Balayage
Hand-painted, sun-kissed dimension. From $300, ~3 hours. Refresh every 4–6 months.
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Hair & Color · West 3rd Street, LA
Highlights in Los Angeles
Foiled highlights at MUA Salon start at $300 for a full head and run about 3.5 hours, including the lightening pass, a custom toning gloss, and a finishing blow-dry. A partial highlight is $250 and runs about two hours. Performed by trained colorists at our studio at 8336 West 3rd Street in Beverly Grove, Los Angeles, our foil work delivers brighter, more uniform lift than freehand color — ideal when you want a clean, dimensional blonde or a structured face-frame.
Overview
What highlights actually are
Highlights are a foiled lightening service. The colorist isolates thin sections of hair, weaves a fine pattern through each section, and folds the woven strands into a foil with lightener applied root-to-end. Because the foil traps heat and seals the lightener against the hair, the lift is brighter, more even, and more controlled than freehand techniques. The result is a clean, dimensional blonde — or a softer wheat, honey, or caramel — with the precision only foils can deliver.
At MUA Salon every highlights appointment includes a one-on-one consultation, a custom shade strategy mapped to your skin tone, the foiled lightening pass, a toning gloss to refine the final color, a deep conditioning treatment with a bond-builder, and a finishing blow-dry. We work on Davines color, the Italian B-Corp luxury color line, and stock the matching aftercare in our Davines shop.
For category-wide context and pricing, see the full service menu and the hair color overview. For related techniques, see balayage and keratin treatment.
Technique
How a foiled highlight is built
The colorist begins at the back of the head and works upward, taking horizontal partings about a quarter-inch thick. Within each parting, a tail comb weaves a fine pattern — slicing for chunkier ribbons, weaving for finer strands. The woven hair is laid onto a foil, painted with lightener, folded, and held in place against the scalp. Foil after foil, the colorist works around the head in a deliberate map: heavier density at the face, softer density at the back, and a clean shadow root left at the base for grow-out.
The choice of weave determines the finish. A tighter weave creates a baby-light effect — many fine strands that read as a sun-kissed glow. A wider slice creates a bolder, more graphic blonde with visible dimension. The MUA color team adjusts weave, foil count, and saturation to your goal during the consultation, so the same service can read as a soft natural enhancement or a sharp Hollywood blonde.
Candidacy
Who highlights are for
Highlights are the right call for clients who want a brighter, more uniform lift than balayage delivers, who prefer a structured face-frame, or who are coming back to color after months of grow-out. The foil pattern lets the colorist place brightness with surgical precision, so the technique is also ideal for clients with very dark or resistant hair, for clients chasing a true cool blonde, and for anyone who wants their root area refreshed without going to a full bleach.
Best hair type: all hair types. Foiled highlights work on straight, wavy, and curly hair. Density, length, and previous color history all factor into placement and price.
Best for: clients chasing a clean blonde, clients with dark resistant hair, clients who want bright face-frame structure, and clients who like the predictability of a clear regrowth line every 8 to 10 weeks. For a softer, more natural-looking dimension that grows out without a line, see balayage.
Price & duration
- Full highlights
- From $300 · ~3.5 hours
- Partial highlights
- From $250 · ~2 hours
- Includes
- Lightening pass · toning gloss · blow-dry
- Maintenance
- Gloss every 4–6 weeks ($90) · partial every 8–10 weeks · full every 4–6 months
- Add-ons
- Bond-builder, deep conditioning mask, brunette gloss, blonde gloss
- Pre-care
- Wash within last 2 days; no oils or heavy serums day-of
- Book
- Square booking or (323) 775-3637
Compare
Partial vs. full highlights
The two most-booked highlights options at MUA Salon work very differently. The decision depends on how bright the ends still are, how much regrowth is showing, and how often you want to be in the chair.
Partial highlights — $250, ~2 hours
A partial highlight foils only the front and crown — the panels of hair the eye reads first. It is the most economical way to keep highlights looking fresh between full sessions, especially when the ends are still bright from a previous appointment. A partial is also the right call for clients who want a face-frame brightness without committing to a full head of foils.
Full highlights — $300, ~3.5 hours
A full highlight foils the entire head — top, sides, back, and the underneath layers. The result is a complete dimensional blonde, with brightness visible from every angle. Full highlights are the right call for the first highlight appointment, for clients whose ends have lost dimension, and for anyone who wants the most thorough lift.
Many clients alternate: a full highlight every four to six months, with two or three partials in between. The colorist will recommend the right cadence at your consultation.
Compare
Highlights vs. balayage
These two services are sometimes confused — both are lightening techniques, both produce dimensional blondes, both are around $300 — but they look and behave differently in the hair.
- Highlights are foiled in structured sections. Lift is brighter and more uniform. Regrowth shows as a clear line at the root, so touch-ups happen every 8 to 10 weeks. Best for clients who want a precise, consistent blonde.
- Balayage is hand-painted in freeform sweeping motions. Lift is softer and more diffuse. Regrowth blends naturally, so the service stretches to 4 to 6 months between sessions. Best for clients who want a low-maintenance, sun-kissed look. Read the full balayage page for details.
Many MUA clients combine both: balayage on the mid-shaft and ends for soft dimension, with a few foiled face-frame highlights for crisp brightness. The colorist will map a combination during the consultation if it suits your goal.
Aftercare & maintenance
How to make highlights last
First 48 hours
- Skip washing for 48 hours so the cuticle can close and the toner can set.
- No heat styling above 350°F for the first day.
- Avoid swimming pools and salt water — chlorine pulls toner out fast.
- Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase if you have one.
Daily routine
- Sulfate-free shampoo, no more than three times per week.
- Purple shampoo every fourth wash for blondes.
- Heat protectant before any iron or blow-dryer.
- UV spray when you'll be outside for more than 30 minutes.
- Pick up shampoo, mask, and heat protectant in the Davines shop.
Glaze refresh — $90, 45 min
A gloss (also called a glaze) is the easiest way to keep highlights looking fresh between bigger appointments. The service deposits tone without lifting, neutralizes brassiness, and adds shine. We recommend a gloss refresh every 4 to 6 weeks. It is also a great service to book a few days before a wedding, photoshoot, or red carpet.
Maintenance schedule
- Week 4–6: gloss refresh ($90, 45 min) keeps tone crisp.
- Week 8–10: partial highlights or root touch-up.
- Month 4–6: full highlights refresh.
- Year-round: deep conditioning mask every 7 to 10 days.
Pricing
Highlights pricing at MUA Salon
The base prices below are the published rate for clients with average length, density, and a familiar starting level. Very long, very dark, or color-corrective work may be quoted higher at consultation. Color services require a credit card on file at booking. All prices are in US dollars.
- Full highlights — from $300, ~3.5 hours. Foiled lightening across the entire head with toning gloss and blow-dry.
- Partial highlights — from $250, ~2 hours. Foils through the front and crown for face-frame brightness.
- Glossing refresh — $90, 45 minutes. Tone-only refresh between highlights services.
- Bleach root touch-up — $200, ~2.5 hours. For clients on a true blonde looking to refresh new growth.
- Full bleach — $400, ~5 hours. All-over lightening with bond builder and toner. See the hair color overview.
For pricing across every category, including all-over color, color change, and balayage, visit the hair color hub. For deposits, cancellation policies, and how we handle re-do work, see the policies page and our FAQ.
The consultation
What happens at the start of your appointment
Every highlights appointment at MUA Salon begins with a 10 to 15 minute consultation in the chair. The colorist looks at your hair under the studio lights, asks about the last six months of color history, and walks through your reference photos.
- Reference photos. Bring two or three. Photos taken in natural light read most accurately. Save them as inspiration, not as a guarantee — the colorist will tell you which elements translate to your base and which need adjusting.
- Hair history. Tell us about every box dye, every salon color, every gloss, every keratin treatment, and every henna application for the last six months. Even faded color affects how the foils lift.
- Lifestyle. Be honest about how often you can come back. A blonde you can't maintain becomes a brassy disappointment in eight weeks. We will recommend a placement that fits your real schedule.
- Strategy. The colorist will sketch the placement, name the toning shade, and confirm the final price before mixing color.
If your goal requires more than one session — for example, going from a level 2 black to a true platinum — we will tell you up front and book the right number of sessions in sequence rather than rushing the lift in a single appointment.
FAQ
Highlights, asked & answered
How much do highlights cost at MUA Salon?
Full foiled highlights start at $300 and a partial highlight starts at $250. Both prices include the lightening pass, a toning gloss, and a finishing blow-dry. Very long, very dark, or color-corrective work may be quoted higher at consultation.
How long does a highlights appointment take?
About 3.5 hours for a full head of foils on average-length hair. A partial highlight runs closer to 2 hours. Add 30 to 60 minutes for very long or thick hair, or for clients lifting from a dark base to a bright blonde.
What is the difference between partial and full highlights?
A partial highlight foils the front and crown of the head — ideal when the ends are still bright. A full highlight foils the entire head, top to bottom. Partial is $250 and about 2 hours; full is $300 and about 3.5 hours.
How are highlights different from balayage?
Highlights lift brighter and more uniformly because the foil traps heat. Balayage is hand-painted, softer, and more diffuse. Highlights need a refresh every 8 to 10 weeks; balayage stretches to 4 to 6 months. Read the balayage page.
How often should I refresh highlights?
Most clients return every 8 to 10 weeks for a partial or root touch-up, and every 4 to 6 months for a full refresh. A $90 gloss every 4 to 6 weeks keeps tone crisp between bigger appointments.
Will highlights damage my hair?
Foiled highlights are a chemical lift. Our protocol includes a bond-builder during the lightening pass and a deep conditioning mask afterward. Following sulfate-free shampoo, weekly mask, and heat protectant keeps hair feeling healthy.
Can I get highlights on dark hair?
Yes. Foiled highlights are well suited to dark hair because the foil holds heat and lifts the strand effectively. Going from a level 2 or 3 base to a bright blonde may take a second session to reach the goal safely.
How should I prep for my highlights appointment?
Wash your hair within the last two days but not the morning of. Skip oils, leave-in serums, and dry shampoo on appointment day. Bring two or three reference photos. See the full FAQ for booking and policy specifics.
Do you book highlights online?
Yes. Book highlights through Square or call (323) 775-3637. Color services require a credit card on file at booking.
What is a glaze or gloss refresh?
A 45-minute, $90 toning service that refreshes shine and corrects brassiness between full highlights appointments. It deposits tone without lifting and keeps the color looking fresh through the 8 to 10 week cycle.
Related
Pair highlights with
Hair color hub
Browse all color services — full color, gloss, color change, bleach, and more.
Hair color overview →Davines aftercare
Italian B-Corp luxury hair care, used in chair and sold in studio.
Shop Davines →Ready for a brighter blonde?
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