Highlights
Foil highlights in Ottawa, customized by the colour team at Mosaic Hair Salon on St Laurent Blvd. From a few face-framing foils at $15 each to a full head of dimensional brightness at $200-$250, every placement is mapped to your cut, base colour, and maintenance budget for natural-looking results.
Highlights
Foil highlights in Ottawa, customized by the colour team at Mosaic Hair Salon on St Laurent Blvd. From a few face-framing foils at $15 each to a full head of dimensional brightness at $200-$250, every placement is mapped to your cut, base colour, and maintenance budget for natural-looking results.
What Is Highlights?
Highlights are a foil-based hair-colouring technique in which selected strands are woven out, coated with lightener, and wrapped in foil to lift them several shades brighter than your base colour. Because foils start close to the root and process with controlled heat, highlights deliver brighter, more uniform results than surface-painted techniques. At Mosaic Hair Salon in Ottawa, Custom Highlights are $15 per foil, a Partial Highlight runs $180-$200, and a Full Highlight is $200-$250.
Anisa, our Lead Stylist, designs every highlight service around your haircut and how you actually wear it. A Partial Highlight (about 1.5 hours) brightens the top sections and around your face, where light hits first. A Full Highlight (2-3 hours) weaves foils through every section for dimension you can see in a ponytail, a braid, or curls. Custom per-foil highlights let you add just a few bright pieces at $15 per foil.
Foil highlights pair beautifully with a toner ($50-$75) to refine the final shade, and they can be blended with lowlights for extra depth. Expect to refresh partial highlights every 6-8 weeks and full highlights every 8-12 weeks, depending on how much they contrast with your base. If you would prefer a softer grow-out, ask about balayage; we offer both techniques and will recommend the right one honestly.
Who It's For
Service Options
Explore all 3 options and find the perfect fit for your needs.
| Service | Price | Duration | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
Custom Highlight | $15 per foil | Varies | Those wanting subtle, customizable brightness and dimension. |
Partial Highlight | $180–$200 | 1.5 hours | Those wanting brightness without a full highlight service. |
Full Highlight | $200–$250 | 2-3 hours | Those wanting significant brightness and dimension throughou... |
How Much Does Highlights Cost in Ottawa?
Highlight pricing at Mosaic Hair Salon in Ottawa is straightforward. Custom Highlights are $15 per foil, perfect for a handful of face-framing pieces or building brightness gradually. A Partial Highlight is $180-$200 and takes about 1.5 hours, covering the top and face-framing sections. A Full Highlight is $200-$250 over 2-3 hours, with foils woven through the entire head. Where you land within each range depends on hair length and thickness, confirmed at your consultation before we mix colour. Many guests add a toner ($50-$75) to perfect the final shade.
What to Expect During Your Highlights Appointment
Consultation and mapping
Your stylist reviews your base colour, previous colour history, and inspiration photos, then recommends Custom Highlights ($15 per foil), a Partial Highlight ($180-$200), or a Full Highlight ($200-$250). We map placement around your part, your face, and how you usually wear your hair, and confirm your exact price before any foils go in.
Foiling and processing
Strands are woven out in fine or bolder sections depending on the look, coated with lightener, and wrapped in foils to lift evenly. A partial service takes about 1.5 hours; a full highlight runs 2-3 hours. Your stylist monitors the lift throughout so every foil reaches the right brightness without over-processing your hair.
Rinse, toner, and finish
Foils are removed and your hair is rinsed thoroughly. Most guests add a toner ($50-$75) at this stage to perfect the result, neutralizing yellow or orange and setting the exact shade you chose, from cool beige to warm honey. We finish with a blow-dry so you see the true colour and dimension in real light.
Maintenance plan
Before you go, we set your refresh schedule: partial highlights typically every 6-8 weeks, full highlights every 8-12 weeks, with an optional toner in between to keep the tone crisp. You will leave with product recommendations, sulfate-free shampoo, weekly masking, and heat protection, plus a rebooking date that matches your grow-out.
Real Results from Our Ottawa Studio
Before
AfterBrunette Dimension Highlights
Subtle highlights woven through brunette hair for added depth, shine, and a polished finish.
Foil placement is everything. I weave foils to follow your haircut and your parting so the brightness lands where you actually wear it. If a full highlight is not necessary for your look, I will tell you and save you the difference.
Anisa · Lead Stylist
Your Post-Treatment Guide
Beautiful colour deserves beautiful care. Following these guidelines will help your colour stay vibrant longer and keep your hair healthy and shiny between appointments.
When to Do What
- Enjoy your fresh colour—it looks amazing!
- Avoid getting hair wet for the rest of the day if possible
Quick Reference
Do
- Use sulfate-free, colour-safe shampoo and conditioner
- Wash with lukewarm or cool water
- Use a weekly deep conditioning mask
- Apply heat protectant before styling
- Protect hair from sun exposure with hats or UV sprays
- Schedule regular trims to remove split ends
Avoid
- Hot water when washing hair
- Sulfate shampoos and harsh clarifying products
- Excessive heat styling without protection
- Chlorinated pools without protecting your hair
- Over-washing (strips colour faster)
- Direct sun exposure for prolonged periods
Don't Worry If You Experience...
- •Slight colour bleeding in first few washes (normal)
- •Fresh colour may appear slightly darker initially
- •Scalp sensitivity if colour was applied to roots
Please Contact Us If...
- •Severe scalp irritation, burning, or blistering
- •Unexpected colour results that concern you
- •Hair breakage or significant texture changes
- •Allergic reaction symptoms (swelling, difficulty breathing)
Call us at (613) 558-1697 or visit us at the spa.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Partial Highlight ($180-$200, about 1.5 hours) places foils through the top of the head and around your face, where brightness shows most when your hair is worn down. A Full Highlight ($200-$250, 2-3 hours) weaves foils through every section, including the back and underneath, so the dimension is visible when your hair is tied up, braided, or curled. If you wear your hair down most days, partial usually gives you the look for less. If you want all-over brightness or you are growing out a previous colour, full is the better investment. Your stylist confirms the right option at your consultation.
Find us at 2465 St Laurent Blvd in Ottawa, just off the St Laurent retail corridor with free parking at the door. Mosaic is the neighbourhood colour salon for St Laurent, Elmvale Acres, Alta Vista, and Overbrook, and an easy stop after work or errands at Trainyards. Call (613) 558-1697 or book online for your highlight consultation.