Hair consultation before colour work
This is where we slow things down. We look at your hair properly.
A consultation is a short, focused assessment in the salon. We check hair history, current condition, and how your hair behaves now, not how it looked years ago. We talk through what you want, but also what your hair can realistically handle and how much upkeep fits into your routine.
This consultation is carried out by our colouring team. People who work daily with colour correction, complex lightening, and long term colour planning.
In practice, this step avoids rushed decisions. Many colour problems start when hair history is guessed or skipped. A consultation gives clarity before any colour is mixed, especially for changes, corrections, or first visits.
See the hair.
Understand it.
Then plan the work.
Go to our online booking platform and search for the consultation service, or select it from the list. You can then choose your preferred stylist and, if needed, add the service you would like to book after the consultation. Select an available date and time, confirm the booking, and you are all set.
When a hair consultation is essential
A consultation is most useful when something is changing
If you are planning a noticeable colour shift, moving lighter, darker, or changing tone direction, this step matters. The same applies to colour correction, box dye history, or hair that has been lightened more than once in the past. In these cases, guessing is what causes problems later.
It is also important for first visits. We do not know your hair yet. Photos help, but they do not show how the hair has been treated, how it lifts, or how it reacts now. A short consultation lets us see the hair properly and set a realistic plan before booking the work.
Many clients also use a consultation when they are unsure about upkeep. Some colours need regular toning. Others grow out more gently. Talking this through early avoids frustration after the service.
It is not about complexity.
It is about clarity before committing.
How we assess hair in practice
We start with what has already been done
Hair history comes first. Past colour, lightening, box dye, home toners. Even work done years ago can still affect how the hair behaves today. We look at where colour has built up and where the hair has been stressed before.
Then we check condition. Porosity, elasticity, and how the hair feels when handled. This tells us how evenly colour is likely to take and how much the hair can safely handle at this stage.
We also look at regrowth and previous lightening patterns. Not just the shade, but how it was applied and how it is growing out. This helps us avoid patchiness and unnecessary overlap.
Finally, we talk about maintenance. How often you come back. How you style your hair day to day. How much time you want to spend on toning and care. In practice, this part matters as much as the colour choice itself.
This assessment shapes the plan.
What can be done now.
What needs time.
What is better left for later.
Limits of a short consultation
A consultation gives direction, not guarantees
In fifteen minutes, we can assess condition, past work, and likely behaviour. What we cannot always confirm at this stage is how the hair will react under colour. Some details only appear once the service begins or after a strand test.
Exact shades, final brightness, or how quickly hair will lift can depend on layers of previous colour that are not visible at first glance. This is common, especially with older box dye or repeated lightening.
A consultation is not the moment to rush decisions. It is there to set realistic expectations and flag any risks early. If hair needs to be approached in stages, this is where that conversation starts.
This protects the hair.
And it protects the result.
Planning colour safely and realistically
Once the hair is assessed, the focus shifts to planning, not guessing
Some colour work can be done in one visit. Other changes need time. This depends on how much lightening has already been done, how the hair is holding colour, and how stable the condition is right now. In practice, slower plans usually give better results.
We talk through what is achievable at this stage and what may need to be built over more than one appointment. This helps avoid over processing and keeps the hair in workable condition between visits.
Maintenance is part of the plan. How often you want to return, how the colour will grow out, and how much daily care fits into your routine. A colour that looks good on day one but is hard to live with is rarely the right choice.
Planning is about balance.
Result. Condition. Upkeep.
Choosing the right technique for your hair
Not every technique suits every head of hair
Balayage, highlights, AirTouch, lowlights, or correction work all behave differently depending on the hair underneath. The right choice depends on condition, past colour, density, and how the hair grows out over time, not just how the result looks in photos.
During a consultation, we look at which technique will work with your hair rather than against it. Some hair holds soft blends well. Other hair needs structure or depth added back to stay balanced. In practice, the same technique can give very different results on different heads.
We also factor in maintenance. Certain techniques need regular toning or frequent visits. Others are more forgiving and grow out with less contrast. Choosing the right approach early helps avoid unnecessary rework later.
The aim is not to use the most popular technique.
It is to use the one that makes sense for your hair.
Ready to take the next step?
If you feel you have enough information, a consultation is the simplest way to move forward. It gives us a chance to see your hair properly and talk through the plan in person, without guessing.
Prefer to speak before booking?
If you have a quick question or want to check whether a consultation is the right starting point, you are welcome to call us. We can help clarify what makes sense before you book.
074 0548 3586
Go to our online booking platform and search for the consultation service, or select it from the list. You can then choose your preferred stylist and, if needed, add the service you would like to book after the consultation. Select an available date and time, confirm the booking, and you are all set.
Photos, inspiration, and real hair
Photos are useful. They give direction
They help us understand what you are drawn to in terms of tone, depth, and overall feel. That said, photos do not show hair history, condition, or how the colour was achieved in the first place. Two heads of hair can look similar in pictures and behave very differently in reality.
In the chair, we work with the hair that is in front of us. Its past treatments, its current strength, and how it reacts now. Inspiration guides the conversation, but the plan is built around real hair, not an image. Many clients find this part reassuring. It keeps expectations grounded and avoids chasing results that are not suited to the hair long term.
Photos start the idea.
Assessment shapes the outcome.
A note from the colour team
Most colour issues we see could have been avoided with a short pause at the start
People often arrive with a clear picture in mind, but less clarity around what the hair has been through. That is normal. Hair carries history quietly, and it shows up when colour is rushed or layered without a plan.
A consultation gives us space to slow things down. To look properly. To talk honestly about what will work now and what is better done later. In the long run, this protects the hair and makes the colour easier to live with.
It is not about saying no
Questions clients often ask before booking
Most questions come up before colour work, not during it
Most questions come up before colour work begins, not once you are already in the chair. That is normal. People want to understand the process and avoid surprises.
We have answered the most common ones here to give a clearer idea of how consultations work, what is usually discussed, and whether booking one makes sense for your situation. These are questions we hear daily in the salon, especially from new clients or anyone planning a change.
If something is not covered, it usually means the answer depends on the hair itself. That is where a consultation becomes useful. It allows us to look properly and give guidance based on what we see, not on assumptions.
Book a free hair consultation
If you are unsure about colour or next steps, a consultation is the best place to start. Time slots are reserved, so booking ahead helps us give your hair proper attention.
Book online or call the salon to choose a time that works for you.
020 8556 5790074 0548 3586
What this consultation covers
A focused in-salon assessment of hair history, current condition, and how the hair behaves now.
Planning colour work based on realistic limits, not assumptions.
Identifying risks, previous colour build up, and whether changes should be staged.
Discussing upkeep, grow out, and how the result will live between visits.
This consultation gives direction before any colour is mixed.
More from our colour experts
Deeper reading for clients who want to understand the process
If you want to go a bit deeper before booking, we share detailed guides on our blog based on real salon work. These articles explain how colour decisions are made, why some changes need time, and how to avoid common mistakes with lightening and correction work.
Many clients read these before or after a consultation to better understand what is involved and what questions to ask.
Reverse balayage – when and why depth is added back into blonde hair
Colour correction explained – what can and cannot be fixed in one visit
Balayage, AirTouch, and highlights – understanding the difference
If you have a specific question and cannot find the answer in our guides, you are welcome to contact us directly.