Mill Valley · Marin County
Hand-painted balayage and custom highlights, tailored to your natural color, your features and the way you wear your hair.
Two techniques
Both add brightness and dimension. The difference is how the color is placed, and how it grows out.
Color is painted on by hand, freehand, for a sun-kissed effect. Because there is no foil line, it blends softly into your natural color and grows out gently.
A good fit if you want: a natural, lived-in look; soft, low-contrast grow-out; warmth and movement for brunette, blonde and everything in between.
Highlights are usually placed in foils, for brightness that starts closer to the root. Lowlights add depth back in, so the result looks dimensional rather than flat.
A good fit if you want: brighter blonde; even, all-over dimension; grey regrowth that is far less noticeable.
You can also combine the two. Not sure? Book the complimentary 15-minute consultation and decide together.
Your appointment
Your appointment starts with your goals: the color you want, your hair’s history and how you wear it day to day. Photos you love are always helpful.
Balayage is painted on freehand; highlights and lowlights are usually placed in foils. If your service includes INOA or tint, root color goes on in the same appointment.
Color is left to develop to the right tone. Appointments are booked for between 1 hr 30 min and 3 hr 30 min, depending on the service.
Most balayage and highlight services include a shampoo, massage and blow dry, so you leave styled and ready.
Recent work
Kind words
5 out of 5 stars
Her Balayage color is soft, natural-looking dimension that enhances rather than overwhelms. Nothing streaky or harsh, just effortless, sun-kissed color that blends perfectly.
5 out of 5 stars
Miriam did such a lovely job… She got a balayage and everything came out soft, so natural, and well-blended.
Questions
Balayage is painted on freehand, so color sits where light would naturally catch it and grows out softly, without a hard line. Highlights are usually placed in foils, for brighter and more even lift. The two can also be combined, and Miriam will suggest what suits your hair and the result you want.
Partial services focus on the hairline and crown; full services cover the whole head. If you also want your roots or grey covered, choose a service that includes INOA or tint, which adds ammonia-free root color. Not sure? Book the complimentary 15-minute consultation first.
Yes. Balayage and highlights soften the contrast of grey regrowth, and several services pair them with ammonia-free INOA root color to cover grey, such as Partial balayage with tint INOA and Full balayage with INOA.
Balayage services are booked for between 2 hours and 3 hours 30 minutes, depending on the service and whether root color is included. The menu on this page lists the time for each one and what it includes.
New clients welcome
Choose partial or full balayage, or a highlight service, on Miriam’s booking page. Torn between them? The complimentary consultation will help you decide.
Colors