That doesn't mean dark-haired clients are excluded from blonde balayage. It just means the consultation should be about finding a blonde tone that works with your existing color rather than treating Pinterest photo inspo as a promise of what you’ll be able to achieve.

How do you get blonde balayage?

Bring photos, but don't just show your colorist a picture and say, “I want this.” Talk through what you actually like about it, and listen when they tell you what is and isn’t feasible. Do you want blonde concentrated around the face? Lighter mid-lengths and ends? A subtle, sunny effect? A bold contrast between your base and blonde? Do you want your natural roots left mostly untouched? These are all factors in how your colorist will proceed.

Van Ryswyk says that, regardless of the overall look, the goal is to create enough blending that you don't feel desperate to get back into the salon before your scheduled appointment. For an especially low-maintenance version, your colorist can strategically keep the roots natural. For a brighter result, they may create more lightness and contrast throughout the hair.

There isn't one correct version of blonde balayage—there's the version that fits your hair and your willingness to maintain it.

How do you maintain blonde balayage?

Van Ryswyk generally recommends booking clients three to six months out, compared with closer to two months for a highlight that goes to the scalp. The beauty of balayage is that it can go a long time between appointments, but your home routine still matters.

All of the colorists we spoke to emphasize the importance of a gentle, color-safe shampoo and a moisturizing conditioner. “I really like the Rōz Foundation Shampoo and Conditioner,” Baum says. “They leave the hair feeling clean and moisturized, but the conditioner is not too heavy.”

Leave-in treatments are also a must—especially ones that promise heat protection if you’re not just air-drying. “Always use heat protection when using a blow-dryer or hot tools, and keep your tools set to a lower temperature to avoid burning the hair, which can increase fading or discoloration,” says McCabe, who recommends the Milbon Color Retaining Primer because it also defends hair against UV exposure. For deeper conditioning, he recommends, use a mask like the Davines Nounou Mask weekly or every other week.