Partial foils, full foils, and face-framing pieces — precise, luminous results from colorists who do this every single day.
Three foil highlight services, each built for a different goal. All consultations are complimentary — we’ll help you pick the right one.
Highlights applied to the top and crown sections — the areas that catch the most light. Partial foils add brightness and dimension without a full-head commitment. Faster and more affordable than full foils, with a beautiful, natural-looking result that frames your face and lifts your overall look.
First-time highlight clients, maintaining existing color, subtle brightening without a big change
All-over highlights or lowlights from root to end for maximum dimension, brightness, and contrast. Full foils are the go-to when you want a significant change — going several shades lighter, adding rich multi-tonal depth, or creating a dramatic, highly dimensional result throughout your entire head.
Clients wanting significant lightening, multi-tonal dimension, or a dramatic all-over result
Targeted highlights placed on specific sections — most commonly used for face-framing pieces that brighten around the hairline and cheekbones. Spot foils can also refresh a particular area between full appointments, or add a few pops of brightness right where you want them without touching the rest of your hair.
Face-framing brightness, accent pieces, refreshing between full services
All highlight services start at the listed price and are adjusted based on hair length, density, and the result we're going for. If your hair requires additional time or product, we'll tell you before we start. No surprises at checkout.
Color or lightener is applied to sections of hair which are then wrapped in foil to isolate and process the strands. This technique gives your colorist precise control over placement, saturation, and timing — producing clean, consistent results from root to tip.
Maximum brightness, full-coverage dimension, or clients who want a structured, polished result
After foils are processed, a toner or glaze is applied to neutralize brassiness and dial in the final tone. This step is what separates a flat, yellow-tinged highlight result from a luminous, polished one. We include toner recommendations with every highlight service.
Achieving cool, ashy, or platinum blonde tones — and making any highlight result look finished
Lowlights add darker tones back into the hair for depth and contrast — often used alongside highlights to create a multi-tonal, three-dimensional result. If your highlights have gone too uniform or your color looks flat, a few carefully placed lowlights can transform it.
Adding depth to over-highlighted hair, creating contrast, or refreshing color that looks flat or one-dimensional
Highlights use foils to lift color in precise sections throughout the hair — delivering more uniform brightness and dramatic results. Balayage is hand-painted for a softer, natural gradient with less visible regrowth. Foils are better for significant lightening; balayage is better for low-maintenance, natural-looking color.
Neither technique is better than the other — they just achieve different things. The right choice depends on what you want your hair to look like, how much you want to maintain it, and what your hair can handle right now.
Not sure which is right for you? Book a complimentary consultation and we’ll walk through both options based on your hair and your goal.
You want significant all-over brightening, a dramatic change, or precise placement of color throughout the entire head.
You want a natural, sun-kissed look with soft regrowth that doesn't demand a touch-up every 6–8 weeks.
You want to brighten the top and face-framing sections without a full-head commitment — a great first step into highlights.
You want dimension and brightness with a natural grow-out. Many clients do foils at the top and balayage through the mid-lengths and ends for the best of both techniques.
Your stylist looks at your hair, asks about the result you want, and recommends partial vs. full foils based on your goal and what your hair can handle. We'll also talk about timing and realistic expectations for your first visit.
Your colorist selects a lightener and formula from our Goldwell or Wella Professional line based on your starting color and target result. The formula is customized to your hair — not pulled from a standard menu.
Color is applied in precise sections and wrapped in foil. Your colorist works methodically through the sections, controlling placement and saturation throughout to ensure an even, consistent result. Processing time varies based on your hair and target tone.
After rinsing, a toner or glaze neutralizes any brassiness and locks in your final tone. This is the step that makes highlights look polished rather than just lifted. We'll send you home with recommendations to maintain the tone between visits.
Consultations are always complimentary. We’ll look at your hair, talk through partial vs. full foils, and put together a plan — before we touch a single strand.
Partial foils apply highlights to the top and crown sections — the areas that catch the most light. Full foils apply highlights throughout the entire head for all-over brightness and maximum dimension. Partial foils are faster, less expensive, and great for a subtle refresh. Full foils are the better choice when you want a significant, all-over result.
Most clients with foil highlights come back every 6–10 weeks — the main driver is how visible the regrowth line becomes and how bright you want to stay. If you choose partial foils and aren’t too particular about a perfect root, you can stretch appointments longer. Your stylist will give you a realistic schedule based on your result.
Yes, in most cases. If your hair has been previously colored, your colorist will assess how the existing color will interact with the lightener and adjust the formula accordingly. Box dye can make highlights more unpredictable — it’s one of the most common reasons we recommend a consultation before booking, especially if you’ve been coloring at home.
Brassiness is caused by underlying warm pigments that weren’t fully neutralized during the toning step. At Brian Richard’s, every highlight service is finished with a toner to lock in your tone. Between visits, using a purple or blue shampoo once or twice a week will help maintain coolness. We’ll send you home with specific product recommendations after your appointment.
A partial foil appointment typically takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours, including the toning step. Full foils generally run 2.5 to 3.5 hours depending on hair length and density. We’ll give you a more accurate time estimate when you book.
If you want significant all-over brightness with a structured, polished look — foil highlights. If you want a natural, sun-kissed gradient that grows out with minimal maintenance — balayage. Many clients actually combine both techniques for the best of both: foils at the top for brightness, balayage through the lengths for a natural transition. Book a consultation and we’ll recommend the right approach for your hair and your goal.
Single process, glazing, ombré, and corrective color. Full menu of professional color services.
Brian Richard’s Salon provides professional hair highlight services to clients from Franklin, Bellingham, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, Wrentham, Milford, Medfield, Holliston, Plainville, Foxborough, Mansfield, MA and Cumberland, RI. Located at 456 West Central Street, Suite 3, Franklin, MA — right off Route 495.
