Hello sunshine! The summer of balayage hair colour love

a woman in a white dress is standing on a beach looking at the ocean .

Seemingly from nowhere, the balayage trend burst into beauty consciousness, and with good reason too. The word balayage is derived from the French word for sweep and refers to the colouring technique rather than the colour itself. Applied freehand, the result is a dimensional, natural looking sun-kissed effect around the face and the hair tips. Because balayage exploits your base tones, it blends with the natural roots to create a softer grow out – a highly visual impact yet gloriously low maintenance, what’s not to love?


The benefits of balayage

This multi-tonal colouring technique gives the ultimate sun kissed hair transformation to compliment your natural colouring whether you are straight-haired, curly, blonde, brunette or redhead, but it has other advantages too:


·        Looks more natural than other highlighting techniques

·        Low maintenance

·        Superior colour control – it doesn’t ‘bleed’ into other sections 

·        Causes less damage to your hair than other lightening methods


Why choose our city hair salon for balayage?

Even if you’ve previously visited Friends + Co  hairdressers Christchurch city salon, our colourist spends time to understand your hair and lifestyle – how often you heat style it, where you prefer to part it, what steps you will take to maintain the balayage colour, how often you will realistically return for a touch up, and whether you need a haircut pre-balayage. This attention to detail is what makes us the best hairdressers in Christchurch.


a woman with long blonde hair is wearing a grey sweater .


How to prepare for your balayage


1.    A few days prior to your balayage hair appointment use a nourishing hair treatment

Any colouring process has the potential to dry your hair, particularly if you are going significantly lighter. A nourishing hair treatment restores hair moisture and helps to prepare it ahead of the balayage.


2.    Come to the city hair salon with clean hair

The temptation is to style your hair before you come to the salon, especially as Friends + Co is in central Christchurch; however, the build-up of product or an excess of natural hair oil can impact the lifting process.


3.    Bring pictures of your hair goals

Our team ofbalayage Christchurch creatives love nothing more than seeing images of your hair inspiration and goals. There are so many hair techniques and colour options that have different meanings to colourists, that verbal descriptions can get lost in translation. Photos make it easier for us to understand exactly what you want.


4.    Come to Friends + Co in your go-to hair style

Combining creative experience, vision, and skills, our balayage Colourist hand paints colour onto your hair to achieve the best balayage results for your everyday. How you wear your hair influences where the Colourist places the highlights. So, if you normally havecurly hair, keep those curls so we can expertly use the balayage technique to enhance your curl pattern.


Whether you are seeking warm tones of rich caramel and honey, craving the cooling tones of silver hues through raven-black hair, or silky neutral coppers, balayage is a subtle but dramatic hair colour solution.Contact Friends + Co to transform your hair colour. Late night appointments are available Tuesdays and Thursdays, and yes, we are Christchurch hairdressers with Afterpay.

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A woman with curly hair is touching her face on a pink background.
30 July 2025
Most (if not all) curlies have a hair horror story and avoid going to a salon as the result. The problem is some stylists don’t fully understand how best to approach curly hair, whether that’s being scissor happy and taking too much from the length causing the curls to spring up even shorter, or giving the client the dreaded pyramid shape. Naturally curly hair - is both a blessing and a challenge. Curls have personality – they’re fun and full of volume, but they are completely unique to you – there is no singular cookie-cutter hair style for curly hair. To keep them looking their best, they need specialist hair care and attention : a cut that works with their natural shape, not against it. Whether you’re rocking soft waves or tighter spirals, finding the right style is key to getting the most from your curls, but also making your daily styling less time consuming and your mane more manageable. At Friends and Co our city hair salon is a curly hairdresser in Christchurch – passionate for curly haircuts, colouring and styling. Our expert team of stylists – including some of the best hairdressers in Christchurch – understand curl patterns, shrinkage, and how to shape curls to enhance their natural bounce. If you’re searching for a curly hairdresser in Christchurch, you’re in the right place. What are the best haircuts for curly hair? Soft, shaped layers Long curls benefit from soft, graduated layers that remove bulk and avoid the dreaded pyramid shape. By carefully layering the hair, we can create shape and definition, movement and volume where it matters – around the crown and face. This kind of cut works beautifully with colour too, especially a lived-in balayage in Christchurch for that sun kissed, effortless vibe. The curly bob A chin-length or shoulder-length bob is perfect for those wanting a shorter style that still makes the most of natural curls. Depending on your curl pattern, the shape is often cut dry (because wet hair lies!) so we can see exactly how the curls sit. It’s an ideal haircut for those who want a manageable, everyday style with a little Parisian flair. Curly bangs Thinking about a fringe? Curly bangs are having a real moment. When cut well, they soften the face and add a cool, modern edge for any style. They’re especially flattering on oval and heart-shaped faces. During your hair appointment and consultation, Friends and Co’s hair stylists in Christchurch will help you decide whether a full, wispy or side-swept fringe is best for your curl type. The shag or wolf cut This modern, choppy style is perfect for looser curls and waves. With its rock’n’roll attitude and tons of volume, the shag is all about movement and texture. If you’re feeling adventurous, ask your stylist about pairing it with a bold new colour or a subtle balayage for extra dimension. Why visit a curl specialist hairdresser? Curly hair isn't a one-size-fits-all situation. That’s why it's so important to visit a curly hair hairdresser in Christchurch who understands the unique needs of your texture. At Friends and Co hair salon in Christchurch, we use cutting techniques tailored to your curls and only recommend products to nourish and define – never flatten. If you are ready to fall in love with your curls again, you can book your haircut online or call us on 03 371 9297 to make your appointment. With late night hair appointments and hairdressers Afterpay available, great hair has never been more accessible.
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