Gorgeous Copper Balayage Examples to Inspire Your Next Salon Visit
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Though you may be pretty familiar with the term "balayage," you may not know what it means or exactly what the technique entails. "The word is French, and it means 'to sweep,'" explained Beth Minardi, an NYC-based celebrity hairstylist who's colored Sarah Jessica Parker, Evan Rachel Wood, and Christie Brinkley. "Balayage, then, is a technique whereby the colorist paints — or 'sweeps' — lighter, brighter selected strands of color at given areas throughout the head."
The strands begin to show a high-contrast color difference at varying points away from the scalp, she explained. This is what gives balayage that "rooty" and organic appearance. It's also why every balayage job looks different — every hairstylist has their own unique "paint stroke!"
We've seen balayage in a lot of different hues, from classic blonde and brunette to rose gold, watercolor, and salt and pepper. Today, we're showcasing a spectrum of copper-hued balayage.
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Brunette and Golden Copper
The Color: Brunette and Golden Copper
Celebrity Inspiration: Jourdan Dunn
Description: "This is a high-contrast, beautiful, and painterly look — a great choice for a woman with a red carpet presence like Jourdan," said Minardi. "What is critical to notice here is placement. The impressionistic effect that is not uber precise in appearance, the varying lengths, and copper color give the hair dimension, movement, and depth, making this look a definitive fashion-forward statement." She explained that the varying intervals engage the eye and keep the hair color from seeming one-dimensional, artfully blending base into balayage.
Who It Works For: "In Jourdan's case, the copper balayage is a natural complement to her creamy, caramel skin tone," said Minardi. "Overall, copper balayage is most suitable for women with warmer skin tones."
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Mahogany Ambré
The Color: Mahogany Ambré
Celebrity Inspiration: Sydney Sierota
Description: "This look is more of an 'ambré' technique with a mahogany-red base graduating to fiery copper ends," said celebrity hairstylist Christopher Marrero, whose client list includes Kate Upton, Rachel Zoe, and Neve Campbell. "Using your [colorist's] preferred balayage techniques, concentrate the hair lightener toward the ends. This will help to create the dark-to-light, graduated look."
Who It Works For: This cool red works well for most skin types, though olive complexions may have a difficult time pulling it off. "Instead, stick to a warm, deep coppery shade as your base color," Marrero advised.
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Melted Copper
The Color: Melted Copper
Celebrity Inspiration: Rose Byrne
Description: "This is more of a melted effect, which is a trend in balayage today," said Minardi. "Note that the ends are brighter and lighter, and there are subtle variations throughout that create a coppery shimmer with lighter and richer strands." This way of painting creates more of an all-over glow effect, she explained. For the same look, your stylist should focus on ends first and then move up to the midsection, then the root. Minardi added, "The concentration of color is on the ends here, which is a hallmark of balayage in general. In this case, the ends are a bit blonder, bringing out the copper in the upper sections through an understated color evolution."
Who It Works For: "Rose Byrne has a porcelain complexion, and the warm glow of the copper is soft and flattering with her ivory skin," said Minardi. This color would work on many complexions.
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Moody Auburn and Copper Tips
The Color: Moody Auburn and Copper Tips
Celebrity Inspiration: Savannah Outen
Description: The dark auburn base and bright copper tips perfectly complement this ultrafresh cut — complete with edgy bangs — worn by Outen. If you want to re-create this look on your own head, Marrero said to make sure your colorist places the copper color on the lowest part of your hair, leaving lots of room between the base color and where balayage begins.
Who It Works For: Note that dark auburn can make light-skinned girls look paler (but that's not a bad thing at all). Olive complexions may want to warm up the color slightly.
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Plum and Muted Copper
The Color: Plum and Muted Copper
Celebrity Inspiration: Asia Whiteacre
Description: Marrero said he's digging this rocker-chic plum base with the graduation into muted, copper ends. "To re-create this look, leave more room between the base color and where you start the bayalage, concentrating on the mid shaft to ends," he said.
Who It Works For: Again, this color works well with most skin tones. However, if your skin leans a little olive, choose a warmer base for a more flattering look.
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Strawberry and Subtle Copper
The Color: Strawberry and Subtle Copper
Celebrity Inspiration: Isla Fisher
Description: Marrero said this is one of his favorite copper balayage looks. "It's a dark strawberry base and supersubtle copper highlights," he noted. "To re-create this look, concentrate balayage on only the front pieces around your part and the tips, [then] tone with [the] desired coppery shade to finish."
Who It Works For: "All skins tones can pull off the soft and subtle warm tones of this look," Marrero said.