Highlights in Raleigh

Brassiness usually creeps in when the toning and gloss step after foiling wasn't strong enough to neutralize leftover warmth from the lightening process. Sunday Salon pairs every foiling session with a matched toning formula as standard, rather than treating it as an optional finishing touch, specifically to help prevent this.

Highlights use foils to isolate and lighten defined sections, creating structured, dimensional contrast with a more visible regrowth line. Balayage applies color freehand without foils, creating a softer blend that grows out more gradually. Highlights generally give more defined contrast; balayage generally needs less frequent upkeep.

Yes — highlights can be applied to dark hair, though very high-contrast results on dark, resistant hair may need more than one session to lift safely without compromising hair condition. A stylist will assess your hair and set realistic expectations for a single visit at the consultation.

A money piece is a concentrated placement of lightened pieces framing the face, designed to brighten the areas that draw the most attention without a full head of highlights. It's one of several specific highlight styles Sunday Salon's color team has delivered for Raleigh clients, alongside more traditional surface, partial, and full coverage.

A Full Highlight involves placing foils throughout your entire head, from the nape of your neck to the hairline, making it perfect for a complete transformation or maximum brightness. A Partial Highlight focuses strictly on the top half, crown, and face-framing pieces to add a pop of brightness or maintain an existing look.

Balayage is a freehand painting technique that creates a soft, swept, lived-in look with a more gradual, low-maintenance root transition. Traditional Foil Highlights bring the color much closer to the root, providing a brighter, more uniform lift and high-impact, structured dimension.

Absolutely. Our master colorists specialize in safely lifting dark bases. We formulate custom lighteners and use precise timing to push past brassy undertones. We finish every service with a custom toning gloss to ensure your brunette highlights are a beautiful, rich caramel or cool ash—never orange.

The integrity of your hair is our absolute top priority. Our specialists are highly trained in safe, controlled lifting techniques. We use premium, gentle lighteners paired with advanced bond-building treatments to protect, strengthen, and nourish your hair throughout the entire foiling process.

 Traditional highlights typically require root touch-ups every 6 to 10 weeks depending on your natural hair growth and the level of contrast. Between major appointments, we highly recommend coming in for a quick Toning Gloss & Blowout to keep the color vibrant and neutralize any unwanted brassiness.

Yes! We offer specialized Gray Blending Highlights. By weaving ultra-fine highlights and lowlights into your natural color, we can diffuse and disguise stubborn grays. This creates a much softer, more natural, and lower-maintenance grow-out than solid single-process root touch-ups.

 If you are looking for a major transformation (like going from box-dyed black to blonde) or need corrective color work, we highly recommend booking a complimentary consultation first so we can map out a safe journey for your hair. For standard maintenance or fresh highlights on virgin hair, you can book directly online!

To ensure we have enough time to perfect your final look, color services not followed by a haircut must be paired with a styling service. Please make sure to add an "After Color Styling" (Blowout) when booking online so you leave the salon looking flawless!