Cut & finish
Budget chain
£15 - £30
Mid-range salon
£40 - £80
Premium city salon
£80 - £200+
Often includes a colour service
Central London
£40 - £70
Cut & finish only
A consultation before the cut - getting it right starts here.
Colour
Full head colour, technician
~£70
Full head colour, senior technician
~£82
Full head colour, creative director
~£95
Central London colour
£90 - £150+
Highlights & balayage
Full head highlights, first visit
£90 - £200
Highlights, follow-up touch-up
£70 - £160
Balayage, UK-wide
£80 - £200
Balayage, premium/London
£140 - £300+
Balayage usually costs 15-30% more than traditional foil highlights, since it's hand-painted and takes longer in the chair. Most people having balayage or highlights return 3-4 times a year for a refresh - budget £300-£900 a year in total, not just the first visit.
What actually changes the price
- Stylist seniority - a junior technician, senior technician, and creative director at the same salon can charge noticeably different rates for the same service.
- Location - London and premium city-centre salons run well above the UK-wide average for every service.
- Hair length and thickness - longer or thicker hair takes more product and more time, which usually means a higher price.
- Technique - balayage is hand-painted and takes longer than foil highlights, which is reflected in the price.
How to budget
For a simple cut and finish outside London, £40-£80 covers most independent salons. Colour services start around £70 for a full head at a standard salon, rising past £200 for premium balayage in a city-centre salon. Build in 3-4 colour appointments a year if you're maintaining highlights or balayage, not just the cost of the first visit.