Hand-painted colour, grown from your natural base
Balayage is a freehand colour-painting technique - colour is hand-swept onto the surface of your hair rather than isolated in foils, so the lightness builds gradually from mid-lengths to ends and grows out softly instead of leaving a hard regrowth line. Done well, it should look like your hair caught the sun, not like a set of stripes.
At The Establishment, balayage always starts with a proper consultation before anything touches your hair. We look at your natural base, your hair's condition and texture, and talk honestly about what's achievable - then show you the plan before we begin, so there are no surprises when you leave the chair.
This is what "grown
from your natural base" looks like.
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Balayage with Lisa B
Balayage is one of Lisa B's named specialities, alongside lived-in colour and Californian blondes. Lisa has nearly 20 years in hair, starting out in California before relocating to the UK, and has worked as a colourist on Marvel film productions - a background that shows in the precision of her freehand work. Before joining The Establishment she held a senior role at a prestigious Windsor salon, and she's currently halfway through the year-long Goldwell Master Colorist programme, working towards the Master Colorist title.
As Lisa puts it: "Looking for Californian Blonde? You know where to find me." Meet Lisa B and see more of her colour work →
Built on hair integrity, not just highlights
Every balayage service is carried out using Goldwell colour - professional lighteners and colour formulated with hair integrity built in, so there's no compromise on condition to get to the tone you want. All the chemicals we use in the salon are vegan. If you'd like scattered foils added for extra dimension, these can be added to any colour service, up to 10 foils, charged per foil and per colour bowl.
As with all our technical colour services, a colour allergy test is a legal requirement 48 hours before your appointment - this isn't a salon preference, it's the law, and we'll always talk you through booking it in. Technical colour services are for over-16s only, and 16–18 year-olds need a parent at the consultation.
Pricing for balayage is given at consultation, once we've seen your hair's length, thickness and current colour - as with any freehand colour work, the time and product involved varies from head to head. New clients get 20% off their first visit, and students get 15% off with valid ID.
"Had a balayage done with Becki and she has transformed my hair! My hair is long and extremely thick and I have found it hard to find a salon that is able to work with my hair but Becki did a fantastic job!"
Prefer something even lower-maintenance?
If you want colour that needs even less upkeep between visits, ask us about lived-in colour - a softer, more subtle relative of balayage that Lisa also specialises in, designed to grow out gracefully with minimal top-up work.
Balayage Questions, Answered
It depends on your hair's length, thickness and current colour, so we'll always give you a realistic time estimate at consultation. Please arrive on time so we can deliver the full service properly - freehand colour work takes the time it takes to get right.
One of the main benefits of balayage is that it grows out softly rather than leaving a hard line, so most clients come back for a top-up less often than with traditional highlights. Your stylist will recommend a realistic schedule for your hair at consultation, based on how quickly it grows and how bright you want to stay.
Yes - a colour allergy test is a legal requirement 48 hours before your appointment. This isn't a salon preference, it's the law, and we'll always talk you through booking it in.
Yes - scattered foils can be added to any colour service, up to 10 foils, charged per foil and per colour bowl used, so you only pay for what's actually applied.
Ready for softer, sun-kissed colour?
Book your balayage consultation
Talk it through with Lisa B or one of our colour team, or check our FAQs before you book.