With captivating multi-dimensional tones, black cherry balayage is becoming increasingly popular, so I thought I would share some inspo! Here are 25 hairstyles with black cherry balayage that give an immense amount of volume and depth to any style, as well as added shape and sophistication! These will inspire your next look, whether it’s a bold statement black cherry or a more subtle change.
My favorite memory was mixing up my very first black cherry formula. I was trying to create a deep plum contrast on my client who had naturally dark hair. I accidentally put in too much red. When the hair changed colors, it reflected the light and both my client and I were in awe. The warmth she gained was so refreshing and it was an amazing contrast to the dark hair. I try to recreate that look to this day!
Black cherry balayage gives an amazing range of color as you look down at the hair. You can leave the hair darker with a hint of cherry or lighted the ends more blonde with a gradient towards the top. Either way, it appears intentional and chic. It is also very versatile with matching skin tones as you can adjust the balance of red and violet depending on if the skin is warm or cool. Of course, with the use of balayage there won’t be any harsh lines as the hair grows, and with fashion shades shifting, that can be very helpful. High quality black cherry balayage gives the dark cherry a more upscale appearance. The maintenance is more forgiving than you would think, especially when starting with a darker base.
#1: Modern Black Cherry Balayage with Soft Layers
The placement of this color is nice and is concentrated throughout the mid-lengths where it will catch the light easily rather than being painted all the way to the roots. The soft layers create enough movement to shift the cherry tones with the hair, which is the purpose of balayage; to create movement. On medium to thick hair like this, the layered cut keeps it from looking too heavy. If you’re starting from a dark base, this type of result that looks more high maintenance than it actually is, is my favorite type of color work.
#2 Velvet Black Cherry Melt Balayage
The color melt effect looks stunning, and it only gets better in dim lighting. This reviews color melt effects and dim restaurant lighting. In this, we test the beautiful effects of deep burgundy color melts. The almost black roots work seamlessly with the wavy curls to create the liquid vibe look. It is a high-maintenance look, however. Pigment molecules in red are smaller than those in other colors, so they will, unfortunately, fade faster. Because of this, to maintain vibrancy, you will need to rotate in a color depositing conditioner.
#3: Voluminous Black Cherry Balayage Waves
This look has intention behind the curls and waves. The lighter tones in the waves will contrast nicely against the darker base and cherry tones. Each wave and curl will create a different way for the light to reflect off the color which will look beautiful and multi-dimensional. The fullness of the hair will also help the waves to have body instead of just laying flat. If you have thinner hair, you will still get the color payoff, but the waves and curls will look different. Not worse, just different. Before you come in, make sure you have a reference photo to show what you have in mind.
#4: Elegant Black Cherry Balayage with Face-Framing Layers
All the framing strands are doing their job bringing the warmest, lightest tones up to the cheekbones where the light brightens the face. With color this even, on straight thick hair like this, it looks lacquered, clean, and polished. The feathered layers prevent it from looking too solid, which is something I see too frequently with mid-lengths on thicker hair. This is one of those styles where the less done, the better. A quick blow dry, and you’re good to go.
#5: Charming Black Cherry Balayage with Soft Waves
Shoulder-length hair provides the most versatility for balayage as there is enough length for the colour to develop, but not so much hair that the colour gets lost. These loose waves are relaxed and natural, almost like the type of waves you’d get from braiding damp hair and letting it dry overnight instead of spending 40 minutes with a curling iron. The seamless root blend means that you can actually push your appointments a bit longer than you’d think, which is great for someone who doesn’t love to sit in my chair every 6 weeks.
#6: Chic Curly Black Cherry Balayage with Defined Curls
Black cherry looks stunning on curly hair. Every curl is a different shape, so the color takes differently on each individual curl. And curved hair creates a visual effect that straight hair will not be able to achieve. The layered hair cut here is smart because it allows each curl to spring on its own without the weight pulling them down. The defintion suggests a good curl cream is involved. I would argue that curly hair textures show off balayage better than any other hair type since the dimension is already built in.
#7: Bold Black Cherry Balayage with Layered Volume
The layers have both functional and aesthetic purposes. They add some shape and definition to a shoulder-length style that would otherwise be flat and boring with a straight, one-length bob. The cherry tones are more saturated at the ends and around the face, creating a more deliberate, graduated richness, as opposed to looking grown out. This suits someone who wants their color to pop, but not be the most eye-catching feature from across the street.
#8: Radiant Black Cherry Balayage with Soft Layers
The *swish* effect from long, layered hair is mesmerizing. The way the different shades catch the light while swaying side to side is stunning. The rich cherry tone blended with the various layers adds depth to the hair that a single process color just won’t achieve. The color choice on this style is incredibly well done and shows great restraint on the root area. The deepest shades at the top of the style ground the look and keep it from crossing the line into looking like a costume. If you have the desired length and density, prepare yourself for hair that will make people rethink their hair color choices.
#9: Chic Black Cherry Balayage with Soft Bangs
Most people don’t understand how bangs completely transform the equation with balayage, until they see it done well. The fringe here is soft and wispy, so it does catch some of the cherry tone which is nice because it ties the whole thing together, instead of it just sitting there like an afterthought. On finer hair, this color actually works beautifully because the sheerness of each strand allows light to pass through and really warms it up. The waves here are loose and undone: very French girl energy without trying too hard, which is obviously the only way French girl energy works.
#10: Gorgeous Long Black Cherry Balayage with Defined Waves
Unlike the other styles presented here, the waves look more defined and resemble an actual wave pattern rather than just a messy texture, and it really compliments the colour. Each wave highlights and shadows the black to cherry colour gradient which makes it look almost 3D. If your hair is medium to thick and of this length, be sure to bring a good heat protectant because you will be using a wand for this, and the colour will appreciate the buffer.
#11: Stylish Long Black Cherry Balayage with Defined Waves
The same territory as the last one but with warmer, brighter cherries that read as a little more playful! The dimensional blend of tones through the waves creates an indescribable quality to the hair, but it’s easy to recognize the expense. You can still get this color if your hair is fine; it just might require some softer layers to create the texture and volume that make this particular execution work. The movement is necessary; otherwise, the color doesn’t get to do what it needs to do!
#12: Rich Black Cherry Balayage with Soft Waves
I mean this as a compliment, but this is a more subtle balayage. The cherry tones are present but float through the waves like color showing through water. For someone looking to dip their toes into the black cherry world, this is the approach. The grow-out will be more graceful, and the maintenance will be less than the impact, and the overall result will be rich without being loud. Sometimes the more toned down version is just better.
#13: Radiant Black Cherry Balayage with Soft Textured Waves
With all the length here, the colorist has real canvas to work with and they have used it well. The blend from black at the root, through deep cherry and onto the light ends is a seamless and stunning sunset effect. The waves are perfectly done to break the uniform length and keep the color interesting through the middle where there is the most color work. I would not recommend this style to persons who do not appreciate regular trims, as with a color this shiny, the split ends are really pronounced.
#14: Stunning Long Black Cherry Balayage with Soft Waves
This example shows the difference between the deeper roots and the cherry ends quite nicely, perhaps more so than in some of the other less extreme examples, which is a nice effect. The hair looks thick and healthy, which with dark fashion colours is more important than a lot of people realise, because any dryness or damage really shows against the dark background. To keep this look, it is going to be necessary to use a colour-safe hair mask once a week, or in three weeks it will not look like these photos at all.
#15: Radiant Black Cherry Balayage with Soft Waves
Honestly, I love the big soft waves with the long hair and the color saturation. The hair’s body and movement come from a natural thickness combined with a layering technique that achieves a good balance of length and shape. The cherry tones are woven through the waves, so that it looks like it grew that way, which is the goal of a good balayage. Not everyone’s hair will hold a wave like this without some help, but the color will still deliver even on straighter textures.
#16: Stylish Long Black Cherry Balayage with Soft Layers
The layered cuts make it easier to style than decorative hairstyles. This looks good half up, in a loungewear low bun, or just doing its own thing – which indicates that the cut and color were meant to be seen together rather than thought of separately. The black cherry is nicely warm and deep, not too red, and is in that sweet spot where it could be natural on the right person. A good colorist crafted that, and it shows.
#17 Radiant Black Cherry Balayage with Lush Curls
Defined curls and black cherry balayage give a great impact that neither technique could achieve by itself. Each curl interacts with the color and breaks it up into distinct sections of color, going from dark to bright to dark. The effect that colored curls give is so much more than what is achieved with flat ironed hair. The length here is great – the curls have plenty of space to form fully without getting bunched up around the shoulders. If you are naturally curly and have been wondering if fashion color is for you, this is your proof of concept.
#18 Sleek Black Cherry Balayage with Subtle Dimension
This is a minimalist design for black cherry balayage, where the focus on the color takes this cut to the next level. Straight styling on finer to medium density hair will show every gradient of color, and without waves or curls, the look is elegant and sophisticated. The trade-off is that maintaining this level of slick is going to require some regular use of a flat iron, so be sure to plan your heat protectant accordingly.
#19 Charming Black Cherry Balayage with Textured Waves
The bright red tips are different and bolder than what we have seen in previous looks from the collection, and I think it is quite clever. I also appreciate the ends being fully vivid, and the roots being dark and grounded. The textured waves also divide the areas of contrast quite nicely. Considering the amount of color contrast, I think medium-length is the best call since it keeps the proportions right. Any longer and the red tips might become a little too much, and any shorter and you would lose the gradient.
#20 Textured Black Cherry Balayage with Layered Dimensions
Here’s a hairstyle I recommend for my clients with finer hair looking to try out this color range. The textured layers create an illusion of more hair than what is actually there. The balayage is strategically placed throughout the layers, framing the face so it highlights the movement of the hair instead of taking away from it. Overall, the goal is to achieve a more tousled look which with finer hair is a better approach than trying to add volume for the sake of adding volume.
#21 Layered Black Cherry Balayage with Subtle Waves
This style is both refined and sophisticated. The waves are soft enough to avoid looking completely flat, and the face-framing layers are soft rather than super dramatic. The cherry tones add just the right amount of warmth without drawing too much attention. The look will also translate well across a variety of textures, which is something I can’t say about every look on this list. It’s versatile and serves as a useful reference photo rather than just something aspirational.
#22 Modern Black Cherry Balayage with Sleek Layers
I always love the combination of sleek layered hairstyles that fall just above the shoulders, and this black cherry color is beautiful. The black cherry shade has a nice subtle shine which means the cuticle is lying flat. If your hair is damaged or dry, I recommend that you fix that before jumping to color. Ideally, you want to have fine to medium density hair for this style to work. If your hair is more dense than that, it will work against the sleekness and just fight you, rather than cooperate.
#23 Glossy Black Cherry Balayage with Subtle Layers
That gloss. This shows us everything went right with the formula, application, and aftercare (let’s hope so). This is what an extremely well kept black cherry tint is. The subtle layers create a gentle internal movement so the hair doesn’t just sit there lifeless. The length is kept which maintains a nice clean line. When straight, the light captures the gloss finish and it’s stunning. The focus shifts from texture and curl to the gloss. This effect will be extended with a gloss treatment, and can even be done between color appointments.
#24 Chic Textured Black Cherry Balayage with Loose Waves
One of the most requested combinations I see is certainly the shoulder length with loose waves. The black cherry balayage looks especially nice because the shorter length keeps the color closer to the face where it has the most impact. The ends being textured here gives it a modern look that is slightly undone and prevents it from feeling too polished or too precious. This style is great for medium to thick hair and is a practical option that most people overlook when selecting a style.
#25 Glamorous Black Cherry Balayage with Luscious Curls
The length and softness of these curls give an old Hollywood vibe, but updated for someone who doesn’t have two hours to style every morning. The cherry tones blend beautifully throughout the curls, and the definition suggests either a great diffuser technique or some careful wand work. Either option is valid. The color does require upkeep to be this bright, but fading is less noticeable in the curly texture than in straight hair because the dimension created by the curls compensates for fading.
#26 Luxurious Black Cherry Balayage with Defined Curls
Long curls with balayage? Wow!! I can’t remember the last time something has caught my eye like this.
It’s the way contrast of color in each individual curl. It creates an amazing effect as the curls create different color gradients throughout.
With the right amount of Depth, life, and richness to the color combinations it creates a beautiful and stunning example of a beautiful and stunning work of art.
Curls definition and color vibrancy protections should be done with a sulfate free ash shampoo. Since my clients are usually the ones wearing heat curls, they usually
Sulfate free is one of the reasons I love my work.
Enter your email and get this picture and description straight to your inbox, and you'll also get new hair ideas ❤️
🔒 We don't spam or sell emails. See our Privacy Policy.