15 Ways to Work a Sun-Kissed Blonde Balayage

A sun-kissed blonde balayage is a summer dream come true, at the top of hair goals lists every time the temperature starts to rise. Striking that perfect balance of carelessly beachy and flawlessly blended, it’s a look that brings lightness and brightness to every mane. No exceptions.

So, let’s take a look at how you can achieve your very own sun-kissed blonde balayage, whether you’re a redhead craving strawberry tones, a brunette wanting a bronde transformation, or a natural blonde bumping up the brightness. Here’s your inspiration…

WHAT IS A SUN-KISSED BALAYAGE?

It's the most irresistible take on blonde color, featuring shades and placement to lend a sun-kissed look through your hair. Balayage is a French word meaning 'sweep', and that's exactly what your colorist will do, using freehand strokes to paint the mid-lengths and ends of your hair. Depending on your base color, they may be able to paint toner directly onto your already-light hair, but in most cases, a pre-lightener is used to create an even blonde base. When bleaching is needed, ask for BlondorPlex, our most advanced bond-strengthening lightener that gives you maximum lift (up to nine levels) with up to 97% less breakage*.

YOUR SUN-KISSED BLONDE BALAYAGE INSPIRATION

GOLDEN HOUR BRONZE

This look isn't just sun-kissed – it's sunset-kissed. Part of our Golden Hour Glow collection of services, Golden Hour Bronze is inspired by the warmth of the sunlight in the hour before it rises and sets. It flawlessly demonstrates the glow boost you get from Koleston Perfect, our vibrant permanent hair color that's been used to shade the roots and enrich hair lengths and ends. Want in? You can only get this look at a Wella Professionals salon, so use our Salon Finder to track down your nearest location, and get your transformation booked.

OLD MONEY BLONDE BALAYAGE

Image Credit: @romeufelipe

For an expensive hue that screams 'summer in the Hamptons', ask for warm honey shades through a dark blonde base. Rich and radiant, this blonde-on-blonde mane relies on babylights to nail that super-seamless blending. Just as vital as the shade, loose waves are also key to perfecting this beachy look, so grab EIMI Ocean Spritz , mist it through clean, damp hair, and braid the lengths for overnight tousling. When you wake up, release each braid and smooth a little hair oil through the length and ends, like Oil Reflections Luminous Smoothing Oil. Your blonde hair shades will shimmer and shine with a healthy, summery glow.

BLONDE BALAYAGE

Image Credit: @morettico

Like a tan for locks, this golden blonde balayage is the definition of sun-kissed. It's got that supermodel vibrancy that radiates warmth and richness from root to tip. To get the look, ask your colorist to give you a dirty blonde root shadow first, then opt for a full head of honey blonde highlights that start through the mid-lengths and glitter down to the tips. The addition of a face frame will lift your complexion, so request chunky strokes of hair color through the front.

HONEY BLONDE BOLD BALAYAGE THROUGH BROWN HAIR

Image Credit: @rodrigues_ricardo

Give dark brown curls a blonde kick to achieve these sultry, sun-kissed spirals. This high-contrast, heavier balayage is all about impact – a bold look for brunettes who want to turn heads. If you have a dark base, you can work with your natural color for this look, leaving the roots as they are, while your colorist focuses BlondorPlex through the lengths and ends. Then, when they tone the blonde, ask them to pick a shade that works in harmony with your natural root. If your hair has a cool tone, go for cool antique gold, and if it has a warm tone, opt for a rich honey blonde.

SUN-KISSED BALAYAGE ON A BROWN BASE

Image Credit: @cherylhuddhair

If you have light to medium brown hair, consider a bronde (brown-blonde) balayage. Ask for caramel colors to enrich your mid-lengths, and have just three or four pieces swept higher up the hair shaft. This is a great example of cool tones lending a sandier finish that still feels beachy and bright. So, if frosted hues suit your skin tone better, this is the dose of winter sunshine you need.

DARK HAIR AND BLONDE BALAYAGE

Image Credit: @oliviabrusciahair

Calling all bleach-shy brunettes: this blonde balayage is for you. Instead of requesting an all-over sun-kissed look, ask your colorist to add sunny strokes of soft, caramel pieces. The sparse placement gives this brown hair bob gentle brightness that blends dreamily into the base, and when you're ready to go blonder, your colorist can gradually add extra highlights. Just keep on top of brassy hair.

SUN-KISSED DIRTY BLONDE BALAYAGE

Image Credit: @nicolerevish

Make way for one of the most covetable dark blonde shades of the year. Dirty blonde is back, straddling the line between brown, blonde and gold for a neutral hair color that suits all skin tones. (Yes, all.) We love these golden tones, painted through chocolate brown hair for an added layer of warmth. Want a look this shiny? Ask your colorist to complete your look with a clear SHINEFINITY Glaze.

SUN-KISSED BRONDE BALAYAGE

Image Credit: @rodrigues_ricardo

For hair that looks fresh from the morning surf – just beautifully beachy – ask your colorist to create a bronde base and layer foilyage through the top layer. Bronde (or brown-blonde hair) is the ideal canvas, as it lends a little depth to your look, while foilyage (balayage in foils) increases the brightness and contrast of your blonde strokes. You'll want a luminous toner for this look, and Illumina Color is the ideal match. It's a permanent formula that plays up hair's natural light reflections, making it the perfect summer toner. Plus, it veils strands in dimensional and youthful, 100% natural-looking color that appears luminous in every kind of light.

SUN-KISSED CARAMEL BRONZE BALAYAGE

Image Credit: @plismam.sousa

Just stunning. This bronze gets the gold medal for the most luxurious balayage around, and it's proof that when you want your hair to look rich, glimmering caramel tones win every. single. time. With blonde face-framing pieces and a full head of highlights that glow through a mocha brunette base, it's one of the most covetable sun-kissed looks yet. And if you're wondering where that radiance came from, it's all thanks to Plismam Sousa's painting skills, along with the vibrancy of Color Touch.

STRAWBERRY BLONDE SUN-KISSED BALAYAGE HAIR

Image Credit: @thehairwaytoheaven

When your brief is 'sun-kissed' and your base is a warm cinnamon brown, try a fun strawberry tint. Red isn't a shade we'd usually associate with beachy highlights, but here's the proof that it works. Permanent Koleston Perfect holds so many vibrant reds that any shade is possible, and this strawberry blonde is up there with our favorites, giving you a lighter color that still feels fiery.

SUN-KISSED ASH BLONDE BALAYAGE

Image Credit: @sayumi.beauty

Who says ash blonde can't look sun-kissed? While we typically think of golden warm tones as sunny shades, this cool mane captures those beachy vibes and then some. This is a low-maintenance way to achieve ashy lightness, as you can enjoy all that coolness but with the soft regrowth that comes from freehand painting.

SUN-KISSED BLUSH BLONDE BALAYAGE

Image Credit: @colouredbyhaleema_valonz

Power up your sun-kissed balayage with a pastel pop of color, as seen in this honey and blush blonde transformation. Just a hint of pink is peeking through the bangs, giving the look a playful, summer-ready twist. And, if you already have a blonde balayage, you could even try adding the pastel tones at home. Simply grab the Color Fresh Mask in Pink Blush, smooth it through clean, damp hair, and leave it on for 10 minutes. Once rinsed, you'll be working pastel perfection.

SUN-KISSED TOFFEE BLONDE BALAYAGE

Image Credit: @javiervila_

It's the stretched root that makes this warm blonde masterpiece stand out. While highlights typically start a little higher, choosing to hand-paint lighter pieces from the cheekbones or jawline downwards puts the spotlight on your favorite facial features. Throw in the flattering luster of golden honey and toffee tones, and your complexion gets even more of an upgrade. When you want hair color with a beautifying boost, take this picture to your nearest Wella salon.

SUN-KISSED FACE FRAME WITH BALAYAGE

Image Credit: @danielmbeauty

A face frame and balayage are the power couple of the hair color world, working in tandem to help your hair and skin radiate brightness. This rooty look shows just how impactful a pop of blonde through the front can be, as it contrasts against the rest of the crown area, yet blends seamlessly with the lengths and ends. You can wear this combo with cool or warm shades, depending on what suits your skin tone best. Remember: match skin and hair undertones for a harmonious look, or go for a contrast when you want your shade to stand out.

SUN-KISSED BOMBSELL BLONDE BALAYAGE

Image Credit: @marianiliehair

This look is giving 'beachy bombshell' with ultra-bright, almost-platinum blonde tones, cascading through hair lengths and ends against a dark root shadow. The waves, the shade, the shine – it all works, thanks to the luminosity of Illumina Color. Plus, ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue is turning up the glamour too, with the power to repair hair damage in 90 seconds**. We all know condition is key to dreamy color, so don't forget to maintain your blonde with this innovative leave-in treatment. Simply mist it through clean, damp hair, let it absorb for 90 seconds, and then glow.

* When using Wellaplex N°2 with Blondorplex, versus Blondorplex alone.