Highlights at a Dubai salon cost AED 350 to AED 2,500 depending on technique, coverage, and your hair length. Half-head foils start around AED 350 to AED 650 at mid-range salons. A full head of highlights or a complex balayage runs AED 1,400 to AED 2,500 at premium colourists. Most Dubai residents pay AED 800 to AED 1,300 for a full service.
Popular hair salons in Dubai
Collective is a hair salon inside the MAG Warehouses complex in Al Quoz Industrial Area 2, rated from reviews. Services cover hair colouring, balayage, hair highlights, hair extensions, keratin treatment, ladies haircuts, blow dry, bridal makeup, manicures, gel pedicures and waxing services. Several reviewers like the modern, classy interior and mention stylists using Dyson equipment for finishing, with one client describing a playful, well judged cut from a stylist who listened closely to the brief. Feedback on colour work is more mixed, with one detailed report describing hair damage and billing disagreements after a balayage and toner service, so it makes sense to agree the full scope and price before any colour treatment begins. The salon has a toilet on site along with wheelchair-accessible parking and entrance.
Version Francaise is a hairdressing salon inside the Marriott Harbour Hotel and Suites in Dubai Marina, offering haircuts, hair colouring, highlights, hair extensions, keratin treatment, blow dry styling, threading, manicures and nail art. It is rated from reviews.Reviewers consistently describe the salon as welcoming, with several returning for years and calling it their regular salon for haircuts and colour treatments. The team is praised for professionalism, attention to detail and a warm welcome from arrival to the end of the appointment.The salon has free Wi-Fi, on-site services, a wheelchair-accessible entrance, car park and toilet, plus gender-neutral toilets. It suits residents and hotel guests in Dubai Marina after a haircut, colour service or hair treatment appointment, with appointments recommended given the salon's loyal following.
Locks By Lou Lou is a hair salon on Al Wasl Road in Jumeirah, rated from reviews. Reviewers consistently praise the colour work, from balayage and highlights to root touch ups, and several mention hair extensions that look natural rather than obviously fitted. Clients also note that stylists take time to understand what they want before starting and explain aftercare so hair stays in good condition afterwards.Beyond colour, the salon offers blow dry, keratin treatment, hair extensions, manicure, gel pedicure, microneedling and anti-aging facial treatments. The entrance is wheelchair accessible and there is an on-site toilet.Appointments are recommended, particularly for colour and extension work, and the salon suits clients looking for an ongoing colourist relationship rather than a single visit.
Version Francaise Pour Elle is a hairdresser and beauty salon on Al Wasl Road, Al Safa 2, rated from reviews. Services span hair colouring, balayage, highlights, extensions, keratin treatment and blow dry, ladies' haircuts, beard trim, manicure, gel nails, gel pedicure, eyelash extensions, anti-aging facials and waxing.Reviewers consistently praise the colour and highlight work, describing meticulous stylists who take the time to understand what a client wants even when it is hard to explain. The salon is also noted for its cleanliness, product quality and reasonable prices, with several reviewers mentioning the owner is regularly on site overseeing the team and the client experience.Free Wi-Fi and parking are available. Suits clients after precise colour work from a team that takes the time to get it right.
Trinity Hair Salon is a hair salon in Al Barsha South, based at Danube Resortz, rated from reviews.Colour work is what reviewers talk about most, with several describing years of trust in the stylists for balayage, highlights and full colour changes, including recovering from a previous bad dye job elsewhere. The salon also offers ladies haircuts, blow dries, hair treatment and a back massage, plus manicures and pedicures. More than one reviewer describes the atmosphere as warm and modern with a good energy, and says they would not trust anyone else with their hair colour.There is a toilet on site, the salon offers on-site services, and a wheelchair-accessible car park makes it an easy stop for residents around Al Barsha South.
What are highlights?
Highlights are strands of hair lightened two to three shades above your natural base, woven through the rest of your colour to add brightness, depth, and movement. A colourist isolates sections, applies a lightening agent, then often follows with a toner to control the final tone. The look ranges from a soft sun-kissed glow to bold, defined contrast.
They differ from a single all-over colour, which lifts or deepens every strand to one flat shade. Lightening only chosen pieces keeps your base intact, so the result reads as dimensional rather than uniform. They also differ from lowlights, where a colourist adds strands darker than your base to build shadow and the illusion of volume. Most salons in Dubai blend the two in one appointment for a richer, more natural finish.
Highlights vs balayage: which technique suits you
“Highlights” is the umbrella; balayage is one way to place them. Foils give precise, evenly spaced lift from root to tip, so regrowth shows a clear line after six to eight weeks. Balayage is a freehand sweep painted onto the surface, which grows out softly and stretches the gap between salon visits to three or four months. Ask for foils when you want uniform brightness or a dramatic blonde; ask for balayage when you want a lived-in, low-upkeep finish.
Dubai colourists also offer hybrids. Foilayage combines hand-painting with foils to push the lift further on darker hair. Babylights are ultra-fine foils that mimic the natural lift seen in children’s hair for a delicate, seamless glow. A money piece brightens only the strands framing your face, a quick way to lift your complexion without committing to a full head. Highlights sit alongside other salon hair colouring services, including all-over colour and root work.
How highlights are done in a salon
A standard colour service follows the same sequence at most Dubai salons, though timing scales with your hair length and the technique.
- Consultation: the colourist checks your base shade, hair health, and the look you want, then recommends foils, balayage, or a mix.
- Sectioning: hair is parted into working sections so placement stays even and intentional.
- Lightening: a bleach or lightener is applied to woven strands, in foils or hand-painted, depending on the technique.
- Processing: the lightener develops for 20 to 45 minutes, watched closely so it reaches the target level without over-processing.
- Toning and finish: a toner or gloss neutralises brassy warmth, followed by a wash, a bond treatment, and a blow-dry.
A partial service can wrap in about 90 minutes. A full head of foils or a complex transformation on dark hair can run three to four hours. Bring a reference photo: a clear image of the tone you want removes most of the guesswork during the consultation.
What highlights cost in Dubai
Pricing in Dubai tracks coverage first, then salon tier and hair length. A half head sits well below a full head, and fine hair processes faster than thick, long hair. The tiers below reflect current rates across budget, mid-range, and premium colour salons.
| Tier | Typical price | Duration | Room | Products | Staff experience | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | AED 120 to 350 | 45 to 120 min | Shared salon floor | Standard ammonia colour lines, packaged root and gloss deals | Junior to mid colourist | Root touch-ups, single global colour, short hair, deal bookings |
| Mid | AED 350 to 750 | 90 to 180 min | Dedicated colour and wash station | Professional ammonia-free lines, bond builders on request | Experienced colourist | Highlights, partial balayage, gloss and toner, regular maintenance |
| Premium | AED 750 to 1800 plus | 150 to 300 min | Private suite or hotel salon | Imported colour systems, integrated bond builders, colour correction kits | Senior or master colourist | Full balayage, ombre, colour correction, long or previously coloured hair |
As a rough map of the hair highlights Dubai price spread: half-head foils run AED 350 to AED 650 at mid-range salons, a full head of highlights sits around AED 950 to AED 1,700 for fine hair, and premium colourists charge AED 1,700 to AED 2,500 or more for thick hair, full transformations, or colour correction. A root touch-up between full appointments costs less, often AED 950 to AED 1,400.
Browse all mid-tier providers on our directory.
Top Dubai areas for highlights
Colour specialists cluster where rent and clientele support the longer chair time this service demands. Premium colour studios concentrate in Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, and Downtown, while mid-range and budget options spread through Business Bay, Al Barsha, and the older inland districts. Browse the full directory of hair salons to compare by area. The table shows where hair colour salons sit by area.
| Neighborhood | Providers | Dominant tier | Typical AED range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Bay | 120 | Mid | AED 300 to 900 |
| Al Barsha 1 | 83 | Mid | AED 250 to 750 |
| Deira | 80 | Budget | AED 120 to 500 |
| Al Karama | 79 | Budget | AED 120 to 450 |
| Dubai Marina | 78 | Mid | AED 300 to 950 |
| Jumeirah Lake Towers | 74 | Mid | AED 280 to 850 |
| Dubai International City | 68 | Budget | AED 120 to 400 |
| Jumeirah | 56 | Premium | AED 400 to 1800 |
| Oud Metha | 53 | — | — |
| Mirdif | 52 | Mid | AED 220 to 650 |
| Jumeirah Village Circle | 50 | Mid | AED 250 to 700 |
| Al Barsha South | 47 | — | — |
Highlights options by tier
Budget (AED 350 to 550)
Budget salons in areas like Deira, Al Karama, and International City handle partial coverage and root refreshes on fine to medium hair. Expect box or salon-grade lightener, a standard toner, and a shorter consultation. Best for a maintenance top-up or a first try before committing to a full head.
Browse all budget-tier providers on our directory.
Mid-range (AED 550 to 1,300)
Mid-range colourists in Business Bay, JLT, and Al Barsha cover full-head foils, partial balayage, and babylights with a proper toner and a bond treatment built in. This tier is where most Dubai residents land for a full colour service that looks polished and lasts.
Browse all mid-tier providers on our directory.
Premium (AED 1,300 to 2,500 plus)
Premium studios in Jumeirah, Marina, and Downtown handle full transformations, colour correction, and complex foilayage on thick or previously coloured hair. Many pair the service with a keratin treatment to smooth lifted strands. You pay for senior colourist time, imported lighteners, longer processing, and aftercare products. Best for dramatic changes or hair that has been lightened before.
Browse all premium-tier providers on our directory.
Types of highlights available in Dubai
- Foil highlights: the traditional method, precise strands lifted in foils for uniform brightness or bold contrast.
- Partial highlights: coverage on the top and around the face only, a faster, cheaper way to brighten.
- Full head highlights: strands woven throughout for all-over dimension and the biggest visual change.
- Babylights: ultra-fine foils for a soft, natural, sun-kissed glow that grows out gently.
- Balayage: freehand hand-painting for a lived-in, low-maintenance finish.
- Money piece: brightened strands framing the face only, a low-commitment lift for the complexion.
- Ombre: a graduated transition from darker roots to lighter ends, a bold gradient with low upkeep.
- Lowlights: darker strands added for depth, usually blended with the lighter pieces for a multi-tonal result.
What to expect at your highlights appointment
Book ahead for weekends and the early-evening slots, which fill fast across Dubai salons, especially Thursday and Friday. Arrive with clean, dry hair unless the salon advises otherwise, and skip heavy oils the day before so the lightener grips evenly. Allow more time than you think: a full head of foils with toning and a blow-dry can hold a chair for three hours or longer.
A reputable colourist runs a strand or patch test if your hair is chemically treated or you have lightened before, since stacked bleach can compromise integrity. Ask whether a bond builder such as Olaplex is included; it protects the internal bonds during lifting and reduces breakage. Confirm the price covers toning, since a separate gloss can add to the bill.
Is a highlights salon regulated in Dubai?
Yes. Any salon operating in Dubai needs a Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) trade licence to run as a business. Beyond that, any service touching skin or scalp, including chemical colour and bleach, falls under Dubai Health Authority (DHA) health and hygiene rules. A licensed colour salon follows DHA standards for product handling, sanitation, and tools. When you choose a salon, a visible DET trade licence and DHA-compliant hygiene practices are the baseline signals that it operates legally and safely.
How to choose a salon for highlights
Highlights are a skill-heavy service, so the colourist matters more than the brand on the door. Start by shortlisting from the directory of salons across Dubai, then run these checks before you book.
- Review the colourist’s portfolio: look for before-and-after work on hair like yours, especially dark-to-light lifts if that is your goal.
- Confirm a real consultation: a good colourist discusses your base, condition, and maintenance, not just the price.
- Check bond-protection options: ask whether Olaplex or an equivalent is included for lightening services.
- Read recent reviews: prioritise reviews from the last 12 months that mention colour specifically, not general service. See how we rank salons for the criteria we apply.
- Verify the licence: a visible DET trade licence and DHA-compliant hygiene are non-negotiable.
- Ask about toning: confirm whether the quote includes a toner, since that controls the final shade.
Aftercare for highlights in Dubai’s climate
Dubai sun, chlorine, and hard water all pull warmth and brassiness into lightened hair faster than a cooler climate would. Protect the colour to stretch the time between salon visits.
- Use a sulphate-free, colour-safe shampoo and a weekly bond or moisture mask.
- Apply a purple shampoo once a week to keep blonde tones cool and counter brassiness.
- Wear a hat or use UV-protective hair products at the beach and pool; sun oxidises lightened strands.
- Rinse hair after swimming, since chlorine and salt dry out and discolour lightened strands.
- Lower heat-tool temperatures and always use a heat protectant on lifted hair.
- Book a blow-dry with a bond or gloss refresh to keep the finish smooth between full appointments.
