Spring Hair: Lighten Up With Balayage 

Dyeing to change your hair color? Join the club. There's just something about the sun that makes me crave color, from florescent bright shoes, to bold lips, and sun-kissed hair, theres no better time to blossom into a new style than spring.
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.

2015-04-06-1428280794-133146-577B2255copy.jpg
Dyeing to change your hair color? Join the club. There's just something about the sun that makes me crave color, from florescent bright shoes, to bold lips, and sun-kissed hair, theres no better time to blossom into a new style than spring.
2015-04-06-1428280696-1307876-577B2247.jpg
First seen in Vogue, Balayage, which was taken from the French word meaning "to sweep," is a freehand technique in which swatches of hair are sectioned and hand painted against a backing board with a lightening agent. The coloring technique developed in the 1970's is modern, chic, and creates depth and dimension thats perfect for some fun in the sun. Loved by Gisele Bundchen and those in the know, Balayage is the hottest way to brighten up your look this season.
2015-04-06-1428280497-6481200-GinaandI.jpeg
To help me spring forward with a new hair-do, I turned to the talented Gina Mancinone, the general manager at Boston's finest hair salon, Salon Mario Russo. After a consultation, Gina set me up with an appointment with master stylist Elle Proulx Cohen to cut my hair and "Bostons Best Colorist" John Brosnan, to help me heat things up with a new "do."
2015-04-06-1428280622-87257-577B2422.jpg

For my hair transformation, I sat down with Elle who cut right to the chase by expertly layering my long locks to help add body and shape to my one dimensional hair. Since thick hair that is weighed down can be shapeless, Elle brought my locks back to life with layers to amp up my style power. "From soft face-framing layers to seamless volumizing ones, adding dimension to your cut while removing unwanted bulk is the perfect way to create a fresh new look" Elle told me.
2015-04-06-1428280529-4825724-577B2317copy.jpg

Next, I was off to see John for my Balayage. As a hair color virgin, I was thankful to be in the hands of a true artist like John who immediately made me feel at ease with his expert advice and warm nature. After a consultation, we decided less was more, so John created a "les reflets du soleil sur les cheveux" (sun-kissed hair) look by applying the Balayage around my face to emphasize movement and create depth. Balayage, which is also called "hair painting," creates the most natural-looking results because the colorist paints on the highlights by hand. This method of lightening gives the colorist more control--and creates the illuminated highlights everyone wants this time of year.
2015-04-06-1428280830-2718037-577B2482.jpg

Best of all? Balayage is low maintenance, and gives a gorgeous healthy finish that looks nature-enhanced, glossy and luxe. Since healthy hair will never go out of style, John and Elle finished my hair transformation off with a treatment and gloss so my hair felt as beautiful as it looked.
Bottom line? Whether you're looking to lighten up your hair color or are dying to debut a brand-new shade, spring is the perfect opportunity to make a change and the team at Salon Mario Russo will give you the best head of hair in town. Promise.

By Zoey Gulmi
Photographer: Lisa Richov

Popular in the Community

Close

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

MORE IN LIFE