Hair Color FAQs

Bring Inspo Pics! 

We request that you come prepared to your consultation with 1-3 images that you can share with your Stylist. Your Stylist will provide you with an evaluation of your hair and discuss the ability and processes it will take to achieve your desired look prior to your allotted appointment time. Please let your Stylist know if you need a price breakdown in advance. 

Please note that not all hair color images can be duplicated exactly. Many online images are filtered and therefore not realistic. Your wave pattern, density, texture, length, level of resistance, previous hair color history, natural shade, and other factors affect how color or bleach processes in your hair, and you will not know how some of those factors come into play until you actually begin the color process.

Based on your length, existing color, texture and density (how much hair you have) combined with the products, techniques and services provided to reach your desired end result, we can provide you an estimate up front following a consultation only. 

Please note that price quotes can only be given by a stylist following a consultation – we do not offer telephone quotes due to the highly customized nature of our color services. A consultation will provide you the opportunity to share your inspiration pics with your stylist and to receive the most accurate price quote in advance, as well as allow for any pre-color treatments your hair might require or benefit from.

Some color services may incur additional fees in addition to pre-quoted fees for required technique or product used if your hair responds unpredictably.

We use a color system that measures every gram/ounce of color that we use for service. Now we can customize pricing for every client. If the standard amount of color is used in a service, pricing will not change. However, if you require more color we can now calculate the additional cost of the service.

Example: if we need to use extra color on your service to achieve your desired results the additional amount will be added to your bill. The great news is that now we can customize not only your color, but the pricing for all of our guests. Our ultimate goal is to reduce product waste and protect the environment.

The main factors for needing more color are:

• How long it has been since your last service.
• How long, thick, dense your hair is.
• What you would like to achieve.

Hair color is a chemical. In order to deposit color into your hair shaft, peroxide is used to deposit color. Hair may feel drier following lightening services and can become brittle and dry if not properly treated before, during, and after your color service. Removing color from hair with bleach has the greatest potential for damage to your hair if not done professionally.

We are a dedicated Alfaparf professional salon and with much pride, ensure the highest quality of color products are used on your hair. Alfaparf is a superior color line that uses the latest technology, lower levels of ammonia, and offers both permanent & demi-semi-permanent colors to ensure the optimal health of your hair. 

During your consultation, please be honest and prepared to explain previous hair color, products, and treatment history to ensure the best result. Our top priority is to maintain the integrity of your hair and we will always recommend proper styling aids, moisture care, conditioner, and treatments to protect your hair and hair investment! We DO RESERVE THE RIGHT to deny any color or service requests that we feel may create damage to your hair.

Permanent Color stays in your hair until it grows out or is removed by decolorizing it with lightener. Permanent colors will fade and may require freshening up after about 28 shampoos. Permanent color is primarily used on roots due to its permanency. (Darker colors typically last longer; reds often fade faster due to their molecular structure)

Semi-Permanent Color lasts about 8-15 Shampoos. Semi-permanent colors are typically used for ends (non roots), for toning highlighted hair or to colorize hair to achieve a specific tone, and to “blur” grey or for any guest wanting to try a new color without a permanent commitment to it. Semi-Permanent colors should be refreshed every 4-6 weeks for continued tonal quality, shine, and health of hair. Semi-permanent color coats the hair strands adding support and shine to the hair.

Bleaching (aka decolorizing) hair removes color permanently. Toning ($45+) is required following bleach to acquire most desired tones.

Other Contributing Factors:

• Your hair’s pre-color condition will contribute to the longevity of your color
• Sun exposure will lighten or fade color. Washing hair in hot water can also contribute to fading (we recommend warm water for regular shampooing). 
• Heat styling can lighten color, so heat protection styling aides are essential. Improper and low-quality hair products can strip color quickly, therefore we recommend only the finest quality products be used on your hair color investment, like Bumble Eleven Randco.
• Masks, deep conditioning treatments and Olaplex will all increase the longevity and health of your color.

Application time for color ranges from 20-30 min (single root color or glaze) to 90-220 min (highlighting or foils). Processing time for color ranges from 5 minutes for a blonde toning to 1 hour for highly resistant hair. The range is wide and is determined by the specific technique, product resistance, and condition of your hair.

*All times are average and approximate. Timing should be discussed with your Stylist if it is a concern. DO NOT try to “squeeze in” amazing color 🙂 * 

Basic Root Color retouch: Application time: 30-45 min I Processing time: 45 min 

Highlighting: Application time: 60 – 90 min I Processing time: 45-60 min 

Baby lights: Application time: 1-2 hours | Processing time: 45-60 min 

Long, thick, resistant, and grey hair may require additional product and time, therefore additional fees may be applied. Any such fees will be presented in advance of application. 

Additional Bowl Fee: $25 each

Great hair takes time and we want you to have GREAT HAIR! Rushing the color process usually doesn’t end well. In addition, some popular colors/styles can take several visits to achieve; multiple sessions may be prescribed based on your desired look and will be associated with appropriate fees.

Our single process retouch is typical for root touch up color in your natural color, typically to cover grey, where your re-growth is visible up to 1/2 “. (4-8 weeks of regrowth). For root color beyond 1/2”, (8-12+ weeks of regrowth) fees will be increased accordingly. 

During Single Process Retouch, color is applied to the root area or new growth area of the hair only. This service is recommended for customers who are looking to touch up and maintain their color, rather than an all-over head color application. Extra Fees will be added if your hair requires additional color mixing ($25 per additional color used). Long, Thick and Dense hair will have additional charges.

During Single Process Color treatment, a color or toner is applied all over to create a single color. The hair color is lifted and/or deposited in one easy step. We typically recommend this service for covering grays, those looking to change their hair color, and for adding shininess to dull hair.

Full Balayage is a French style of coloring hair in which the color is painted by hand to larger sections of hair without foil (rather than traditional foiling highlighting techniques) to create natural-looking, lived-in highlights with a less apparent regrowth line than traditional highlights.

Balayage gives the look of naturally “sun lightened” hair. Your natural color will remain at the roots, so your hair will have darker roots and lighter ends. 

Balayage is a very low maintenance option because the highlights do not go all the way to the scalp – think “sunkissed” or “beachy” highlights. This is the perfect treatment for those looking to mix up their hair color and add in extra dimension and texture. Balayage can also grow out naturally and still look good, if you’re not ready to commit to highlighting retouches every 6 – 12 weeks. 

Balayage is usually in the range of $150+, based on your hair’s condition, color history, length, density and texture and typically takes longer to perform than typical foil highlights.

Baby-lights are extremely popular due to social media and celebrities who love them! Baby lights refers to a subtle coloring technique where hair is sectioned into very fine strands in such a way that the highlights perfectly blend all over with your natural hair color. The results are an all-over lighter look with a very natural root line, like that of a baby’s hair after a day out in the sun! They are especially recommended for fine hair clients.

Baby-lights take a much greater amount of time to apply and will range in price based on your density, texture, and length. Baby-lights can grow out naturally if you choose to do so, as the strands are finely colored. Toner or glazing are required following Baby-lights to achieve your desired result.

Half Balayage is perfect for the non-committal type! This technique results in a lot less color than a full Balayage treatment. Ideal for touch-ups, or if it has been more than six weeks since your last Balayage treatment.

During a Full Foil Highlight treatment, foils for highlights will be placed all over the head. We recommend scheduling a full head highlighting service to first-time customers or customers who have never had a highlighting treatment.

Half head highlights create a brightening effect where highlights are added to some of the hair. Most of your natural color will still peek through from the back and sides, and around the nape of the neck.

Lowlights are a great way to add dimensional color to your hair by coloring certain areas darker than your natural hair color or to previously lifted color. Lowlights add depth, dimension, and accentuate movement, and typically look good on all types of hair. Many times, lowlights are added to the lower layers of your hair so that blending of your lightened hair and natural color can be achieved. Many stylists will combine highlights and lowlights to create dimensional color and interest.

$125/hr. If you wish to totally transform your look – from light to dark, dark to light, brown to blue, blonde to red, multi-dimensional colors, and almost any creative color – this is referred to as Transformational Color.

The nature of transformational color may and often does require bleaching or lifting, filling or stabilizing, highlights, lowlights, glazing, specialty techniques, and any combination of these!

Transformational color may also be referred to as Corrective Color in some cases.  

Transformational Color can and does take considerably more time, product, technique, care and occasionally multiple sessions to safely achieve desired results. **Olaplex treatment is included with Transformational Color.

Bond/Olaplex is added to hair services to restore compromised hair and provide the ultimate breakage insurance. Add-on fee: $45

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Highlight placement creates a framing / brightening effect around the face, where highlights are placed to frame your face and boost your natural color.

This service allows your stylist to utilize two techniques. These techniques often include a base color, highlights, lowlights, and balayage. Depending on your desired look your stylist will recommend the right options. This service is perfect for those multi-dimensional looks!

Lightener is used to remove color from your hair, both natural color (as in Highlighting, Balayage or Ombre) or previously applied color when used as a decolorizer or remove previously color.  Lightening alone does not typically achieve the desired end result by itself.

We highly recommend adding Olaplex/Bond ($35) to all hair coloring services to maintain the integrity of your hair. Olaplex is like insurance for your hair: it dramatically reduces breakage; repairs disulfide bonds, and helps make your color last longer. We carry Olaplex #3, #6 Styling Creme, and #7 Bonding Oil to strengthen and repair hair at home between color and/or Olaplex treatment appointments.

Refresh your color in between full color service with toner, glaze, or root shadowing. This service keeps the color fresh between visits and cancels out unwanted tones in your hair. A Toner/Glazing (coloring/refreshing the length of the hair shaft to the ends) is $45 per formula, and will increase based on your length, density and amount of product used. This technique is not meant to lighten, brighten, or add highlights to the hair. After your toner or glaze treatment, hair will be blown dry and styled.

Toning is a semi-permanent color which causes no damage to your hair, and will add color richness, tonal quality, shine, and manageability. Semi-permanent color lasts about 6-10 shampoos and should be applied to hair between regular color appointments, or every 3-6 weeks. Extra Bowl Fee ($25) Toning/Glaze is required after any blonding/highlight service to achieve appropriate tonal quality.

Glaze works as a topcoat for the hair, adding shine, richness, and helping color to last longer. 

Same as above, but without a blowout at the end of the treatment.

Think Madonna, Gaga and Monroe. All-over or full head platinum blonde color application. Price varies depending on hair length, texture, and current color, which is why a consultation is required in order to determine costs.

Blonde color retouch is for new growth and regrowth only. Your stylist will touch up and lighten the roots to maintain a fresh platinum blonde look. Recommended if it has been about six weeks or less from your last retouch.

In an effort to reach your hair color dreams, at times we may go off-menu in order to fulfill Speciality Color treatments. Specialty Color requests such as advanced color work, extreme changes, and multi-stage processes within one visit will incur al la carte pricing. Don’t worry, your technician will clearly define your goals and costs before you get started. Complimentary consultation required for Specialty Color treatments.

The term “Color Correction” refers to any change to previously colored hair. Sometimes it is an extreme change in someone’s hair color – going from a lighter color to a darker color, or from a darker color to lighter color. It can also apply to changing the tonal values of your hair color.

In some cases, it is used to remove the brassiness from blonde hair color. This service requires a complimentary consultation because your hair history plays a large role in achieving the desired results. Please make sure to tell your stylist everything–don’t hold back! Also, keep in mind that color correction can take several sessions.

Think up your dream hair: slate grey, jewel tones, pastel colors, rainbow, or blush? Whichever style you’re looking for, we can create it! Consultation is required. Please note that this price does not include bleaching service to achieve desired results.