On the more low-maintenance end of the hair color spectrum, you’ll findbalayage.

This can be especially helpful for shorter styles, particularly onfine hair.

Here, she wears a natural brunette color that seamlessly transitions to golden ends.

Blogger Aimee Song looks at the camera with a short balyage bob

@stephengarrison/ Instagram

That’s why darker hues, like this baby brown, can sometimes be mistaken fortraditional highlights.

Cunningham says the technique is a great way to achieve that natural, beachy look.

Face-Framing Butterscotch

Balayage is a great way to highlight someone’s most beautiful features, says Thompson.

Lived-in brown balayage hair with a lob cut

@stephengarrison/ Instagram

These face-framing butterscotch pieces certainly prove that.

Burnt Orange Balayage

@chrisweberhair/ Instagram

Balayage isn’t limited to natural shades.

When done correctlyand preferably by a professionalthis look can be done with a slew of vibrant shades.

Caramel mocha colored balayage on short hair

@haircolorkilla/ Instagram

Thisburnt orangebalayage gives a fiery finish to short hair.

Cunningham suggests watching for brassier tones and scheduling anin-salon glosswhen they appear.

This will help keep the hair looking more natural and sun-kissed.

Chrissy Teigen with blunt blonde balayage on short hair

@colorbymattrez/ Instagram

Because of how the dye is swept across the hair; no two balayage jobs are exactly alike.

Golden Balayage

We love how the golden hues here complement her complexion.

The balayage technique allows for a more lived-in, sun-kissed effect rather than streaky stripes.

Subtle dimensional brunette balayage highlights

@styledbysam_x/ Instagram

The effortless effect will last through beach days, outdoor workouts, and the like.

Sand and Pearl Brunette

Balayage can also help contrasting hues come together in harmony.

This stunning example features a slew of tones from sandy, pearl-blonde shades to darker brunette hues.

A brown wavy balayage lob

@stephengarrison/ Instagram

The result is a seamless swirl that evokes the natural effects of the sun.

Pastel Unicorn

Apastelbalayage offers a more sophisticated way to play with color than an entire head.

That means you could wait more time between salon visits, extending your style by months.

An ombre blonde balayage bob

@ariel_hauck/ Instagram

Golden Touch

You don’t have to go full-on blonde to create a beachy look.

By weaving subtle golden tones intodarker brown hues, you could achieve a just-got-back-from-vacation effect all year round.

Sun-Kissed Swoop

High-contrast shades work particularly well with the balayage technique since the placement feels so natural.

Dirty blonde balayage on short hair

@stephengarrison/ Instagram

Bits of Bronze

@freshlengths/ Instagram

Believe it or notbalayage can also be done oncropped hair.

This curly cut keeps its natural dark roots withbronze bitsat the ends.

It’s the perfect way to avoid that post-chop regret.

Face-framing butterscotch balayage on a bob haircut

@stephengarrison/ Instagram

Peaches and Cream

Rosy metallic shadeshave been popping up all over the place.

They take on a peachy effect when woven through bright blonde hair.

Swirly Caramel

When in doubt, caramel your balayage out.

A fluffy, ashy bob with balayage

@camouflageandbalayage/ Instagram

With the balayage technique, you might achieve a naturally sun-kissed pattern that feels easy and low maintenance.

Cherry Cola Balayage

@mizzchoi/ Instagram

Add warmth and dimension to your natural color withdark cherrybalayage.

Here, the black effortlessly blends into the deep red.

Burnt orange and brunette balayage on short hair

@chrisweberhair/ Instagram

Cool-Toned Balayage

Not all gold shades have a warm undertone.

Streaks of Pink

@whiterosecollective/ Instagram

If you couldn’t tell, we love pink balayage.

This dark-to-pink look is very much reminiscent of theearly 2010s dip-dye ombrebut for short hair.

Caramel highlights on a pixie cut

@haircolorkilla/ Instagram

Tortoise-shell blonde balayage on a natural afro

@haircolorkilla/ Instagram

Firecracker red balayage on brown hair

@styledbysam_x/ Instagram

Beach-kissed ginger hair cut in a bob

@johnnyramirez/ Instagram

Golden-toned balayage on short hair

@haircolorkilla/ Instagram

Brown-blonde balayage on coily hair

@haircolorkilla/ Instagram

Baby pink highlights on blonde hair

@camouflageandbalayage/ Instagram

Butterscotch brunette highlights on a bob cut.

@colorbymattrez/Instagram

Sand and pearl balayage on a brown base

@haircolorkilla/ Instagram

Pastel unicorn balayage

@camouflageandbalayage/ Instagram

Two-toned balayage on a short haircut

@haircolorkilla/ Instagram

Mocha mousee brown balayage bob

@stephengarrison/ Instagram

Swooped, sunkissed balayage hair

@haircolorkilla/ Instagram

Brown balayage with a rose colored overlay

@camouflageandbalayage/ Instagram

Choppy chestnut balayage

@stephengarrison/ Instagram

Short curly hair with bronze balayage tips

@freshlengths/ Instagram

Honeycomb hive haircut

@camouflageandbalayage/ Instagram

Hollywood golden blonde hair

@haircolorkilla/ Instagram

Peach cream balayage on short hair

@camouflageandbalayage/ Instagram

Short curly hair with swirly caramel balayage

@haircolorkilla/ Instagram

Short, piece-y bronde hair viewed from behind

@johnnyramirez/ Instagram

Cherry cola and black balayage on short hair

@mizzchoi/ Instagram

Dirty blonde and light blonde cool-toned balayage on short hair

@stephengarrison/ Instagram

Black to pink balayage on short hair

@whiterosecollective/ Instagram