What custom color actually involves

Color is chemistry, and the chemistry depends on what is already on your hair. Box dye, a previous salon's lightener, well water, even a summer of sun all change how your hair takes a new formula. That is why we look at your hair in person and ask what has been done to it before we commit to a plan.

A typical appointment runs like this:

  • Consultation. We talk through what you want, look at photos if you have them, and check the condition and history of your hair.
  • Formulation. Your stylist mixes to your hair, your skin tone, and how much upkeep you actually want.
  • Application. Precision matters more than speed here, especially through the mid lengths and ends where old color sits.
  • Processing. Timing is set by your hair, not by a clock on the wall.
  • Toner or gloss. This is what makes color read expensive instead of flat.
  • Finish and plan. A blow dry or style, plus honest guidance on what to use at home.

  • Who it suits

    Custom color works for a first time guest covering gray, a longtime client refreshing a tone, and everyone in between. It is also the right starting point if you are unhappy with color someone else did. We take on correction work, and we would rather talk you through a staged plan than promise a full transformation in one sitting and damage your hair to get there.

    If you are growing out a previous color, say so at the consultation. There is usually a way to make the grow out look intentional while we move toward the end result.

  • How long to plan for

    Plan on two to three hours for most color services, and longer if you are going significantly lighter or correcting a previous color. Your stylist confirms the timing at your consultation, so you are never guessing. If you are short on time, tell the front desk when you book and we will find an appointment that fits.

Making it last

Most guests come back every six to eight weeks for a full color, with a gloss in between to keep the tone fresh. A few habits protect the investment:

  • Use a sulfate free shampoo. It is the single biggest factor in how fast color fades.
  • Wash in cooler water, and less often than you think you need to.
  • Use heat protectant before hot tools. Heat lifts tone quickly.
  • Book your toner or gloss before your color starts to look dull, not after.

Book Your Color Appointment

  • Who to book with

    Our color team covers the whole range: natural, lived in color, long and curly hair, and vivid or bold shades, with more than a decade behind the chair on the senior end. Owners Hanna and Madison both still take color clients. If you are not sure who fits, read the team page or call the front desk at 706-604-1862 and ask.

    You can see current color work on our Instagram, which is the most honest preview of what leaves the salon.

  • Pricing

    We color with Redken and L'Oreal Majirel, lighten with Goldwell, and carry Oribe as our exclusive retail line. Every color price lives on the Service Menu, so there is one set of numbers to trust instead of figures scattered across the site. What you see there is a starting point. Your final price is confirmed at your consultation, because length, density, and how far the color has to travel all change the work involved.

Common questions

Can you fix color that was done at another salon?

Yes, and it is a common first appointment here. Bring photos and whatever you know about what was used, including box dye. We will tell you honestly what one appointment can achieve and whether it needs a staged plan across two or three visits.

Can I go from dark to blonde in one appointment?

Sometimes, but often not, and that is a good thing. Lifting dark or previously colored hair to a clean blonde in a single session is where most damage happens. We will tell you at the consultation whether your hair can take it in one visit or whether it needs to be staged.

Will color damage my hair?

Professional color applied to healthy hair, at the right strength, for the right amount of time, is not the problem. Damage comes from over processing, overlapping lightener onto hair that has already been lifted, and skipping the maintenance afterward. Formulating to your hair specifically is how we avoid it.

Do I need a consultation before my appointment?

Your color appointment includes one, so a separate visit is not required for most services. For a big change or a correction, booking a consultation first means we can plan the time properly rather than discovering the scope on the day.

How often should I come back?

Most guests are on a six to eight week rhythm for a full color, with a gloss in between to keep the tone fresh. Your stylist will give you a specific interval based on how fast your hair grows and how much contrast there is at the root.

What should I do before my appointment?

Come with your hair in its normal state, which means no fresh wash the morning of if you can help it. Bring photos of what you like and what you do not. If you have used box dye or a drugstore lightener in the last year, tell your stylist, even if you think it has grown out.

Book your color appointment

Booking online takes about a minute and is open around the clock. New to us? Read about the salon first, or check the contact page for directions to our studio on Midland Commons. Looking at a lighter result specifically? Our highlights and balayage page covers that work, and keratin smoothing pairs well with color for anyone fighting frizz.

Reviewed by Hanna, owner of Hanna Madison Salon, with more than a decade behind the chair. Updated August 2026.

Book OnlineCall 706-604-1862