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Hair & Color · West 3rd Street, LA
Balayage in Los Angeles
Balayage at MUA Salon starts at $300 and takes about 3 hours, including the lightening pass, toning gloss, and finishing blow-dry. Performed by trained colorists at our studio at 8336 West 3rd Street in Beverly Grove, Los Angeles, our balayage delivers hand-painted, sun-kissed dimension that grows out softly — the kind of color you can stretch to 4 to 6 months between full sessions.
Overview
What balayage actually is
Balayage — French for "to sweep" — is a freehand hair color technique in which the colorist hand-paints lightener onto the hair in soft, sweeping motions, rather than placing it in foiled sections. The result is a sun-kissed dimension that's brighter where the sun would naturally hit and softer at the roots, creating a grow-out that doesn't show a hard line.
At MUA Salon, every balayage appointment includes a one-on-one consultation, a custom shade strategy mapped to your skin tone, the lightening pass, a toning gloss to refine the final color, and a finishing blow-dry. We use a bond-building protocol during the lightening pass to keep hair healthy, and finish every balayage with a deep conditioning treatment.
For category-wide pricing in context, see our full service menu. For services beyond hair, see permanent makeup and bridal.
Candidacy
Who balayage is for
Balayage is the right call for clients who want color that grows out softly and doesn't lock them into a strict 6-week schedule. It's especially flattering on clients going from dark hair to a sun-kissed mid-tone, on clients who want their natural color enhanced rather than overwritten, and on anyone tired of the harsh regrowth line that traditional highlights leave.
Best hair type: all hair types. Balayage works on straight, wavy, curly, and coiled hair. We adjust placement and saturation for hair density, length, and your starting level.
Best for: first-time color clients, low-maintenance lifestyle clients, anyone with naturally dark hair who wants brightness without going full blonde, and clients with previous color who want a softer, more dimensional refresh. For a brighter, more uniform lift, foil highlights or a full bleach (from $400) may be a better fit.
Price & duration
- Price
- From $300 (full balayage)
- Duration
- ~3 hours, single session
- Includes
- Lightening pass · toning gloss · blow-dry
- Maintenance
- Gloss every 8–14 weeks · full balayage every 4–6 months
- Add-ons
- Olaplex bond-builder, deep conditioning, brunette gloss, blonde gloss
- Pre-care
- Wash within last 2 days; no oils or heavy serums day-of
The process
What a balayage appointment looks like
- Consultation (10–15 min). Bring 2–3 inspiration photos. We talk through your goal, your starting level, lifestyle, and how often you want to be back in the chair.
- Strategy & section (15 min). The colorist sections your hair and decides on placement — face-frame brightness, mid-shaft warmth, or end-only ribbons.
- Hand-painted lightening (60–75 min). Lightener is hand-painted in sweeping motions. Bond-builder is added to the lightener to protect hair integrity.
- Process & check (30–45 min). Hair processes under heat or at room temperature. We check lift every 5–10 minutes.
- Wash & tone (20–30 min). Lightener is rinsed; a custom toning gloss neutralizes brassiness and refines the final shade.
- Deep conditioning & blow-dry (30–45 min). Hair is treated with a bond-rebuilding mask, rinsed, and finished with a smooth blow-dry.
Plan for roughly 3 hours start to finish. Eat before you come, bring a charged phone, and skip oils or heavy serums the day-of — they can interfere with the lightener.
Aftercare
How to make balayage last
First 48 hours
- Skip washing for 48 hours — let the cuticle close.
- No heat styling above 350°F.
- No swimming pools or salt water (chlorine pulls toner out).
- Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase if you have one.
Daily routine
- Sulfate-free shampoo, max 3x per week.
- Purple shampoo every 4th wash for blondes (every 6th for brunettes).
- Heat protectant before any iron or blow-dryer.
- UV spray when you'll be outside for more than 30 minutes.
Maintenance schedule
- Week 4–6: glossing refresh (~$90, 45 min) keeps tone crisp.
- Week 8–14: face-frame partial balayage if you want roots brightened sooner.
- Month 4–6: full balayage refresh.
- Year-round: deep conditioning every 2 weeks.
Pair with
- Keratin treatment — frizz-smoothing post-color.
- Gloss — between balayages to keep tone fresh.
- Brazilian blowout — for shine and frizz reduction up to 12 weeks.
Compare
Balayage vs. highlights vs. all-over color
Three of the most-booked color services at MUA Salon achieve different results. Here's how they compare in plain language.
- Balayage is hand-painted and freeform. Soft, sun-kissed dimension. Grows out softly. From $300, ~3 hours. Refresh every 4–6 months.
- Highlights are foiled in structured sections for a brighter, more uniform lift. From $300, ~3.5 hours. Refresh every 8–10 weeks.
- All-over color is a single tone applied root-to-tip — for going darker, going red, or covering grays. From $200, ~1.5 hours. Refresh every 4–6 weeks.
Many clients combine techniques: balayage on the mid-shaft and ends, with a few face-frame foils for brightness. We'll talk through which combination fits your hair and lifestyle during the consultation.
FAQ
Balayage, asked & answered
How much does balayage cost at MUA Salon?
Full balayage starts at $300 and typically runs higher for very long, very dark, or color-corrective work. The base price covers the lightening pass, toning gloss, and finishing blow-dry.
How long does a balayage appointment take?
About 3 hours for average-length hair. Add 30–60 minutes for very long or thick hair, or for clients going from dark to bright blonde.
How often should I refresh balayage?
Most clients return every 8 to 14 weeks for a gloss or partial balayage, and every 4 to 6 months for a full balayage. The grow-out is naturally soft, so balayage stretches further than traditional highlights.
What's the difference between balayage and highlights?
Balayage is hand-painted, freeform, and creates a soft sun-kissed dimension. Highlights are foiled in structured sections and lift more uniformly. Balayage grows out softer; highlights deliver a brighter overall lift.
Will balayage damage my hair?
Any lightening is a chemical lift. Our protocol uses bond-builders during lightening and a deep conditioning treatment after. Hair feels healthy as long as you skip heat for 24 hours and use sulfate-free shampoo.
Can I get balayage on dark hair?
Yes — balayage was designed for dark hair. We typically lift level 2–4 base hair to a soft caramel, honey, or chestnut. A second session may be needed if you want a brighter blonde finish.
Should I wash my hair before a balayage?
Come with hair that's been washed within the last 2 days but isn't squeaky-clean. Day-old hair holds up best to lightening. Skip oils, heavy serums, and dry shampoo on the day-of.
Do you offer color corrections?
Yes. If you've had previous color you don't love, send photos before booking. Color corrections are quoted per case and may require multiple sessions to reach your goal safely. See the general FAQ for booking and policy specifics.
Related
Pair balayage with
Permanent makeup
Brows or lip blush to round out the look. From $500.
Explore PMU →Bridal styling
Color refresh + bridal hair for the big day. In-salon from $750, on-location from $1,500.
Bridal planning →
Recommended aftercare
We use and sell Davines.
MUA Salon is an authorized Davines retailer in Los Angeles. We use Davines — the Italian B-Corp certified sustainable luxury brand from Parma — on every client, and stock the consumer line for at-home aftercare. Buy Davines OI, NaturalTech, MoMo, LOVE, Heart of Glass, and More Inside Styling at the studio.
Browse Davines products →Ready for a sun-kissed refresh?
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