New year, new hair! There is yet another stunning blonde (or even brunette) variation trending on Instagram right now. The smoked marshmallow hair is 2019’s way to upgrade your good old balayage. Flip through this article to find out all the details about this new low-maintenance trend in the hair department.

We are blessed with so many hair coloring techniques, from the salon’s favorite balayage to the fairly new ones like fallayage and foilyage. It’s time for you to meet the latest trending highlighting technique on social media – strandlights.

Photo By @shearbeautybybecca/Instagram

If you are into the infamous balayage, chances are that you will fall in love with this technique too! Balayage no longer carries the title of the most natural-looking technique for highlighting your hair. Strandlighting is even more intricate than the good old balayage and gives the most beautiful subtle highlights to your mane. The strandlighting is a freehand coloring technique that involves separating and dying just a few individual strands at a time. The strands are separated with foils just like when highlighting your hair with the balayage technique.

Photo By @hairbytherese.s/Instagram

Photo By @/Instagram

The main difference is the amount of hair that goes into every foil. For strandlighting, hair colorists use very fine pieces of hair. According to experts, for the best results, your hair colorist needs to take strands directly from around the hairline. This way you’ll get that summery sun-kissed effect. However, you can also get it done from the mid-lengths to the ends, it will look just as pretty. Texas colorist Liz Haven took it to Instagram to explain this new hair color trend:

“This strandlighting technique details any color story to sun-kissed perfection. The density along with the placement guarantees a perfect low-maintenance brightness every time. I promise you, if applied correctly, there is no horizontal line of demarcation when this grows out. Easily encouraging anywhere from 3-4 months in-between applications.”

Hey friends! I get so many DM’s about my placement when it comes to my strandlighting technique. I want to invite y’all to register for my online class hosted by @behindthechair_com. It’s an interactive online live class. I will have a live model and will be breaking down the concept and technical points to this technique. Get your questions ready!!! This is a detailed, low maintenance color approach. It delivers a sun-kissed end result with a grow out that is seamless. No root smudge, no root tap, just your guests natural pigment and the the art of density and placement. Enjoy this video and let me know if you’ll be tuning in!! Feel free to ask any questions in the comments below. xoxo üíãMONDAY, JUNE 18th @ 4pm at btcuniversity.com (Link in bio) Once you register, the live video will be yours forever to reference back to! If you tune in at 4pm during the live, you’ll be able to ask questions and be interactive. If for some reason you miss the 4pm live, you can play the video at a later date/time! It’ll still be there! ‚ù§Ô∏èüíãüíã @behindthechair_com @lizhaven @kaleidohairartistry #strandlights #kaleidohairartistry #lizhaven @schwarzkopfusa #MOREvibrance @sevenhaircare #sevenhaircare #BONDwithseven #BONDaid #OPTImizeyourhair – – – – – – – – – – – @behindthechair_com #behindthechair #hair_videos #hairtutorial #framar #btcquickie #modernsalon #americansalon #beautylaunchpad #houstonblogger #hairvideo #houstonbalayage #hairvideos #houstonsbest #colormelt #shadowroot #ipsy #wamfam #hudabeauty @hudabeaty #balayage #balayagevideos #hairtransformation #highlights

A post shared by L I Z H A V E N O' N E I L L (@lizhaven) on Jun 8, 2018 at 10:39am PDT

There are a few advantages of the strandlighting that might make you reconsider your go-to balayage. First, you’ll get a fresh, brightened look with less damage on a larger amount of your hair. If you can get away without bleaching the damage of your hair will be minimal. Second, strandlights look much more natural than the balayage and regular highlights which in some cases can look chunky. You will have no issues when the color starts to grow out because the strandlights blend seamlessly with the rest of your hair leaving an extremely natural overall effect.

Photo By @paulcallaghanhair/Instagram

The strandlighting can be done in a variety of colors, from the usual blonde to trending rose gold, red, copper and more depending on your hair color and preferences. No matter what color you choose the strandlighting technique will transform your mane from basic to Pinterest-worthy.

Photo By @hairbykaleighb/Instagram

Photo By @debbie_benavides/Instagram