The difference between Ombré & Balayage, Dip Dye & Splashlights

Ombré or Balayage? Dip Dye or Splashlights?

Hair colour has never been so exciting now that we have so many colour techniques and gorgeous shades to choose from.

Having said that, it can also be a bit mind boggling trying to work out whether you should have an ombré, balayage or babylights, a dip dye or splashlights!  The team at ZIGZAG Hair Studios are here to explain the differences to help you choose the right hair colouring technique for you.

If you are having a new hair colour, we recommend you have a skin test at least 48 hours before your appointment.
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The ZIGZAG Salons, Towcester

The balayage sun-kissed look

If you’re looking for sun-kissed hair colour that is low maintenance and super cool, ask your hair designer about transforming your hair using the balayage technique.

Balayage means ‘to sweep’ or ‘to paint’ in French.  The principal idea is to create soft, natural looks, with the finish being very soft with less noticeable regrowth lines. Your hair will have a casual, beachy finish with less symmetrical, random highlights.  This looks great on thick hair that sits below the shoulders and it can be worn straight or wavy.

Balayage grows out beautifully and more naturally than other hair colouring techniques, so you don’t get an obvious regrowth line between appointments.

The ombré fashion statement

Ombré is very similar to balayage but gives you a more obvious colour difference with darker roots and hair that is lighter at the ends.

More of a fashion statement than the sun-kissed balayage, it looks better on wavy or curly hair. Usually around half to two thirds of your hair will be coloured and there will be a fairly straight line showing the change in colours from dark to light.

Babylights for natural, subtle highlights

Babylights are the finest of highlights which are often added around the face to soften and brighten up your look.

Colour is applied to fine sections of hair to give a multi-dimensional, radiant, natural-looking effect.

This look can work well on all hair colours – it’s all about adding a complimentary lighter colour, usually around the face, in very fine highlights.

Funky dip-dyed hair for fashionistas

If you want to add a bold colour to your hair without opting for a full head of colour, try a dip-dye hair colour. The colour is added towards the tips of your hair.

This is very similar to the ombré but usually only coats the ends of the hair. The intention is to make it look as if your hair has been dipped in paint!

As you can see from the image on the left, this look can be taken to the extreme with dramatic results.

Splashlights for laser-like flashes of colour

One of the newest hair colouring techniques is Splashlights. This makes a real statement when it comes to your hair colour!

It literally looks like a flash of colour – usually blonde – has been splashed onto your hair – more or less horizontally or diagonally across the middle of your hair.

So now you have a better understanding of the various different hair colouring techniques (and let’s not forget the ever popular highlights, low lights and block colours too!), please feel free to book in to ZIGZAG Hair Studios for a complimentary hair colour consultation.