Kara Richard’s also known as @santabarbarabalayage is a Balayage specialist, salon owner, and educator living in the cute little beach town of Summerland California, 10 minutes away from Santa Barbara. Kara has recently launched her own line of natural bristle Balayage brushes called BALAYPRO!
What makes BALAYPRO stand out in the World of Colour?
For the last couple of years natural bristle or “chip” brushes have become the latest craze with hair colorists. I fell in love with them about two years ago but one thing I didn’t like was the low quality of the brushes. I found myself having to throw them away after about 3 to 5 uses. I loved teaching with these brushes in my workshops and decided I wanted to create a brand that was made specifically for hair colorists so we didn’t have to run to the hardware store every time we needed a new brush. These brushes come in 4 different sizes so they can create many different effects and the possibilties are endless. The brushes are made here in the USA and I personally hand stamp, package, and ship them out. It’s definitely a labor of love and I’m so happy to share these brushes with the hair color community.
How does it feel to see an idea come to life?
It is really incredible because for the longest time I was in the middle of trying to figure out how I was going to develop this line and see it through all while still working behind the chair, becoming a new salon owner, and developing my own education platform. Now that it is about to launch, it’s still lots of work, but it’s amazing to take a moment to step back and see where it all started. I also received so much love and support from other colorists which kept me pushing forward even when times were hard and it seemed like it was going to be impossible to launch on my own.
What was the process of coming up with the final product? did you try many different styles before creating BALAYPRO ?
I tried every type of brush under the sun. My first idea was to try to find artificial bristles that had the similar effects of the natural bristles so they would last longer. But I really tried almost every type and nothing compared to what effect I get with natural bristles. Every brush has a particularly use and for my own signature techniques these are the brushes I enjoy using. Once I decided I was sticking to natural bristles I wanted to make sure that they would be the highest quality and American-made so hair colorists have a reason for ordering them instead of running to the hardware store every time they need more brushes or having to buy large supplies in bulk and having limited space to store them.
Is there a special way that BALAYPRO should be cared for to ensure long lasting BALAYPRO fun?
Yes BALAYPRO brushes can last over 10 uses per brush with correct care. First of all you want to make sure that when you are Balayaging you do not want to keep your brush in your lightener. You want to have the brush either sitting on the side of your bowl or next to your bowl. The next step is that you want to make sure to wash your brushes immediately after use to prevent the lightener from over processing the bristles. You can wash them with soap and water or shampoo. For an extra tip you can even use a few drops of your favorite bond builder like Olaplex with a little water and set the brushes in a bowl for about 20 minutes. They are seriously good as new and will last even longer! I do not believe in wasting so I try to make these brushes last as long as possible and I want the same for other hair colorists.
What Materials are used to make the BALAYPRO brushes?
The brush handles are made out of wood. I wanted the handles to remain as ergonomic as possible so I like the standard style of the paintbrush. The bristles are made from hog hair and the texture of the bristles is what creates that soft effect that you just can’t get from artificial bristles. BALAYPRO brushes are higher American quality because they are well filled and firmly held with the latest epoxy glues which make them much more durable for hair coloring.
Who is your Colourist Idol?
There are so many to choose from, it’s really hard, but I would say my favorite hair colorist is Tracey Cunningham. She is incredible at natural looks. I am also obsessed with hair colorists from Australia. They know blonde hair like no other and I’m always amazed at the looks I find on social media.
Do you use foil in your colour work or predominantly Balayage ?
It’s funny because the last few years I was doing almost all Balayage but as the American economy has gotten better and the trends are starting to shift I’m doing more foil work now than I’ve done in years! I used to hate doing foiling because I found it so tedious but sometimes it’s nice come back to things you didn’t love with a new point of view. I also feel that the time I took to really work on my Balayage it also helped me develop my eye for placement when it comes to placing foil. I think placement was my biggest struggle with foiling because unlike Balayage, you can’t see what your result will look like while it’s processing.
When will BALAYPRO be available Internationally ?
Pre-order has launched and the official launch date is September 25. We will be shipping to Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and of course the United States! I am giving 15% off for all pre-orders!
What can we expect from the BALAYPRO Brand in the future?
Lots of Education and collaboration! I want to educate with other educators and show colorists that there are so many different ways to create beautiful sunkissed hair. I don’t believe there’s any magic tool or technique. It’s great to build up your arsenal so you can be the best artist you can be! I would also love to eventually have my own line of other Balayage tools in the future.
One piece of advice you would give to others in the industry who might like to create a product of their own one day?
You just gotta go for it! Do lots of research, read lots of books, get as much advice as you can. It’s definitely a lot of work and I had to go through (and still am going through) many trials and errors but it is all worth it. To be able to share a product that you really believe in and love is worth every second of the blood sweat and tears.
Instagram: BALAYPRO https://www.instagram.com/balaypro/
Kara Richard’s https://www.instagram.com/santabarbarabalayage/
Website:http://www.balaypro.com/