Long wavy ash-blonde hair cascading over a black top in front of a yellow-red brick wall
Colouring

Balayage

£165–£190
150 mins
Patch Test Required
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Balayage creates a soft, seamless blend of colour with lighter ends and a delicate root. Placement is tailored to your haircut, face shape and complexion, giving natural dimension and brightness where you want it. It grows out beautifully with fewer visible roots and styling feels effortless.

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What's Included

Everything is customised to your hair and maintenance goals.

  • Consultation to understand your look, lifestyle and upkeep preferences.
  • Personalised colour mapping to enhance your cut, parting and face shape.
  • Application using freehand painting, strategic foils or a hybrid approach.
  • Shade refining with a gloss or toner for a balanced, polished finish.
  • Optional root shadow for a softly melted blend.
  • Cleanse, conditioning, blow-dry and style to reveal the result.
  • Aftercare guidance and a maintenance plan you can keep up with.

Who It's For

Ideal if you want soft, low maintenance brightness that flatters your natural base. Perfect for anyone who wants polished hair without frequent root appointments.

Suited to all genders, hair textures and lengths. Works from subtle sun-kissed lift to bolder face-framing contrast, and can help blend early greys for a softer grow out.

Duration & Appointment Timing

Allow around 150 minutes for a complete balayage, including consultation, lightening, gloss and finish.

If you would like a haircut with your colour, or your hair is very long or dense, please book extra time. Previous colour build-up may mean we recommend additional steps or a staged plan to reach your goal safely.

Aftercare & Maintenance

Use shampoo and conditioner for colour-treated hair and a weekly hydrating mask. Always use heat protection and keep high heat to a minimum to maintain smoothness and shine.

Refresh your gloss or toner every 6 to 8 weeks to keep the tone balanced and luminous. Lightening top-ups are usually 3 to 6 months apart depending on the look.

Between visits, a purple or blue toning wash can control brassiness when needed. We will tailor a home care routine to your hair type and lifestyle.

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Client Reviews

5.0

Based on 10 reviews

  • S

    Sreya Rao

    Thanks to Abby for a great cut and colour and setting my expectations as to what is possible with my hair type. It was my first time having balayage and Matthew helpfully answered my questions over email beforehand. The salon has managed to maintain a relaxing environment even with the Covid measures so it was a nice way to spend an afternoon!
  • B

    Brooke Taboada

    Lovely salon. Had a balayage done and it turned out better than I even imagined. Thank you!
  • L

    Laura Murphy

    Such a great salon! Fatima cut my hair so well and with so much care. I went back a few weeks later for a balayage and it’s brilliant! I’ve been getting them for years and this is by far my favourite. Fatima also gave great advice and tailored the cut to suit my hair type, face shape, skin tone etc so would really recommend!
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  • J

    Jade Lam

    (Translated by Google) Simply amazing! The stylist Sylvain is a true magician - just look at my hair! I went to the same hairdresser in the past 10+ years in HK so I was super nervous before the appointment. Sylvain however is super lovely and patient and talented so I knew I can put my trust on him! He walked me through the process and the colors he will use and it turns out much better than I expected! The salon is at the right place in Oxford and it’s very easy to get to. It’s also very very clean and other people are just like Sylvain very friendly very helpful:) I can’t be more grateful especially this is my first cut in England! Super authentic hair cutting experience! This is my first time getting my hair cut in the UK. I have been hearing from my friends that UK haircuts are not as good as UK haircuts. They are wrong! I met Sylvain and he told me that in addition to the highlight, he also had balayage, so I boldly tried it. He was very patient during the whole process and I felt very free and comfortable for 5 hours:) The color came out better than I imagined:) I really like it! This salon is so clean and the people are so friendly! It’s not surprising that there is no place to get your hair done in Oxford☺️ (Original) Simply amazing! The stylist Sylvain is a true magician - just look at my hair! I went to the same hairdresser in the past 10+ years in HK so I was super nervous before the appointment. Sylvain however is super lovely and patient and talented so I knew I can put my trust on him! He walked me through the process and the colours he will use and it turns out much better than I expected! The salon is at the right place in Oxford and it’s very easy to get to. It’s also very very clean and other people are just like Sylvain very friendly very helpful:) I can’t be more grateful especially this is my first cut in England! 超正的剪髮體驗!今次係第一次響英國剪頭髮,成日聽朋友講響英國冇響英國剪頭髮咁好 they are wrong! 我好好彩遇到Sylvain 佢同我講除咗highlight仲有balayage,我就膽粗粗試下,成個過程佢都好有耐性我坐咗5個鐘都好自在好舒服:)出嚟個色比我想像更好:)超鐘意! 呢個salon 好乾淨啲人都好好好友善!而家唔驚響牛津無地方整頭髮☺️
  • J

    J Robbins

    Incredible balayage and cut by Sylvain and styling by Kat. Very relaxing atmosphere in the salon, I would definitely recommend booking.
  • A

    Anns Eugene

    Had a balayage and haircut on my long, thick, and very dark hair. Sylvain did an incredible job and completely transformed my hair!! Left feeling extremely happy and grateful. Thank youuuu for your amazing serviceeee. 😊
  • E

    Ellen Paterson

    Elia did an AMAZING job on my hair with balayage. Such attention to detail and definitely the best cut and colour I’ve ever had. Will definitely be coming back
  • J

    Jemma Ruff

    Been coming to this salon for a few years, and even after relocating, I will still choose to drive 1hr 1/2 for their excellent service. All of the staff are friendly, highly knowledgeable and always understand exactly what I want. Thank you for my fantastic balayage and blow dry today, I will be back soon.
  • S

    Sophie Jones

    My go to place - 3 times a client, 2x balieage and 1x half head highlights. The first balieage was a tricky colour fix, and they've done an amazing job every time. The team are also very friendly and relaxed - James was my stylist today and the appointment flew by! Many thanks for another great hairstyle and colour.
  • S

    Sam S

    I recently visited Matthew Hair Spa and had my hair highlighted, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. The stylist Elia really listened to what I wanted and gave great advice, and the final color turned out beautiful—natural, fresh, and exactly what I was hoping for. The service was professional, friendly, and relaxing from start to finish. I felt well taken care of and left feeling confident and refreshed. I would definitely recommend this salon to anyone looking for high-quality hair services and a great overall experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is balayage different from highlights?
Balayage is painted to create a soft gradient and a diffused root, while traditional foils place colour evenly from root to tip. The result is a more natural, sunlit effect and softer regrowth. We can combine both methods if you want extra brightness.
How long will my balayage last?
The blend grows out gently, so you can go longer between full colour sessions. Many clients refresh the gloss at 6 to 8 weeks and lighten again every 3 to 6 months. Your plan depends on your base colour, hair type and desired contrast.
Will balayage work for grey hair?
It can soften and scatter greys to make them less noticeable. If you prefer full coverage, we can pair balayage with a root colour for a seamless result. We will advise the best approach during consultation.
Is balayage suitable for curly or textured hair?
Yes. Placement is mapped to your curl pattern and how you style your hair, so the highlights sit in the right places. The technique enhances definition and dimension without harsh lines.
How should I prepare for my appointment?
Arrive with dry, detangled hair and avoid heavy oils or masks on the day. Bring a few reference photos and be ready to share your colour history. This helps us plan the right technique and timing.

Available Team Members

These team members perform this service

  • Faceless person with brown hair wearing blue denim jacket and black t-shirt
    Elia
    Art Director
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  • James
    Senior Stylist
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  • Carmen
    Senior Stylist & Balayage Expert
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Complete your experience with these services

  • Root Tint
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  • Roots Re-Touch with Colour Glossing Ends Re-fresh - for medium length hair
    £80–£95•120 mins
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  • Roots Re-touch with Colour Glossing Ends Re-Rresh - for longer hair
    £82–£113•120 mins
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  • Colour Glossing - for shorter hair
    £59–£95•75–90 mins
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    £82–£113•120 mins
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  • Colour Glossing - for medium length hair
    £59–£95•90 mins
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  • Colour Glossing - for longer hair
    £65–£95•105 mins
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  • Full Head Tint for longer hair
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  • Full Head Tint
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  • Whole head application bleach
    £151–£175•120 mins
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  • Toner
    £37–£42•30 mins
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  • Bleach Bath
    £75•75 mins
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  • Few packets and tint
    £110•120 mins
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  • Scalp bleach colour correction
    £275•180 mins
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