23 Balayage on Black Hair Ideas That Never Go Old

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Balayage hair isn’t new to our ears. We’ve seen it on Instagram many times. It’s a hairstylist’s favorite way to add dimension and depth to hair today.

But if you have black hair, you might be wondering if balayage on black hair works. The answer is a big YES!

a hair stylist doing a balayage to her client with black hair in a salon

Even if black hair is hard to lighten, balayage on black hair is very much possible. You can use brown or blonde colors to give your hair a soft, natural look, or you can get creative with unnatural hair color combinations.

Black hair balayage can also be enjoyed for a long time because it’s a low-commitment, gradual transition from a dark natural hair color to something bold and beautiful.

Table of Contents

1 23 Balayage Ideas for Black Hair
2 Balayage on Black Hair: How Is It Done?
3 How To Care for Balayage Hair
4 Frequently Asked Questions
5 Get a Gorgeous Balayage on Black Hair

23 Balayage Ideas for Black Hair

When it comes to this wonderful coloring technique, you have a lot of options.

If you want to have a beachy look without actually going to the beach, you can try natural brown balayage on black hair.

For an easy blonde transformation, there are also blonde balayage on black hair ideas for you.

And if you’re someone who loves fun or wants more of an edgy look, try bold or fantasy balayage colors.

Go ahead and look at our list of the best balayage colors for black hair!

Natural Brown Balayage

Balayage isn’t just about going light. It’s also about adding life to your black hair.

You can get balayage highlights that are a few shades lighter than your dark base. It will give your locks natural texture and depth.

Go for natural brown shades that can blend seamlessly to your black hair.

1. Soft Chestnut Balayage on Black Hair

A woman with long wavy brown hair and subtle makeup looking at the camera, with autumn trees visible through the window behind her.

Chestnut color is so versatile it can look good on both cool and warm skin tones. Paint it on black hair, and you’ll get subtle shadows that frame your hair so well.

2. Chocolate Brown Balayage on Black Hair

A young woman with long, wavy brunette hair smiling subtly in a salon.

Want something sweet? Get rich chocolate brown shades for your black hair.

Yes, deep dark chocolate brown looks almost invisible on black hair, but it actually gives you a more natural-looking dimension.

3. Golden Brown with Money Piece

A young woman with long, wavy brown hair highlighted with blonde, facing the camera against a wood-paneled background.

Balayage looks more interesting when paired with a money piece. Money piece is a technique where the face is framed by lightening the hair on the front hairline.

4. Black Hair with Caramel Balayage

A woman with tousled, shoulder-length ombre hair, staring intently at the camera, set against a softly blurred background.

If you want something that’s more noticeable, you can choose a caramel shade. Since it’s lighter, it can create more contrast with your black hair.

This look is perfect for warm skin tones.

5. Cool-toned Light Brown Balayage

Woman with long, wavy brown hair highlighted with blonde, looking slightly to the side against a gray background.

Now if you have a cool skin tone and you also want your balayage to be lighter, a cool shade of light brown will look gorgeous.

Blonde Balayage for Black Hair

Want to go lighter but can’t let go of your black hair yet? There’s a gentler and more gradual way to add lightness to your hair, and that is through blonde balayage.

The blonde lights pop against your black hair, giving beautiful depth and texture to your hair.

For warm skin tones, you can choose warm shades like golden and honey blonde. While for cool tones, get soft blonde, cool blonde, ash blonde, or platinum.

6. Soft Blonde Balayage Curls

This look is perfect for curly hair because the texture it creates gives an illusion of more body and bounce.

7. Cool Blonde Balayage

Woman with long ombre hair, transitioning from dark brown roots to blonde waves, viewed from the back.

Have fuller-looking black tresses by painting with cool or ice-blonde lights. The color blends nicely with black roots.

8. Golden Blonde Balayage

Rear view of a person with long, dark to blonde ombre hair styled in loose waves, photographed in a salon setting.

Golden blonde is the best way to lighten your hair and warm up your complexion.

This shade can be applied not just on wavy hair. It can also make straight and layered hair more beautiful.

9. Ash Blonde Balayage with Beach Waves

A young woman with long, wavy gray-ombre hair and subtle makeup, standing indoors, wearing a dark top.

If you want a more grayish variation of the cool blonde, you can try ash blonde balayage.

It’s perfect for those who want to have bright hair that’s not overwhelming to the eyes. Try it with waves for more body.

10. Platinum Blonde

Woman with long, wavy blonde hair smiling in a salon.

Now if you’re looking for something more eye-catching, opt for a balayage with platinum lights. This will have a bright and full contrast against your black base.

11. Honey Blonde Balayage on Black

Honey blonde is like a light brown with yellow tones, just like honey. Sweeten your black hair with a honey-blonde balayage hairstyle.

Subtle Balayage Hairstyles

A subtle balayage is a type of balayage that lets you add spice to your hair without looking too loud.

For this style, you’re not limited to brown colors. You can choose other dark colors that can softly blend with your black hair.

These are the shades that don’t require extreme lightening of your hair strands.

12. Mahogany Balayage

A woman's back showing long, wavy hair with brown and caramel highlights.

This reddish-brown color will give you a soft, spicy look. It’s a mixture of both cool and warm shades so it can suit any complexion.

You can try it with a partial balayage or full balayage.

13. Chocolate Cherry Balayage

Woman with long, wavy hair displaying a dark base color with subtle burgundy highlights, viewed from behind.

Be a tempting dessert with this deep color. Chocolate cherry gives your mane an intense hue that subtly blends with black hair.

14. Ash Brown Balayage

Rear view of a person with long, wavy hair showcasing a smooth balayage transition from dark brown at the roots to light blonde at the ends.

This shade of balayage on black hair offers a darker version of ash blonde balayage. An ash brown shade can cool down the tone of anyone’s black mane.

Red Balayage Hair Color

Red shades are perfect for creating bold looks.

You probably want to have sizzling locks but aren’t brave enough to go full red. Or you don’t want to commit to maintaining red hair.

Well then, get a red balayage for a sexy, bold, low-maintenance look.

15. Partial Burgundy Balayage

Do you have a light balayage that has grown out? Why not paint it burgundy? This could make a gorgeous partial balayage for your black hair.

Partial balayage is when the color is added only to a certain area of your hair, like the ends or top layer.

16. Red Balayage on Long Black Hair

Woman with black to red ombre curly hair, viewed from behind against a white brick background.

Add a beautiful bright red to your long hair with a full balayage on black hair. This will make you look like a girl on fire!

17. Auburn Balayage

Back view of a person with long, wavy chestnut hair highlighted with caramel tones, in a salon setting.

It’s not too late to join the fall trend. Have your stylist paint auburn dye on your black hair for a bright, warm look.

Blue Balayage Hairstyles for Black Hair

Blue balayage is all the rave right now on social media.

This look isn’t for the faint of heart though. The blend of your natural black strands with cool blue tones gives a really bold statement. There’s no way your blue balayage hair can go unnoticed.

18. Midnight Blue Balayage

A woman's long, wavy hair dyed with a gradient of deep black transitioning into vibrant blue, photographed against a white background.

Get this mysterious dark color for an edgy look. This shade especially works great to give life to short hair.

19. Ice Blue Balayage

A person with dark hair fading into blue ombre curls, viewed from the back against a gray background.

Ice blue balayage begins with powdery blue mids and icy almost-white tips. This color looks really cool on black hair.

Fantasy Color Balayage

Be a fairy or a mermaid. Be anything you want to be. Have an exciting new look by adding a pop of fun color to your black or dark hair.

Take a look at some of the colors we love.

20. Teal Balayage

Rear view of a person with long, wavy black hair transitioning to vibrant turquoise tips.

Channel your inner mermaid with a charming teal shade. Teal blended with black hair creates more drama and personality. Style your hair in messy waves to complete the look.

Curious how a teal balayage looks on straight black hair? It’s as fascinating!

21. Lavender Balayage

Back view of a person with long, wavy hair dyed in shades of dark purple and lavender, inside a salon with blurred shelves in the background.

Wanna look like a field of flowers even with black hair on?

Try a dusty lavender balayage on black hair! The best way for lavender to pop is to apply it in partial balayage.

22. Silver Balayage

Woman's back showing her long, wavy gray and black ombre hair styled with a half-up, half-down hairdo secured by a silver ring.

A cool and edgy look you can also try is a full balayage painted with a silver tone. This color agrees with both wavy and straight hair. It can be your youthful take on granny hair.

23. Two-Toned Pink Balayage

Pink is already a playful color. But if you want to jazz it up some more, you can get two tones of pink. It’s twice the fun and twice the youthful effect!

Balayage on Black Hair: How Is It Done?

There are two ways to do a balayage:

Traditional Freehand Balayage

One is the traditional freehand balayage where the hair lightener is swept onto the hair.

Here’s an example of the freehand balayage:

Foilayage

The other method is commonly known as foilayage. It’s the same sweeping method, but the sections are wrapped in foil for faster lightening.

Take a look at how it’s done:

How To Care for Balayage Hair

Although balayage hair is low-maintenance because you won’t need frequent touch-ups, keeping the color fresh for a long time still means you have to care for your locks properly.

Here are some tips on how to make your color last long:

Don’t wash your hair daily.
Use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner.
Condition your hair regularly.
Use a hair mask every 2 weeks.
Avoid too much sun exposure.
Refrain from swimming.
Get a regular trim.

two hair stylist applying icy blue balayage to a young girl with black hair and dark blue lipstick

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Have a Balayage on My Black Hair Without Bleach?

Yes, you can still do the balayage technique without using bleach. A hair dye mixed with a 20-volume developer can lift the hair too. However, the color payoff will be less light and vibrant.

This means the overall effect will be subtle.

An example of this is black hair with a brown balayage.

How Long Will Balayage Last on Black Hair?

The color you used for your balayage will fade out at the same rate as regular hair dye, no matter the technique.

But the difference in balayage is, there’s no pressure to get a retouch because the hair will grow out beautifully.

You can go for 3 to 4 months without visiting the salon again.

What Is the Difference Between Balayage vs. Highlights vs. Ombré?

In balayage, the color is painted from the mid shafts and is more saturated at the ends. Whereas in highlights, each section is saturated from root to tip.

A balayage can reach up to the higher mid shafts, about 2 inches away from the roots. Whereas in ombré, the lower mids to roots are fully colored.

Here’s a table detailing their differences:

Aspect	Balayage	Highlights	Ombré
Technique	Hand-painted technique	Foil or cap technique	Gradual color transition
Application	Freehand application of color	Sections of hair in foils or cap	Color transition from dark to light
Placement	Natural, sun-kissed appearance	Even distribution throughout the hair	Darker roots transitioning to lighter ends
Blending	Soft and seamless	Can be soft or more defined	Distinct line of demarcation between colors
Maintenance	Low maintenance, grows out naturally	Regular touch-ups needed	Gradual color change, lower maintenance
Effect	Natural, lived-in look	Defined and uniform color	Dramatic contrast between dark and light
Suitability	Versatile, works for various hair types	Suitable for most hair types	Works well with longer hair
Color Range	Natural tones, sun-kissed shades	Varied, can include natural or bold	Dark to light color transition

Get a Gorgeous Balayage on Black Hair

Balayage is a great way to transform your black hair. It creates a soft, blended effect on your locks for dimension.

Because of the root blend, you don’t need to worry about grow-outs.

Which balayage idea was your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

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Author

Rachelle Velasco
Rachelle, is a sought-after freelance hair and makeup artist, shines particularly in the world of hair color. From subtle ombres and balayages to vibrant hues and intricate root work, she crafts unique styles tailored to individual preferences. Beyond her artistic talents, Rachelle also holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, showcasing her diverse skill set and dedication to learning.
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