If you’re in charge of a growing salon, you’ll want to ensure that you offer your clients as many options as possible. If nothing else, you’ll want to make sure they keep coming back and look at your salon as a one-stop shop. With this in mind, you may want to offer more than simply a highlights package and look at a solution like balayage. What do you need to know about this approach and how it could be a perfect fit for your business?
Balayage is an unusual technique that can create a graduated and natural-looking effect when highlighting hair. The word comes from the French translation of “sweeping,” where the colour product is painted directly onto individual sections of hair without the need for any foil. Many people believe this can give a more natural result, and it’s certainly possible to develop a bespoke solution for each client.
Some clients may want to know the difference between balayage and other solutions like ombre, as well as highlights. Ombre-treated hair creates a two-tone effect and a significant contrast between the ends and the roots of that hair. In many respects, ombre produces a far more distinct or even dramatic look as compared to balayage. Also, when it comes to balayage vs. highlights, the former provides the customer with a softer result when compared to traditional highlights created with foil.
There are several different ways to apply a balayage technique. You can offer the customer full treatment where you’ll apply balayage to lighten the hair. Or, you could simply suggest a partial application to cover only the outer and top layers of the hair.
Alternatively, you could suggest a reverse balayage. Here, you’ll add darker colours near the roots to give additional depth and texture. You can use this approach to adjust or tone down an earlier treatment or add some depth back at the root level.
Some may wonder what this approach does to the hair and whether it creates any damage. Of course, it is a chemical treatment, so each client will need to consider this fundamental and make their own conclusions in their case. But it is a good idea to recommend an aftercare process to each client. Suggest that they come back at predetermined intervals so that your stylists can have a look at the treatment and make any recommendations as needed.
The balayage treatment takes far less maintenance than a full-colour approach. However, the client may want to choose a special type of moisturising shampoo in order to keep the hair hydrated and reactivate any fading highlights.
Balayage hair can last for several months, but much will depend on the colour of the client’s roots. The end result will also depend on how the customer looks after their hair in between visits and how quickly the hair tends to grow.
Some customers may want to know if they can perform balayage at home. Of course, you’d prefer them to come into your salon so you can retain their regular patronage, but nevertheless, it’s best if you steer them away from any DIY approach. This is not the same as a single-process colouration, as the techniques are far more precise, and your stylists are trained to perform the work properly.
You will need to train your stylists to know exactly how to approach this procedure from the moment you put it on the menu. They’ll need to discuss each case individually with a client and advise that a balayage treatment can be modified to suit the client’s features. The treatment will begin with a good haircut to create the best base.
You certainly need to advise your customer according to their skin tone. It’s a good idea to have a range of photos on hand to explain the best approach, and this can guide the customer as they make the decision. For example, they may want to choose a light-brown or dark-brown balayage if they have a pale skin tone. If their tone is medium, you may want to advise them to avoid light colours, as this may create a washed-out look. In this case, a softer brown or blonde can develop a lighter hue. Should the client have a dark skin tone, many stylists would recommend a lighter colour or tone to complement their look.
Of course, you’ll want to know how long it will take to deploy this treatment so you can prepare your clients as well as your stylists. This will depend on the complexity of the work ahead and how many highlights the individual requires. Remember, the technique involves a light hand application of the colour product to the surface of the hair, and the more layers involved, the longer you need. Some suggest that a balayage treatment could take between 1.5 and 4 hours.
You also want to know how much to charge. As the cost can vary widely from area to area, it’s a good idea to do your research and find out how other salons in your general catchment area are costing this work. If you’re the first one to offer it in your town, you may be able to ask some of your suppliers or other advisers for guidance. Remember to adjust the price according to the technique required as well as the individual stylist’s level of experience.
So, balayage can certainly help to elevate your salon and provide you with another type of service to attract clientele. However, as always, remember that these techniques are quite tricky to perform, and there is certainly a risk that a client will not be satisfied or something may go wrong. This is why you should always have up-to-date and comprehensive salon insurance in place. It can help you deal with any unfortunate accidents or missteps that may lead to a costly settlement.
Get in touch with salon insurance experts like Salonsure for additional information. We’ll ask you questions about your salon and ensure that you have insurance products to meet every risk. After all, you’ll want to ensure that you have the correct type of insurance in place so that you can confidently offer a balayage service and deal with any potential risks.