Blonde specialist in Wānaka: foils, lightening and fixing blonde that's gone wrong

Updated November 2026. Service prices are from our live price list and are confirmed at your consultation.

Blonde shows every shortcut. Rush the lift and it goes gold. Skip the toner and it's yellow by the second wash. Overlap the bleach and you get a band that won't take colour evenly for months.

This guide covers what a blonde specialist actually does, the blonde services we offer at UKIYO and what each costs, and what happens when blonde has gone wrong.

What should you look for in a blonde specialist?

Whether you book with us or anyone else in Central Otago, these are the questions worth asking.

• Do they look at your hair before quoting? Blonde depends on what's already on your hair. A price given over the phone, sight unseen, is a guess.
• Is bond care built into the lightening? At UKIYO we recommend Wellaplex Bond Restore ($45) on every foil and blonde service. It works inside the lightener while it's processing.
• Is a toner included? Ours is, on every foil and balayage service. Lightener gets you to a level. The toner decides whether that level looks creamy, beige or icy.
• Will they say no? If your hair can't take another full lift today, a good colourist will tell you, and give you a plan instead.

Foils

Hand-placed foils give defined, bright pieces with your natural colour between them. A quarter head (up to 12 foils) is a face-framing refresh. A half head (up to 25 or 30) brightens the top and around the face. A full head (up to 40 or 50) gives brightness root to tip, and extra-long or thick hair gets up to 75. More detail is on our highlights and foils page.

Scalp bleach and full-head lightening

For an all-over blonde, the lightener goes right to the root. Full-head lightening takes the whole head up, with a toner and gloss to finish. After that, scalp bleach on the regrowth keeps the root matching, every 4 to 6 weeks. It's a commitment, and we'd rather you knew that before the first appointment than after it. See the blondes page for each service.

Colour correction: fixing blonde that's gone wrong

Banding from grown-out foils. Orange after a box bleach. Patchy lift. Blonde that came out yellow or grey, or simply isn't what you asked for. Correction is careful work, and it's worth the drive from Cromwell, Alexandra or Hāwea to have it planned properly.

Every correction starts with a 15-minute colour correction consultation ($25) with one of our senior or master stylists. We go through your colour history, check condition, plan the steps with you and confirm the price before anything is mixed. Larger corrections can take more than one appointment. We won't try to fix everything in one afternoon if doing that would wreck the hair. There's more on our colour correction page and in colour correction explained.

Blonde prices and times at UKIYO

These are "from" prices. Length, density and condition change the final number, and we confirm it at your consultation.

Foil prices above are the lowest level listed. The full grid by stylist level is on the price list.

Which blonde service, and which stylist, should you book?

• Brighter around the face, low commitment: quarter head foils, every 6 to 8 weeks.
• Brightness all through, natural colour still showing: full head foils. Ask for Jasmine (Senior, foiling and colour application) or Yvie (Master, dimensional colour).
• All-over blonde: full-head lightening, then scalp bleach regrowth every 4 to 6 weeks. Nicole (Master, advanced colour) is a good first ask.
• Blonde gone brassy but otherwise fine: a 30-minute toner refresh.
• Blonde gone wrong: the $25 correction consultation first. Kelsey (Senior, creative colour) and our Master stylists do correction work.

Aftercare comes in two price points. Kérastase Blond Absolu is the range we'd put most blondes in: Bain Ultra-Violet ($57.12) is the purple shampoo, used once or twice a week, and Cicaflash Fondant ($70.56) is the conditioner for lightened hair.

If you'd rather spend a little less, choose Sebastian. Penetraitt Rescue Repair Shampoo ($50.12) is made for damaged, chemically treated hair, and NO.BREAKER Bonding Melting Mask ($51.88) is the one for hair that's snapping after lightening. For brass specifically, read how to fix brassy, orange hair.

What it costs, how long it takes and how to book

Most blonde appointments take between 1 hr 30 min and 2 hr 30 min, longer for very long or thick hair. New clients need a free 15-minute colour consultation first. Colour correction starts with the $25 consultation, then a quote.

Book online at apps.kitomba.com/bookings/ukiyosalon or call 03 443 1040. We're at 28 Helwick Street in central Wānaka, with parking on the street and by the lake.

Aftercare: what we'd send you home with

Blond Absolu for most blondes, with Sebastian Penetraitt and NO.BREAKER if you want to spend a little less.

• Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra Violet 250ml, $57.12
• Kérastase Blond Absolu Cicaflash Fondant 250ml, $70.56
• Kérastase Blond Absolu Masque Ultra Violet 250ml, $91.56
• Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Lumière 250ml, $57.12
• Sebastian Professional Penetraitt Rescue Repair Shampoo, $50.12
• Sebastian Professional NO.BREAKER Bonding Melting Mask, $51.88
• Sebastian Professional NO.BREAKER Bonding & Styling Leave-In Cream, $63.32

Why book and buy with UKIYO

We're working stylists at 28 Helwick Street, Wānaka, and the haircare we sell is genuine salon stock bought direct from the brands' New Zealand distributors. UKIYO is Wella New Zealand's No.1 Sebastian Professional retailer. Free NZ shipping on orders over $75, or pick up in salon. Book online any time, or call 03 443 1040.

Frequently asked questions

Will bleach damage my hair?

Lightening always carries some risk, because it breaks some of the hair's internal bonds. We reduce it by recommending Wellaplex Bond Restore on every blonde service, checking condition at consultation, and staging the lift over more than one visit when the hair needs it.

How much does colour correction cost in Wānaka?

At UKIYO it's price on application, because every correction is different. It starts with a $25, 15-minute consultation with a senior or master stylist. We plan the steps with you and confirm the price before anything is mixed, so there's no surprise at the desk.

Can you fix orange or brassy hair?

Usually, yes. Mild brass often just needs a toner refresh, from $55 for short hair. Deeper orange from box bleach or under-lifted hair needs more lift first, so we'd book the $25 correction consultation. Our brassy hair guide explains the difference.

Can I go from dark hair to blonde in one appointment?

Sometimes, but often not safely. It depends on your starting colour, any old dye in the lengths, and condition. If it needs to be staged, we'll tell you how many visits and roughly when, so you can plan, especially if you're driving in from Cromwell or Alexandra.

How often do blonde foils need redoing?

Full-head foils usually rebook every 8 to 12 weeks, half and quarter heads every 6 to 8. All-over blonde is different: scalp bleach on the regrowth every 4 to 6 weeks, or the root shows.

Do I need a consultation before going blonde?

New clients need a free 15-minute colour consultation before booking foils or lightening. We check your colour history and condition in natural light and agree the result and price. Corrections are different and start with the $25 correction consultation.

How do I stop my blonde going yellow?

Use a purple shampoo once or twice a week, not every wash, and a heat protector before styling. Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet is the one we reach for first. If it's still warm at six weeks, book a 30-minute toner refresh rather than piling on more purple.

Keep reading

• Best balayage in Wānaka: how to choose your colourist (and what it costs)
• Colour Correction, Explained: Why It Costs What It Does (NZ Colourist)
• How to Fix Brassy, Orange Hair: Purple Shampoo, Blue Shampoo or Toner?
• How Often Should You Use Purple Shampoo, and How Long to Leave It In
• Blondes