Upper East Side

Balayage on the Upper East Side

Balayage at María Cortes NY on the Upper East Side starts at $225. Balayage is a hand painted highlighting technique: color is swept onto the hair by hand instead of placed in foils, so the result looks sun kissed and grows out softly without a hard regrowth line.

Book your appointment Call (212) 737-0723

Hand painted balayage on long layered hair in front of the gold wings wall

Price: from $225
Blonde Special 365: $250 with Olaplex, toner and style
Where: 1365 1st Avenue, Upper East Side
Rating: 4.8 on Google, 152 reviews

Prices

Balayage prices

“From” prices are a starting point and depend on the length and thickness of your hair. See the full menu.

Balayagefrom $225
Hand painted for a soft, natural grow out
Blonde Special 365$250
Half head highlights or balayage, Olaplex, toner and style
Toner add onfrom $50
With any blonding service
Glazefrom $75
Shine and tone
Olaplex$50
K18 treatment$75
ConsultationFree
Ten minutes to talk through your hair history and goals

See times and book

What is balayage?

Balayage comes from the French word for sweeping. The colorist paints lightener or color onto the surface of each section by hand, placing more brightness where the sun would naturally hit and leaving depth at the root. Because there is no grid of foils, the color blends into your natural shade.

Balayage or highlights?

Balayage gives soft, lived in color with a gradual blend from the root. Foil highlights give brighter, more even lightness from closer to the root. Baby highlights are the finest version of foil highlights, for a seamless all over glow. If you are torn between them, a free consultation is the easiest way to decide.

Who balayage suits

Balayage works on brunette, bronde and blonde hair and on most lengths. Brunettes often choose it for caramel or honey dimension, and blondes for a softer root that needs fewer appointments.

Keeping balayage fresh

Because it is painted to blend, balayage grows out gently, and many people go a few months between full appointments. A glaze (from $75) or toner (from $50) in between keeps the tone fresh, and bond treatments such as Olaplex ($50) and K18 ($75) help keep lightened hair strong. Sulfate free shampoo protects the color at home.

FAQ

Questions clients ask

How much does balayage cost on the Upper East Side?

At María Cortes NY balayage starts at $225. The final price depends on the length and thickness of your hair. The Blonde Special 365 ($250) includes half head highlights or balayage with Olaplex, toner and style.

What is the difference between balayage and highlights?

Balayage is painted by hand for a soft, natural blend that grows out gently. Highlights are placed in foils for brighter, more even lightness from closer to the root.

Can I get balayage on dark hair?

Yes. Balayage is a popular way to add caramel, honey or bronde dimension to dark hair. A free consultation helps plan how much lift your hair needs.

How long does balayage last?

Balayage grows out softly because it blends from the root, so many people wait a few months between full appointments and add a glaze or toner in between.