15 Ways to Work a Sun-Kissed Blonde Balayage

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For an expensive hue that screams 'summer in the Hamptons', ask for warm honey shades through a dark blonde base. Rich and radiant, this blonde-on-blonde mane relies on babylights to nail that super-seamless blending. Just as vital as the shade, loose waves are also key to perfecting this beachy look, so grab EIMI Ocean Spritz, mist it through clean, damp hair, and braid the lengths for overnight tousling. When you wake up, release each braid and smooth a little hair oil through the length and ends, like Oil Reflections Luminous Smoothing Oil. Your blonde hair shades will shimmer and shine with a healthy, summery glow.

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Give dark brown curls a blonde kick to achieve these sultry, sun-kissed spirals. This high-contrast, heavier balayage is all about impact – a bold look for brunettes who want to turn heads. If you have a dark base, you can work with your natural colour for this look, leaving the roots as they are, while your colourist focuses BlondorPlex through the lengths and ends. Then, when they tone the blonde, ask them to pick a shade that works in harmony with your natural root. If your hair has a cool tone, go for cool antique gold, and if it has a warm tone, opt for a rich honey blonde.

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Calling all bleach-shy brunettes: this blonde balayage is for you. Instead of requesting an all-over sun-kissed look, ask your colourist to add sunny strokes of soft, caramel pieces. The sparse placement gives this brown hair bob gentle brightness that blends dreamily into the base, and when you're ready to go blonder, your colourist can gradually add extra highlights. Just keep on top of brassy hair. INVIGO Blonde Recharge Cool Blonde Shampoo is your new BFF, keeping excess warmth at bay in between salon appointments.

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For hair that looks fresh from the morning surf – just beautifully beachy – ask your colourist to create a bronde base and layer foilyage through the top layer. Bronde (or brown-blonde hair) is the ideal canvas, as it lends a little depth to your look, while foilyage (balayage in foils) increases the brightness and contrast of your blonde strokes. You'll want a luminous toner for this look, and Illumina Color is the ideal match. It's a permanent formula that plays up hair's natural light reflections, making it the perfect summer toner.

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When your brief is 'sun-kissed' and your base is a warm cinnamon brown, try a fun strawberry tint. Red isn't a shade we'd usually associate with beachy highlights, but here's the proof that it works. Permanent Koleston Perfect holds so many vibrant reds that any shade is possible, and this strawberry blonde is up there with our favourites, giving you a lighter colour that still feels fiery.

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Power up your sun-kissed balayage with a pastel pop of colour, as seen in this honey and blush blonde transformation. Just a hint of pink is peeking through the bangs, giving the look a playful, summer-ready twist. And, if you already have a blonde balayage, you could even try adding the pastel tones at home. Simply grab the Color Fresh Mask in Pink Blush, smooth it through clean, damp hair, and leave it on for 10 minutes. Once rinsed, you'll be working pastel perfection.

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A face frame and balayage are the power couple of the hair colour world, working in tandem to help your hair and skin radiate brightness. This rooty look shows just how impactful a pop of blonde through the front can be, as it contrasts against the rest of the crown area, yet blends seamlessly with the lengths and ends. You can wear this combo with cool or warm shades, depending on what suits your skin tone best. Remember: match skin and hair undertones for a harmonious look, or go for a contrast when you want your shade to stand out.