Never had your hair coloured before? Read this first.

If you have never had your hair coloured before, here is the short answer. Book a consultation first, do a skin test at least 48 hours ahead, expect the appointment to take two to three hours, and budget around fifty to fifty-five pounds for a full tint at our salon. Now the longer version.

I see at least one first time colour client every week. The questions are nearly always the same, so here it is written down.

The short version

• Book a free consultation before the colour appointment

• Skin test is required at least 48 hours before

• Allow two to three hours on the day

• Full tint at our salon is fifty to fifty-five pounds

• Dark to light is a 2 to 3 session plan, not one appointment

We talk first. Always.

No good salon will reach for the colour bowl without a proper consultation. With a first time client I want to know what you have used on your hair before. Box dye, henna, a holiday tint twelve years ago, none of it is too small to mention. I will look at your natural shade, the condition of your ends, and how your hair behaves day to day.

If you have brought a Pinterest picture, brilliant. We love them. Just know that the photo is a starting point. The shade I can give you depends on your starting point, not just the inspiration.

The skin test is non-negotiable

If we are using anything that contains permanent or semi-permanent dye, you need a skin test at least 48 hours before your appointment. Not a week, not the day before. 48 hours minimum. It is the rule, and it is the rule for a reason.

We dab a small amount of the product behind your ear or on the inside of your elbow. You go home, you do not wash that bit, and you watch for any redness, itching or swelling. If something comes up, we adjust the product. If you have ignored a skin test elsewhere and got away with it, please do not roll the dice with us. Allergies can develop suddenly and the reaction is not pleasant.

How long the appointment takes

First time colour at our salon is rarely a quick in and out. Plan for two to three hours minimum. A full tint takes about ninety minutes start to finish. Foils or balayage can run to three or four hours depending on length and how much we are doing. Toner adds another twenty minutes on top.

If you are going from dark to light, that is a different conversation entirely. We almost never do it in one appointment. It is two or three sessions over a few weeks, and we will explain why during the consultation.

What your first colour appointment costs

Honest prices, no surprises. A full tint with us is £50 to £55. A root tint is £40 to £47. Toner is £35 to £40 on its own, or £20 as an add-on to colour. Half a head of foils is £55 to £65. Full balayage is £70 to £85.

Add a cut and finish at £42 to £55 if you want the lot done in one go. Klarna is available if it helps with the bigger packages. We do not pretend that good colour is cheap. We do explain what you are paying for, and you will never see an extra charge appear at the till that was not discussed in the chair.

After you leave the salon

Two big things to know on day one. Do not wash your hair for at least 48 hours. The cuticle stays open after colour and warm water plus shampoo will pull pigment straight out. When you do wash it, use cool water. I know that sounds horrible in winter, but it makes a real difference.

Switch to a sulphate free, colour safe shampoo. We sell a few in the salon and we will point you at the right one for your hair type. A toner refresh every six to eight weeks keeps blondes looking expensive without a full colour every time. A salon treatment every couple of months protects the investment.

What to bring on the day

Come with clean dry hair if you can. If it has been a while since you washed it that is fine too, but very oily hair takes colour unevenly. Bring photos of what you like, photos of what you do not, and a rough idea of how much upkeep you can manage. If you are someone who books once and forgets about it for six months, we will steer you towards a low maintenance option. If you love coming in every six weeks, we have more freedom to play.

Wear something dark you do not mind getting product near. We use gowns and towels, but accidents happen.

A skin test is a legal and professional requirement, not a salon nicety. The British Association of Dermatologists publishes a patient information leaflet on patch testing, and we follow it. If a salon offers to skip the patch test, find a different salon.

Most of our first time colour clients come in for a consultation before booking the actual appointment. It is free, it takes fifteen minutes, and you leave with a plan and a price. Call us on 01582 730381 or book online. We are at Shop 660, Jansel House, Hitchin Road in Stopsley. Tuesday and Wednesday until eight, so evenings work if your day job will not budge.

Whatever you have been thinking about, come and have the conversation. The girls and I would rather talk you out of something than rush you into it.