Going blonde from brunette
Most brunettes can go blonde, but very dark or previously coloured hair may need a longer appointment, or a second visit, to lift safely. Untouched brunette hair often reaches a soft blonde in 1 to 2 visits, while darker or previously coloured hair usually takes 2 to 4, spaced 4 to 8 weeks apart.
Why dark hair takes longer to lift
Lightener works by breaking down the natural pigment in your hair. Dark hair has more of it, and as it lifts it passes through red, orange and yellow stages before reaching blonde. Going slowly, and toning at each stage, is what keeps the result even and the hair in good condition.
Hair that has been coloured before, especially with box dye or henna, can lift unevenly, which is why your colour history matters as much as your natural shade. Each visit lifts only as far as your hair can comfortably take, and the time between visits lets it recover before the next step.
Balayage, foils or both
Balayage was developed for brunettes and suits dark hair beautifully: it places soft, sun-lit brightness through the lengths and leaves a natural root, so regrowth is gentle. Foils lift brighter and more evenly right up to the root, which suits a lighter, all-over blonde but shows regrowth sooner.
Many of Tara’s clients combine both: foils through the top for brightness, and balayage underneath for movement. Balayage vs foils ›
What to expect at your first appointment
Every colour with Tara starts with a consultation at the chair. She looks at your hair in person, talks through its history and how light you want to go, and confirms the plan and the price before anything begins. If your blonde will take more than one visit, that is mapped out at the consultation too, so you know roughly how many visits to expect and what each is likely to cost.
A full balayage or foil appointment usually takes 2.5 to 4 hours, and longer or thicker hair sits at the higher end. A first lightening visit on dark hair tends to be at the longer end of that range.
Keeping it healthy
Tara uses premium colour from brands like Kevin.Murphy and Redken Shades EQ, and finishes every colour with a toner or gloss. A strengthening treatment can be added to protect condition while your hair is being lifted.
Lightened brunette hair can turn warm or brassy as toner fades, so a toner or gloss refresh every 4 to 6 weeks keeps it looking right. How often to tone blonde hair ›
What it costs
Half head balayage starts from $290 and full head from $350. Partial foils start from $170 and full head foils from $315. Toner is quoted separately with individual services, from $60. All prices include GST and are confirmed at your consultation. If going blonde takes more than one visit, each visit is its own colour service, so the full journey adds up across those visits; your consultation is where that is worked out. See colour and blonding prices ›