As seasons change and trends evolve, it’s exciting to try out a new hair color or style. Inspirations for these trends often come from celebrities and the addicting “hair and beauty” board on Pinterest. In 2015, a hair color trend has made a large presence in local hair salons, giving all types of women a new and unique look.

Tisha McCann, cosmetologist at Leedz Salon, is known for her beautiful ombré and balayage styling.

“I started doing balayage and ombrés about three years ago, but they have come a long way since then. Ombré started out with a dark base color at the roots that transitions to much brighter ends,” McCann said. “Over the years, we have seen ombrés and balayage evolve from highly contrasted, with a definite line between the two colors to a more natural, sun-kissed look with a much more subtle transition.“

The growth of this trend can be explained by a variety of factors. All hair types and textures can wear ombré and balayage. Whether hair is extremely curly, or completely straight, this color technique looks beautiful.

This technique also shows off hair’s natural coloring. A majority of ombré and balayage styles use natural color at the roots and become lighter on the ends. Because of the use of natural color at the roots, the style provides easy up-keep. Unlike highlights that need to be touched up every six weeks, ombré and balayage requires little maintenance.

“For most clients, I recommend a touch up every three to four months,” McCann said.

While many people don’t understand the difference between ombré and balayage, it’s important because the overall look achieved is different between the two. When visiting a hair salon, it’s essential to talk with a stylist about which look is wanted to be achieved.

“While both ombré and balayage have a darker base and more lightness through the ends, balayage is specifically “freehand” painted highlights,” McCann said. “These don’t use foils and can be placed in the hair dry, or with plastic wrap separating the pieces. This requires more of an artistic eye and is often more customized. The ombré can be done numerous ways but usually involves a lot of blended foil highlights.”

Ombré and balayage hairstyles have continued to grow in popularity since they made their first appearances a few years ago. Many trends come and go quickly, but that is not the case for ombré and balayage. Don’t be afraid to try this style, as it doesn’t appear to be leaving the scene anytime soon.

“Balayage and ombrés have been around in various forms for many years, and I expect to see them around for years to come,” McCann said. “It’s fun to see how these trends change shades and develop over the years, but many of the techniques stay the same.”