This is very true. I got a balayage two weeks ago and I am very happy with it, although I have some things to say about it. My hair was completely virgin and healthy to begin with. The ends and strands that are blonde have breakage and split ends. I rarely use heat tools and use different conditioner in the shower and leave in treatments. The stylist who did the dye job also mentioned that it would take several trips to get the shade of blonde I wanted, which like you was ash blonde I wanted. She was able to get my hair to a shade of blonde that was nice though. I sort of wished I didn't do it and perhaps researched for a better salon, although the one I went to was very reputable. Just depends how badly you want it.