Though this is technically a fashion blog, I'm a firm believer in changing your look as well as your wardrobe for a new season (in the last few years my hair has been everything from Pammie peroxide to black!) so when I heard about a new highlighting technique which has just arrived in London I had to give it a try.
Since moving to London I am yet to find the right colourist, so this week I paid a little visit to society salon Equus in Knightsbridge for my appointment with Balayage specialist Jack Howard. Established in 1953, the salon has just undergone a major facelift; the gorgeously sumptuous decor is now reminiscent of a cosy living room - a pleasant change to the clinical white salons I am use to frequenting and a lovely relaxing atmosphere.
Balayage (from the French verb balayer, meaning 'to sweep') is a revolutionary new technique, abandoning traditional foils in favour of simply painting colour onto the hair, resulting in less noticeable re-growth and a more subtle result. Jack has spent the last 17 years in the USA, the last decade of which was spent teaching the technique in L'Oreal's Black Elite salons everywhere from New York to LA, so I was confident I was in capable hands! The secret success of Balayage come from fading in the colour at the root, making it heavier through the lengths and then saturating the ends - eliminating the dreading root we all detest!
I was treated like a princess throughout - Jack was delightfully attentive, explaining every step of the process and what makes it different from foils, and I was even treated to a complimentary Essie manicure from the wonderful Ines, and a truly fabulous blow dry from top international stylist Arturo Garcia. It was a very pampering experience! Another client I spoke to at the salon, 23-year old Marina, had just had her Balayage highlights done by Jack - she had been having highlights since the age of 16 and was in no doubt that these were the best she'd ever had, great for her short hair and full of contrast yet young and contemporary with it.
Although I was somewhat dubious when my head was covered in clingfilm (see the during photo!) the results were incredible. My below par camera really doesn't do it justice - my last set of highlights was a little brassy and obvious, but with Balayage the highlights are soft and subtle, extremely natural looking and just the right tones to complement my current hair colour; I have already been bombarded with compliments on my new look! At a similar price to a head of foils from a top notch colourist, I can definitely recommend Balayage as the new technique to try; if you love your highlights but want to avoid nasty-looking regrowth, give it a go - I guarantee you will love it!
I have Gift Vouchers available to the first 25 readers for 30% off Balayage with Jack Howard, 50% off a cut and blow dry with Arturo Garcia, and a complimentary Essie manicure with Ines. To claim one, simply cemail your details to me at [email protected].
For more information on the Balayage technique or other services from Equus, visit www.equushair.com or call the salon on 020 7584 0105. For more information on Jack Howard visit www.jackhoward.co.uk
