Going to the hairdressers for a full head of highlights/balayage - what to expect?

[hgkotmortmhr]

Hi, I'm going to the hairdressers for the first time since I was a child to have balayage/a full head of highlights. I had a consultation which was really helpful, and I showed the hairdressers photos.

I'm quite nervous about what to expect for the process, and would love to hear about anyone else's experiences and what to expect.

My main questions are - will the hairdresser be working on my head for a long time, or is the bulk of the time spent sitting on my own waiting for it to process? Will I have my hair washed just once or several times? How much should I tip? My bill is £200, so I was thinking 10% which is £20 - does that sound reasonable, and also do I give this in cash or ask for it to be put on the card machine?

I've brought a book to read as I'm quite shy and struggle with small talk, will this be ok?

Mine usually takes an hour or so to put the dye on the hair, then I sit for 45 mins or so whilst it develops. Can read magazine/book etc. Hair then get washed, if you're having a toner then that gets applied and you sit for another half hour then wash it off. Then you have hair cut, dried and styled. Always takes 3 - 3.5 hours for me!

Can tip cash or card. I usually chat whilst my hair is being done but if you don't want to then let them know! They won't mind.

If you are shy/nervous about speaking up then I would have quite a few photos so you can say e.g oh I would like it to be blonder toned like this picture, or I would like my fringe to sit like this.

make sure you have a clear idea of what you want, the balayage tends to start a little further down than highlights so you might want to guide how close to the root they start

I wouldn’t tip £20, I’d give a tenner tbh but I’m probably tight

Process goes as follows iirc:

Go in, get welcomed, maybe wait for hairdresser to finish previous person. Put on gown, sit in chair, discuss what you want (prob quick for you given previous consultation). They go away to mix up colours. You may get offered a drink. Then they come back with colours and foils (for highlights, I don’t know if balayage uses foils) and start applying and wrapping foils. This takes a while, maybe 1hr for a full head?? Not sure just a guess. You will look ridiculous with all the foils but it’s totally normal 😁 Then you wait while colour develops, they may put a heat lamp over your head to speed this. Then hair washed at sinks. Usually several products are used in the washing process one by one (not sure what exactly, shampoo, various kinds of conditioner/toner) so this can take a while. You might get a head massage if lucky! Then back to seat for cut, if you are having one, then blow dry.

There is no need to talk at all, maybe a few min at the start and then get your book out. I’m sure plenty of hairdressers are happy not to have to chat! I tend to read most of the time and just chat occasionally.

(If you have the heat lamp make sure you don’t look down at your book too much or the heat won’t hit the front hair… speaking from experience!)

You don’t need to tip!

Oh I used to tip but don’t any more as their prices are eye watering enough!!

Really depends on your hair. I have a lot of hair and it's long. Just recently decided to go blonde again after being brunette for a few years.

Because I have so much hair it took just over 4 hours start to finish. I had the underneath washed out whilst the top was still developing. I think the highlights took just over two hours. Then another 45 mins or so of developing. Then toner. Cut and blow dry.

I went to the sink 3 times all in all for washing.

I also asked for back to back (they put in more highlights) to make it blonder quicker which added some time.

£200!?! Blimey!