Finally nailed the perfect balayage highlight on a stubborn client from last month

I had this one client named Sarah who came in three weeks ago from that big hair convention in Chicago. She had really dark dyed hair from a box job and wanted those soft caramel ribbons without any harsh lines. I spent like two hours on the sectioning alone because her previous color was so uneven near the crown. Last Wednesday I tried a new technique I picked up from a workshop where you tease the base just slightly before applying lightener. It actually worked way better than I expected and she cried happy tears when she saw the result. Anyone else have a go-to trick for blending out old box color into a seamless balayage?

2 comments

2 Comments

kelly_coleman6129d ago

So @camerona79 do you ever use a lower developer for the whole head or just near the crown? I used 10 vol on that Sarah client and it still lifted a little fast on her darkest spots. Also do you backcomb the whole section or just the base where the banding was? I tried teasing just the root area and it helped but I'm wondering if going full section would be better for next time.

camerona7929d ago

The teasing trick is solid, I do that all the time for stubborn banding near the crown. Another thing that helps me is mapping out the lightener placement with a fine-tooth comb before I even mix anything, especially when the old color is uneven. For box dye I always start the balayage about a quarter inch off the scalp too, keeps it from getting too hot at the root. Sometimes I'll even use a lower volume developer like 20 vol and let it process a bit longer, helps blend without blowing out the old color. That client crying is always a good feeling, sounds like you killed it.