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In my years as a beauty editor, I have learned that we beauty lovers consume media differently than most. For example, when I published the highly anticipated Twisters when I was at the movies with my roommates, they couldn’t stop talking about the incredible power of the monster tornadoes, while I couldn’t stop talking about how perfect Daisy Edgar Jones’ warm blonde balayage was.
Hearing DEJ in her role as Oklahoma-born storm chaser Kate Carter speak with a southern accent in Twisters was shocking enough, but what I really couldn’t stop staring at was her blonde balayage. She’s normally brunette, but Jones’ hair in Twisters is a stark departure from her usual style. To feed my fascination with what I call “cowboy balayage” (you heard it here first!), I asked some celebrity hair experts to find out what makes Jones’ cowboy blonde so movie-worthy.
Selected experts
Cowboy Balayage: What makes it special
Celebrity hairstylist Dimtris Giannetos adds, “Cowboy balayage is so fascinating because we’re always looking for the perfect low-maintenance yet stunning hair look, and that’s exactly what it is. For those with dark hair, this look is so effortless and easy to achieve because you’re basically leaving the roots alone.”
To be clear, traditional balayage is nothing new. In fact, my first major hair change as a young high school student was going from brunette to balayage blonde. But something was different about Jones’ cowboy balayage. According to the creative director, master stylist and colorist at Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa, what’s special about Jones’ cowboy balayage is that it accentuates the warmth of her hair. “The cowboy balayage look is an evolution of your own dark natural color with skillfully placed gold or even copper tones applied with bolder strokes than a colorist would do with just foils.”
How to ask for cowboy balayage
One of the most important parts of a new hair look is telling your stylist exactly what you want, from shade to texture. If you ask for cowboy balayage, celebrity colorist Rita Hazan explains, “To achieve this look, your stylist will typically color everything completely first, followed by highlights or lowlights with balayage or simple foil highlights. Ask for a middle ground between a warm brown and a copper look with balayage and/or highlights. Your stylist will most likely know what you mean if you ask for ‘cowboy copper’ or ‘cowboy balayage.'”
Giannetos further explains, “To recreate this look, ask for a blended honey blonde balayage and be sure to mention that you want lots of highlights framing the face. You can also customize this look to your color preferences—if you want more of a coppery look, you can finish off the balayage with a color corrector. For a honey tone, I recommend the L’Oreal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss ($16) to complete the look.”
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