When it comes to hair color, Europeans and Americans have distinct approaches. In the United States, it’s all about fresh highlights, precisely positioned color, and meticulous appointments every four to six weeks to stave off the dreaded root grow-in. Across the Atlantic in Europe, a different philosophy prevails—one that leans toward minimalism when it comes to hair color.
Abby Haliti, a globally acclaimed expert in the contemporary European technique of French balayage and the founder of Abby Haliti Color Studio, sheds light on this European perspective. “The European approach to hair coloring is known for its classic and clean look, avoiding excessive highlighting,” she explains. “One of my favorite techniques, which is popular in Europe, is balayage. This technique originated in France and is known for its natural and sun-kissed results.”
Balayage, a term that’s gaining recognition stateside, is a freehand painting technique that dispenses with the use of foils, a hallmark of traditional highlights. Haliti emphasizes that this European method provides a more tailored and individualized result. “It’s akin to crafting a masterpiece on the hair, with the colorist enjoying greater control and artistic freedom,” she elaborates.
What sets European hair color apart is its meticulous customization and restrained placement. When clients visit Haliti’s studio, a thorough assessment takes place, considering factors such as skin tone, natural hair color, eye color, and lifestyle. It is from this comprehensive analysis that the perfect hair color is born, precisely tailored to suit each individual’s unique needs.
Intriguingly, Haliti practices a technique known as “hair contouring,” a process as self-explanatory as it sounds. Hair contouring leverages highlights or color to enhance the contours of one’s face and features. “Hair contouring involves placing color or highlights in specific areas of the hairline to enhance and uplift the eyebrows and cheekbones,” Haliti reveals. “Strategic color placement can visually lift and accentuate the eyebrows and cheekbones, elevating the overall appearance. Hair contouring takes into account the client’s face shape, skin tone, and desired outcome. Darker shades create shadows and depth in precise areas, while lighter shades are used to highlight and accentuate certain features.”
In the realm of hair color, the European method, with its emphasis on personalized, artistic, and less-is-more aesthetics, stands as a testament to the timeless allure of understated elegance.
