Quick Answer
A full highlight service typically costs between $150 and $350. The price can vary depending on factors like the length and thickness of your hair, the salon or stylist you choose, and any special treatments or techniques used. On average, expect to pay around $200 to $250 for a full highlight service.
What is a Full Highlight?
A full highlight involves applying highlights throughout the entire head of hair to lighten and brighten the overall hair color. Highlights are usually placed in sections and woven through the top and underneath layers of the hair using foil or a cap highlighting technique. This creates an all-over “highlighted” effect.
Cost Factors
There are several factors that influence the cost of a full highlight service:
Hair Length and Thickness
Longer and thicker hair requires more foils, color, time, and effort from the stylist. Short, fine hair can be highlighted faster and using less product. Expect to pay more for highlights on long, dense hair.
Coloring Technique
Foil highlights placed by hand tend to be more time-consuming and expensive. Cap highlights done all at once can cost less. Advanced techniques like balayage, ombre, or babylights take more time and skill, increasing the price.
Number of Colors
Using multiple highlight shades adds depth and dimension but requires more product and time. Single-process highlights are quicker and more affordable.
Salon or Stylist
Premium salons and experienced stylists charge more for their services. Discount salons or newer stylists may offer more budget-friendly pricing.
Location
Like most services, highlights cost more in areas with a higher cost of living like New York City or San Francisco. Prices tend to be lower in suburban and rural areas.
Add-Ons
Add-on services like a haircut, deep conditioning, gloss, or toner can add cost. Consider the complete package pricing.
Price Ranges
Here are some typical price ranges for a full highlight service:
| Budget Salon Chain (Great Clips, Supercuts) | $60 – $150 |
| Mid-Range Salon | $150 – $250 |
| Upscale Salon | $250 – $350+ |
At budget salon chains like Great Clips and Supercuts, a full highlight generally costs between $60 and $150 depending on the hair length and thickness.
The average price range at most mid-range local salons is about $150 to $250 for a full highlight service. This covers the typical amount of time and product needed.
High-end salons and top colorists sometimes charge between $250 and $350+ for full highlights involving advanced techniques, specialty products, and extra time. However, a full highlight at a premium salon doesn’t always guarantee the best results. An experienced stylist at a reasonably priced salon can still provide beautiful highlights.
Saving Money
Here are some tips to save money on your next full highlight service:
- Ask your stylist for a partial highlight instead of full to reduce the number of foils needed.
- Choose a subtle, low-maintenance highlight look that grows out gracefully.
- Extend time between touch-ups to get the most out of your highlights.
- Have highlights done in the off-season when salon prices decrease.
- Choose a single process highlight instead of special techniques like balayage or ombre.
- Use discount salon coupons and look for new client specials.
- Opt for a bundle service including haircut and highlight to maximize value.
- Highlight at a cosmetology school with supervised students at reduced pricing.
- Use at-home highlight products very carefully if professionally done highlights are out of budget.
With some planning and research, you can find affordable full highlights from experienced stylists at quality salons in your area. Taking good care of your hair between appointments can also prolong the lifespan of your highlights.
What Affects the Cost?
Many factors influence the cost of professional highlighting services. Being aware of these considerations can help you budget for a highlight and understand the prices charged by different salons and stylists.
Hair Type and Condition
Easy-to-highlight hair without pre-lightening required will have a lower cost. Coarse, dense, dark hair that requires extra processing is more expensive to highlight. Damaged hair may need special treatments added.
Amount of Hair
Pricing considers the total volume of hair being highlighted. Long, thick hair with lots of foils and color used has a higher cost. Shoulder-length fine hair is quicker to highlight.
Color and Placement
Subtle babylights placed meticulously throughout the hair take more time and expertise versus fewer thicker highlights. All-over color results in more cost per foil. Bold, vivid fashion shades can cost extra.
Base Hair Color
If your natural hair is light blonde, highlights require minimal lifting chemistry. Dark brunette or black hair must be pre-lightened extensively first, adding cost. Red hair is also trickier to highlight.
Highlighting Skill and Technique
Advanced techniques like balayage, ombre, or foilyage demand a higher stylist skill level and more time, increasing the cost. Quick all-over cap highlights have a lower price.
Number of Colors Used
Highlights with a single base breaker shade are simpler than a customized combo of multiple highlight hues blended throughout the hair. Each additional color adds more time and money.
Foils vs. Foilless
Hand-placed foil highlights require meticulous sectioning and isolation of the hair into foils. Foilless methods like balayage don’t use foils, take less time, and have a lower cost.
Add-On Services
Many clients pair highlights with a haircut, deep conditioning, toner, gloss, or other extra services. This increases the total cost but provides more value.
Salon Exclusivity
Exclusive boutique salons and specific top-level stylists can charge higher prices based on their reputation and expertise. They use this status to drive demand.
In summary, the specifics of your hair condition, color, and style preferences as well as the technique, time, and skill required will impact the cost of custom highlights. Being an educated client goes a long way.
Salon vs At-Home Highlights
Should you get highlights done at a professional salon or save money and do it yourself at home? There are pros and cons to each option:
Salon Highlights
Pros:
- Consistent, even results from an experienced colorist.
- Professionally formulated coloring products.
- Minimal scalp irritation and skin staining.
- Lower risk of hair damage from proper application.
- Expert technique for blending and natural look.
- Strand tests ensure desired color is achieved.
Cons:
- More expensive cost at $150 to $350 per session.
- Inconvenience of going to salon and processing time.
- Results last just 4 to 6 weeks before roots appear.
- Less customization compared to doing your own hair.
At-Home Highlights
Pros:
- Significant cost savings from DIY kits under $20.
- Freedom to highlight when desired.
- Customize placement and color selection.
- No appointment scheduling required.
Cons:
- Messy application and difficult self-technique.
- Uneven results with splotchy spots.
- Skin and scalp stains from incorrect application.
- Higher likelihood of breakage and hair damage.
- Limited color choices compared to pro options.
For the best results with the least hassle, professional salon highlights are recommended for most clients. However, at-homehighlighting can be an affordable option between salon visits if directions are followed carefully. Strand tests should always be done first when applying bleach and color.
How Long Do Highlights Last?
On average, expect professionally done highlights to last:
- Roots: 4-6 weeks
- All-over color: 6-8 weeks
- Toner: 4-5 weeks
Hair growth, washing frequency, and sun exposure impact how long your highlights will remain vibrant. Following professional at-home root touch-up recommendations from your stylist can help maintain your highlights between salon appointments.
Using a good color-protecting shampoo and limiting washing to every 3 days also prolongs highlight color. Heat styling should be minimized to prevent fading. Add a gloss or conditioning treatment at 4 weeks to freshen up your highlights’ tone and shine.
Tips for Long-Lasting Highlights
- Use professional salon-quality color to maintain consistency.
- Wear a swim cap when swimming to protect color.
- Rinse with cool water and use less shampoo to make highlights last longer.
- Trim regularly to remove dry ends and refresh the highlights.
- Use a sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo and conditioner.
- Limit washing to every 2-3 days max if possible.
- Blot wet hair with a towel and air dry instead of heat styling.
- Avoid excessive sun exposure by wearing a hat outside.
- Apply a gloss or conditioning treatment between highlight appointments.
- Use an at-home root touch up kit for growth between salon visits.
Following a diligent at-home haircare routine along with regular trims and root touch-ups allows you to keep highlights looking great longer. Avoid overwashing, heat styling, and sun damage. Most importantly, schedule maintenance salon visits before the highlights begin to look overgrown.
Conclusion
A full highlight service typically ranges from $150 to $350 depending on your hair specifics, color and technique, and the salon pricing. While not cheap, professional highlights provide the best and longest lasting results when applied by a skilled stylist. For maximum vibrancy, schedule touch-ups every 4 to 6 weeks. At-home highlights kits can save money in between salon appointments but may appear uneven without an expert’s application. With proper maintenance and haircare, full highlights can remain beautiful and bright for 6 to 8 weeks.