard not to fall in love with this reddish-blonde melt. The blend feels warm, radiant, and full of depth.
Don’t be afraid to add these glowy, golden ingredients to your balayage mix if you want a look that delivers natural shine and softness.
26. Curly Silver Balayage Bob
If your base color is dark or even jet black, you’ve probably already seen the magic silver balayage can create. The contrast is bold, bright, and instantly eye-catching.
Pair it with extra curly locks, and you have a look that’s guaranteed to turn heads everywhere you go.
27. Ash Brown with Dark Beige Blonde Highlights
Nostalgic for the highlights trend? Well, you can incorporate highlights and lowlights into your ash brown balayage. After you get the superb coloring done, you can style it into a half up half down back fishtail braid to show off the shades.
An easy way to add texture and volume to wavy layered brown hair is to get these delicious caramel highlights. They blend in naturally as the shade is only slightly lighter than the natural hair color.
28. Dark Brown Hair with Blonde Accents
Redheads are going to love this one. Natural gingers can blend their brick-red base with touches of cinnamon and honey for a balayage that feels warm, rich, and full of glow. Even if you weren’t born a redhead, this look is a great inspiration for your next salon visit.
When balayage is done with a hand-painted technique, the results can be truly dazzling. For a more refined take, mixing brown and chocolate tones creates a style that feels polished, elegant, and effortlessly wearable.
29. Balayage Brunette and Copper Combo
This style is similar to the black and copper-tipped curls we mentioned earlier, but it takes things a step further. Here, the light auburn shade is carried much closer to the roots, creating a better, more blended effect.
The result is extra dimension and volume, making your curls look even more dynamic and full of life.
30. Lavender Gold
Rose gold has been everywhere lately, but a fresh twist on the trend is lavender gold. This look blends soft light purple with honey-gold tones, creating just enough contrast to really notice the variation through the lower half of the hair.
Shades like purple, pink, blue, and even a touch of blonde are the stars of summer color trends. And the best part? These playful tones don’t disappear when the season changes; they easily carry over into fall as well.
31. Indigo Fades to Violet
Have an outgoing, fearless personality? Vibrant balayage colors are the perfect match.
For example, blending shades of lilac, lavender, and indigo creates a deep, richly layered look that feels bold, artistic, and impossible not to love.
32. Natural Olive Brown Balayage
Keep that caramel coming. This natural gradient from light brown to blonde looks especially gorgeous on wavy hair, but it works just as well on straight strands, too.
No matter how you style it, the blend of these two tones creates a warm, glowing finish that looks effortlessly beautiful.
33. Balayage Short Hair with Bangs
You can choose the balayage coloring technique if you have short hair with bangs, or you plan on getting them too. It won’t affect the overall impact of the color blend. Quite the contrary, it will strengthen the darker base to contrast with the second half.
What’s lovelier than a well-styled short hairstyle for women? One featuring a perfect balayage in blonde and auburn highlights.
34. Pastel Silver Balayage on Super Dark Roots
This pastel blue-lavender shade is stunning on its own, but paired with dark roots, the contrast becomes truly breathtaking.
Add a choppy long bob and a deep side part, and you’ve got a hairstyle that feels bold, modern, and completely unforgettable.
35. Balayage on Dark Hair with High Ponytail
We included this example to show just how beautiful this color looks when styled in a high ponytail. The dark base creates a striking contrast, while the lighter shades really stand out throughout the length, giving the look extra depth and dimension.
36. Ash Blonde V-Cut for Fine Hair
A truly unique hair color idea is this marvelous mix of silvery pastels. The mesmerizing combination is often regarded as ‘opal hair’ or ‘angel hair’ and is an amazing choice if pastel colors reflect your personality.
The proof that this technique works on short hair, too. Furthermore, it’s an edgy balayage featuring pastel blue and pink highlights on silver, almost white hair.
37. Fine Balayage Ombré Hair
If you’re torn between balayage and ombre, you don’t have to choose just one. You can ask your colorist to combine the two techniques for a blended result.
In this approach, about three-quarters of the hair shifts into a lighter shade, while the soft, gradual transition of balayage adds a more elegant, natural finish.
38. Discrete Balayage on Blonde Hair
To make your coloring as subtle as possible, opt for various similar tones of blonde. This example shows that the color blend itself is almost undetectable, while the person looking focuses on the natural radiance of the blonde.
39. Minty Fresh
Do you like to think outside the box and stand out from the crowd? Nothing quite compares to a light lime color melt, especially when paired with a wavy long bob.
It’s bold, unexpected, and guaranteed to make a statement.
40. Navy Blue Balayage
Brunettes with long hair will love how these subtle sweeps of navy brighten the lower half of their strands. You can also blend dark blue with other tones, like brown, but it looks especially striking against jet black hair.
41. Black Hair with Chocolate Brown Balayage
Braids are one of the best ways to show off the color blends in a new hairstyle. With a little patience, you can take it up a notch with an intricate knotted braid like this one.
It begins as a tight French braid, then gradually gets loosened into small, bow-like loops as you work your way down for a look that’s both playful and eye-catching.
42. Chocolate Brown Balayage
Milk chocolate isn’t only sweet as a treat, it’s just as stunning as a hair color. This shade is a beautiful option for natural brunettes who want to enhance their dark locks without going too dramatic.
Treat yourself to rich chocolate-brown highlights that add warmth and depth while still looking natural. The blend works especially well when paired with soft caramel tones, creating a balayage with a smooth, seamless transition.
43. Purple Pink Balayage Ombré Color
If you get inspired by sunrise, you can take key colors and brighten them into a unique and breathtaking mixture. You can start with dark violet and blend out into magenta, pink, and strawberry blonde at the tips. Thin purple highlights on dark wavy hair bring just the right punch of color for a refreshed, vibrant look.
44. Choppy Short Balayage Hair Color
It’s clear that balayage can make even short hair look incredibly glamorous. A short, choppy bob instantly feels elevated with soft latte undertones and a few lighter streaks in the front to frame the face beautifully.
Start with a cute asymmetrical bob styled in loose waves, then add a pop of brightness with delicate baby-blonde tones. The result is a soft, feminine look that’s ready to be shown off.
45. Braids and Bun
Double French braids with a top knot have become increasingly popular among recent hair trends. It’s an exceptional styling option for showing your color gradient, especially when you work with bold nuances like lavender and silver.
Ash hair and subtle silver and blue balayage highlights. Can you think of a reason why this lovely look shouldn’t be yours this year?
46. Cowboy Copper Balayage
As another option, try styling your hair in a simple half-up top knot. It’s a great way to highlight your darker roots, while the rest of your hair falls freely down the sides for a soft, effortless finish.
47. Light Magenta Balayage on Black Hair
Some women prefer to highlight only a few key areas, like the pieces around the face. A light magenta shade is a gorgeous choice for this, especially when paired with jet-black roots for a bold, high-contrast effect.
48. Gray Balayage on Short Hair
No matter how short your hair is, you can still blend colors beautifully in a way that makes every shade stand out. Dark roots paired with gray tones are already a favorite, and they look especially dazzling on a short A-line bob.
Short haircuts can sometimes start to feel a little predictable, but balayage changes that instantly. With the right mix of color and dimension, you get a look that feels fresh, bold, and full of life.
49. Dark Pink Balayage Hair Color
A perfectly cool-toned shade for balayage is dusty dark pink. If you’ve ever dreamed of a mermaid-inspired look, this color is guaranteed to turn heads. Worn on long, wavy hair, it feels both classy and edgy, with surprisingly easy upkeep.
That said, this style definitely isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s also not one we’d recommend doing at home. With such a striking mix of tones, it’s worth trusting a professional to get the balance just right.
50. Intense Copper Babylights
This warm, copper tone is both intense and surprisingly versatile. Copper balayage works especially well on medium to long hair, since the highlights have more length to really shine and stand out. Pair it with a long bob, and you’ve got a look that feels polished, rich, and eye-catching.
Balayage is also one of those techniques that truly works for almost everyone. You can’t go wrong with the subtle, flattering dimension it adds, no matter your hair length or style.
So, What Is YOUR Hair Motivation?
In conclusion, there are more than enough balayage hair color ideas to pick from. Regardless if you go for earth tones or experiment with pastels or bright hues, this technique will make your hair glow beautifully. Before you go balayage, make sure you choose the tones that are the most representative for you. And have fun doing so!
Thelma Ewart started painting and drawing as a hobby when she was young. She pursued arts which eventually lead her to the fashion industry. She is now a hairstyle artist that considers all of her projects as a work of art. Pursuing creativity is what drives her to become the best in what she does.
