What makes it French
“Balayage” means “to sweep” in French, and the real technique is exactly that: color swept and painted onto the surface of the hair by hand, freehand, exactly where the light would naturally lift it. No foils, no cap, no formula pulled off a shelf. That freehand control is what separates a French balayage from the foiled “balayage” you see on most menus.
Red Market is a French color house first. Owner Reynald Ricard trained in France and brought the technique from Paris to downtown Manhattan in the early 2000s. The whole team paints, reads the hair, and mixes each shade to the individual guest.
Why it looks more natural
Because the lightener is placed by eye rather than boxed into foils, the result has soft, seamless dimension instead of stripes — color so believable that people stop you on the street. It is finished with a personalized gloss to perfect the tone and shine.
And because there is no hard line where the highlights start, it grows out without a visible regrowth band. You get a color that looks intentional at week one and still looks good at month three, with far less time in the chair over a year.
Book a French balayage
French balayage at Red Market starts at $350 including a personalized gloss; the Signature Balayage is $500. Every color service begins with a complimentary consultation so the color is designed around your hair, your tone, and how much maintenance you actually want. The salon is in Greenwich Village at 13 East 13th Street, and booking is online any time.
Good to know
Frequently asked
What is French balayage?
French balayage is the original freehand technique: lightener is hand-painted onto the surface of the hair — no foils and no cap — placed exactly where light would naturally lift it. It creates soft, seamless dimension that grows out with no hard regrowth line, and it is finished with a personalized gloss.
How is it different from regular balayage or highlights?
Traditional highlights use foils in fixed sections, which can look striped and leave a hard regrowth line. French balayage is painted freehand for a softer, more natural, sun-kissed result that is far lower maintenance as it grows out.
Is Red Market actually French?
Yes. Red Market is a French-founded color house led by master colorist Reynald Ricard, who trained in France and brought French color technique from Paris to downtown New York in the early 2000s.