What is reverse balayage, is the hair colour technique similar to dip dye and how can you achieve the look?
The novel hair technique is dividing opinion with beauty lovers - but what exactly is reverse balayage?
REVERSE balayage is the new hair technique which turns balayage on its head.
The technique, which offers blonde roots that fade to chocolate brown ends, has divided opinion - here’s everything you need to know.
What is reverse balayage?
Where balayage involves lightening the hair’s ends to give a natural sunkissed ombre effect, reverse balayage does 'the reverse'.
Instead of darker roots, blonde hair fades to brown, giving the opposite effect.
The look requires a blonde base for it to work, natural or otherwise.
Many are loving the edgy new technique, while others have branded it “ugly”.
Is it similar to dip dye?
Dip dye creates a bolder contrast between light and dark, while balayage has a more subtle effect.
With dip dye, there is less of a transition between the dark and lighter shades, whereas in balayage, one tends to blend into the other more naturally.
How is it done?
Reverse balayage is achieved by starting with a blonde base, then normal balayage techniques are applied.
The blonde has to be light in colour, which can be achieved by work with a colourist.
Dye is painted on by the stylist, starting roughly midway, grading down the intensity and thickness of the product.
Instead of bleach as in original balayage, brown hair dye is painted on, depending on the desired colour.
Cassie Cohen, a colourits at NYC salon Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger, says the look "defies what the sun will naturally do to your hair colour," i.e. brighten the crown.
How often do you have to get it topped up?
Better still, the look isn’t too hard to maintain.
According to Cohen, "This would require a regular highlight visit to lighten your roots and refresh the dark bottom.”
Non-natural blondes would need more work, as their dark roots would cause a brown-blonde-brown effect.
It’s suggested you should visit the salon for a top-up every six to eight weeks.
Cohen also suggests to keep the look vibrant, you should "go in for a refresh gloss in between colour sessions to keep the vibrancy of the tones alive."
Who started the technique?
Though, it’s probable the technique has been tried by salons dotted over the globe, the hair trend first hit the mainstream courtesy of Reddit.
A Reddit user posted photos of the finished look, created by Deryn Daniels, who works at Chrome Salon in Evergreen, Colorado, to the site.
Daniels said: “In a world full of blonde balayage, be a reverse!”
MOST READ IN BEAUTY
If you're mulling over your next hair look, there's now a genius makeover app that lets you try out a new hair colour BEFORE you dye it.
While shame-free acne selfies are the latest Instagram trend – but are you brave enough to post one?
And you can now get paint-on eyebrow extensions that look like real hair… so would YOU give them a go?