New to hair color, or unsure what technique fits your goals? Here's a plain-language breakdown of the most popular hair color techniques we offer at our hair color salon, including what each one does, who it's best for, and how long it typically lasts.

A Quick Guide for Guests

Hair Color Techniques Explained

Your hair coloring service should feel exciting — not confusing. We use technology to measure exactly what your hair needs, so you only pay for what's actually used.

Full menu of custom colors.

Close-up of balayage and highlights on long brown hair showing soft dimensional color and sun-kissed blending

Balayage & Highlights

Hand-painted dimensions and sun-kissed brightness are designed to grow out beautifully. Balayage (French for "to sweep") is a hand-painted highlighting technique where color is applied freehand to the surface of the hair, creating a soft, sun-kissed, natural-looking result with minimal regrowth lines. Unlike traditional foil highlights, balayage hair color doesn't follow a uniform pattern, which means it grows out gracefully — perfect for low-maintenance guests who only want to visit the salon every 3–4 months.

Close-up of woman’s hair showing smooth blended root touch-up and gray coverage for a natural seamless color finish

Root Touch-Ups & Gray Coverage

Seamless, undetectable retouches that keep your color looking fresh between visits.

Maintenance color is applied only to new growth — typically ¼ inch to 1 inch — to refresh permanent hair color and provide seamless gray coverage. Root touch-up hair color is the most popular maintenance service for guests with consistent regrowth.

Studio 285 corrective color hairstyle with silky waves flowing elegantly from the back.

Corrective Color

Custom plans to restore, repair, and reset hair to the color you've always wanted.
Hair color correction is advanced problem-solving for hair damaged by boxed color, banding, brassiness, uneven application, or DIY mishaps. Corrective work is highly customized and may require multiple sessions to achieve the safest, healthiest result.

Back view of glossy brown hair showing rich all-over color transformation with smooth waves and dimensional shine

All-Over Color

Rich, glossy, one-tone transformations using Davines Italian color.

Close-up of vibrant orange copper hair showcasing creative fashion hair color tones with rich shine and dimension

Creative & Fashion Shades

Double-Process / Vivid Color and more

Expressive copper, rose, ash, and bespoke fashion tones — fearlessly applied.

The technique behind our vivid hair color services. The hair is first lightened, then a custom vivid shade (pink, purple, red, copper, etc.) is applied for maximum vibrancy. Requires more time and maintenance but delivers the boldest, most editorial results.

Studio285 hairstylist performing Full Foils, Full Blonding, and Foilage techniques on long blonde hair to create a bright, dimensional blonde transformation.

Lightning & Blonding Techniques

Full Foils / Full Blonding + Foilage

These services focus on creating brightness, dimension, and blonde transformation. Full foils deliver maximum all-over lift, while foilage combines balayage softness with foil brightness for a more dimensional, sun-kissed result.

Professional hairstylist performing color blending and finishing services on a female client, featuring seamless root melting, expert toning, and glossing for a smooth transition from natural roots to lightened hair with a healthy, glossy finish.

Color Blending & Finishing Services

These finishing techniques refine the final color result. Root melting softens the transition between natural roots and lightened hair, while toning and glossing adjust warmth, add shine, and polish the overall look.