By now, we would expect the Balayage craze to run out of steam and the majority of practitioners to be producing color that is over processed and wretched to behold. After all, this is precisely the results that, over time, killed Balayage in the 80s and, again, in the late 90s.

Except for a few hilarious examples of bad Balayage - several at the Oscars and one notable disaster on Dancing with the Stars - Balayage is still looking pretty good on heads across the continent. Assuredly, there is a tendency for the looks to go too light and a shift to trailer park trash hair, but Balayage is here to stay.

For those who need a concise definition: Balayage is a hair coloring technique which is designed to create very natural-looking highlights - ie: not right off the scalp - which grow out without developing a noticeable and obvious root - in the right set of professional hands.

The technique is easily abused, however. Many novices do bleach on bleach mere weeks apart when clients complain about grow-out. The technique is supposed to be a celebration of grow-out, albeit subtle. Balayage is an ideal coloring technique for any kind of lightening, whether you're after a blonde boost or want to add some caramel tones to your naturally brown hair.

One of the best things about balayage is its versatility. Because the color is being painted on, you can design around which sections you want to be lightened, and by how many shades. Whether you want a barely noticeable color shift or a dramatic change, Balayage is likely to work in your favor. Also, it looks like the technique has survived its freshman year and is not making too many sophomore mistakes. It is set to be around for a few years or more.

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Brandon Martinez, founder of B. The Product www.btheproduct.com

Article by Capelli d'Oro ©2011