Simply put, balayage is a highlighting technique that doesn’t use foils. Instead, your hair colorist will hand-paint color directly onto your hair, creating more natural, blended, sun-kissed color. Despite being a softer effect, it also allows your colorist more control, and it’s crucial for creating all those blended-drink-inspired hues like brown ale and raspberry bourbon. “My favorite thing about balayage is that it can be soft and subtle, or it can be amped up through bold and bright coloring, all the while having a universally flattering effect,” says celebrity colorist and Matrix brand ambassador George Papanikolas. 

Whether you want your highlights to be subtle or strong, balayage hair color is a timeless technique that delivers gorgeous results. It’s not featured in Merriam-Webster, but we do know that it’s French for “to sweep or paint.” More specifically, it describes the trendy method in which professional hairstylists weave in highlights. Forget the old school method of foils and stripey highlights. With balayage, your hairstylist will freehand strokes for a more natural, sun-kissed result. So you can say that the sun’s rays did all the work for you, because is looks that effortless.

These are subtle, so if you’re hoping for a more severe change, this might not be the proper hair dyeing method for you. The balayage hair color is typically seen on brunettes who want to lighten up their look, but blondes and redheads have joined in on the trend too. Perfect for summer, or really any time of the year, you’ll feel lighter and even more radiant with these beautiful hairstyles. Take inspiration from famous beauties like Beyoncé, Gina Rodriguez, and more before heading to the salon to lighten up your hair color. And then, go forth and live your best French girl life with your balayage hair color.