Are you considering dark blonde balayage but unsure how it will suit your skin tone? Look no further! We interviewed Kim Tvedten, a skilled colorist with expertise in dark blonde balayage, to provide you with valuable insights and recommendations. Kim has years of experience in creating stunning looks for her clients, and she is here to share her knowledge with you.
Meet The Expert
Kim Tvedten
Kim is a hairstylist & color specialist with over 16 years of experience
You can find her at Lovely By Kim in Scottsdale, AZ
Ideal Dark Blonde Balayage for Various Skin Tones
Dark blonde balayage, also known as reverse balayage, is an excellent choice for those who want to transition from platinum or heavy highlights. It adds depth to your hair while incorporating pops of light. The best part is, it requires minimal maintenance. Dark balayage is suitable for the majority of skin tones. What makes it versatile is that your colorist can customize blonde tones to complement your unique skin tone perfectly. Think of beautiful shades like honey, caramel, or beige-sandy blondes.
Tips and Product Recommendations
Dark blonde balayage offers the best of both worlds. It requires relatively low maintenance while delivering a striking blonde effect, especially around the face where it matters most. You can go several months between appointments without worrying about touch-ups. For a quick and refreshing touch-up, I recommend a halo touch-up technique. This method focuses on brightening the hair around your face and nape area, instantly making you feel radiant and fresh without spending excessive time at the salon.
To maintain your dark blonde balayage between salon visits, I suggest using KEVIN MURPHY Everlasting color Wash And Rinse. These products are specifically designed to help your color last longer and retain its vibrancy. They are an excellent investment to keep your dark blonde balayage looking beautiful and lustrous.
Communicating with Your Stylist: Important Considerations
When discussing your dark blonde balayage with your stylist, there are a few key factors to consider. Your current base color is crucial, as it sets the foundation for the balayage process. Additionally, understanding your lifestyle and how much time you can dedicate to maintenance is essential. Dark balayage offers flexibility and can be customized to suit various price points. For instance, transitioning from a high-maintenance platinum or heavy highlight may involve a higher initial cost, but subsequent services will be more spread out and require less maintenance.
If you have naturally dark hair or previous dark color treatments, it may take several sessions to achieve your desired result. Communication with your colorist is key to developing a customized plan that aligns with your time and investment expectations.
Photos of Loveliest Dark Blonde Balayage
#1: Long Wavy Dark Blonde Balayage
Long wavy dark blonde balayage is a stunning way to transition out of a bright blonde look. If you’re looking for a soft classic way to add depth and darkness to your platinum, this is a great way to achieve that! I suggest adding a deep melted root and lowlight for an optimal blend. For a soft feminine touch, try adding a loose wave.
#2: Darkened Blonde Balayage
Try a darkened blonde balayage if you want to update your long locks. This hair color combines a darker root melted into lighter ends. There’s a seamless blend of dimension and depth. The darker base adds richness, while the lighter ends brighten your hair. This color works well on most skin tones but flatters those with warm undertones the most.
#3: Chocolate Brown Base with Light Blonde Highlights
Ask for a chocolate brown base with light blonde highlights. For a darker blonde, adding in some lighter pieces will give you a reflective contrast. Golds and caramels look great as a natural-looking highlight. They give your hair dimension so it doesn’t look flat.
#4: Dark Bronde for Straight Long Hair
Go for a dark bronde balayage for long straight hair. Ask your stylist for hand-painted highlights on your naturally dark blonde hair. A balayage technique will give you a soft, lightened blonde that will be low maintenance. You can maintain in between with a gloss or toner to add shine and tone to your hair. Otherwise, you can come every 3-6 months for touch-ups and haircuts.
#5: Honey Blonde Ombre Balayage
A honey-blonde balayage is a chic way to add lighter tones to your natural blonde or light brunette locks. A soft, chic way to complement your natural hair tones. It’s important to note warm tones reflect light and cool tones absorb light. Adding in those warmer hues allows you to feel lighter and brighter.
#6: Dark Ashy Blonde on Brown Hair
Try this dark ashy blonde if you have dark brown hair! This look is best in a darker color to help make that blonde pop. You will want to use a purple shampoo at home to keep this look ashy and cool.
#7: Lived-in Short Blonde Bob
A lived-in short blonde bob is a flattering and timeless hairstyle. This style is great for women who embrace their new short hairstyle while keeping dimension around their faces. Communicate with your stylist about face texture and soft texturized layers. It’s important to keep this shape soft and shattered.
#8: Dark Blonde Babylights with Root Melt
If you have blonde or medium brown hair and want to add depth, try adding a root melt with dark blonde balayage. This is a fairly low-maintenance look, as the root melt helps give you a seamless grow-out.
#9: Rooted Dark Blonde for Brunette Hair
A rooted dark blonde for brunette hair is a trendy way to stay blonde while embracing your natural hair. This new take on a balayage is beautiful and youthful. Adding in a soft-rooted look keeps this traditional style fresh. Ask your stylist to use a demi-permanent root color to keep your color longer lasting with a softer grow out.
#10: Dark Brown Base with Cool Blonde Balayage
This balayage is done through the mid-lengths and ends, creating an ombré effect. This is a low-maintenance lover’s dream. You can create this with a color melt of a darker blonde into a lighter end. Or you can balayage the mid-lengths and ends with your natural base color. Glossing and toning any unwanted tones can be a helpful tool. Your colorist will know what will work best for your hair and skin tone.
#11: Medium Brown with Caramel Blonde Highlights
Here’s a medium brown color with caramel-blonde highlights. For the perfect caramel tone, you will want to do all-over highlights or balayage lifted to level 8. Combining gold and cool tones can create a beautiful caramel effect. It will balance brassiness and also still be warm and reflective.
#12: Mushroom Blonde for Wavy Lob
Ask about a mushroom blonde on a wavy lob. A reverse balayage is all the rage. Why? It’s low maintenance, adds dimension, and can be done when your hair has been over-lightened. A mushroom blonde is a cool brown that works great with a cool-toned blonde.
#13: Dimensional Beige Blonde Highlights
Consider a dimensional beige-blonde highlight. When you want a beige blonde, this can be a mix of the base color and the highlights toned with gold and coolness. This creates the perfect muted gold. Because this is a muted gold, it suits most skin tones. The key is picking what level works best with your hair.
#14: Light Brown Balayage with Voluminous Waves
Try a light brown balayage with voluminous waves. For a soft natural look, ask for a balayage with your light brown hair. A balayage will give you a sun-kissed color and grow out with a seamless look. Try a voluminous style with some hot rollers left in the hair for 30 mins minimum to cool down. Hold your style all day long and even into the next day.
#15: Natural Dark Blonde with Face-Framing Layers
A natural dark blonde balayage is a great compliment to face-framing layers. Focus the lightness around the face to bring attention to the front. Blow-dry the layers back to get a lovely, rounded bounce and lots of movement. Ask your stylist to show you how if you lack experience!
#16: Brunette Balayage with Waves and Layers
Try this honey balayage if you want to add dimension to your brunette hair. You can add layers and loose waves for additional texture.
#17: Blonde Foilayage Highlights with a Money Piece
Blonde foilayage highlights with a money piece are great if you want big dimension. The money piece gives you that bright pop around your face. And the foilayage gives you a soft and seamless grow out.
#18: Soft Blonde Balayage on Light Brown Hair
Light brown hair looks sexy and stylish with a soft blonde balayage. Leaving the root natural creates depth, making the balayage pop against it. It will be a low-maintenance style and will work with any skin tone. For loose waves, style with a double barrel waver or curling wand.
#19: Sun-Kissed Dark Blonde Hair
Try this sunkissed dark blonde hair if you are looking for a subtle and natural-looking color. With this low-maintenance look, you’ll get a seamless grow-out with a perfect blend!
#20: Soft Creamy Bronde Highlights
Bronde highlights are perfect for color with a creamy, sun-kissed tone. Depending on your natural level of color, your stylist can customize your color to blend better with the grow-out. It will give you a natural look while working with your natural color.
#21: Golden Dirty Blonde Hair
Do you have dirty blonde hair? The best way to enhance this color is to apply a dark golden blonde balayage. This style is great for adding dimensional blonde and brown tones. Stylists can apply highlights in a V pattern to keep the root more natural. And this makes it low-maintenance.
#22: Reverse Blonde Balayage with Dark Brown Hair
A reverse blonde balayage with dark brown hair is a versatile hair color. All types of brunettes can pull this tone off. This soft, lived-in hair trend shows the natural highlights and mimics a sun-kissed look. An olive or honey skin tone is ideal for warm highlights.
#23: Dark Bronde Balayage Waves
Dark bronde balayage is a gorgeous yet dramatic way to add dimension to your natural color. Doing a technique like a foilayage can softly add a multi-dimensional vibe to the color. Add a little volume with a soft wave at the end to enhance the overall hair color.
#24: Muted Warm Blonde Babylights
Ask about a muted, warm blonde with babylights. Some may fear warmth in their color. But warmth can be gorgeous if the brassiness is controlled with correct lifting and toning. Create your next soft sun-kissed color with a babylight and gold-tone.
#25: Dark Blonde Straight Hair
Try this dark blonde balayage for straight hair. To achieve this look, consider getting a keratin treatment. It will help keep this look sleek and easy to manage, especially during summer.
#26: Warm Blonde Ombre Balayage with Dark Roots
This dark-rooted ombré with warm blonde is gorgeous! The dark root makes that warm honey blonde stand out. Make sure to use a good shine serum at home to keep your locks vibrant.