There's a new coloring trend exploding on social media lately: French Balayage Shadow. We'll explain everything here: its presentation, technique, and products!
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With a name that's half English and half French, French Balayage Shadow, we can't help but wonder what it could be!
The perfect balance between depth and light
A discreet coloring technique, classic balayage consists of illuminating the hair as if it had been naturally lightened by the summer sun. To achieve this, the hairdresser plays with reflections based on the client's natural hair color.
A few years ago, L'Oréal Professionnel revisited this technique by developing the French Balayage.
The major differences? In practice, much lighter touches from the professional. And as a result, a more subtle, blended lightening, less sensitized hair, and an extremely shiny overall look thanks to a gloss treatment.
In 2022, L'Oréal Professionnel offers another version of its balayage: the French Balayage Shadow. This time, the aim is to create an ombré effect from roots to ends.
The result? Depth at the roots that contrasts with luminous lengths for a very natural blend!
How to achieve a French Balayage Shadow?
New trend means new professional technique! This hair coloring is done in 2 steps:
0 – Pre-treatment: hair detoxification
If you're not yet familiar with it, use the Metal Detox protocol. This L'Oréal pre-treatment neutralizes and detoxifies hair from metal. It's recommended to use it on your client before a technical service such as bleaching or oxidation coloring.
Thanks to the Glicoamine molecule, the Metal Detox range reduces the risk of breakage by 87% for a 100% optimized color, even if it's not done with products from the same brand!
1 – Blended lightening
The necessary product? The Blond Studio 9 Bonder inside bleaching powder, specially designed for the occasion. A composition concentrated in active ingredients that strengthen the hair's disulfide bonds (citric acid and glycine). With this powder, you can achieve up to 9 levels of lift!
To activate the powder, you need a specific developer: the Blond Studio 9-tone Developer and its 17% oils. Use in 20 or 30 Vol depending on the desired result.
To find out what proportions to use depending on the chosen method, refer to the following table:
© L’Oréal Access
When applying the mixture, backcomb the base of each strand to accentuate the blended start. Then, with a vertical brush, create the subtle transition zone. Finally, wrap each strand to optimize lightening!
2 – Custom neutralization
To neutralize post-lightening reflections as you wish, use a duo of toners. We recommend the Dialight tone-on-tone coloring cream. Ammonia-free and with an acidic pH, it acts as a gloss treatment providing 30% nourishment to the hair.
To achieve a beautiful French Balayage Shadow, the duo of hair toners should be formed as follows: a shadow/dark shade at the roots (for more depth and opacity), and a glossy/light shade on the lengths.
The shades 7.01, 8.12, and 9.21 will provide depth, and the shades 9.12, 9.21, and 10.02 will provide lightness.
For a harmonious blend between light and dark, mix the shades with your fingers in the transition zone!
And here's the result!
Don't hesitate to tag our Instagram account @gouiran_beaute on your posts so we can see your future French Balayage Shadow masterpieces! 😄
