Which size and material balayage board to choose?

Choosing a balayage board is an exciting experience, and there is something special about it. Just like your scissors, it is a very personal item in your toolbox. But apart from looking cool on your trolley it is a tool first and foremost.

So, which board to go for?

Material:

Acrylic Balayage Boards are 3 mm thin, sturdy and come in beautiful colours.

Many hairdressers prefer these balayage boards as they like the sturdiness and solid feeling in their hands.

Acrylic Balayage Boards can be used for many balayage techniques such as open air balayage, foilayage, tease-lights, tip-outs, or simply direct bleach or tint on hair length when you need that extra pressure and saturation and want to keep your hands clean and avoid creating a mess.

Carbon Fiber Balayage Boards are 1 mm thin, strong, and super lightweight.

Anyone can use them. But they are a must-have in an experienced and busy colorist's toolbox.

Carbon Fiber Balayage Boards can be used for all popular balayage techniques, especially with Tease-Lights, tight hairline foiling for Face-Frames, and the advanced Air-Touch Technique.

These boards are amazing at getting super close to the scalp; their lightweight allows you to work at many different angles and also faster. Longer boards have flexibility, which is a bonus when you lean the board against the client's head for stability as it gently bends and softens the pressure.

Size:

This is very personal for everybody and there are as many opinions as people. So below is our practical view on the subject.

Length:

Lengthwise, it is good to have both shorter (30 cm) and longer (40 cm) balayage boards. These are the most popular sizes and will cover all the jobs you will encounter on your hairdressing journey.

But for people who are looking for a 'jack of all trades' tool, we have a length of 35 cm in between. And there are 45 cm extra-long boards in our carbon range for those who have lots of clients with very long hair.

Width:

It is best to match the board and the foil for better control of the foil. So if you normally use 12 to 13 cm wide foils then you only need our wide (13cm) board. If you prefer 15 to 16 cm extra wide foils then our extra wide (16cm) boards will assist you best.

Some colourists go for an extra wide boards only, so that it covers all foils. Nothing wrong with that. But if you are new to balayage boards, it is best to start with matching widths.

There is an emerging trend of super wide foils ( around 20 cm ). So, we have created our Super Wide Balayage Boards. They are 21 cm wide, one (35 cm) length in acrylic range, and two (35 cm and 45 cm) in carbon fibre range.

Thank you for reading, and have a creative day.

Team Hairplank.