HAIR COLOURING: Highlights, Balayage, and Colour Correction

Traditional highlights remain a salon staple for good reason. Using foils or a highlighting cap, your colourist lifts selected strands to create contrast and dimension. This controlled method allows for even colour distribution and predictable results, giving you those perfectly placed lighter pieces that catch the light beautifully. It's ideal for adding brightness around your face or creating an all-over sun-kissed effect.

Highlights work particularly well for those wanting a dramatic change or precise placement of colour. They're also brilliant for covering grey roots, making them virtually disappear amongst the lighter strands. The downside? The regrowth line can be quite obvious, meaning you'll need touch-ups every six to eight weeks, and you can expect to pay between £60-120 depending on whether you opt for half or full head highlights.

Balayage, meaning 'to sweep' in French, has become the holy grail of hair colouring. Rather than using foils, your colourist hand-paints colour directly onto your hair, creating a natural gradient that mimics how the sun would naturally lighten your locks.

The beauty of balayage lies in its subtlety and longevity. The colour is placed strategically through the mid-lengths and ends, avoiding the roots entirely. Prices start at £85 in Westbourne salons, but you'll get excellent value as appointments can be spaced three to four months apart and you can go three to four months between appointments – perfect for busy Westbourne professionals who want to look polished without constant maintenance.

The technique works wonderfully on all hair lengths and textures, creating movement and depth that looks incredibly natural. Think beachy waves that transition seamlessly from your natural root colour to lighter ends. Sessions typically take 2-3 hours, depending on hair length and desired intensity.

Sometimes things go wrong – perhaps that home highlighting kit didn't quite deliver the promised results, or a previous salon visit left you with brassy tones that wouldn't look out of place on a traffic cone. This is where colour correction becomes your saviour.

Colour correction is the most technical aspect of hair colouring, requiring genuine expertise to assess your hair's condition and create a plan to achieve your desired result. It might involve lifting unwanted tones, adding depth back to over-lightened hair, or gradually working towards your goal colour over multiple appointments. This complex service can take anywhere from 4-8 hours, with prices varying significantly based on the complexity of correction needed. Many salons offer free consultations to assess your hair and provide realistic timelines and costs.

Your lifestyle, maintenance preferences, and natural colouring all play a part in determining which technique suits you best. A skilled colourist will assess your hair's condition, discuss your styling routine, and recommend the approach that will give you gorgeous results whilst fitting seamlessly into your Westbourne lifestyle.

Remember, great colour isn't just about the technique – it's about finding a colourist who understands your vision and has the expertise to bring it to life beautifully. Luckily, Westbourne has a range of hair specialists who can accomadate your needs.

William Guy Hairdressing on Poole Road offers comprehensive colour services including highlights, balayage, and colour correction using premium Davines colour and Olaplex treatments. Their award-winning stylists specialise in everything from lived-in blonde and grey blending to creative colour transformations.

Francesco Hair Salon Westbourne on Seamoor Road brings creativity and expertise to every appointment, offering cutting-edge styles and vibrant colours in their spacious, luxurious salon environment.

Beautiful Bodies Westbourne provides professional hair services including cuts, colours, and balayage for both ladies and gentlemen, combining hair services with their established beauty treatments.