How Often Should You Get Highlights?

Short answer

The interval decides your annual bill considerably more than the per-visit price. At every 10 weeks, that is about 5 appointments annually and around $810 annually at the $135 national median.

The numbers below are for planning. Confirm the current amount with the location you intend to book.

Typical range: $85–$215
U.S. median: $135 per service
Applies to: Partial highlights
Last reviewed: August 2026

What matters most here

No brand figure is published, so the planning range is the U.S. market band of $85–$215.
The U.S. national median for partial highlights is $135 per service.
Add about 25% to any menu price for sales tax and gratuity.
Maintained every 10 weeks, the annual cost is approximately $810.
The largest single variable is student versus instructor — instructor-led work costs more than a student appointment.

U.S. market ranges for comparison

This table is market context, not a brand price list. It exists so you can tell whether a quote you have been given is average, cheap or steep for the U.S. in 2026.

U.S. market ranges, 2026
Service	Market low	National median	Market high	Unit	What drives it
Partial highlights	$85	$135	$215	per service	Crown and face-frame foils.
Women's haircut	$28	$69	$140	per cut	Usually includes consultation, shampoo and a finish style.
Men's haircut	$18	$43	$75	per cut	Barbershop and men's-chain cuts; clipper work only sits at the low end.
All-over single-process colour	$65	$105	$190	per service	All-over root-to-tip or root retouch on virgin hair.
Basic manicure	$20	$33	$50	per service	File, shape, cuticle work and regular polish.

National planning ranges. A quote outside these bands is not automatically wrong - check what is included before judging it.

What partial highlights costs in your metro tier

Location is generally the largest single variable. The national median for partial highlights is $135; the same appointment can land near $94 in a small market and $236 in a top-tier metro. That is a 2.5× spread on an identical service name.

Partial highlights by metro cost tier
Market tier	Planning range	Multiplier	Example markets
Tier 1 - highest-cost metros	$182–$236	1.35–1.75×	Manhattan, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Washington DC, Miami Beach
Tier 2 - large metros	$148–$178	1.10–1.32×	Chicago, Los Angeles suburbs, Denver, Austin, Atlanta, San Diego, Portland
Tier 3 - mid-size metros	$127–$148	0.94–1.10×	Columbus, Kansas City, Charlotte, Nashville, Phoenix, Indianapolis
Tier 4 - small metro and rural	$94–$126	0.70–0.93×	Smaller cities, county seats and rural markets

Derived by applying regional cost-of-doing-business multipliers to the $135 national median. Treat as a sanity check on a quote you have been given.

The variables that move the number

Each of these is negotiable in the sense that you can turn down it — but only if you know it is coming before the appointment starts.

Service complexity+$20–$60
Advanced colour may be restricted to senior students.
Appointment lengthaffects time, not the menu price
Student services are supervised and run longer.
Student versus instructor+$15–$50
Instructor-led work costs more than a student appointment.
Product charge+$10–$30
Some schools bill product on a separate line from labour.

From menu price to what you actually hand over

This is the gap that surprises people. Starting from a $135 base, here is where the money goes by the time the card is out.

Worked example of a single appointment
Line	Amount	Note
Base service	$135	The line you see on the menu
One typical add-on	$27	Accepted at the chair without a stated price
Subtotal	$162	Before tax and gratuity
Sales tax at 6.5%	$10.53	Varies by state and city; services are taxable in some states only
Gratuity at 18%	$29.16	Calculated on the service, not on tax
Sensible total	$201.69	49% above the menu price

Worked at a $135 base with one add-on. Swap in your own quote and the proportions hold.

Plan for the total, not the base. The $67 gap between the two is the part people forget when comparing two salons.

Prefer not to do the arithmetic? You can do this with your own quote.

Annual cost of ownership

A single $135 appointment is easy to justify. Maintained every 10 weeks, partial highlights becomes a $810 annual commitment at the national median — and that is the number worth deciding on.

Annual cost at 5 visits (every 10 weeks)
Provider level	Each visit	Visits/yr	Service spend	Gratuity	Annual total
Budget provider	$85	5	$425	$85	$510
National median	$135	5	$675	$135	$810
Premium provider	$215	5	$1,075	$215	$1,290

Gratuity is included at 20% because it is expected rather than optional. Deduct it if you track tips apart from service spend.

Dropping one visit a year saves approximately $162. Dropping the cadence by a quarter saves about $202. Compare that against what you would save by moving to a less expensive provider before you switch.

Tipping: the numbers rather than the etiquette

Two rules do most of the work: tip on the service before tax, and tip the person who performed it.

Gratuity on partial highlights
Gratuity rate	On $85	On $135	On $215	When it applies
15%	$12.75	$20.25	$32.25	Standard for a satisfactory service
18%	$15.30	$24.30	$38.70	Common default in mid-size and large metros
20%	$17	$27	$43	Typical for a stylist you intend to rebook with
25%	$21.25	$33.75	$53.75	Reserved for complex colour, long appointments or a rescue job

If the salon owner performed the service, tipping is optional by norm - though rarely refused.
A tip is for the work performed, not for the price you were charged. Do not penalise a provider for a menu they did not set.
At a resort or hotel spa, check for an automatic service charge before adding another tip.
If more than one person worked on you, ask reception how tips are split before assuming the lead provider receives all of it.

What people get wrong here

These are the errors that show up repeatedly in pricing complaints. Each is prevented by one question in advance rather than at checkout.

1Booking a student appointment on a tight schedule
Supervised services run considerably longer.
2Assuming every service is available
Advanced colour is frequently restricted to senior students.

If you want the policy detail behind these: Best Salons For Highlights and Best Highlights For Gray Blending.

Exactly what to ask when you book

You do not need to negotiate. You need the price to be stated before the service starts. These questions do that without any awkwardness.

"What add-ons do you normally recommend for this service, and what does each cost?"
"Is a shampoo, blow-dry or finish included in that price, or billed on a separate line?"
"Can you email or text me the quote before my appointment?"
"What is your cancellation window, and what is the charge if I miss it?"
"If this runs longer than booked, does the price change?"
"Is removal of my existing product included, or is it a separate charge?"
"If I join the membership today, is there an enrolment or annual fee on top?"

Finally: get the quote on paper. A text or email costs the salon nothing and removes any argument at checkout.

Your other options, and when each wins

The number alone rarely determines it. Start with what is included — what is actually included — before you look at the figure.

What people want to know before booking

What should I budget for How Regularly Should You Get Highlights?

No brand has published a figure we could verify, so use the U.S. market range of $85–$215 for partial highlights, with a national midpoint of $135 per service. Verify the exact amount with the location you intend to book.

What is the real out-the-door cost of How Frequently Should You Get Highlights?

Expect about $167 on a $135 booking. Tax and gratuity alone add close to $32, and that is with no upgrades.

How much will I spend on this in per year?

Roughly $810 annually at 5 visits (every 10 weeks), gratuity included. That figure is considerably more helpful than the $135 per-visit price when deciding whether to commit.

Why does the same service carry different prices at different locations?

Because the service name is not the service scope. Two locations quoting $115 and $189 may be selling different appointment lengths, provider tiers and inclusions under an identical label.

Can I book at these prices?

Use them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Published lines trace to the sources below and market bands are national estimates - neither is a booking guarantee. Last checked August 2026.

Sources and how we checked them

Every published figure above traces to one of these. Where a source describes a single location or a time-limited offer, that scope stays attached to the number rather than being generalised.

Spotted something out of date? Send a correction and we will re-check the source.

Frequently asked questions

What should I budget for How Often Should You Get Highlights?

No brand has published a figure we could verify, so use the U.S. market range of $85–$215 for partial highlights, with a national midpoint of $135 per service. Confirm the exact amount with the location you intend to book.

What is the real out-the-door cost of How Regularly Should You Get Highlights?

Expect about $167 on a $135 booking. Tax and gratuity alone add close to $32, and that is with no upgrades.

How much will I spend on this in a year?

Roughly $810 annually at 5 visits (every 10 weeks), gratuity included. That figure is far more useful than the $135 per-visit price when deciding whether to commit.

Why does the same service carry different prices at different locations?

Because the service name is not the service scope. Two locations quoting $115 and $189 may be selling different appointment lengths, provider tiers and inclusions under an identical label.

Can I book at these prices?

Use them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Published lines trace to the sources below and market bands are national estimates - neither is a booking guarantee. Last checked August 2026.

Last reviewed August 2026. Prices change without notice — report a correction.