How much does balayage cost in London?

Balayage is one of the most-searched colour services in London, and one of the hardest to price in advance. Salon menus often say “from”, the final figure depends on your hair, and two salons on the same street can be more than £100 apart. We track the prices London salons publish on their own websites, so here is what balayage actually costs, and why.

The short answer

The table below is drawn live from our database. The “typical” figure is the median starting price, so half of salons charge less and half charge more. The middle-half range is a better guide to what most people pay than the cheapest or most expensive listing.

What the numbers show

Two figures are worth a closer look. The first is the gap between each area's typical price and the London median: headline ranges are stretched by a handful of very cheap or very expensive salons, so the typical price is a fairer way to compare neighbourhoods. The second is the senior-stylist premium. Where a salon publishes separate prices by stylist level, it shows how much of the bill comes down to who you book rather than where you go.

What surprised us is how little the postcode tells you on its own. Chelsea is one of the dearest places in London for balayage, yet its cheapest salons charge less than the typical price in areas with a much cheaper reputation, so don't rule a neighbourhood out before you've seen the full list. And if you already like a salon, asking for a junior colourist rather than a director gets you most of the way to what you'd save by going to a cheaper part of town.

What you're paying for

Balayage is hand-painted rather than foiled in a regular pattern, which is why it grows out softly and why it takes time. A full balayage appointment commonly runs two and a half to four hours, including sectioning, painting, processing, rinsing, toning and styling. Most of the cost is the colourist's time, not the product.

Before comparing prices, check what each salon includes. The usual differences are:

• Toner or gloss. Almost everyone needs one to neutralise brassiness after lightening. Some salons include it; others add it as a separate line.
• Bond builder (Olaplex, K18 and similar). Increasingly included at mid- to high-end salons, otherwise a paid add-on.
• Blow-dry and cut. A finishing blow-dry is normally included; a cut usually is not.
• Long or thick hair supplements. Many menus quote a base price for shoulder-length hair and add a surcharge beyond that.

A salon with a higher headline price that includes toner and a bond builder can work out cheaper than one that charges for each separately.

Why quotes vary so much

Your starting point

Balayage on natural, uncoloured hair is the straightforward case. Dark hair that needs lifting several shades, or hair with old box dye, can take longer or need more than one session. At that point you may be quoted for colour correction, which is priced differently.

Stylist level

Many London salons price by seniority: junior or graduate stylist, stylist, senior, director, creative or art director. The work is supervised at every level, and a newly qualified colourist in a good salon can be excellent value for a simple, natural-looking balayage. For a dramatic change or a correction, the extra for a senior colourist is usually worth it.

Location and salon type

Rent and clientele push prices up in central and prime west London. Independent salons away from the high street are often the best value for the same level of skill. Use the area table above to see where the typical price sits in each neighbourhood.

Balayage vs highlights and other options

If you mainly want brightness around your face, or you're not ready for the full-head price, it's worth comparing the alternatives. Typical London prices from the same data:

Face-framing highlights (sometimes sold as a “money piece”) give much of the effect at the front for a fraction of the price. Half-head highlights are a middle option. Foiled highlights give a more even, brighter result; balayage gives softer regrowth, so you may need fewer appointments a year.

The ongoing cost

Balayage is often sold as low-maintenance, and compared with foils it is. But budget for upkeep:

• Toner or gloss refresh every six to ten weeks if you want to keep the tone cool or glossy. This is a short appointment and much cheaper than repeating the balayage.
• A balayage refresh every three to six months, depending on how much contrast you want at the root.
• Aftercare products such as purple shampoo and a bond-repair treatment at home.

How to pay less

• Book a junior or graduate colourist for a natural, low-contrast result.
• Go off-peak.Some salons discount weekday daytime appointments. Tick “Include off-peak” in our comparison to see those prices.
• Check for student, NHS/blue light and pensioner rates. Our comparison can apply these where salons publish them.
• Skip the cut on the day, or book it separately with a cheaper stylist.
• Start with face-framing and add a full balayage later if you like the result.
• Look at training academies and model nights, where supervised trainees work at a reduced price. Expect a longer appointment.

Questions to ask before you book

• Is toner included? Is a bond builder included?
• Is there a surcharge for long or thick hair, and where does “long” start?
• Which stylist level is the quoted price for?
• Do I need a consultation or skin test first, and is there a charge?
• If my hair has been coloured before, could this be priced as colour correction?

Most salons ask for a skin (allergy) test at least 48 hours before a colour service if you're a new client or haven't had colour there recently, so allow for an extra visit.

How we collect these prices

Every figure on this page comes from prices salons publish on their own websites, which we record and re-check periodically. We use each salon's standard starting price before any offers, so salons are compared like for like. Prices change, and your final quote depends on your hair, so always confirm with the salon. You can read more about our method on the About page.

Compare balayage prices near you

See every salon's published balayage price side by side, with ratings and current offers: Chelsea, Chiswick, Balham, Bethnal Green, Hampstead, or search your own area.