FQAs

Quick answers about booking, pricing, balayage, vivid color, extensions, perms, reds, and more.

Not sure what to book?

If you’re unsure, start with a consultation—we’ll map out the right service, timing, and maintenance plan for your hair.

Do you offer consultations?

Yes. Consultations are the best first step for major changes, extensions, vivid color, perms, or anytime you want a clear plan before committing.

Where are you located?

We’re in Englewood, Colorado and serve guests from Denver and the surrounding metro area.

Booking & First Visit

Do I need a consultation before booking?

Not always—but consultations are strongly recommended for big changes, extensions, vivid color, perms, or corrective work. If you already know what you want (like a maintenance haircut or root touch-up), you can usually book directly.

What should I book if I’m not sure what I need?

Book a consultation. We’ll talk through your goals, your hair history, your maintenance comfort level, and what your hair can realistically do—then we’ll recommend the best service and timing.

How far in advance should I book?

Most guests book anywhere from a few days to a couple weeks out, but prime times (early mornings, evenings, Fridays, and Saturdays) fill fastest. If you have a specific day/time in mind, booking earlier is always safer.

What should I do before my first appointment?

Bring inspiration photos (and a few “not this” photos if you have them). If you’ve colored your hair at home or elsewhere, tell us what was used—your hair history helps us protect integrity and set realistic expectations.

Do you require a deposit?

Yes—every appointment requires a 35% deposit to reserve your time.

You can pay the deposit by credit card online, over the phone, or via a secure payment link we can send you.
Deposits help protect appointment time and reduce last‑minute no‑shows.

The remaining balance is due at your appointment.

What is your cancellation or reschedule policy?

We require at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule—otherwise a 25% fee applies.

No-shows are charged 50% of the scheduled service.

When you book online, you’ll check a consent box agreeing to these terms, and you’ll also receive an email confirmation of the policy.
We know life happens—if something unexpected comes up, text or call us as soon as you can and we’ll do our best to help.

Pricing & Timing

How much does hair color cost at Color House Denver?

Hair color pricing depends on your artist level, your starting point, and the time + product needed to reach your goal.

More traditional color services (like maintenance/root work) are typically on the lower end, while custom color, blonding/balayage, vivid color, and major transformations often range from $300–$500+ depending on complexity.

If you want an accurate estimate before committing, we strongly recommend a consultation—we’ll map out the right service, timing, and maintenance plan for your hair.

How long do appointments usually take?

It depends on the service and your hair goals. Maintenance appointments are typically shorter, while transformations (blonding, vivid color, extensions, perms, corrective color) can take multiple hours.

Why can’t salons quote an exact price online?

Because hair isn’t one-size-fits-all—and we can’t accurately price what we can’t see.

We can absolutely give a rough estimate, but your exact cost depends on your hair’s length, density, starting color, previous color history, and your goal, which all affect the time and product needed.
If you want the clearest number before booking, a consultation lets us see and feel your hair and build a plan with realistic timing and pricing.

Balayage & Blonding

What’s the difference between balayage/custom color and blonding and traditional highlights?

Traditional blonding uses a more uniform, consistent application pattern (often foils) to create brighter, more even lightness throughout.

Balayage is a more customized approach—it can include hand-painting and other techniques to create softer, lived-in dimension and brightness placed exactly where it flatters you.
Because balayage/custom blonding is more tailored, it often requires more time and product, which can affect both appointment length and price.

If you want brighter + more even, traditional blonding is usually the move. If you want softer + lived-in, balayage is usually the better fit.

Is balayage lower maintenance than highlights?

Balayage is often lower maintenance because it’s designed to grow out softer and more “lived-in,” with less obvious regrowth lines.

That said, your toner/gloss can fade in about 6–8 weeks, so you may want a quick refresh to keep the tone looking bright and intentional.
The good news: toner/gloss refreshes are typically a shorter, lower-cost appointment than a full blonding service.

Can you take me from dark to blonde in one appointment?

Usually not—going from dark to blonde safely often takes more than one session.

In some cases it can be done in one very long appointment (often 4–8 hours), but it depends on your starting color, hair history, and how light you want to go while keeping your hair healthy.
Because these transformations are time-intensive, they’re typically priced by time/hourrather than one exact set price—so a consultation is the best way to map out the safest plan and cost.

How do I keep my blonde from getting brassy in Denver?

To prevent brassiness, protect your toner and keep warmth from building up with the right home care and habits.

Use a salon-recommended purple shampoo (as directed), keep heat tools at lower temps, and avoid hot water, which can fade toners faster.
Denver’s sun and outdoor lifestyle can also speed up fading—use UV-protecting products (hair “sunscreen”), and try not to soak your hair in pools/hot tubs (or protect it first) to help your blonde stay bright and intentional.

Vivid / Fashion Color

How long does vivid hair color last?

Vivid color usually fades gradually—some shades stay bold for a few weeks, while others last longer but soften into a more pastel/faded version over time.

How long it lasts depends on the shade, your hair’s porosity, and your routine. Cool water, color-safe home care, and lower heat-tool temps make a big difference.
For single-shade vivids, we can also send you home with a color-depositing “color bomb” to keep your tone looking fresh between appointments.

Do vivid colors require bleach?

Not always—but many vivid shades need pre-lightening to look bright and true-to-tone.

If your hair is already pre-lightened, you may be able to book a vivid refresh (re-tone/reapply color). But if you want more lightened pieces added or your brightness brought up closer to the root, that’s a bigger appointment and typically requires a vivid color transformation (lightening + vivid application).

If you’re unsure which one you need, a consultation (or a quick message with photos) helps us book you correctly.

How do I maintain vivid color at home?

Cooler water, color-safe products, and lower heat-tool temperatures are the biggest keys to keeping vivid color looking fresh.

Wash less often when you can, avoid hot water, and use heat protection any time you style.
We’ll also recommend the best refresh plan for your shade—like a quick gloss/refresh appointment or a take-home color-depositing product when it’s a good fit.

Extensions

Do I need a consultation for extensions?

Yes—extensions are always consultation-first.
We need to see and feel your hair (whether you already have extension hair you want to use or not), match color, choose the right method, and make sure your hair can support the install comfortably.
In most cases, we also need to order the hair before we can schedule the install appointment.

How much do hair extensions cost?

Extension pricing depends on the method (tape-ins, sew-ins, keratin tips, etc.) and the length/density needed.

Hair is priced at our cost + tax (plus shipping if applicable) and typically ranges $300–$1,000+ depending on what you need.
Install pricing is a flat fee: $450 for your first install (includes cutting + blending), and $250 for reinstall/move-ups.
If we need to custom color the extension hair, that’s an additional fee.

Most extension hair lasts 6–12 months depending on home care and maintenance.
Your consultation is where we confirm the best method, match everything perfectly, and give you an exact total.

Will extensions damage my hair?

Extensions can cause damage if they aren’t installed correctly or if maintenance/home care is ignored—but when they’re applied and cared for properly, they should not damage your hair.

The biggest factors are choosing the right method for your hair type, correct placement/tension, and keeping up with move-ups and at-home care.
That’s why we’re consultation-first—so we can match you with the safest option and set you up for success.

How long do extensions last?

With proper home care, extension hair can last up to 12 months.
You’ll still need regular maintenance appointments (move-ups/reinstalls), and just like natural hair, the ends can get dry or split over time—so occasional trims help keep them looking fresh.
If your extensions need a trim, we’ll typically pair it with your move-up appointment(often booked with a haircut) so everything stays blended and seamless.

Gray Coverage & Gray Blending

What’s the difference between gray coverage and gray blending?

Gray coverage fully covers grays/silvers/white hairs for a more solid, consistent result.

Gray blending is a softer approach—using highlights, lowlights, or a mix of both to diffuse gray and create an easier grow-out line.
Blending is also a great option if you’re transitioning away from permanent color and want a more gradual, natural-looking shift.

How do I transition to gray if I have permanent color on my hair?

If you have permanent color, transitioning to gray is usually a color correction—and it’s often best done gradually.

In some cases we can make big progress in one long appointment, but it can take several hours (or even all day) depending on your hair history and how much color needs to be removed.
Because it’s highly customized and time-intensive, this type of service is typically charged hourly rather than one set price.
Most guests choose a multi-visit plan (blending and softening over time) for healthier hair and a more natural-looking grow-out.

How often do I need to come in for gray coverage?

Most guests come in every 3–8 weeks for gray coverage, depending on how fast their hair grows and how much contrast there is between your natural color and your coverage shade.

If you’re a current guest, we also offer express hairline color at a discounted rate for quick in-between maintenance.
And if you want to stretch time between root retouches, a softer strategy (like face-framing blonding or blending around the hairline) can help your grow-out look more seamless.

Short Cuts

Do you do pixies and short haircuts?

Yes—several of our artists love short cuts, including pixies, bobs, textured crops, and clean clipper work.

We use gender-neutral pricing (based on hair length, density, and time—not gender).
Want to book with a short-hair specialist? Check out our Team page to see who’s known for short cuts and clipper work.

Perms

Do you do modern or traditional perms?

Yes—we do both modern and more traditional perms.
The perm solution and rods are similar—the difference is the result we design: modern perms are usually looser waves/“beachy” texture, while traditional perms can be tighter curls.
During your consultation, we’ll talk through your hair type, your styling routine, and the look you want so we can choose the right rod size and pattern for your goal.

How soon can I wash my hair after a perm?

Wait 48 hours before shampooing your hair after a perm.(Yes—Legally Blonde got that part right.)
During that first 48 hours, you can get your hair wet and you can use conditioner and styling products to refresh and define the curl.
The big no-no is shampoo/cleansing agents too soon, because they can relax the curl before it fully sets.

How long does a perm last?

Most perms last about 3–4 months, depending on your hair type, the curl pattern, and your home care.
Perms don’t usually “fall out” all at once—instead, they gradually loosen over time as your hair grows and the curl relaxes.

Will my hair smell after a perm?

Typically, no—your hair shouldn’t smell once the service is finished.
The first perm solution can smell strong (kind of sulfur-y), but the neutralizer/second step smells much nicer, and we rinse your hair very thoroughly.
If you notice any lingering scent afterward, it usually fades quickly with normal washing and home care.

Can I color my hair and get a perm?

It depends on your hair history—colored hair is often possible, but bleached or heavily damaged hair may not be safe to perm.
There are perm solutions made for color-treated hair, but perming can still shift/lightenexisting color. In most cases, we recommend doing the perm first, then waiting about two weeks before coloring.

If your hair is bleached or compromised, we may recommend not perming—damaged hair often won’t hold a curl and can even break.
That’s why a consultation is strongly recommended—and if we determine it isn’t safe, we’ll refund your deposit.

Reds

Why does red hair color fade so fast?

Red fades faster because red dye molecules are larger and tend to sit closer to the outside of the hair, so they rinse out and break down more easily.

Every shampoo and water exposure lifts the cuticle, which lets more pigment escape. Sun/UV also breaks down red pigment bonds quickly, which is why reds can turn dull, brassy, or brown faster than other shades.
If your hair is porous or damaged, it can’t hold onto red pigment as well—and high heat styling can speed up fading by roughing up the cuticle.

Why do you use Calura by Oligo for reds?

We love Calura by Oligo for reds because it uses an exothermic (self-warming) process that helps push color deeper for richer, longer-lasting results—without relying on harsh chemicals.

That gentle warmth helps soften the cuticle instead of forcing it open with high ammonia, which supports hair integrity and shine. It also helps the formula absorb nourishing ingredients like shea butter, avocado oil, and pomegranate seed oil for extra moisture and gloss.

Bonus: it’s ammonia-free and PPD-free, and the self-warming action can help processing be more efficient—especially on resistant hair.

How do I maintain copper or red hair between appointments?

Wash cooler and less often, protect from heat and sun, and use color-safe products—those three things make the biggest difference for reds.

Use cool water, a sulfate-free/color-safe shampoo, and keep heat tools at lower temps with heat protectant. Because Denver sun is intense, add a UV-protecting hair product (especially if you’re outside a lot).
To keep copper/red looking rich (not faded), we may recommend a color-depositing conditioner/gloss at home and/or a quick gloss refresh in-salon every few weeks depending on your shade and maintenance comfort level.