Beauty / Celebrity Balayage Expert Abby Haliti Gives Us Her Tips On Taking On This Hot Hair Trend

Celebrity Balayage Expert Abby Haliti Gives Us Her Tips On Taking On This Hot Hair Trend

Beauty Jun 08, 2016

by Kiki Khosla

The hottest hair trend is no doubt balayage treatment. We speak to a celebrity artist for key tips on application and care.

Having dark hair is a beautiful thing, but achieving the perfect highlight while avoiding the zebra effect can be quite a struggle. Insert the art of balayage. Balayage is a French word meaning "to sweep." When done correctly, this French colouring technique creates a natural sun-kissed look (think 5-year-old girl in the heart of summer) and soft re-growth lines so you don’t see harsh roots peeping through after a month or even a year.

When I met balayage expert Abby Haliti a few years back I knew I had found my hairmate for life. Well known for her work on Olivia Palermo’s coveted locks, Haliti is one of the most sought after colourists in the world, drawing in clients from around the globe.

As someone with naturally dark brown hair, I’m constantly asked by my fellow brunettes how my highlights look so natural, and full credit goes to Haliti. Based in NYC at the Julien Farel Restore Salon & Spa, her talent for painting hair and finding the perfect placement for highlights is a large reason I go back year after year. I had the chance to catch up with her to learn more about her world of balayage.

Kiki Khosla and Abby Haliti.

Photo Credit: NK Photography

^{Abby Haliti with Olivia Palermo and Andre Davis.

Photo Credit: @abbyhaliti Instagram}

Kiki Khosla: Can you explain the process of balayage?
Abby Haliti: Balayage refers to the process of sweeping colour onto hair using a paddle. This gives the colourist freedom and flexibility to place colour where they choose, unlike foils which are much more precise. What makes the growing out process of balayage natural is the way the colour is applied, by getting close to the root. The very thin application of colour disguises the root so when hair grows out it’s more blended. Balayage creates the most natural looking results because the highlights are painted by hand and are scattered throughout the hair for a more sun-kissed, haphazard pattern. When using foils you work row by row, which makes the highlight pattern look very linear and grid-like.

KK: How do you educate your clients on the best hair colour for them?
AH: Working with colour is not an easy thing. You have to take a step back because you are dealing with chemistry. You want to be creative but at the same time realistic. If someone is meant to be brunette I can accentuate it and make it a bit different, but I have to be realistic.

^{Olivia Palermo with balayage by Abby Haliti.

Photo Credit: @oliviapalermo Instagram}

KK: How do you make balayage look natural on people with dark brown/ black hair?
AH: The base is the foundation and serves as the canvas for the balayage. I don't like to have too much of a contrast between the colours because they need to compliment each other for a natural, sophisticated look. I always work off peoples natural pigment so I don't over highlight. The consistency of the hair is also important. For those with coarse hair the application has to be more heavy-handed, whereas those with fine hair require a light-handed application since the hair is more sensitive.

KK: You work with a range of hair types, colours and cuts. How do you know what is going to suit someone?
AH: The hair talks to me. When I studied with Nancy Braun she was so meticulous and she really made me step back and think about what is best for the client. People ask me all the time what my placements are and the truth is, I don’t know. I pick up the hair, I see the movement and it just talks to me.

KK: What advice do you have for those with overly processed hair?
AH: Before spending a fortune on products, educate yourself on colour. Colour is first, product is secondary. This starts with the process of highlighting — less is more. When you think about the concept of foils you are essentially baking the hair by forcing it into foil that gets hot. The process is rough. There is no movement and there is no colour in the face.

I have people coming to me wanting highlights to start at their root but I teach them that I need to create depth and contour the face. A single colour process or foils won’t do the trick, so I like to educate clients about the benefits of balayage.

^{My balayage on day 1.

Photo Credit: NK Photography

My balayage 6 months later.

Photo Credit: NK Photography

My balayage, 1 year later.

Photo Credit: NK Photography}

^{Main Image Photo Credit: Abbyhaliti.com}

Kiki Khosla

Author

Digital darling Kiki Khosla is a Toronto-based fashion, beauty and lifestyle blogger hoping to inspire others through her personal style and creative ingenuity. Hailing from the world and runway and print this style-savvy journalist embodies a chic, sophisticated look for the modern gal.

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Celebrity Balayage Expert Abby Haliti Gives Us Her Tips On Taking On This Hot Hair Trend

by Kiki Khosla

The hottest hair trend is no doubt balayage treatment. We speak to a celebrity artist for key tips on application and care.

Kiki Khosla

COMMENTS

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