Why I Went Balayage

Houston fashion blogger Alice Kerley.

I mentioned it on insta-stories a few weeks back and you might have noticed the change in recent blog + instagram posts but today I’m finally chatting about my new ‘do! After spending the first 28 years of my life with the same hair color, I thought I’d try something different this summer & change things up.

I popped on over to the new Vanity Salon in The Heights to get my hair balayage-d. I’m chatting about why I decided to do it & my thoughts on the new look below. I’m also sharing fun details on next week’s Height’s White Linen Night & how Vanity Salon is making the event extra special this year!

Anthropologie eyelet off the shoulder top.

Baublebar Coral Statement Necklace

Hammitt Shane Backpack

Anthropologie eyelet off the shoulder top.

Balayage hairstyle from Vanity Salon in Houston, Texas.

Balayage hairstyle from Vanity Salon in Houston, Texas.

Hammitt Shane

Instead of just “dying” my hair, I went with balayage, which is when the stylist paints the dye in a way to give it a more graduated and natural look. I wanted a noticeable change but not something that was so drastic that I would regret it a moment later. (Which tends to happen almost everytime I cut my hair a little too short!) Alex, with Vanity Salon, chose a deep caramel shade that he painted along the ends of my locks to make my hair look as if it was just lightly kissed by the sun.

While my hair is quiiiiite different than what it looked like before, I wasn’t phased by the big change at all. (Aka not a single tear of regret was shed!) I love that it has a bit of a boho/surfer vibe look to it, which is perfect for summertime. Once it starts to grow out, the darker shade at the top will start to take over and my ends will still look naturally sunkissed. (Which basically means I won’t have to keep up with the color & it’ll fade on its own! #win)

Shop the Look:

With White Linen Night coming up this Saturday (August 5th) I wanted to share a little bit of outfit inspiration with ya!  But first I’ll fill you in on what White Linen Night is all about! It’s a Houston Heights celebration where anyone and everyone is invited to come out to the shops & restaurants of 19th Street for a summer celebration. Festival goers are encouraged to wear all-white ensembles while bands play on stages scattered throughout the street. Businesses on 19th open their doors with music, drinks & more!

Vanity Salon is located smack dab in the middle of 19th Street and they’re celebrating WLN big this year! The first 150 guests to pop by the salon will receive fabulous Aveeno swag bags. There will be free food & drinks and even a mini braiding station! (What better way to keep cool in the heat than with a chic braid?!) The braiding station will be donation based with proceeds benefitting Scouts Honor Rescue. If I wasn’t going to be out of town this weekend, I know exactly how I’d be spending my Saturday!

And I know what I’d be wearing too! I love this white eyelet off-the-shoulder top from Anthropologie. This simple top makes a statement with its trendy bell sleeves and intricate details. Paired with a bold necklace, like this coral collar from Baublebar, it’s a fun top to easily dress up & down. If I was going to WLN this year (I’m already having FOMO!) I would bring along a backpack like my Shane bag from Hammitt. Often times WLN party-goers will pack their own coolers with drinks & snacks for a celebration on the street.

Will you be headed to 19th Street for White Linen Night this year!?

xo, alice

photos by Ban Avenue

*ps: thanks so much to Vanity Salon for the fresh cut & color!*