Balayage, a French word meaning "to sweep," is a freehand hair painting technique that creates natural-looking highlights. Unlike traditional foiling, where color is applied to the hair's surface, balayage involves painting color onto the hair's mid-lengths and ends, creating a sun-kissed effect.
Balayage has gained popularity due to its versatility and ability to enhance any hair color. The technique can be customized to create subtle or dramatic highlights, and it is suitable for all hair types. One significant historical development in balayage was the introduction of the ombr technique in the 2010s, which involves blending two or more colors together for a gradient effect.





