Menu
Search

French Balayage: professional 2-step technique. Natural looking, whatever the balayage desire.

Have you ever been asked for a French Balayage? Or perhaps you’ve recently recommended one to a client? Here we break down all the key information about the French Balayage coloring technique so that you can confidently and clearly answer every question your clients might ask.

What is French Balayage?

A personalized look for every woman, the French Balayage can be achieved on anyone’s hair - no matter the base color - even on the darkest brunettes. More than a simple balayage, the French Balayage is a custom hair color service that gives a natural and guaranteed professional result. What makes the French Balayage so special? It’s typically French, effortlessly chic, and never over-the-top finish.

A French Balayage refers to this original two-point (V-shape) application technique which leaves shadow on the roots and allows for invisible regrowth. Zones of light and shadow are created, aka “negative space”, bringing radiance and balance to the face.

The key element of a French Balayage is its subtlety. The result looks entirely natural and continues to as it grows out. This is where it differs from traditional foil highlights, which can have more of a stripy finish and a visible root line.

As for the “2 steps” to French Balayage hair: lift the hair color using precise lightening application techniques, then tone the hair to achieve a multidimensional, naturally-chic finish. However, as with so many hair coloring techniques, while it might sound easy, a true French Balayage requires your professional expertise.

French balayage vs. hair painting, what’s the difference?

A major difference between French Balayage and hair painting is the technique. French Balayage uses thin sections of hair to allow for precise placement, sweeping the color across the surface of the hair before the underneath section. Hair painting, uses wider sections of hair, and the color is applied with much heavier saturation throughout the section. Both can be used on almost all hair lengths.


 

Have you ever been asked for a French Balayage? Or perhaps you’ve recently recommended one to a client? Here we break down all the key information about the French Balayage coloring technique so that you can confidently and clearly answer every question your clients might ask.

When it comes to lighteners, professionals find the creamy texture of L’Oréal Professionnel Paris Blond Studio 8 Bonder Inside and Blond Studio Platinium effective for a French Balayage. The new Blond Studio 7 Clay Powder thanks to its elastic texture, will be ideal to perform Open Air balayages, specially with hand painting techniques. 

 

What about the end results? French Balayage gives clients made-to-measure, enviable sunkissed highlights in all the most flattering places and hair painting will help in personalizing the end result: from super subtle to super dimensional, melted. 

As you know, every French Balayage is unique. French Balayage is a professional 2-step technique and it can achieve several natural-looking results depending on the colorist’s and client’s preferences. But if your client is curious about French Balayage techniques, here’s a step-by-step explanation of one of the most common: the V Balayage technique. 

Step 1: balayage application

This first step is for creating a lightened base.

  •  Separate the hair into ribbon-width sections where you are going to do your balayage.
  •  Comb the hair tight along the board and hold the brush parallel to the hair.
  •  Decide on a V or W shape, and apply the lightener in the mid-section, then feather upwards towards the root to create your one, two, or three points.
  •  Next, brush the product down the rest of the mid-section towards the ends, remaining on the surface.
  •  When 2-3 inches from the tips, push the product through to saturate.
  •  Develop it for the needed time (times vary depending on desired effect, hair condition, color, length, and more), rinse and style.
  •  Advise the client to use haircare for colored hair; to get the most out of her French balayage.

Step 2: French balayage gloss

In a French Balayage, the gloss brings a typically French refinement to the lightened base you’ve just created.

More and more stylists are doing a gloss after lifting the hair during their French balayage. Why? A gloss brings a refined, bright, and natural-looking glow to the hair, neutralizing unwanted warm tones. L’Oréal Professionnel Paris Dia light is a colorist’s go-to nourishing gloss for perfecting a French balayage. 

Dia light is a gel-cream with an acidic pH level which has all the properties of a gel, such as transparency, as well as the cosmetic qualities of a cream. The advantage of Dia light is that we’re dealing with an acidity very similar to the capillary fiber, so the oxygen is released very gently. 


For a light color deposit, use volume 6 Diactivateur, or for a stronger color deposit, use volume 9. Alternatively, for more detailed suggestions of French Balayage coloring formulas using Dia light acidic-gloss, see our suggestions below. This 2nd step of French Balayage is what makes the technique so subtle and unique- and impossible to create at home!



French balayage coloring

The formulas for a French Balayage depend on multiple factors, from base color to the type of lightener you use. Here are some examples of French Balayage coloring mixes depending on your client’s base shade. 

French balayage on dark hair

For a French Balayage on a really dark base (natural 3), use 40g Blond Studio 8 Bonder Inside and 60ml 30 volume Oxydant Crème. For the gloss, mix 25ml of Dia light 6.28 with 25ml of Dia light 8.28 and 75ml of 9 volume Diactivateur. 

Or, on a partly pre-colored very dark base, mix 40g Blond Studio Multi-techniques 8 and 80ml of 20 volume Oxydant Crème (natural base 4), 40g Blond Studio Multi-techniques 8 and 80ml of 30 volume Oxydant Crème (colored base 4). Then 1 tube (50 ml) of Dia light 6.28 and 75ml of Diactivateur 9 volume. 

French balayage on light hair

On lighter shades of brunette (natural 5), mix 40g of Blond Studio 8 Bonder Inside with 40ml of 20 volume Oxydant Crème. Keep tones cool with 1 tube (50ml) of Dia light 8.28 and 75ml of Diactivateur 9 volume for a modern finish. 

Starting your French Balayage on a light base (natural 6)? Do a super soft blend using 1 Blond Studio Majimèches Crème Sachet, 25ml of lightening cream and 25ml of 30 volume Oxydant Crème. Tone with 50ml of Dia light 6.01 with 75ml of Diactivateur 9 volume, and 50ml of Dia light 8.21 with 75ml of 9 volume Diactivateur. 

With these formulas, you can use the application technique and timings of your choice. The recipe is only half of a French Balayage, the rest is all down to your creativity and expertise! 

French balayage hair, 5 points to take away

1) French balayage differs from a regular balayage due to its subtle and effortless-looking chic finish à la française!

2) The two steps to a French balayage are: perfectly blended lightening and nourishing gloss to neutralize warmth.

3) The “V” balayage application technique allows for invisible regrowth and natural-looking sunkissed highlights.

4) The Dia light gel-cream is a professional favorite for creating a French Balayage.

5) French balayage can be achieved on all bases, even dark brunettes.