L’Oréal Professionnel has been offering Balayage classes of different levels since 1991 and year over year, the increase in Balayage increases, and classes at the brand’s academies are consistently sold out.

In 2014, L’Oreal Professionnel is on a mission to step up their Balayage offering and formalize their training to salons across the country to meet the growing and diversifying interests in it. Hence, they are creating a full Balayage Certification Program.

“Balayage Certification creates a loyalty to the L’Oréal Professionnel brand with a growing network of colorists,” says Vice President of L’Oréal Professionnel Education, Suzanne Sturm. “Colorists from outside the brand look to L’Oréal Professionnel to provide them with advanced and creative techniques and training needed to be Balayage Certified in order to advance their career.”

Nancy Braun, best known for her Balayage technique is one of the most sought after colorists in the industry and has been with L’Oréal Professionnel training colorists in Balayage for over 20 years. Braun’s Balayage philosophy is to recreate and enhance the look that nature gave us as children. Like L’Oréal Professionnel, Braun believes it is vital for colorists to be expertly trained and certified in Balayage.

“Balayage allows colorists to be more artistic in the hair coloring process,” explains Braun. “However, it’s not easy. If it were, the whole world would be doing it; this method of coloring hair results in amazing, natural-looking highlights that will always be in demand.”

The certification will consist of four classes divided by levels: Balayge Foundations, Balayage Advanced, Balayage Creative and Balayage Live aken at the SOHO Academy. The first three courses are 2-day demonstrations with hands-on mannequin sessions, followed by the final course, which is a 3-day demonstration and hands-on session. After the completion of all four courses, colorists are officially “Balayage Certified.” Balayage Certification allows colorists to market themselves more aggressively in their community and in their salon, while bringing in new clientele.

To supplement the in-person classes, L’Oréal Professionnel offers online Balayage training through Academy on Demand – the online destination for complete education on L’Oreal Professionnel’s professional site:

http://us.lorealprofessionnel.com/professionals/education/academy-on-demand/balayages.

“The Balayage education video series allows colorists to take what they’ve learned at the Academy, and recreate looks in the comfort of their own salons,” says Sturm. “A huge part of learning is the ability to practice – these online videos assist colorists in perfecting the L’Oréal Professionnel Balayage methods, ensuring their clients’ satisfaction for years and years.”

Register for Balayage certification: www.sohonycregister.com.

For more information on L’Oreal Professionnel education, visit www.lpusapro.com.