Caramel Balayage

Warm golden brown ribbons hand painted through a brunette base, deepening toward the roots and lightening toward the ends.

Caramel Balayage

BeforeCaramel Balayage

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This render comes from the same edit instruction HairGlam uses for this look, applied to a studio portrait. In the app the shade lands on your own photo instead.

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Free on iPhone and iPad. 12 free looks: 4 haircuts, 4 hair colors and 4 makeup looks, no paywall in between. Or try it free in your browser.

As with any balayage, the color goes on freehand at the surface of chosen sections instead of being foiled through solid partings, which keeps the base color intact and the transition between the two soft. Caramel sits only a few levels above a typical brunette base, so the ribbons read as sun warmed dimension rather than a separate blonde running through the hair. Indoors the whole head can look like one rich brown; outside the golden ribbons lift forward and catch the light. It fades toward a flatter, slightly cooler brown as the warm tone washes out first.

Undertonewarm. The golden brown ribbons sit naturally against warm, olive and golden skin, and can read a little sallow against a very cool, pink-toned complexion.
Starting pointLight to medium brown hair takes the painted ribbons with a partial lift and no bleach, while dark brown or black hair needs the same sections lightened further to bring out the caramel.
UpkeepA warm gloss every 10 to 12 weeks keeps the caramel from flattening, and since balayage has no hard line, a full repaint usually waits 3 to 5 months.

HairGlam Hair Colors: one woman, a fan of the same face in different hair colors

In the HairGlam app

Try Caramel Balayage on your own photo

Add one selfie. Front on, even light, hair off your face. No account.
Tap Caramel Balayage in Hair Colors, or any of the other 298 looks.
See it in seconds on your own face, then save it for your stylist.

12 free looks: 4 haircuts, 4 hair colors and 4 makeup looks. No paywall in between, no account.

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Questions about Caramel Balayage

Which skin undertones suit Caramel Balayage?

Warm undertones. The golden brown ribbons sit naturally against warm, olive and golden skin, and can read a little sallow against a very cool, pink-toned complexion.

What hair do I need to start with for Caramel Balayage?

Light to medium brown hair takes the painted ribbons with a partial lift and no bleach, while dark brown or black hair needs the same sections lightened further to bring out the caramel.

How much upkeep does Caramel Balayage need?

A warm gloss every 10 to 12 weeks keeps the caramel from flattening, and since balayage has no hard line, a full repaint usually waits 3 to 5 months.

Can I try Caramel Balayage on my own photo before I dye my hair?

Yes. HairGlam puts Caramel Balayage on a photo of your own hair in a few seconds, so you can check it against your skin tone and eye color before you book or buy a box dye. It is free to download on iPhone and iPad with 12 free looks: 4 haircuts, 4 hair colors and 4 makeup looks, and some looks can also be tried free in your browser at hairglam.app/try.