Balayage, ombré or global colour? How to choose
Three colour techniques, three very different results and upkeep. A plain guide to which one fits your hair, your budget and your routine.
Walk into any salon with a screenshot and you will hear three words: balayage, ombré and global. They are not interchangeable, and the right choice depends as much on how often you want to come back as on the look itself.
Global colour: one shade, all over
A single colour applied from root to tip. It gives even, glossy coverage and is the go-to for grey coverage or a clean change of shade. The trade-off is regrowth: you will see a line at the roots within four to six weeks.
Ombré: a clear dark-to-light shift
Ombré keeps your roots natural and moves into a lighter shade towards the ends, with a visible transition. It grows out gracefully, and you can go two to three months between visits.
Balayage: hand-painted, soft dimension
Balayage is painted freehand onto sections of hair, so the lightness falls where the sun would naturally catch it. The result is softer and more blended than ombré, and it is the lowest-maintenance option of the three once it is in.
Bring two reference photos: one you love, and one you definitely do not want. The second tells us just as much as the first.
Protecting your colour
- Wait 48 to 72 hours before your first wash.
- Use a sulphate-free shampoo and lukewarm water.
- A colour-sealing treatment helps lightened hair hold its tone for longer.
