Hair Colour, Foils and Toners in Melbourne's Northern Suburbs

Foils, balayage and ombre all lighten parts of your hair, but they're applied differently. Foils, often called highlights, wrap sections of hair in foil for controlled, even lightening that can go brighter, though regrowth is more noticeable. Balayage is hand-painted in sweeping strokes for a softer, sun-kissed result that grows out gently. Ombre fades from darker roots to lighter mid-lengths and ends. Vasii offers half and full head foils, ombre and toners, and recommends a technique at your colour consultation.

Hair colour can either cover greys completely or blend them in. Permanent colour is generally used for full grey coverage, while demi-permanent colour usually gives partial coverage that blends greys with your natural shade and softens regrowth, Wella Professionals explains. Vasii offers regrowth colour, full head colour and foils, and can talk through which approach suits your hair and how much upkeep you'd like.

Every 6 to 8 weeks is a common guide for covering grey roots, Wella Professionals says, though it depends on how fast your hair grows and how much your roots contrast with your colour. Permanent colour lasts until it grows out, so the regrowth line is what sets the timing. Choosing a slightly lighter shade reduces that contrast, Wella suggests, and softer looks such as ombre, where the roots stay darker, grow out more gently. Vasii offers regrowth colour and can suggest a timing that suits your hair.

A toner is a semi- or demi-permanent colour that fine-tunes the shade of your hair, most often after lightening. Lightened hair can turn yellow or brassy, and a toner with a hint of violet, for example, cancels yellow tones. Wella Professionals notes that a toner isn't designed to lighten your hair and is a gentle service compared with permanent colour. Vasii offers toners and colour refreshes, and will tell you at your consultation whether your colour needs one.

A patch test is recommended before many hair colours. Australia's Poisons Standard requires hair dyes containing PPD and related ingredients to warn that they may cause skin irritation and that a preliminary test should be made before use. Victoria's Better Health Channel says PPD reactions can appear 1 to 14 days after exposure, and that once someone becomes allergic they stay sensitised for life. A past black henna tattoo can raise the risk, the NHS notes. Tell Vasii about any previous reaction, and call 000 if your lips, mouth or throat swell or you struggle to breathe.

Source: Better Health Channel

Colouring your hair during pregnancy is considered safe, according to Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, the Australian Government's pregnancy health service, because hair dye chemicals aren't easily absorbed through the scalp. If you're worried, you can wait until after the first trimester or speak with your midwife or doctor. To reduce exposure, it suggests semi-permanent vegetable dye, leaving the dye on for the minimum time and rinsing thoroughly. Let Vasii know you're pregnant or breastfeeding when you book.

Source: Pregnancy, Birth and Baby

Hair colour is quoted after a consultation rather than from a price list, because the cost depends on the service and your hair. A regrowth colour usually takes less time and product than a full head colour or a full head of foils, and longer or thicker hair needs more of both. Going much lighter, or adding a toner, adds steps too. When you enquire, mention your hair's length and thickness and the colour you'd like, and Vasii may ask for a photo to help her quote.

Wash with a gentle, colour-safe shampoo, protect your hair from heat and refresh your toner when it fades. Wella Professionals says water exposure is one of the most common reasons toner fades, that hot tools can speed up brassy tones, and that every 4 to 8 weeks is the most common interval for re-toning. Vasii gives aftercare recommendations after your colour, so ask her which products suit your hair.