With the variety of hair color and highlighting services offered to the public, finding the one for you can be a difficult choice. Likely if you’re shopping for a new look for your hair, you’ve probably come across someone offering a Balayage service. Like most people, they never heard of it, yet still, a lot of others are getting this service in droves. Perhaps this style of coloring could be your next new look, but likely you’re curious or confused about what Balayage is. The following can help you understand what this trending style is. Additionally, it can help you decide if you want to try out a Balayage service in Scottsdale or wherever you live. 

WHAT EXACTLY IS BALAYAGE?
The name of this style of hair coloring comes from the French word “to sweep” or “sweeping”. That’s because the hair lightener used in this process is done in a sweeping motion to help create unique highlights. This style of coloring creates a very soft and more natural look to people’s hair. Additionally, this technique is not only for people with lighter shades of hair color but also for those with darker hair that can benefit from a style that looks soft and touched by the sun. 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIGHLIGHTS AND BALAYAGE?
Generally, highlights mean any kind of hairstylist technique that makes the hair lighter than the base color. Highlights are usually done via a method called “foiling”. This is when sheets of foil are used on a small selection of hair strands; which already been covered in a lightener or coloring agent. Often, these foil highlights are done close to the scalp, making sure that the technique is done all the way to the roots. 
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In contrast, Balayage is more of a free-hand method of highlights and doesn’t use foil. While several highlight techniques can be very different and yield more outstanding results, Balayage goes for a softer, natural look. The colors applied to tend to look more of a naturalized gradation of coloring/lightening. Additionally, this technique is done further away from the roots, mainly around the middle to the ends of the hair.

IS BALAYAGE FOR ME?
Like most hair coloring sessions, it’s up to you and what your stylist thinks is best for your hair. If you’re looking for something outstanding, most highlighting processes work. However, if you want your hair to look more natural and subtle, perhaps consider doing a Balayage coloring or contact a local professional for a consultation.

​​While Arizona is continuing to see improvements when it comes to the COVID-19 situation, there are still many concerns out there. Mainly, people are worried about the increasing number of people being hospitalized due to the virus. While there are efforts for vaccines to be tested and produced, people are still exercising caution in their everyday lives to avoid exposure. This means that people in this state are avoiding going to gyms in Tempe, finding a hairstylist in North Scottsdale, or even going clubbing in Phoenix.

According to news releases from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the main cause of contact is still respiratory (though others have said touch is another point of contact but they have been proven wrong at times). However, people are not prone to stay inside at all times and do need to go outside to perform daily and monthly tasks. One of them is getting a haircut.

While some people have done their own haircuts at home (at some points very hilarious results), others lack the resources or the willpower to do their own trimming/styling. They need a professional stylist in Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, or wherever they live. However they ask, it is worth the risk?

Honestly, it may seem like a sacrificial luxury, but it's an important part of your physical and mental everyday health. According to the CDC study, they reported that hair salon visits are okay as long as certain practices are taken into effect, such as wearing face coverings and the salon maintains routine cleaning of tools and equipment. During their study, over 139 clients were exposed to two hairdressers, and barely any of the clients had any Covid exposure or showed signs of symptoms. This is likely in part of precautions and practices taken by the clients and the stylists.

So if your hair has been ragged or torn up because of the Covid-19 situation, you shouldn't worry about finding a haircut in North Scottsdale, or anywhere else in Arizona. Because since we're all in this together, everyone is taking the steps to make haircuts enjoyable and beautiful in these slowly normalizing days. ​