Hair » 51 Balayage Hair Color Ideas & Highlights to Try

51 Balayage Hair Color Ideas & Highlights to Try

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Balayage hair colors are eternal and perfect. Let no one ever tell you otherwise. While balayage technically is a hand painting technique used to achieve it, at this point it just as strongly correlates with a specific way of dispersing color through the hair.

So you think you’re ready for that gorgeous balayage look? We have a ton of examples off of the different balayage highlights you could try!

1. Extreme Balayage Ombre

This take on balayage hair colors is on the heavy-handed side. The ends are fully dyed a cool blonde shade, and the blending of the natural dark roots and the highlights begins very high near the scalp, giving a look that will require more maintenance, but is quite striking.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Balayage Ombre
@hairbyhaleyh

2. Coppery Blonde Balayage Bob

This is a perfect spin on balayage highlights for anyone who likes a lot of warmth in their hair. Dark brown roots blend into a coppery gold that cools down at the tips, in a bob that has a lot of warmth and dimension.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Coppery Blonde Balayage
@hairbyamyz

3. Slate Blonde Balayage

This is another extreme balayage hair color idea that would be ideal for those with naturally light hair that want to interject an icy, high fashion twist into their look. Dark blonde roots, lots of bleach, and a metallic finish make for a look fit for a slate queen.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Slate Blonde Balayage
@hairandharlow

4. Platinum Crisp Balayage

This is another example of balayage highlights for natural blondes from Hair & Harlow, this time with lots of platinum curls. Interestingly, a hint of the natural blonde works its way almost all the way down into the tips.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Platinum Crisp Balayage
@hairandharlow

5. Classic Cool Ombre Balayage

This is a classic balayage hair color that would work on nearly anyone. The bottom half of the hair is dyed a golden sombre, with the balayage hand painting technique ensuring a subtle shift from roots to highlights.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Cool Ombre Balayage
@hairandharlow

6. Caramel Balayage

This delicious balayage is like a caramel latte, with naturally espresso roots warmed up by the reddish blonde balayage highlights.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Caramel Balayage
@hairandharlow

7. Multi Metal Balayage

Balayage hairstyles are a great way of rocking metallic hair colors, because they allow you to keep your roots healthy and natural, while still turning heads with that metallic sheen. This picture is an example, with a blend of pure titanium and a bit of blonde highlights.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Multi Metal Balayage
@hairbyamyz

8. Dark Chocolate and Blonde Balayage Lob

In this balayage, tradition is slightly broken since some of the golden blonde streaks make it all the way to the roots. However, once the long bob grows out a bit, it’ll look like a traditional balayage, with ombre’d ends.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Dark Chocolate and Blonde Balayage
@monicadelarosa

9. Bombshell Blonde Balayage

This take on balayage hairstyles is actually much more representative of the hand painting technique, since the blonde covers almost all of the hair, only leaving the roots a natural chocolate brown.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Blonde Balayage
@monicadelarosa

10. Rose Gold Balayage

Balayage hair colors don’t have to be natural. In this look, gleaming shades of rose gold hair blend with blonde to showcase what a balayage showcases best: texture, volume, and dimension.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Rose Gold Balayage
@baileyage

11. Subtle Chocolate Balayage

This is one of those balayage highlights that own my heart. Dark chocolate tresses have been very lightly accented with caramel hand painted strands to give just a hint of warmth.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Chocolate Balayage
@baileyage

12. Rose Gold Balayage Lob

Balayage hairstyles are a great way to give presence and volume to understated haircuts like long bobs. Here, natural dark roots contrast beautifully against blonde and rose gold balayage highlights.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Rose Gold Balayage
@baileyage

13. Caramel and Chocolate Balayage

A side effect of balayage hair colors looking so natural is that they remind me so much of food. In this case, a melted chocolate and caramel effect is achieved with coppery curls and dark roots.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Caramel and Chocolate Balayage
@daribhair

14. Beachy Subtle Balayage

Another look with chocolate and caramel balayage hair colors, but this time it’s much more subtle and breezy, which works well with the tousled, wavy hair styling.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Subtle Balayage
@daribhair

15. Warm Copper Balayage

This is one of those classic balayage hairstyles, with differently sized streaks of color adding dimension to nearly black hair. The uniquely warm shade of mahogany in the highlights is sophisticated and unusual.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Warm Copper Balayage
@daribhair

16. Blonde Cascade Balayage

This hairstyle shows that balayage hair colors do not get in the way of gorgeous princess hair. These long, lush curls only seem brighter and richer thanks to the contrast of darker roots.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Blonde Cascade Balayage
@colorbyashley

17. Feathery Balayage Curls

Balayage hairstyles work best with curls, and thankfully it doesn’t matter if the curls are loose or tight, small or big. In this case, feathery curls work nicely with the tighter blonde streaking in this balayage.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Balayage Curls
@colorbyashley

18. Shades of Brown Balayage

While blonde and brown might be tradition for balayage hair colors, a tawny brown works just as well with naturally espresso hair. You can see that the dark color runs all the way down to the tips, even though a lot of the hair has been lightened.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Brown Balayage
@colorbyashley

19. Golden Dimension Balayage

The secret to astounding balayage highlights is a lot of natural shine. These golden blonde curls pop all the more thanks to expert curling and a lot of hair serum.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Golden Balayage
@colorbyashley

20. Coral Reef Balayage

This is a great example of how balayage highlights can be changed and upgraded overtime. What started as natural toned balayage was elevated with a wash of different shades of blonde, copper, and magenta to create a warm coral look worthy of any mermaid.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Coral Balayage
@michellehair

21. Rich Brown Balayage

Depending on the styling, balayage hairstyles can look effortless or super clean. Lush curls all going in one direction look super organized up against the caramel balayage highlights.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Rich Brown Balayage
@off7thsalon

22. Ginger & Spice Balayage

If you’ve always wanted to go redhead, but were worried about the drastic change, balayage hair colors can give you a taste. Dark brown hair with lots of red streaks is fun and fiery.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Ginger & Spice Balayage
@off7thsalon

23. Azure Wash Balayage

Unnatural balayage hair colors like this gorgeous blue don’t stick around long, but that just means you can play with a lot more colors once it fades! Balayage hairstyles are a great way to experiment with color, without getting too crazy.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Azure Balayage
@off7thsalon

24. Princess Peach Balayage

These ultra long tresses in shades of pastel peach and pink are a more extreme take on ombre balayage hair colors. Interestingly, this look retains a bit of elusive darkness because the highlights on the face-framing bangs on long hair don’t go up too high.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Peach Balayage
@hairandharlow

25. Steel Blue Balayage Gradient

This hand painted blue balayage is an ultra clean version of balayage highlights. The tips have been dyed a brighter blue, with shades of steel grey acting as transition colors between the dark roots and the ends.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Steel Blue Balayage
@bescene

26. Smokey Lavender Balayage

No one does a colorful balayage quite like Guy Tang. This blend of smoky silver hair color and deep lavender is expertly hand painted for beautiful depth and dimension.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Lavender Balayage
@guy_tang

27. Magenta Magic Balayage

There is a lot of freedom with balayage hair colors. Bleached ends here were covered with a wash of magenta, while darker magenta streaks create a beautiful gradual transition.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Magenta Balayage
@michellehair

28. Cherry Cola Balayage

Black and red create the perfect femme fatale blend for balayage highlights, like in this gorgeous, curled hairstyle.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Cherry Cola Balayage
@off7thsalon

29. Pink and Gold Gleam Balayage

Long, healthy tresses, and a complex combination of gold, pink, and peach hair shades make for one of the most astounding balayage hairstyles, that is totally perfect for a blooming spring.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Pink and Gold Balayage
@guy_tang

30. Cool Balayage Ombre

Cool blonde hair shades are harder to achieve, but they certainly create an edgy balayage that is perfect for winter. Pair them with loose but uniform curls, and you will be the height of casual coolness.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Cool Balayage Ombre
@hairbyamberjoy

31. Soft Smokey Balayage

This is like a gentler version of the previous hairstyle, with the same cool balayage hair colors. Here, however, the dye was applied to thinner strands of hair, leading to tighter highlighting and a really unique contrast.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Smokey Balayage
@hairbyamberjoy

32. Sandy Beach Balayage

This take on balayage highlights blends sandy brown with golden blonde, for a bright and natural look that reminds us of our favorite summer vacation.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Sandy Balayage
@cemgumush

33. Port and Coffee Balayage

This is the kind of simple balayage you might even be able to achieve at home, but the effect is oh-so-magical, thanks to this shade of port red blended with naturally dark coffee hair.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Coffee Balayage
@paintedbycourtney

34. Silver and Blonde Balayage

If you like living on the edge, you can try and incorporate both cool and warm shades into your balayage hair colors. In this hairstyle, the cool silver contrasts against a similarly light yet warm blonde to create a mesmerizing effect.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Silver and Blonde Balayage
@paintedbycourtney

35. Feathery Blonde Balayage Curls

Feathery curls and a bright blonde balayage with dark roots are a classy choice that works well with this layered haircut.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Blonde Balayage Curls
@chitang_hair

36. Melted Gold Forward-Facing Balayage

Aside from the astounding shade of melted gold used for the balayage highlights, the other thing that really stands out with this hairstyling is that most of the gold is concentrated near the face, while everywhere else the natural brown hair color reigns supreme. This totally brightens the complexion, without using too much dye.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Melted Gold Balayage
@_ceairrak

37. Brightening Touch Balayage

Golden balayage highlights start at about eye level in this gorgeous hairstyle, so the overall look is still undeniably brunette, but a bright and healthy looking one.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Brightening Balayage
@_ceairrak

38. Lush Gold Color-Melt Balayage

Different shades of gold and blonde in these balayage highlights create a deep, metallic effect, while the darker roots lend a serious contrast.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Gold Color-Melt Balayage
@allievilla

39. Metallic Brunette Balayage

A wash of light brown and an even subtler hint of blonde run through brunette strands, creating one of those balayage hairstyles that cease to look like hair, and look instead like molten metal.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Metallic Brunette Balayage
@allievilla

40. Gradual Ombre Balayage

This is a take on balayage hair colors that requires seamless blending to create a perfect transition from the dark brown roots to a lighter brown middle shade, to gleaming golden ends.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Gradual Ombre Balayage
@allievilla

41. Coral and Pink Unicorn Balayage

These gradual color changing balayage hairstyles don’t have to be natural, as we can see in this look that goes from dark brown roots to a bright coral, and ends with cool pink ends.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Coral and Pink Unicorn Balayage
@allievilla

42. Shades of Blonde Balayage

Normally, looser waves work better with balayage highlights when the hair is tousled. However, as we can see in this hairstyle, featuring a mélange of warm and cool shades of blonde, when the highlights start higher up near the roots, even straighter styling works well.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Blonde Balayage
@allievilla

43. Cascading Chocolate and Gold Balayage

Balayages are oh-so-glamorous on super long hair. The contrast of chocolate brown roots and warm golden balayage highlights is full of depth and beauty.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Chocolate and Gold Balayage
@styledbycarolyn

44. Ginger Snap Balayage

Feathery, tousled long bobs are a perfect accompaniment to balayaged hair. While most of the head has been dyed auburn, brighter balayage hair colors add whimsy.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Ginger Balayage
@kimberly_call

45. Rose Copper Balayage

Ultra light copper was accented with pink balayage hair colors in a look that is eccentric and modern, yet soft and romantic.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Rose Copper Balayage
@kristen.lumiere

46. Smoke and Lilac Balayage

Traditional balayage hairstyles, where darker hair is balayaged with blonde ends, actually create an opportunity for a lot of versatility. Here the balayage was punched up with lilac hair dye that looks bright and vibrant over the bleached ends, and dark and subdued when applied over the darker, natural roots.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Lilac Balayage
@kristen.lumiere

47. Berry and Peach Sangria Balayage

This beautiful color-melt balayage features a fruity blend of light peach and dark berry red. While, with the exception of the roots, all of the hair is dyed, the hand painting technique is apparent making this a clear balayage.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Berry and Peach Sangria Balayage
@__tammyrene__

48. Golden Blonde Color-Melt Balayage

This is both a very wearable balayage and a really easy way of going blonde, with a lovely dark brown to dark blonde, to platinum gradient.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Golden Blonde Color-Melt Balayage
@littleblacksalon

49. Platinum Blonde Balayage

There is no subtlety in this hand-painted balayage – just fierce platinum waves, with the tiniest hint of a dark root and some blonde streaks.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Platinum Blonde Balayage
@littleblacksalon

50. Lavender and Peach Smoke Balayage

Smokey lavender hair shades are great as balayage hair colors, because they work well with the dark roots while still looking soft. A peachy touch along the ends gives a bit of summery brightness.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Lavender and Peach Smoke Balayage
@hairbyelisajohanna

51. Dark Auburn and Gold Balayage

There is so much fiery volume and dimension in this ginger take on balayage hairstyles. The gingery gold streaks running through the dark auburn hair are warm and high energy.

Balayage Hair Trend: Balayage Hair Colors & Balayage Highlights: Dark Auburn and Gold Balayage
@davefunseeka

Photos via Instagram