Summary:
Balayage highlights cost in the UK: Prices typically range from £120 to £300+, depending on your hair length, your stylist’s experience, the salon’s location, and any additional services included. A professional balayage appointment often covers a consultation, bleaching process, toner, and a cut. Although balayage usually costs more than traditional highlights, it requires less frequent maintenance, making it a more cost-effective choice over time. Continue reading this guide to explore average UK balayage prices, the factors that affect the cost, and how to choose the right salon for your hair goals.
Depending on your hair length and color, whether the stylist has experience or is a top professional at their hands, or the location where you book the coloring appointment, there will be different Balayage highlight costs. Remember the fact that every individual will have slightly different coloring sessions due to this “personalized” technique. Although Balayage highlights can sometimes seem more expensive than the typical ones, they do give you a softer, more natural hair coloring effect and typically require a lower amount of touch-up to give maintenance to hair coloring.
What Are Balayage Highlights?
First, if you want to see the Balayage Highlights Cost, it’s important for us to understand a little more about Balayage hair. It is a very popular hair technique whereby we lighten different areas of the hair so they stand out naturally from dark roots to lighter hair tips. It is the opposite of the classical highlights in coloring, as this type of coloring of our hair grows better and allows for a more individual touch to our color.
How Does Balayage Work?
Balayage is essentially freehand in the sense that we paint color on parts of the hair and not root to tip all over as one color. With balayage, we can custom place where we want this color to hit to bring out the areas of your haircut, the shape of your face, and your natural color and get a soft, natural, sun-kissed highlighted look that will blend beautifully through your hair for a completely natural color result!
How Much Do Balayage Highlights Cost in the UK?
There’s no set price for balayage because every appointment is personalized to your hair and the outcome you want. It depends on how much color you’ll need, how long it will take, and the type of services that are added to your appointment. Learning how salon balayage prices work will allow you to compare services more easily and get the best value for your money.
Average UK Prices by Services
Balayage is a fully custom color application, so prices vary from person to person, as it is dependent on your natural hair color, desired outcome, and technique needed. Balayage prices vary depending on the package with UK salons but can cost on average:
| Service | Typical UK Price |
|---|---|
| Balayage Highlights with Blow Dry | £120–£200 |
| Balayage Highlights incl. Toner & Blow Dry | £150–£240 |
| Balayage Highlights, Haircut & Blow Dry | £150–£250 |
| Balayage incl. Toner, Haircut & Blow Dry | £180–£300+ |
London vs Other UK Cities
Balayage treatments in London are generally much higher in price compared to those in many other areas of the country. This is due to the increased operating costs associated with many London salons. Costs can be high, from the rent on commercial properties to the wage costs of staff, general overhead, and specialist equipment costs. If the salon employs experienced coloring specialists who apply all balayage using premium-quality colors and advanced coloring techniques, costs will be higher.
Cities like Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds generally price a balayage at between £120 and £220, and it costs £150–£300 (or much higher) in London. Prices can fluctuate depending on the salon and stylist and include everything more than just the tint for your hair—usually a comprehensive consultation to establish your new shade, precise hair tint placement, toner, a professional finishing to your hair, and good products that provide effective and natural-looking results.
Full Head vs Partial Balayage
When going for the balayage, you likely have two options, such as full balayage and partial balayage, to select from. This selection really does hinge upon the initial hair color and amount of change requested, as well as your own funds. Your hair will nevertheless need to attain identical balayage coloring techniques, but with both options on various sections of your hair, also depending on what amount of time and supplies are desired.
The process in full balayage color all over—the transformation will be more prominent and noticeable. A full head is what you want as you are getting your balayage for the first time or need a complete refresh of color. With some of your chosen sections (primarily focusing on your face-framing highlights and the top layer of hair), a partial balayage will work as a refreshment on the previous application or help you extend the time between the sessions with a slight change. Usually less product and time are used in a partial balayage, making it a little more affordable.
| Balayage Type | Typical UK Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Partial Balayage | £90–£180 | Refreshing existing balayage or adding subtle dimension |
| Full Head Balayage | £150–£300+ | A complete colour transformation or first-time balayage |
What Affects the Cost of Balayage Highlights?
The balayage highlights cost is not the same price everywhere; the reason for this is each treatment is individual to each person and their expected end result. How much hair dye is needed, time on the job, and the stylist’s skill all come together with the price. By knowing this, you will be able to see why other salons may be more expensive than others.
Hair Length and Thickness
Balayage Highlights Cost Depends on Your Hair. The long and dense hair requires a significantly higher dose of color and effort as compared to shorter hair lengths. Hair much shorter than ears or a shoulder can go cheaper, as it generally asks for less color and fewer hours as compared to standard shoulder-length hair. Anything below the shoulder, too long, or too thick implies more paint, more application, and hence a higher value at the end, and for better precision, one needs to visit a stylist and get their hair looked at first.
Hair Colour and Condition
The color and health of your natural hair may play a part in your balayage highlights cost. Most natural and healthy hair needs very little attention to achieve balance and color, whereas very dark hair, hair that has been colored numerous times, or hair that contains chemicals may need more lightening, toning, or work on top to get that ideal outcome. If you have dry, damaged or chemically treated hair your colourist might have suggested an Olaplex strengthening treatment for hair that will keep it protected throughout the coloring process, this might sound an expensive option but it will ensure healthier hair after the coloring process and leave you with better final results for your balayage
What’s Included in the Price?
Balayage highlights cost are more than just the color. This professional hair service will likely involve several steps to create seamless, natural-looking results that also keep your hair as healthy as possible. When you know this, you can more accurately compare different salon services to one another and compare what the price tag includes.
Hair Consultation
You will always have an initial consultation. Your stylist will get an idea of what you’re looking for, evaluate your hair, and propose the most flattering colors to match your skin tone, haircut, and lifestyle. It will be the foundation before starting the color application process.
Hair Lightening
In your appointment, the stylist will hand paint highlights on to certain areas of your hair. This creates the classic balayage look. How many highlights are lightened depends on the level of your own natural hair color and the result that you’re seeking. This may involve using extra product and additional developing time if you have long, dark hair.
Toning
Once lightened, a toner will frequently be applied to your locks to perfect the shade and enhance the tones so you prevent a warmer, more yellow tone. This process helps make for a more toned and natural finish, and it’ll ensure that color is exactly to your desire by your stylist. Certain salons will include the use of toner as part of the price, whereas others have it as an additional price.
Blow Dry and Styling
Typically, the final step of your appointment will be a professional blow-dry and style. This is so the stylist can see how the color sits when the hair is styled, make any finishing touches, and showcase your new balayage to its best! A haircut may be included at the final appointment too, or you could be advised to opt for a treatment such as Olaplex to protect the hair.
Is Balayage Worth the Cost?
Some people find balayage highlights cost to be more expensive than traditional highlighting techniques, but the more natural approach and less maintenance required often make balayage a good value. With a natural blending of colors, it grows into the hair in an extremely low-maintenance way, so over time you have much fewer touch-ups.
How Long Does Balayage Last?
One of the major benefits of balayage is how it lasts for a considerably longer period than most other color application techniques. Typically, your balayage results will continue to appear fresh for between 3 and 6 months, though this will depend on your own natural growth rate, how well you treat it at home, and how frequently you wash it. As the color is integrated with your roots, regrowth isn’t as visible, meaning you require fewer salon visits.
Maintenance Costs
The expense in balayage is mainly due to long-term maintenance, where each appointment costs depending on how many times you get it touched up per year. However, most will be perfectly happy having two balayage sessions over the course of the year, whereas others may have three sessions if they like a brighter new color over the year.
If a single balayage treatment ranges between £120 and £300+, two visits to the salon will cost between £240 and £600+ a year. Three visits may cost £360 and £900+ each year. This is dependent on the length of your hair, where your salon is, and whether you have a full or a partial refreshing treatment. Compared to chemical coloring that may need frequent root touch-ups, balayage can be a cheaper choice.
Popular Hair Colour Brands Used for Balayage
Here’s a breakdown of the hair colors frequently used for professional balayage at salons. Most of your professional stylists in the UK will apply trusted high-quality hair colors that offer lasting results and help preserve the health of your hair that balayage professionals swear by. When a professional bakes you a balayage with a hair color brand of their choice. The type of color you will receive is dictated by the type of hair you have and the effects they’re after.
| Professional Brand | Why It’s Popular for Balayage |
|---|---|
| L’Oréal Professionnel | Known for natural-looking color, wide shade selection, and advanced coloring technology. |
| Wella Professionals | Popular for customized blonde shades, seamless blends, and high-quality toners. |
| Schwarzkopf Professional | Offers vibrant color, excellent color performance, and reliable blonding products. |
| Redken | Combines professional color with hair care technology to help maintain healthier-looking hair. |
| Matrix Professional | Provides a wide range of shades and consistent results for natural-looking balayage. |
Balayage Highlights Prices at Patel Sisters Clinic
At Patel Sisters Clinic, balayage highlights cost depending on your hair length and the services included. Every appointment is personalized to achieve natural-looking results while maintaining the health of your hair.
Balayage Highlights with Blow Dry
| Hair Length | Clinic Price |
|---|---|
| Short Hair | £150 |
| Medium Hair | £170 |
| Long Hair | £190 |
Balayage Highlights incl. Toner & Blow Dry
| Hair Length | Clinic Price |
|---|---|
| Short Hair | £200 |
| Medium Hair | £220 |
| Long Hair | £240 |
Balayage Highlights, Haircut & Blow Dry
| Hair Length | Clinic Price |
|---|---|
| Short Hair | £180 |
| Medium Hair | £200 |
| Long Hair | £220 |
Balayage incl. Toner, Haircut & Blow Dry
| Hair Length | Clinic Price |
|---|---|
| Short Hair | £220 |
| Medium Hair | £240 |
| Long Hair | £260 |
Why Choose Patel Sisters Clinic for Balayage Highlights?
At Patel Sisters Clinic, we offer the latest in customized balayage to suit you and your hair needs and styling goals. Consult with one of our expert hair stylists for hair color during your consultation. Using our professional color products to make sure that you achieve gentle, natural, and the best results that you could ever dream of.
FAQs
How much do balayage highlights cost in the UK?
The Balayage highlights cost ranges from £120 to £320+. The final price depends on your hair length, hair thickness, salon location, stylist experience, and whether services such as toner, a haircut, or blow dry are included.
Why do balayage highlights cost more than traditional highlights?
Balayage is painted by hand and takes more skill and time than having traditional highlights. Since every balayage is different depending on hair condition & goals, each one is uniquely priced; this is a more intensive process, so it typically costs more.
How often does balayage need a touch-up?
Balayage highlights typically require fewer touch-ups, meaning they continue looking fresh for 3-6 months. Most clients may only need up to two to three balayage session appointments per year.
Can balayage be done on all hair types?
Yes, balayage can be adapted to suit straight, wavy, curly, and textured hair, and your colorist will ensure it’s tailored to your specific hair type and the outcome you desire.
Is balayage worth the cost?
For many people, yes. While the initial balayage highlights cost could seem higher, balayage generally lasts longer than highlights, thus needing more time in the salon, which could be considered an investment for a low-maintenance and natural hair color.