Hair Colour Maintenance Cost Calculator
What keeping a hair colour costs a year and a month: salon visits at your interval and price, plus home colour-care products.
Visits a year are 52 ÷ the weeks between visits; salon spend is visits × the price; add what you spend on colour-care products at home for the annual total, and divide by twelve for a month.
How the hair colour maintenance cost calculator works
Visits a year are 52 ÷ the weeks between visits; salon spend is visits × the price; add what you spend on colour-care products at home for the annual total, and divide by twelve for a month.
Formula: Visits = 52 ÷ weeks · Annual = Visits × Price + Products
How the yearly cost is worked out
Two numbers, one annual total
Everything follows from how often you go and what you pay. Visits per year = 52 ÷ weeks between visits. Your annual cost = visits × price per visit + home products. A routine of every 6 weeks means 52 ÷ 6 = 8.7 visits a year — not the "about 8" most people assume, and that extra part-visit is real money.
Worked example
Root touch-ups every 6 weeks at $100 a visit: 8.7 × $100 ≈ $867 a year, or about $72 a month. Add $300 of home colour-care products and you're at roughly $1,167 a year. Now compare a pricier service done less often — half-head foils every 8 weeks at $175: that's 6.5 visits × $175 ≈ $1,138 a year. The foils cost 75% more per visit, yet the annual difference is small, because you go a third less often.
Why frequency wins
This is the point most people miss at the counter. Frequency drives the annual total more than the per-visit price. Halving how often you go halves your salon spend; shaving 10% off the price per visit saves 10%. That's why a low-maintenance colour that grows out gracefully — balayage, a root smudge, or a shade closer to your natural base — often beats a cheaper service that needs chasing every four weeks.
This is an estimate, not a quote. Salon prices vary a lot by city, salon, stylist level and hair length — long or thick hair often attracts a surcharge because it takes more product and time. Enter the prices your own salon charges for the most accurate figure.
Cost by serviceWhat each service costs — and how often you need it
The annual cost depends on which service you're maintaining, because each has its own natural rhythm. As a 2026 Australian guide:
- Root touch-up — ~$100, every 4–6 weeks. The highest-frequency colour service, because regrowth shows fastest. At 6 weeks that's ≈$867 a year; at 4 weeks it climbs to ≈$1,300.
- Half-head foils / highlights — ~$175, every 8–12 weeks. Dearer per visit but grows out gracefully. At 8 weeks that's ≈$1,138 a year; stretched to 12 weeks, ≈$758.
- All-over colour — ~$150, every 6 weeks. A higher per-visit price and frequent visits to chase the regrowth line — ≈$1,300 a year, one of the priciest routines.
- Women's cut — ~$90, every 8 weeks. ≈$585 a year on its own.
- Men's cut — ~$50, every 4 weeks. ≈$650 a year — cheaper per visit than a women's cut, but more expensive annually because of the frequency.
- Blow-dry — ~$65. A fortnightly blow-dry is ≈$1,690 a year, easily rivalling a colour routine.
- Home colour-care — $120–480 a year. Colour-safe shampoo and conditioner, purple toning shampoo, glosses and bond treatments.
Note the men's-cut line: at $50 it's barely half the price of a women's cut, yet it costs more per year, purely because it's done twice as often. That's the frequency effect in a single comparison. Most people combine services too — colour plus a cut, or colour plus a blow-dry — so enter the full price you hand over at the counter, not just the colour component.
Cutting the costThree levers that actually move the number
If the annual figure surprised you, there are only really three ways to bring it down — and they're not equally powerful:
- Stretch the gap. The biggest lever by far. Going every 8 weeks instead of 6 cuts your salon visits from 8.7 to 6.5 a year — roughly a 25% saving with no change to what you pay per visit. Every extra week you get is money back.
- Simplify the colour. Choose something that grows out gracefully: balayage, a root smudge, or a shade closer to your natural base. Less contrast means a less obvious regrowth line, which is what buys you those extra weeks. Embracing your natural base is, of course, the cheapest option of all.
- Maintain at home. A colour-safe sulphate-free shampoo, a purple toner to stop blonde going brassy, and a gloss between visits keep colour looking fresh for longer. Products cost $120–480 a year — worth it if they buy you even one or two fewer salon trips.
What generally doesn't work as well as people hope is simply hunting for a cheaper salon. Shaving $15 off a $100 visit saves ~$130 a year; stretching from 6 weeks to 8 saves ~$217 — and you keep your stylist. Cheaper per visit isn't always cheaper per year. Set the calculator to the Standard level to see what different intervals would cost you side by side.
Frequently asked Frequently asked questions
Where these figures come from
These are planning figures, not a quote. Prices are typical 2026 Australian salon rates and vary widely by salon, city, stylist level and hair length. The defaults are there to be replaced with what you actually pay.
- Colour pricing — indicative 2026 rates: root touch-up ~$100 (every 4–6 weeks), half-head foils ~$175 (every 8–12 weeks), all-over colour ~$150.
- Cutting & styling — women's cut ~$90, men's cut ~$50, blow-dry ~$65. Long or thick hair often attracts a surcharge.
- Home colour-care — roughly $120–480 a year for colour-safe shampoo and conditioner, toning shampoo, glosses and treatments.
- Visits per year — 52 ÷ weeks between visits.
- Annual cost — visits per year × price per visit, plus home colour-care products.
- Further guidance — MoneySmart (ASIC) — budgeting and cost guidance.
Last checked: July 2026. This is a planning estimate, not advice. Prices move and depend on your salon, your hair and the exact service — always confirm current pricing with your own stylist.
Understanding your resultSelect the question that matches where you are right now.
The headline number is what your current salon routine costs over a full year, with the monthly equivalent beside it. The breakdown shows your visits per year, your salon spend, any home colour-care, and the totals.
What to do with itPut the monthly figure into your budget as a standing personal-care line. Once it's visible you can decide whether it's worth what you're paying — plenty of people look at it and happily keep going, which is a fine outcome.
What it is notIt's not a quote, and it's no judgement on whether your routine is worth it. It also can't know whether your salon charges extra for long or thick hair, or bundles a blow-dry into the price.
Why annualising mattersPaid in $100–200 chunks every few weeks, this never feels like a big expense. Annualised, it often sits alongside a phone plan or gym membership. Same money — just finally visible.
Only three inputs matter — but they don't matter equally. How often you go moves the total more than what you pay.
How often you goThe dominant factor. Every 4 weeks is 13 visits a year; every 6 weeks is 8.7; every 8 weeks is 6.5. Going from 6 to 8 weeks cuts your salon spend by about a quarter on its own.
Price per visitMatters, but linearly — 10% off the price is 10% off the year. That's why a dearer, lower-maintenance service can beat a cheap one you need every four weeks.
Home colour-careAt $120–480 a year it's a real slice of the total, but it can pay for itself: if good products and toning buy you even one or two fewer salon visits, they're cheaper than the trips they replace.
A few habits keep the estimate honest.
Use the full counter priceEnter what you actually hand over, including the cut, blow-dry, treatment or toner if they're part of the same visit — not just the colour on the menu.
Be honest about frequencyCheck your bank statements rather than guessing. People routinely under-count their visits, and frequency is the input that drives the whole result.
Add the productsAt the Standard level, add a year's colour-safe shampoo, toner and treatments. It's easy to overlook and often adds a few hundred dollars.
Hair is one line in the personal-care budget. See how it fits with everything else.
Another grooming costCompare a laser course against ongoing waxing and find the break-even.
Laser vs waxing → The whole householdSee how personal care fits alongside your monthly running costs.
Cost of living → A buffer for the unexpectedBuild a rainy-day fund so the occasional big salon trip doesn't sting.
Emergency fund → Related calculators ✨Laser vs WaxingGrooming break-even 🧾Cost of LivingHousehold running costs 🛟Emergency FundRainy-day buffer 🎯Savings GoalSave for a big spend 🚗Car Running CostAnother big outgoing 📊Net WorthYour full picture You might also be interested in ✨Laser vs WaxingWhich is cheaper 🧾Cost of LivingBudget the whole home 🛟Emergency FundBuild a buffer 🎯Savings GoalSave for a big spend 👶Baby CostCost of a new arrival 📊Net WorthYour full picture Rate this calculatorQuick answers
Cost of root touch-ups ≈ $867/year every 6 weeks
A root/regrowth touch-up every six weeks at $100 a visit comes to about $867 a year (52 ÷ 6 = 8.7 visits). Roots are the highest-frequency colour service because regrowth shows fastest, especially with a big colour contrast. Add home colour-care products (say $300/year) and you're closer to $1,167. It's a genuine recurring cost worth putting in your budget rather than treating as a series of one-offs.
| Every 6 weeks | 8.7 visits/yr |
|---|---|
| At $100 | $867/yr |
| + products | $1,167/yr |
- Big contrast Faster regrowth
- Budget it Not one-offs
Cost of foils / highlights ≈ $1,138/year every 8 weeks
Half-head foils at $175 every eight weeks work out to about $1,138 a year (6.5 visits). Foils and balayage grow out more gracefully than all-over colour, so you can stretch the gap to 8–12 weeks and keep the annual cost down despite the higher per-visit price. That's the trade-off: a dearer service you do less often can cost less per year than a cheaper one you do fortnightly.
| Every 8 weeks | 6.5 visits/yr |
|---|---|
| At $175 | $1,138/yr |
| Grows out | Gracefully |
- Balayage Longer gaps
- Less often Can cost less/yr
Cost of all-over colour ≈ $1,300/year every 6 weeks
A full-head colour at $150 every six weeks is about $1,300 a year — one of the pricier routines because it combines a higher per-visit cost with frequent visits to chase regrowth. If that feels steep, options include stretching to 8 weeks (dropping to ~$975), switching to a root-only touch-up between full colours, or moving to a lower-maintenance technique. The frequency, not just the price tag, is what drives the annual number.
| Every 6 weeks | 8.7 visits/yr |
|---|---|
| At $150 | $1,300/yr |
| Stretch to 8 wk | ~$975/yr |
- Root-only between Cuts cost
- Frequency Drives the total
Just cuts and blow-dries $585–1,690/year
Even without colour, regular styling adds up. A women's cut at $90 every eight weeks is about $585 a year; a men's cut at $50 every four weeks is $650; a fortnightly blow-dry at $65 runs to $1,690. Frequency is the driver — a monthly service costs roughly double an every-other-month one. Enter your own routine to see where your real spend lands; it's often more than people expect once it's annualised.
| Women's cut 8-wk | $585/yr |
|---|---|
| Men's cut 4-wk | $650/yr |
| Blow-dry 2-wk | $1,690/yr |
- Frequency The driver
- Annualise It surprises
How to cut the cost Stretch, simplify, maintain
Three levers bring the annual number down. Stretch the gap between visits — even one extra week across a year removes visits; simplify to a lower-maintenance colour (balayage, root smudge, or embracing your natural base) so regrowth is less obvious; and maintain at home with a good colour-safe shampoo, purple toner and a gloss to keep colour fresh between salon trips. Cheaper per-visit isn't always cheaper per year — frequency usually matters more than price.
| Stretch visits | Fewer per year |
|---|---|
| Low-maintenance colour | Less regrowth |
| Home care | Extends colour |
- Frequency Beats per-visit price
- Natural base Cheapest of all
Where it fits in a budget Often a top-5 personal expense
Annualised, regular hair maintenance frequently sits alongside a phone plan, streaming stack or gym membership as a recurring personal expense — $800–1,500 a year is common for coloured hair. Because it's paid in $100–200 chunks every few weeks, it rarely feels like a big number, which is exactly why it escapes budgets. Treating it as a monthly line item (this calculator's per-month figure) makes it visible and easier to plan around.
| Common range | $800–1,500/yr |
|---|---|
| Feels like | $100–200 chunks |
| As monthly | Easier to budget |
- Hidden In small payments
- Plan As a monthly cost
Worked examples
| Inputs | Cost per year | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Every 6 weeks at 100 | $866.67 | about 867 a year |
FAQFrequently asked questions
How much does hair colour cost per year?
For most people with coloured hair it lands between $800 and $1,500 a year. A root touch-up every six weeks at $100 a visit is about $867 a year (52 ÷ 6 = 8.7 visits), and adding roughly $300 of home colour-care products takes it to about $1,167. Home colour-care typically runs $120 to $480 a year depending on how much product you use. Because it is paid in $100–200 chunks every few weeks, it rarely feels like a big number — which is exactly why it escapes most budgets.
How often should I get my roots done?
Most people book a root or regrowth touch-up every 4 to 6 weeks, because hair grows around a centimetre a month and regrowth shows fastest where there is a big contrast between your colour and your natural base. The bigger that contrast, the sooner the line shows. Choosing a colour closer to your natural base, or a technique like balayage or a root smudge that blends the regrowth, lets you stretch to 8 weeks or beyond — and since frequency drives the annual cost more than the price per visit, that is one of the biggest savings available.
Is colouring or highlighting cheaper over a year?
Highlights are usually cheaper per year, even though they cost more per visit. Half-head foils at $175 every eight weeks come to about $1,138 a year (6.5 visits), while an all-over colour at $150 every six weeks is about $1,300 a year (8.7 visits). Foils and balayage grow out gracefully so you can leave 8 to 12 weeks between visits, while all-over colour chases a visible regrowth line every 4 to 6 weeks. This is the calculator's core point: a dearer service done less often can cost less per year than a cheaper one done fortnightly.
How can I make my hair colour last longer?
Use a colour-safe, sulphate-free shampoo and wash less often; rinse in cooler water; use a purple or blue toning shampoo to stop blonde hair going brassy; apply a gloss or colour-refreshing treatment between salon visits; and use heat protection, since heat styling fades colour faster. Sun and chlorine also strip colour, so a hat or a leave-in with UV protection helps over an Australian summer. Every extra week you get between visits removes visits from the year — stretching a 6-week routine to 8 weeks cuts the annual salon spend by roughly a quarter.
How much do haircuts cost per year?
Even without colour, regular styling adds up. As a 2026 Australian guide, a women's cut is around $90 — every eight weeks that is about $585 a year. A men's cut is around $50 — every four weeks that is $650 a year. A blow-dry is around $65, so a fortnightly blow-dry runs to about $1,690 a year. Frequency is the driver: a monthly service costs roughly double an every-other-month one, whatever the price on the menu. Sources
The sources behind this calculator
- American Association of Feline Practitioners — Feline Life Stage Guidelines — the six feline life stages the cat-age page uses
- Wang et al. 2020, Cell Systems — Quantitative translation of dog-to-human aging by conserved remodeling of the DNA methylome — the 16·ln(age)+31 epigenetic formula on the dog-age page
- Fair Work Ombudsman — sets hospitality award wages — why tipping is optional in Australia
Last checked: July 2026. Where a page states a convention (a tipping custom, a pet life stage), the page names the body it follows.