Ombre vs balayage

Ombre vs balayage hair. The battle is on! Ombre and balayage have been two of the biggest rising trends in hair since 2011. Each technique usually portrays a similar result, however, the two techniques are entirely different. We discuss how to achieve both of these trends, how effective each technique is and which is more popular. Read on to find out more about ombre vs balayage and how ZALA can help you achieve a similar look with our balayage clip in hair extensions.

So who's who? : Ombre

Ombre refers to the lightening of the hair, fading from a dark colour at the very roots to a lighter shade at the ends. It is usually a very striking technique and stands out among other hair colours as it grabs attention and the colour change is usually very drastic. Ombre is also popular using bright and flamboyant rainbow colours such as green and blue. This also includes other pastel shades such as lilac and fairy floss (purple and pink). Below are a few images of ombre hair to give you the right idea.

Pink Ombre

Blue Ombre

So who's who? : Balayage

Balayage - (French,) meaning "to sweep" is perfect for those looking for a new hairstyle with little to no up-keep. The easy to manage and no maintenance for this hairstyle means a summery glow in your hair all year round. Balayage is when a colourist uses sweeping techniques with the brush when colouring hair to achieve a natural sunkissed look without any drastic or uneven line between the two tones in the hair. Balayage is beautiful in that it is more of a very subtle and gradual dark to light change, hence it's popularity. Below are some images that suggest the balayage hair trend.

Brown Balayage

Caramel Balayage

Ombre VS Balayage

Many people are undecided on whether ombre or balayage is best for their hair. The two differences between the shades you want in your hair may help you determine this result. The darker the hair, the easier it is to achieve the ombre look. You can go from the darkest roots and lighten the ends with bright and crazy colours if you are looking for that head-turning hairstyle. However, if you know you are after a more gradual and subtle change from shade to shade, balayage sounds like the perfect choice for you. Some people want lighter ends of hair but with a more natural effect.