Back in her Spice Girls days, Victoria Beckham was famous for her sleek “Posh” bob. It was striking, blunt and always brunette. Now, the entrepreneur has made long waves her signature, though she gave them a subtle refresh ahead of her birthday celebrations over the weekend, via a fresh blonde balayage that cascaded down from her cheekbones.
In contrast to more visible highlights, the balayage technique creates a natural – and super flattering – sun-kissed effect. “Balayage stays softer and more delicate at the root, gradually becoming bolder and brighter towards the ends. Essentially, it mimics the way the sun would lighten your hair naturally,” celebrity hairstylist George Papanikolas previously told Vogue. This isn’t the first time that the star has experimented with lighter accents in her hair. Back in 2003, she kept things cool-toned, lifting her loose chestnut brown curls with blonde strands that looked even brighter as they caught the light. Then, she went for a dramatic peroxide-bixie crop a few years later, which fans still reference to this day.
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If you’re after blonde ends like Beckham, you’ll need to lock in a salon appointment. The experts say that this specific effect is not achievable at home. “Blonde is tricky, and balayage is an art form that requires training and an eye for detail,” Papanikolas previously told Vogue. “DIY balayage can easily turn patchy or brassy, or even worse, lead to breakage,” which would be far less than ideal. When the style is done correctly, however, it is very low-maintenance and looks great for up to six months – meaning it can take you right the way through to autumn.
