Learn More About the Braided Balayage Technique

The braided balayage is a creative coloring and highlighting salon technique that is gaining popularity with hair colorists that want to give their clients something more than routine salon services. The hair coloring and lightening application technique produces a melted colored hair look that appears blended with no visible lines of demarcation.

Before Braided Balayage techniqueCourtesy of Bee Sam

Bee Sam, a master colorist out of Vancouver, WA, performs this unique technique for her clients. Instead of highlighting and lowlighting the whole head section by section with color and lightener, with the braided balayage the colorist is weaving first then applying color and lightener after a root base color is applied.

“With the braided balayage, unique placement of intertwining hair mimics a woven basket which makes the outcome a flawless blended melting of colors that is multi-dimensional.” says Sam, who has been perfecting the braided balayage for her clients over the past year with more and more of her customers requesting the trend-setting service.

During Braided Balayage techniqueCourtesy of Bee Sam

The braided balayage can also be combined with other hair coloring techniques for an even more customized hair look. One example of this may be combining the braided balayage technique with face framing highlights for added wow factor.

“With the braided balayage, it grows out beautifully and naturally, which means you don’t get a regrowth line like with foils and you can wear it for longer between salon visits," Sam adds.  “I always give a thorough consultation with clients before each braided balayage journey begins. I explain to them that with a regular balayage, you are going to get a sun-kissed look, but with a braided balayage, the process is a bit flipped, creating the opposite effect of contrast and depth.”’

After Braided Balayage techniqueCourtesy of Bee Sam