Balayage 101: What’s the Difference Between No-Bleach, Brunette, Blonde, Sombre, Correction & Grey Blending?
- Apr 22
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 23
If you've ever felt a bit lost when scrolling through hair inspo pics—wondering what’s the actual difference between all these balayage styles—you’re not alone. I hear this a lot.
Hi, I’m Sunny—a Melbourne-based hairstylist and low-maintenance colourist. I specialise in creating personalised hairstyles that feel effortless and reflect you.
That’s exactly why I take time during our consultation to walk you through what suits your hair type, your lifestyle, and how you want to feel. I don’t just do colour—I create looks that are personal, practical, and beautiful. And every single balayage I do is tailored to you.
So let me break it down in a really simple, easy way.
A Quick Look: The Differences at a Glance
Style | What It Is | Great For | Sunny’s Signature Touch | |
 No-Bleach Balayage | No-Bleach Balayage | ✨ Soft, natural lightening using high-lift colours—no bleach! | 🌿 If you want natural tone, and want dimensional add texture gain more body, but don’t want bleach, subtle | 🎨 I lift your natural tones without bleach—creating shine, and lightness blend your natural colour |
 | Brunette Balayage | 🍫 One session using gentle bleach to remove natural orange pigment | 🌰 If you want Soft cool brown, cool beige, light caramel, or chestnut tones., softness, or contrast | ✂️ I lift gently, clean up orange pigment, and enhance richness and softness that complements your features |
 | Blonde Balayage | 🌞 Two sessions to lift and remove yellow pigment for a bright blonde finish | 💛 Anyone ready for glow-up or brightness, dark blonde, to ash blonde | 🌟 I help choose blonde tones that suit your skin—we balance your goal, hair condition and budget |
 | Sombre | 🌤️ Two session lift and natural colour change from root to ends create Soft ombre | 🍃 Low-maintenance, roots melting soft brushed natural finish lovers | 💫 I blend everything seamlessly so regrowth is easy and the look stays fresh longer |
 | Balayage Correction | 🛠️ Corrects uneven, patchy, or overgrown balayage | 🔄 If you’ve had a balayage elsewhere and want to fix or refresh it | 🧠 I analyse your current colour, and re-balance tones and blend to restore a natural flow |
 | Grey Hair Balayage | 🤍 Blends natural grey with highlights or lowlights | 👩🦳 For embracing greys, softening regrowth, or transitioning colour gracefully | 🌈 I create contrast or softness using cooler or warmer tones depending on your preference |
🔴 No-Bleach Balayage
This is perfect if you want dimension and glow—without bleach. I use high-lift colour to lighten hair gently, which is great for clients with finer strands or who are new to colouring.
One of my clients, Esstee, said it best:
Your hair deserves care and comfort. I’ll help you lift your look—without losing the health of your hair.
“Whether your natural hair is black or brown, you can still enjoy a no-bleach balayage. If you’ve used box dye, have dark brown colour, or grey coverage, I recommend booking a consultation so we can do a strand test and see what’s possible—then customise the best plan for you.”
2. 🟡Brunette Balayage
Brunettes deserve just as much glow as blondes. Whether you want cool ash, warm caramel, or rich espresso, we’ll find the tones that elevate your natural depth. You don’t have to go light to feel lit up.
💡 Some people think No-Bleach and Brunette Balayage look similar—but here's the difference: No-bleach balayage uses high-lift colour and stays within a more natural tone range. Brunette balayage, with the help of gentle bleach, can achieve lighter tones, soft cool browns, and root melting effects that no-bleach colour simply can't create. If you're after a soft transformation with more contrast and depth, brunette balayage might be your match.
✨ Quick Comparison: Brunette Balayage vs No-Bleach Balayage
Feature | 🟤 Brunette Balayage | 🟡 No-Bleach Balayage |
🌟 Brightness | Lighter tones possible, including soft cool brown | Subtle lift only—natural soft glow |
🎨 Dimension | Stronger contrast and depth | Softer, more natural dimension |
💡 Advantage | Brighter results, root melt, full tone control | No bleach needed, more affordable |
🧴 Maintenance | Lasts 6+ months with soft regrowth | Up to 6 months, grows out naturally |
🟡Brunette Balayage That Grows With You ✨”
4 Months vs 1 Year Later – Still Blended, Still Beautiful
Nadja D:
"Sunny is amazing! He really took the time to understand what I wanted and explained everything clearly before getting started. I absolutely love my new colour! His attention to detail is incredible—it’s clear he’s passionate about what he does. I felt completely looked after and couldn’t be happier with the result."
Here’s a moodboard showing the beautiful tones you can achieve with Brunette Balayage.
🟡Blonde Balayage
Blonde can be bold, bright, or buttery-soft—it all depends on your vibe. I’ll customise tone, brightness, and placement based on your skin tone, eye colour, and everyday styling routine. No “cookie cutter blondes” here.
My client Helen M. (a self-proclaimed picky blonde) said:
That’s what I aim for: not just blonde, but blonde that feels like you.
🟡🔴Sombre (soft ombre-colour with highlight)
Want something softer than ombre but still want that lightness at the ends? Sombre (aka soft ombre) is the one. It blends your natural colour into a lighter shade, with minimal upkeep and a natural grow-out.
It’s perfect for clients like Nathalie T., whose hair colour still looked beautiful after a year thanks to strategic blending:
blow is all sombre hair colour mood board inspo:
🟡Balayage Correction
Sometimes a previous balayage doesn’t turn out the way you hoped—or maybe it’s just time to refresh and reshape the colour. That’s where correction comes in.
I’ll assess what’s already there, talk through what’s not working for you, and create a plan to fix tone, placement, or balance. Whether it’s brassy sections or uneven blending, I’ve got your back.
🟡Grey Hair Balayage
Grey hair doesn’t mean boring hair. In fact, grey can be gorgeous. With grey balayage, I blend your natural greys with custom highlights or lowlights to add softness, brightness, or even contrast—depending on your style.
Whether you’re transitioning to grey or want to add dimension while keeping things low maintenance, we’ll find the perfect mix together.
Personalised Care: What Makes My Approach Different?
No matter which service you choose, it starts with a real conversation. I ask about your hair goals, your routine, and what you want to feel when you look in the mirror. I take time to analyse your hair’s texture, density, tone, and movement—so what we create fits your life, not just a trend.
Valerie T. captured this beautifully: “Sunny took the time to carefully analyse my hair type, condition, and preferences to recommend what would look best. He also gave suggestions on how to have a low-maintenance post-colour routine.”
More Client Love 💬
Gabriella Wainwright said: “Amazing service!! My hair looks so perfect and on point to the reference photos I showed—absolutely adore 🫶.”
Here's My Advice: 💛
If you’re not sure where to start—don’t worry. That’s what I’m here for.
When you come in, we’ll chat about your hair goals, how you style it day-to-day, how much time you want to spend on upkeep, and what makes you feel most like you. I don’t just look at your hair—I look at your lifestyle, your energy, and what lights you up. Every balayage I do is custom, not copy-paste.
You don’t need to know all the terms or show up with a plan. Bring your moodboard or even a few pictures you like. I’ll help you figure out what works for your hair type, face shape, and maintenance level.
You don’t have to know all the lingo. Just bring your ideas—or even just your curiosity—and I’ll guide you from there. Together, we’ll design a colour that fits your vibe, feels effortless, and grows out beautifully.
And if you're still unsure? That’s okay. Come in, have a chat, and let’s talk about what’s possible for your hair type and goals. I’ll be honest and supportive, always.
Ready to Explore Your Look?
If you're thinking about booking a session or just want to feel more confident in choosing the right stylist, check out my blog post: “Tips to Find the Right Hairdresser for You.” It’s full of insights to help you feel informed and empowered.
When you’re ready, book a consultation with me. I’d love to meet you, hear your hair story, and help you feel like the best version of yourself—low-maintenance, high-impact, and totally you.
Thanks to beautiful clients like Helen, Esstee, Wendy, Nathalie, and Valerie who share their stories—because that’s what makes this more than just hair. It’s connection, confidence, and care.
Let’s find your glow—your way. ✨
Love,
Sunny ☀️
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