HOW TO HIRE · BEAUTY & GROOMING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a hair colourist in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A hair colouring in Ireland costs €60–€250 per service, typically around €120. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a hair colourist in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers hair colourist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — special Treatments — some hair colouring services may also offer special treatments like deep conditioning or colour correction.
- How does type of colour treatment change the price?A premium option takes longer to get right. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does length change the price?Longer bookings let the provider finish without a second trip. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does thickness of your hair change the price?Providers price it in because it cannot be worked around. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Aftercare and Maintenance — many hair colouring services will include advice on aftercare and maintenance to prolong the vibrancy of your colour — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a hair colourist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO HAIRDRESSERS, BARBERS, BEAUTICIANS OR NAIL TECHNICIANS. Anyone may trade. The line that does exist is medicines: anything involving a PRESCRIPTION-ONLY MEDICINE — botulinum toxin above all — may only be prescribed by a registered prescriber, and that is a medical matter rather than a beauty one. A clinic offering injectables with no named prescriber is the single clearest warning sign in this family.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
For injectables, WHO PRESCRIBES — a named, registered prescriber who has seen you, not a prescription arranged remotely for someone they have never met; For any treatment that breaks the skin, what is single-use and what is sterilised; A patch test before colour or lash work, and enough time before an event; The training and the insurer for the specific treatment, not the salon generally; What the aftercare is and who you call out of hours if something goes wrong; Photographs of their own work on hair or skin like yours.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect treatment-specific professional indemnity — a policy for facials may exclude needles entirely. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers hair colourist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — special Treatments — some hair colouring services may also offer special treatments like deep conditioning or colour correction.
A good answer: A premium option takes longer to get right. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Longer bookings let the provider finish without a second trip. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Providers price it in because it cannot be worked around. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Aftercare and Maintenance — many hair colouring services will include advice on aftercare and maintenance to prolong the vibrancy of your colour — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a hair colourist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect treatment-specific professional indemnity — a policy for facials may exclude needles entirely — consultation Process — A consultation is often included in hair colouring services to discuss your desired outcome, hair type, and colour options.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the hair colourist starts, and an itemised invoice after — types of Hair Colouring — hair colouring services can include a variety of techniques such as highlights, lowlights, balayage, and full colour.
Getting the quote right
- Type of colour treatment — a premium option takes longer to get right.
- Length — longer bookings let the provider finish without a second trip.
- Thickness of your hair — providers price it in because it cannot be worked around.
- Salon's location — a visit outside the usual patch is priced higher.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: type of colour treatment — a premium option takes longer to get right
- They will not talk about it: length — longer bookings let the provider finish without a second trip
- They will not talk about it: thickness of your hair — providers price it in because it cannot be worked around
- A price for the hair colourist before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the hair colourist has begun
What a hair colourist costs: €60–€250 per service
The figures are for the job, per service, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Highlights and Balayage each carry their own band. Hair Colouring price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Hair colourists near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstType of colour treatment — a premium option takes longer to get right — that is what the hair colourist is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneLength — longer bookings let the provider finish without a second trip — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfThickness of your hair — providers price it in because it cannot be worked around — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherSalon's location — a visit outside the usual patch is priced higher — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the hair colourist is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, products used — a large order is cheaper per unit than a small one.
- Types of Hair Colouring
- Hair colouring services can include a variety of techniques such as highlights, lowlights, balayage, and full colour.
- Consultation Process
- A consultation is often included in hair colouring services to discuss your desired outcome, hair type, and colour options.
- Aftercare and Maintenance
- Many hair colouring services will include advice on aftercare and maintenance to prolong the vibrancy of your colour.
- Special Treatments
- Some hair colouring services may also offer special treatments like deep conditioning or colour correction.
- Highlights
- This involves lightening strands of hair to add dimension and brightness, creating a sun-kissed effect.
- Balayage
- A freehand technique where colour is painted onto the hair for a natural, graduated look that requires minimal maintenance.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a hair colourist: questions people ask
The cost of hair colouring can vary based on factors such as the type of colour treatment, the length and thickness of your hair, and the salon's location. Additionally, stylist experience and the use of high-quality products may also affect the final price.
A typical hair colouring session can take anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on the complexity of the service. For example, a full head of highlights may take longer than a simple root touch-up.
Some salons may offer same-day or emergency hair colouring services, but availability can vary. It's best to contact the salon directly to inquire about their policies and whether they can accommodate your request.
Yes, many salons offer package deals or discounts for booking multiple related services, such as hair colouring and cutting. This can often save you time and money, so be sure to ask about any available options.
Hair colouring services usually do not include extensive hair treatments or styling services, such as blow-drying or straightening. These may be offered separately and can incur additional charges.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO HAIRDRESSERS, BARBERS, BEAUTICIANS OR NAIL TECHNICIANS. Anyone may trade. The line that does exist is medicines: anything involving a PRESCRIPTION-ONLY MEDICINE — botulinum toxin above all — may only be prescribed by a registered prescriber, and that is a medical matter rather than a beauty one. A clinic offering injectables with no named prescriber is the single clearest warning sign in this family.
MORE GUIDES