Balayage Long Hair: 25 Ideas
From more innocuous thin caramel-colored highlights to a full-on vibrant blue option, we’ve included a range of balayage long hair ideas to inspire your next look. Read on:
1. Subtle Red Balayage
This option is perfect for brunettes who are looking for a way to highlight the vibrancy of their natural color with strong red contrast.
2. Grown-in Waves
Balayage is always a great option for women who can’t fit frequent touchups into their schedules and budgets. Embrace your natural color at your roots and your natural texture with these easy air-dried waves. Set your style with TRESemmé Compressed Micro Mist Hair Spray Texture Hold Level 1 for some added movement.
3. Mostly Blonde
This particular balayage look is different because it’s mostly blonde with a hint of brunette. The brown pieces come through at the roots and in subtle undertones throughout the length of the hair.
4. Muted Brown
Take your natural color up a notch by opting for a very subtle transition from your natural deep brown to a softer muted brunette. This softer shade of brunette is flattering on a range of skin tones.
5. Caramel Strands
If you’re looking for a messier and more laid-back option, random caramel-colored strands are a great way to flatter darker skin tones in particular. This transition from deep brunette to caramel is a beautiful way to get in on the balayage hair trend.
6. Perfectly Lit
Finding the perfect shade of a slightly lighter brown will give you the illusion of perfectly lit hair (you know what we mean): model-worthy hair that appears to be lit by the highest quality studio lights!
7. Golden Balayage
Start your balayage close to your roots and opt for a blonde just a few shades lifted from your natural color. The results will be a brilliant orange color that will contrast beautifully with your roots.
8. Vibrant Red Curls
Brown hair that gets a reddish tinge in the sunlight is the hair gods’ gift to us. Fake this beautiful natural contrast with a balayage that mimics this phenomenon.
9. Light Brown Means Lighter Blonde
The lighter your natural color is, the lighter you can go with your balayage. A softer brunette base will yield a beautiful blonde shade on the ends of your hair.
10. Feathery Soft Balayage
Pairing an ashy blonde with your medium brown roots yields a feathery soft balayage that still manages to make a statement without going overboard.
11. Blonde Tips
We like to consider this balayage form and color as prime fashion editor material. On-trend and ‘in the know’ with a style that’s easy to keep up with.
12. Subtle Color
Take advantage of how your natural curls affect your color as it transitions from light to dark and opt for a shade only slighter lighter than your roots. The two colors will blend to perfection every time you embrace your natural texture. Give your curls a boost with Dove Curls Defining Mousse!
13. Classic Balayage
This chestnut base and caramel balayage combination are what we like to consider a classic balayage on long hair.
14. Latte Hues
We know we keep going with the coffee flavors analogies but stick with us here: this variation includes such a wide range of shades from dark to light and reminds us of that prime Instagram-worthy moment when the cream swirls into your black coffee. We can’t get enough of this gorgeous color transition!
15. Thicker Highlights
Wide highlights like these are generally reserved for the lead female roles on early 2000 sitcoms but this smooth balayage version takes this style straight into 2019.
16. Bright Ends
If you’re not ready to full-on commit to a full head balayage you might want to consider just dyeing your ends. This way if you decide to go for a drastic haircut later in the season you can always make your balayage phase short-lived.
17. Start at the top.
Leave just the roots be and opt for a bright and vibrant blonde for the rest of your strands.
18. Honey-Colored Strands
If your roots are a medium-dark brown it will likely take you a few rounds of bleach to get to a honey shade like this one.
19. High Contrast
There’s nothing we love more than a statement when it comes to hair color. Bleach blonde piece-y curls are extra bold when paired with a red lip color like the one pictured above.
20. Subtle Color and Placement
A balayage style like this one also preserves most of your natural color while still managing to make a statement with soft and thin balayage highlights that frame the face.
21. Curly Hair and Blonde Balayage
Some of our favorite balayage looks are based on just the right kind of dimension. Focusing the highlights on just the top layers of your hair will allow your natural color to give dimension from underneath.
22. Soft Waves
These soft waves are a great way to show off your fresh hair color. This easy transition from medium brown roots to honey blonde ends is one of our favorite balayage hair looks to date.
23. Soft Roots
If you’re a brunette at heart and you’re just looking for subtle ways to upgrade your color, try maintaining your roots and opting for lighter ends. This look is flattering on a range of skin tones!
24. Sleek and Short
Keep it straight, sleek, and short with this balayage lob. The sharp edges draw even more attention to your beautiful hair color.
25. Natural Curls
Show off your fresh hair color by embracing your natural curl pattern. Use Nexxus Between Washes Revived Curls Shape & Moisture Crème Spray to keep your curls intact in between washes.