Embrace the Sun-Kissed Glow French Balayage at Its Finest.

French balayage is a freehand coloring technique with historical roots tracing back to the Carita sisters in 1970s Paris, as explained by Jack Howard, a global hair color educator at L’Oréal Pro. While you might not be familiar with the Carita sisters – Rosy and Maria – they were the most sought-after and influential hairdressers in mid-20th century Paris, attending to the hair of prominent figures like Catherine Deneuve and Princess Soraya, who ascended to become Queen of Iran in 1951. The term “balayage,” which means “to sweep” in French, was popularized by the sisters. They employed this technique to create natural-looking highlights by delicately working with fine strands of hair.

Although color innovation and tools have advanced since then, the essence of the technique remains intact. Colorists continue to paint using the balayage method on both small and sometimes larger sections of hair, applying color to areas where the sun would naturally hit. The objective is to achieve a completely natural appearance. Howard elaborates, stating, “When someone has had French balayage, their hair picks up the light in certain places – it’s understated but still catches the eye. You don’t know what you’re looking at, but it brings subtle light and a healthy appearance to the face.”