Hair Highlights in Massachusetts

Bright, dimensional color from master colorists — at 21 Dellaria Salons across Massachusetts.

Few things transform your look like beautifully placed highlights. Whether you want all-over brightness, subtle face-framing pieces, or rich dimension that catches the light, the colorists at Dellaria Salons have been mastering the art of foiling since 1966. From partial foils to full-head highlights, we create the exact level of lift and dimension you’re looking for.

What Are Hair Highlights?

Hair highlights are a coloring technique where selected strands are lightened using foils to separate them from the rest of the hair. This adds dimension, depth, and contrast against your base color, creating brightness and movement.

Highlights are one of the most versatile color services available. By varying the placement, thickness, and number of foils, our colorists can create anything from a barely-there sun-kissed glow to a dramatic, high-contrast transformation. The foiling method gives precise, even, and consistent lift — making it ideal when you want reliable, all-over brightness.

Hand painted highlights on a brunette bob at Dellaria Salons in Massachusetts

Types of Highlights We Offer

Partial Foil Highlights

Partial highlights color the crown and frame the face, creating subtle brightness where it shows most. This is a great option for adding dimension without committing to an all-over color change — and a more budget-friendly way to refresh your look.

Full Foil Highlights

Full highlights are applied evenly throughout the entire head, from the top to the nape of the neck. This creates uniform, all-over dimension and is ideal for a brighter, more dramatic result.

Face-Framing Highlights

Face-framing highlights place lighter pieces strategically around the face to brighten your complexion and accentuate your features. It’s a flattering, lower-commitment option that delivers a noticeable refresh.

Partial vs. Full Highlights: Which Is Right for You?

Partial highlights color the top and sides of the head and frame the face, creating subtle brightness. Full highlights are applied throughout the entire head, from crown to nape, for an all-over dimensional lift.

If you wear your hair down most of the time and want visible brightness, partial highlights often do the trick. If you want dimension that shows in an updo, a ponytail, or from every angle, full highlights are the better investment. Your Dellaria colorist will recommend the right approach during your consultation.

Highlights vs. Balayage

Foil highlights deliver brighter, more uniform lift, while balayage offers a softer, hand-painted, lower-maintenance look. Many clients combine both techniques for the best of both worlds. Not sure which suits you? Book a consultation and we’ll help you choose.

What to Expect at Your Highlight Appointment

Your appointment starts with a consultation to discuss your desired brightness, tone, and maintenance level. Foiling is a precise process — a partial typically takes about an hour, while a full head of foils can take around two hours, depending on your hair length and density.

Most highlight services finish with a toner or gloss to perfect the tone, eliminate unwanted brassiness, and add brilliant shine.

Highlights Pricing

At Dellaria Salons, partial foils start at $125, full foil highlights start at $165, and face framing starts at $75. Final pricing depends on hair length and your stylist’s experience level. We use a four-level stylist system — Stylist, Senior Stylist, Master, and Elite — so you can choose the level of expertise that fits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Highlights

How long do highlights last?

Most clients refresh their highlights every 6 to 10 weeks, depending on how much lift was applied and how quickly their hair grows. A toner or gloss between appointments keeps the color looking fresh.

When done by a professional colorist, highlights are safe for most hair types. We assess your hair’s condition first and offer bond-building and conditioning treatments to keep your hair healthy.

Yes. Our colorists carefully lift and tone to achieve beautiful, natural-looking highlights on brunette and dark bases without unwanted brassiness.

Use a purple or blue toning shampoo as recommended, book regular gloss treatments, and protect your hair from sun and chlorine. Your colorist will give you a personalized maintenance plan.

Book Your Highlights at Dellaria Salons

Ready to add brightness and dimension to your look? Our master colorists at all 21 Dellaria Salons locations across Massachusetts — from Boston’s Newbury Street to the North Shore, MetroWest, and the South Shore — are ready to create your perfect highlights.

If a past color didn’t turn out as planned, see our color correction services.

 
Corrective color service at Dellaria Salons

CORRECTIVE COLOR

Corrective color refers to fixing hair color mistakes, correcting damaged hair, or addressing color issues built up over time.

Common reasons for needing corrective color include:

  • Over-coloring or over-processing hair
  • Mishaps with at-home color, such as using the wrong color or leaving the color on for too long
  • A new color is not turning out as expected
  • Uneven fading of a hair color
  • Damage from bleach or other harsh chemicals

The corrective color process often requires multiple steps and may take several visits to a professional stylist.

Service time: ** Requires a Consultation **

Great for: Restoring hair to a healthy, vibrant state.

*Service time can vary depending on the length/density of hair and the stylist’s timing needs.

Shine enhancement hair glossing at Dellaria Salons

SHINE ENHANCEMENT

Shine enhancement, also known as Hair Glossing, is a treatment that boosts the hair’s natural shine and vibrancy.

This is typically an add-on service that prolongs and enhances your hair color. Clear glosses boost shine and definition, while color glosses refresh color-treated hair and combat dullness or brassiness.

Shine enhancement treatments are suitable for all hair types, but they can be especially beneficial for color-treated hair or those looking to combat dullness or brassy tones.

Service time: Approx. 30 mins

Great for: Boosting the hair’s natural shine and vibrancy.

Vivid hair color at Dellaria Salons

Vivid Color

Vivid hair color refers to bold and unconventional shades that go beyond traditional hair colors like blonde, brunette, or red. These vivid colors are intended to make a statement and stand out from the crowd. Some examples of vivid hair colors include electric blue, neon pink, emerald green, and more.

Vivid hair color isn’t just about the vibrant shades themselves; it’s also about how they are applied. Creative techniques like color melting, balayage with vivid tones, or intricate patterns can create unique and eye-catching looks.

Service time: ** Requires a Consultation **

Great for: This is an excellent choice for those who want to break away from traditional hair colors and express their creativity and individuality.

*Service time can vary depending on the length/density of hair and the stylist’s timing needs.

Root retouch with pull through color at Dellaria Salons

ROOTS WITH PULL THROUGH

A root retouch with pull through color is a hair coloring technique that combines two processes: a root touch-up and pulling the color through the mid-lengths and ends of the hair. This technique is used to blend the new growth at the roots with the rest of the hair while also refreshing the overall hair color.

The process begins with a root touch-up, where hair dye is applied to the regrowth at the base of the hair shaft, also known as the “roots.”   After the root touch-up, the hair color is then “pulled through” the mid-lengths and ends of the hair. This step helps to refresh the hair color, add shine, and ensure an even distribution of color from root to tip.

Service time: Approx. 1 hour 30 mins

Great for: Beneficial for those who want to extend the time between full hair coloring appointments or for those who have hair highlights.

*Service time can vary depending on the length/density of hair and the stylist’s timing needs.

Foil highlights at Dellaria Salons

FOILS

Foils, also known as highlights, are a hair coloring technique that involves sectioning off strands of hair and applying color to those sections using small, rectangular pieces of foil to separate the colored sections from the rest of the hair. This technique adds dimension, depth, and texture to the hair by creating lightened strands that contrast with the base color.

Partial Foil:  Partial foil, also known as half-head foil or partial highlights, involve coloring from the crown of the head and framing the face.

Full Foil: Full foil, also known as full head foil or full highlights, involves highlighting and coloring evenly throughout from the top of the head to the nape of the neck.

Service time: : Approx. 1 hour (Partial)   2 hours (Full)

Great for: Partial Foils are best for those who want a more subtle, natural-looking effect or for those who want to add dimension and depth to their hair without committing to an all-over color change.

*Service time can vary depending on the length/density of hair and the stylist’s timing needs.

Face framing highlights at Dellaria Salons

FACE FRAMING

Face framing refers to strategically placing individual highlights around the face to create a flattering and illuminating effect. Face framing is also a foiling version with less commitment than a partial or complete foil.

For example, placing lighter shades of color around the face can brighten up the complexion and add dimension to the overall hair color. This technique is particularly effective for those with darker hair who want to add warmth and depth to their look.

Service time: 60 mins

Great for: Bringing attention to the features of the face and complementing the overall hair color.

*Service time can vary depending on the length/density of hair and the stylist’s timing needs.

Root retouch color service at Dellaria Salons

ROOT RETOUCH

A root retouch color, also known as a root touch-up, is a hair coloring technique that focuses on applying color to the new growth of hair at the roots. This process helps to blend the roots with the rest of the hair, ensuring a seamless transition between the natural hair color and the previously colored hair.

The main purpose of a root retouch color is to maintain a consistent, uniform color from root to tip, which makes it appear as if your hair has not grown out since the initial coloring.  A proper retouch routine can also help minimize damage caused by excessive coloring, allowing you to enjoy your beautiful hair color without compromising your hair’s health.

Service time: Approx. 1 hour

Great for: Great for: Maintaining a consistent, uniform color from root to tip, which makes it appear as if your hair has not grown out since the initial coloring.

*Service time can vary depending on the length/density of hair and the stylist’s timing needs.

Balayage hair color at Dellaria Salons

BALAYAGE

Balayage is a freehand technique where color is hand-painted onto the surface of the hair for a soft, sun-kissed, dimensional result with a natural grow-out. 

Service time: Approx. 2-3 hours

Great for:Low-maintenance, natural-looking dimension with no harsh regrowth line.

*Service time can vary depending on the length/density of hair and the stylist’s timing needs.