Hair highlighting costs in the UK present a complex landscape of pricing variations that reflect multiple market factors. From luxury London salons charging premium rates to modest rural establishments offering budget-friendly options, consumers face diverse price points across the country. The cost spectrum ranges from £40 to £300, influenced by geographical location, stylist expertise, and specific highlighting techniques. Understanding these variables becomes essential for making informed decisions about hair coloring services.
Factors Affecting Hair Highlighting Prices
Several key factors determine the cost of hair highlighting services across UK salons.
The salon’s location and reputation greatly influence pricing, with urban and prestigious establishments typically charging more than those in smaller towns.
Meanwhile, the stylist’s level of expertise and professional experience directly impact service rates.
The client’s hair characteristics, including length, texture, and current condition, along with the chosen highlighting technique and any necessary additional treatments, further affect the final cost of the service.
Salon location and reputation
Location plays a decisive role in determining hair highlighting prices across the UK, with prestigious London salons commanding notably higher rates than those in smaller towns or rural areas.
A salon’s reputation and market positioning greatly influence its pricing structure.
- High-end London salons charge up to £300 for full highlights
- Urban salon prices average £125-185 for full highlights
- Suburban locations typically range from £88-115
- Rural salons offer services from £40-100
- Premium establishments often employ technical directors commanding £185+
Stylist experience and expertise
Beyond a salon’s location, the experience level and expertise of individual stylists greatly impact highlighting costs in UK salons. At TONI&GUY Harrow, prices vary considerably based on stylist rank, demonstrating this tiered pricing structure:
| Stylist Level | Full Head Highlights | Half Head Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Technician | £125 | £105 |
| Senior Technician | £145 | £125 |
| Technical Director | £185 | £165 |
Professional expertise and advanced training command premium rates, reflecting the stylist’s ability to achieve precise, high-quality results.
Hair length, texture, and condition
The physical characteristics of a client’s hair greatly influence the final cost of highlighting services across UK salons.
These factors determine the amount of product, time, and expertise required:
- Long hair typically incurs 10% additional charges
- Thick hair requires more product and processing time
- Damaged hair may need preparatory treatments
- Complex textures demand specialized techniques
- Virgin hair versus previously colored affects pricing
Highlighting technique used
Different highlighting techniques employed by salons greatly impact the overall cost of hair coloring services, with methods ranging from traditional foils to more specialized approaches like balayage and baby lights.
While traditional foil highlights typically start from £88.50 for half-head and £115 for full-head services, specialized techniques like balayage command higher prices, ranging from £137 to £250 due to their complexity and artistry.
Additional treatments required
Alongside basic highlighting services, additional treatments often become necessary to maintain hair health and achieve ideal results, greatly impacting the final cost of the service.
Common supplementary treatments include:
- Toning services for achieving precise color results
- Olaplex or similar bond-building treatments
- Deep conditioning treatments for damaged hair
- Color correction procedures when needed
- Post-highlight gloss treatments for enhanced shine
These treatments can add £30-£100 to the base highlighting cost.
Average Costs for Different Highlighting Services
The cost of hair highlighting services in the UK spans a broad range depending on the specific technique and extent of treatment.
Root touch-ups represent the most economical option at £50-£65, while half head highlights typically range from £88-£125, and full head highlights command prices between £97-£250.
Balayage, a more specialized highlighting technique, generally costs between £140-£250, reflecting the complexity and expertise required for this service.
Root touch-ups: £50-£65
Root touch-up services represent one of the most common and cost-effective highlighting treatments in UK salons, with prices typically ranging from £50 to £65.
Pricing factors for root touch-ups include:
- Stylist’s level of expertise, with technical directors charging premium rates
- Length and density of regrowth area requiring treatment
- Additional toning services if required
- Location and reputation of the salon
- Type of highlighting product used for the service
Half head highlights: £88-£125
Standard half head highlights in UK salons range from £88 to £125, representing a mid-tier option for clients seeking selective color placement around the crown and face-framing areas.
Prices vary based on stylist expertise, with standard technicians charging around £105, senior technicians £125, and technical directors up to £165.
Additional charges may apply for longer or thicker hair.
Full head highlights: £97-£250
Professional full head highlights in UK salons command prices ranging from £97 to £250, offering extensive color placement throughout the entire head.
The final cost depends primarily on the following factors:
- Stylist’s expertise level (standard to technical director)
- Hair length and thickness
- Salon location and reputation
- Additional treatments required
- Type of highlighting technique used (foils vs. balayage)
Balayage: £140-£250
While full head highlights remain a classic choice, balayage has emerged as a premium highlighting service in UK salons, with prices ranging from £140 to £250.
The cost varies based on hair length, with shorter styles starting at £140 and longer lengths reaching £165.
Premium salons may charge more, particularly when the service is performed by senior technicians or technical directors.
Price Variations by Hair Length
The cost of hair highlighting services in the UK varies considerably based on hair length, with short hair treatments typically ranging from £110 to £130.
Medium-length hair highlighting services command prices between £120 and £150, reflecting the additional time and product requirements.
For long hair, prices escalate to £130-£185, with some high-end salons charging premium rates due to the increased complexity and product usage.
Short hair: £110-£130
Clients seeking highlights for short hair can expect to pay between £110-£130 at standard UK salons, with variations depending on the stylist’s expertise and salon location.
- Full head foils at Image London start at £110 for short hair.
- Standard technicians at TONI&GUY charge £125 for full highlights.
- Half head highlights generally cost £88.50-£105.
- Hair By Regina offers more affordable rates starting at £30.
- Premium salons may charge up to £185 for technical directors.
Medium length: £120-£150
Medium-length hair, typically falling between chin and shoulder level, commands highlighting prices ranging from £120-£150 across UK salons.
At establishments like Image London, medium-length highlights cost approximately £120, while TONI&GUY charges £125-£145 depending on the technician’s experience level.
Additional factors such as hair thickness and desired highlighting technique may affect the final price within this range.
Long hair: £130-£185
Highlighting services for long hair, extending past shoulder length, typically range from £130-£185 at UK salons, with prices reflecting the additional time, products, and expertise required.
- Full head foils for long hair cost £130 at Image London
- TONI&GUY charges up to £185 with technical directors
- Balayage treatments reach £165 for longer lengths
- Premium salons may charge £300+ for complex techniques
- Additional 10% surcharge applies for extra-thick long hair
Additional Costs to Consider
When budgeting for hair highlighting services, clients must account for several additional treatments that can increase the final cost.
Toning services, which may not be included in the base highlighting price, are often necessary to achieve the desired hair color, while specialized conditioning treatments like Olaplex help protect and repair color-treated hair.
Color correction services represent the most significant potential additional expense, with prices ranging from £155.50 to £210.50 depending on the complexity of the correction needed.
Toning services
Most salons in the UK charge separately for toning services, which can add £15-30 to the base highlighting cost.
Toners help achieve the desired hair color and neutralize unwanted undertones after highlighting.
- Basic toning services start from £15
- Premium toners with enhanced formulations cost £20-25
- Color-corrective toning treatments range from £25-30
- Specialist purple or silver toners for blonde hair: £20-25
- Customized toner combinations may incur additional fees
Conditioning treatments like Olaplex
Beyond toning services, conditioning treatments represent a significant additional cost for clients receiving highlighting services.
Treatments like Olaplex, which helps maintain hair integrity during chemical processes, can increase the overall service cost.
While these treatments are often recommended to protect color-treated hair, they are typically not included in the base highlighting price and must be purchased separately.
Color correction services
Clients requiring color correction services should anticipate considerably higher costs compared to standard highlighting treatments.
Professional salons typically charge between £155.50 to £210.50 for these specialized services.
- Complex color corrections may require multiple sessions
- Initial consultation fees often apply
- Additional toning treatments may be necessary
- Product costs increase with damaged hair remediation
- Specialized expertise commands premium pricing
Saving Money on Hair Highlighting
Several cost-saving strategies can make hair highlighting more affordable in UK salons, including taking advantage of new client discounts and package deals that bundle multiple services together.
Choosing a standard technician rather than a senior stylist or technical director can reduce costs considerably, with price differences of up to £60 for the same highlighting service.
Opting for partial highlights, such as T-sections or face-framing techniques, typically costs £20-40 less than full-head highlights while still achieving a refreshed look.
Look for new client discounts
Many salons across the UK offer attractive discounts and promotional packages specifically for first-time clients, presenting an excellent opportunity to save money on highlighting services.
- Full head highlights plus cut and blow dry packages at 50% off regular pricing
- Complimentary toner applications with highlighting services
- Bundled treatments combining highlights with conditioning services
- First-time client exclusive rates start from £88.50 for half-head highlights
- Special introductory pricing for premium techniques like balayage and ombre
Consider package deals
While individual highlighting services can be costly, package deals offered by salons across the UK provide substantial savings opportunities through bundled treatments and services.
Many establishments combine highlights with cuts and blow-dries at discounted rates compared to booking separately.
For example, some salons offer extensive packages that include full head highlights, cut, and blow-dry for £129, representing savings of over 50%.
Choose less experienced stylists for lower rates
Opting for junior or newly qualified stylists presents a significant opportunity to reduce highlighting costs, as evidenced by the substantial price differences between standard technicians and technical directors.
- Standard technicians charge around £125 for full head highlights
- Senior technicians typically charge £145 for the same service
- Technical directors command premium rates of £185
- Price gaps of £40-60 exist between experience levels
- Junior stylists often deliver quality results under supervision
Opt for partial highlights instead of full head
Selecting partial highlights rather than a full head service can considerably reduce costs while still achieving an attractive dimensional look.
According to salon pricing data, partial highlights typically cost £20-40 less than full head services.
For example, at TONI&GUY Harrow, half-head highlights with a standard technician cost £105 versus £125 for full-head highlights, representing significant savings.
Regional Price Differences
The cost of hair highlighting services varies considerably across different regions of the UK, with urban areas consistently commanding higher prices than rural locations.
London salons, in particular, tend to charge premium rates, with some high-end establishments asking £185 or more for a full head of highlights from senior technicians.
Smaller towns and rural areas often provide more budget-friendly options, with some salons offering full head highlights starting from £40 for short hair.
Urban areas are generally more expensive
Price disparities between urban and rural salons in the UK reveal significant regional variations, with metropolitan areas commanding premium rates for highlighting services.
Analysis of salon pricing indicates substantial urban markups, particularly in:
- London salons charge up to £300 for full head highlights
- Major city centers averaging £150-£185 for technical directors
- High-end urban establishments requiring 10% surcharge for longer hair
- Premium locations offering specialized balayage from £140-£165
- Metropolitan areas demanding higher rates for experienced colorists
London salons typically charge higher rates
Among all regional price variations in the UK, London salons stand distinctly at the premium end of the spectrum, with service rates typically 30-50% higher than other major cities.
Premium establishments like Image London and TONI&GUY exemplify this trend, charging upwards of £130 for full head highlights, while similar services in non-London areas often start around £88.50.
Rural and smaller town salons are often more affordable
Smaller towns and rural areas across the UK consistently offer more economical hair highlighting services, with prices averaging 20-40% lower than their urban counterparts.
The price advantages reflect several key factors:
- Lower overhead costs and rent for salon spaces
- Reduced labor and staffing expenses
- More competitive local market conditions
- Different client expectations and spending patterns
- Simplified service menus with standardized pricing
Conclusion
Hair highlighting costs in the UK reflect significant regional and service-based variations. While London salons command premium prices ranging from £150-£300, suburban and rural options offer more economical alternatives. Consumers can manage costs by considering factors such as stylist experience, hair length, and optional treatments. Understanding these price determinants enables clients to make informed decisions while balancing quality and budget considerations in their hair-highlighting choices.
