Hair coloring
Hair colouring in Estonian salons: balayage, ombré, foilyage, classic highlights, fashion colours. Prices, Olaplex and how to choose a colourist.
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Hair colouring is one of the most common beauty salon services in Estonia, letting you change your look anywhere from a natural root touch-up to a complete colour change such as balayage, ombré or fashion colours. Behind every colouring decision lie several important considerations: the health and resilience of the hair, its colour history, the end result you want, and how much time you can give to daily maintenance. This guide explains the difference between the various colouring techniques, how to choose a competent hairdresser, and how to look after coloured hair so that the colour lasts longer and the hair stays healthy.
What types of hair colouring are available in Estonian salons?
Hair colouring divides into several main types. Changing the colour of the whole head, or single process colouring, is the right choice when you want a completely new tone or want to cover all your grey hair. Root colouring is the routine maintenance for regrowth (at intervals of 4–8 weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows and how much contrast there is with the coloured length). Demi-permanent and semi-permanent colours wash out gradually over 4–12 washes and suit people who do not want the commitment of a permanent colour.
Hand-painted highlighting techniques have been the most popular category in Estonia in recent years: balayage (a natural brush technique giving shade-rich highlights), ombré (a more defined transition from dark to light starting midway down the hair), foilyage (a combination of foils and balayage — a little more contrasting than classic balayage), and babylights (very small, finely worked highlights that imitate the natural lightening of childhood hair in the sun). Each technique gives a different visual effect and demands different maintenance.
Fashion colours (purple, blue, pink, silver, rainbow) often require the hair to be bleached first, since the pigment is laid over a light base. These colours are more intense at the start but wash out faster than classic tones (within 4–6 weeks). Salons such as Esimene Ilustuudio in Tallinn, Felicia Ilusalong, Naturee Ilustuudio in Tartu, Le Salon in Narva and Floris Ilukliinik in Rapla offer both classic colouring and the more modern highlighting techniques.
Hair colouring prices and how the service works
The price of hair colouring depends on the technique, the length of the hair, the brand of colour used and the salon. Root colouring usually starts from 40–80 €, a whole-head colour change from 60–120 €, balayage from 100–200 €, ombré from 90–180 €, foilyage from 120–250 € and babylights from 130–250 €. For longer hair, a supplement of 20–50 € is normally added, depending on the salon. Bleaching plus colouring for a fashion colour can reach 200–400 €.
A typical colouring appointment begins with a consultation, at which the hairdresser assesses the current health of the hair, its colour history (previous colouring, bleaching and chemical treatments all affect the result) and the client's wishes. An experienced hairdresser will recommend a realistic outcome — sometimes 2–3 visits are needed to reach the blonde you want, especially on a dark base, because the effect of bleaching it all in one session would put too much stress on the hair.
A colouring appointment lasts 1.5–4 hours depending on the technique. Colouring is always followed by a wash and often by a more intensive treatment (mask, conditioner, Olaplex bond builder), which seals the hair layers and helps the colour last. Experienced hairdressers use Olaplex (No.1 and No.2) during bleaching — it reduces chemical damage by 70–80% and makes more dramatic colour changes possible at lower risk.
How to choose a hairdresser for colouring
For a colour change, the hairdresser's portfolio is the single most important factor. Read the Google reviews specifically for the technique you are after (for balayage, look at the pictures, not just the "good hairdresser" reviews). For bigger colour changes (brunette to blonde, for example) choose a hairdresser whose portfolio contains similar cases. Instagram is often a good place to see hairdressers' work — especially for specialist colourists.
A consultation before colouring is strongly recommended, particularly for big changes. Some salons offer a free consultation of 15–30 minutes, at which the hairdresser assesses the condition of the hair and talks through the options. This reduces the risk of disappointment. A warning sign is a hairdresser who immediately agrees to any suggestion at all without checking your hair's history — that can point to a lack of experience.
Prefer a salon that uses Olaplex, K18 or a similar bond-builder additive during bleaching. These additives protect the hair structure from chemical damage and make more dramatic colour changes possible at lower risk. A suspiciously low price for a big colour change (balayage for 50 €, say) usually points to quality problems — good colours (Wella Koleston, L'Oréal Inoa, Schwarzkopf Igora) and Olaplex are expensive at professional wholesale.
Caring for coloured hair
After colouring it is important not to wash the hair for 48 hours — that gives the colour pigment time to settle into the cuticle. Wash coloured hair with shampoos made specifically for coloured hair (sulphate-free versions preserve the colour better, for example Olaplex No.4, Kérastase Reflection, Pureology, Davines). It is worth reducing washing to 2–3 times a week — washing more often rinses the colour out faster.
Coloured hair needs regular moisture and protection. A mask 1–2 times a week (Kérastase Masquintense, Olaplex No.3, K18 Leave-In Mask) strengthens the hair structure. Heat protection before blow-drying or using straighteners is absolutely essential — without it the hair takes a little damage every day, which in turn shortens how long the colour lasts.
There are specific products for different colours: purple shampoo for silver and platinum blondes, which neutralises unwanted yellow tones. Blue shampoo for brunettes, which neutralises orange tones. Colour-refreshing conditioners (Wella Color Refresh, Davines Alchemic) add pigment back to the colour between washes and extend the immediate result of the colouring appointment by 2–4 weeks.
Hair colouring in Estonia's most popular cities
Tallinn has the widest choice of hair colouring services — the capital is home both to large salons (Esimene Ilustuudio, Felicia Ilusalong) and to specialist colour studios staffed by experienced colourists. With so much choice, it is worth looking into a particular hairdresser's speciality before booking — one may specialise in classic colouring, another in balayage and highlighting techniques, a third in fashion colours.
In Tartu, colouring is offered by Naturee Ilustuudio, Ilona Ilusalong and other salons with specialist colourists. Pärnu, Narva (Le Salon Narva), Jõgeva (Duaal Ilusalong) and Keila also offer a wide choice of colouring services. County-centre salons mostly cover classic colouring and root colouring; for more complex techniques (elaborate balayage, fashion colours) a trip to a specialist colourist in the capital may make sense. Since root colouring is a regular commitment (every 4–8 weeks), choose a salon that is geographically convenient for a long-term relationship.
Frequently asked questions
How much does hair colouring cost in Estonia?
Root colouring starts from 40–80 €, a whole-head colour change from 60–120 €, balayage from 100–200 €, ombré from 90–180 € and foilyage from 120–250 €. For longer hair a supplement of 20–50 € is added. Bleaching plus colouring for a fashion colour runs 200–400 €. The price depends on the salon, the hair length and the technique.
What is the difference between balayage, ombré and highlights?
Balayage is a hand-painted highlighting technique that gives a natural, shade-rich result. Ombré is a more defined transition from dark to light starting midway down the hair. Classic highlights (foils) are more contrasting and more regular. Balayage is the most popular, because it needs less maintenance and grows out naturally.
How often does hair need colouring?
Root colouring every 4–8 weeks, depending on how fast the roots grow and how much contrast there is between the coloured length and your natural roots. Balayage and highlights last 3–6 months, since they grow out naturally. Fashion colours wash out faster (4–6 weeks) and need refreshing more often.
Can I colour my hair while pregnant?
Generally yes — colouring is largely safe during pregnancy, but it is advisable to avoid the first trimester (as the chemical components of the colour may be absorbed to some degree) and to prefer balayage or a highlighting technique that does not touch the scalp directly. Talk to your hairdresser about your pregnancy so that suitable products can be chosen.
What is Olaplex and does it have to be used?
Olaplex is a patented bond-builder additive that rebuilds the bonds in damaged hair structure during colouring and bleaching. It reduces chemical damage by 70–80%. For bigger colour changes (bleaching in particular), the use of Olaplex is the standard in a quality salon.
How do I look after coloured hair?
Wash with sulphate-free shampoos 2–3 times a week, use an intensive moisturising mask 1–2 times a week, and heat protection before straighteners or a hairdryer. Colour-refreshing conditioners (purple shampoo for silver, blue for brunettes) hold the colour in the meantime.
Can I go from dark to blonde in one appointment?
Sometimes not. If the hair is naturally dark or has previously been coloured dark, 2–3 visits may be needed to reach the blonde you want — bleaching it all in one session would put too much stress on the hair. Using Olaplex and, where needed, a staged approach preserves the health of the hair.
How should I prepare for a colouring appointment?
Go with clean hair that has not been washed the day before (the natural oil protects the scalp during colouring). Bring reference pictures of what you want (Pinterest, Instagram). Tell the hairdresser your colour history (previous colouring, bleaching) — it affects how the colour takes on the hair.