As explained by John Frieda, the hand-painted nature of balayage makes it a bit more time consuming than typical highlights. A simple balayage treatment with just a few painted sections can take just 45 minutes, but all-over balayage can take up to 3 hours. That being said, according to Byrdie, the treatment can take anywhere from 3-5 hours, so bring a book, a Netflix series on your iPad, or even some work to do as you prepare to sit in the salon chair for quite some time.
Once you're at the salon, you will most probably have a conversation with your stylist about the end goal, so bringing photos is always recommended so both of you are on the same page. Next, your hair will be sectioned off and hand-painted, which can take anywhere from 1-2 hours. Some colorists recommend coming in with clean hair for the best results! After hair is painted, you will be put under a dryer for up to 45 minutes so the color lightens fully, which is followed by rinsing, sometimes a protein treatment, and a toner to get your strands cool-toned (via Byrdie).
Many stylists recommend using a purple shampoo to avoid balayage turning brassy or orange, followed by weekly deep conditioners (via John Frieda). This will help you maintain balayage's signature natural, sun-kissed look (via Grazia), making the time-consuming process totally worth it in the end.
