Balayage & Ombré
What Is Balayage?
Balayage is one of the most requested hair colour techniques at Lloyds Hair Salon in Clonmel, loved for its soft, natural-looking and low-maintenance finish.
The word balayage comes from the French term meaning “to sweep.” During your appointment, your Lloyds colour specialist will hand-paint the colour onto your hair, focusing on the areas where the sun would naturally lighten it. This creates a beautifully blended, sun-kissed result with softer regrowth and less maintenance than traditional foil highlights.
Because balayage is fully bespoke, your colour is tailored to suit your hair type, skin tone and desired level of brightness — whether you’re looking for subtle dimension or a brighter blonde transformation.
How Long Will My Balayage Appointment Take?
The length of your balayage appointment at Lloyds Hair Salon in Clonmel will depend on your hair length, thickness and the level of lightening required.
A subtle balayage with soft, face-framing highlights will typically take less time than a full balayage transformation through the mid-lengths and ends. If you are going significantly lighter or correcting previous colour, your appointment may take longer to achieve a beautifully blended, healthy result.
If your hair has been over-processed or feels dry or fragile, we may recommend strengthening treatments to protect and improve its condition during your colour service. This ensures your balayage not only looks stunning but feels healthy too.
What Is the Difference Between Balayage and Ombré?
Balayage and ombré are both beautiful, dimensional hair colour techniques, but they create slightly different finishes.
Balayage is a soft, hand-painted technique that creates a natural, blended effect. The colour gradually becomes lighter through the mid-lengths and ends, often combined with subtle root melts or shadow roots for a seamless, low-maintenance grow-out. Face-framing highlights can also be added to brighten and enhance your features.
Ombré, by contrast, creates a more defined transition from darker roots to lighter ends. The change in tone is more noticeable and structured, giving a stronger two-toned effect from root to tip.
At Lloyds Hair Salon in Clonmel, our colour specialists will help you decide which technique suits your style, maintenance preferences and overall hair goals — whether you're looking for a soft, lived-in blonde or a more dramatic colour transformation.
How Do I Maintain My Balayage Hair Colour?
One of the reasons balayage is so popular at Lloyds Hair Salon in Clonmel is because it is beautifully low maintenance. Unlike traditional highlights, balayage is softly blended at the root and lighter through the mid-lengths and ends. This seamless technique allows for a more natural grow-out, meaning fewer salon visits are needed.
To keep your balayage looking fresh, glossy and dimensional, we recommend visiting our Clonmel hair colour specialists every 8 - 12 weeks for a toner refresh, glossing service or subtle top-up. Using professional salon-recommended products at home will also help maintain shine and prevent brassiness between appointments.
Can I Have Balayage With Red Hair?
Absolutely! Balayage works beautifully on red hair, as well as blondes, brunettes and even silver or grey tones.
Whether you’re enhancing natural copper shades, adding soft strawberry blonde dimension, or experimenting with creative colours such as rich auburn, vivid tones or on-trend pastel hues, balayage can be fully customised to suit your style. During your consultation at Lloyds Hair Salon in Clonmel, we will design a colour plan that complements your base shade while keeping your hair healthy and vibrant.
