Best salons for blonde highlights & balayage

It’s amazing what a few strategically placed blonde highlights and lowlights can do to brighten up your look – whether you’re going for all-out platinum blonde or subtle sweeps of balayage. Here, EL staff and readers round up some of the best hairdressers in Singapore who specialise in blonde highlights and other hair colour treatments.

Hairdressers in Singapore for blonde highlights, lowlights, balayage and other hair colour treatments!

High-end pampering in a pod for one at Chez Vous: Private Space

As a long-term expat in Singapore, I’ve been to more than my fair share of hairdressers for blonde highlights over the years. The experience at Chez Vous: Private Space is the best I’ve had, both in terms of service and result. It was like treating myself to refreshed hair, a luxury spa afternoon and a mini-high tea rolled into one.

Seated in a private, beautifully styled room I chose the lavender scented essential oil for the diffuser, chill music and a lychee chia bubble fizz as a refreshment. Hair director Shawn has over 18 years’ experience and specialises in blonde Caucasian highlights. He was reassuringly knowledgeable about the nuances of my hair – asking if I wanted just highlights or some lowlights, and whether I was after a cooler or warmer blonde. We landed on just highlights in a natural tone. I’m not a fan of the purple look but equally don’t want it brassy. He also advised that for my hair, three percent peroxide was enough to achieve the desired colour. Who knew it ranges from 1.5 percent for fine to 12 percent for coarse hair?

These hairdressers in Singapore use K18 Hair Defence Technology and Epres bond hair treatment mixed in with the dye. Epres is a new venture by Olaplex’s founder, which, according to Shawn, is a must to reduce damage to fine, coloured hair.

Fine weave foils in place, I was delivered a latte and a two-tiered tray of petite sandwiches and tarts, and offered an iPad to watch Netflix. The staff even did complimentary printing of my concert tickets for the night (there’s a call button under the table if you need any help!). Once the hair colour treatment was done, my chair was swung around for the wash and hair spa. A cold peppermint eye mask was applied, followed by warm eye moxibustion therapy and massage to the head and neck. By the time Shawn did the blow-out with gentle curves, I left the salon feeling rejuvenated and looking my best.

– Georgina Hockley

#08-01 Takashimaya Tower B, Ngee Ann City, 391B Orchard Road
6732 9388 | chezvoushair.com

Fabulous blonde highlights and styling at Expat Hair Studio

I’ve been going to Expat Hair Studio for about one and a half years now, and honestly, I’ll never go anywhere else. Before finding them, I tried so many salons in Singapore, and it was always a disappointment. Let’s not even talk about the horror story where I ended up with grey hair instead of highlights (yes, that actually happened).

At Expat Hair Studio, it’s a completely different experience. The team makes you feel like family from the moment you walk in. It’s warm, welcoming and refreshingly unpretentious – there’s just a genuinely positive energy. The service is perfect, and they pay such close attention to every detail.

I especially love how they style my hair. The curls are always perfect. Every single time, I leave feeling confident and happy with my hair. I look forward to my visits and am always excited to come back!

– Marion Müller

422 Joo Chiat Road
6444 7929 | WhatsApp 8028 6588 | expathairstudio.com

Highlights, lowlights and a deep treatment at Chez Vous Hair Salon (Flagship Store)

I’ve been a regular customer of Chez Vous for several years now. I must commend them for their exceptional understanding of my hair needs, consistently maintaining its condition. Having experienced my fair share of colour mishaps as a blonde over the past three decades with many hairdressers in Singapore, I can attest to numerous disappointments at other salons.

What sets Chez Vous apart is their meticulous treatment protocol. It includes both pre- and post-colouring procedures to minimise the potential damage from chemicals. I find this approach invaluable, and it has truly transformed the health of my hair. On my most recent visit, I communicated a desire for slightly darker roots to extend the time between touchups, and the colourist skilfully placed highlights further from the roots for a more natural transition. Additionally, she incorporated subtle lowlights to enhance texture and balance the overall colour through toning.

Expect to invest a few hours, especially if you have a lengthy mane like mine. I chose to include the Hair Defense treatment in my hair colour treatment. It promises to reduce damage and the risk of breakage by up to 50 percent, and the result is remarkable. My hair now feels really soft and well nourished. Plus, I am delighted with the beautifully executed lowlights and highlights. These hairdressers in Singapore never miss the mark when it comes to giving me the exact hair colour treatment I’m after, making it my go-to salon. The only task left for me is to remember to book my next appointment before waiting too long and allowing those dreaded roots to make an appearance!

– Karin Galley

#05-05 Ngee Ann City Podium, 391 Orchard Road
6732 9388 | chezvoushair.com

Airtouch blonde balayage highlights and lowlights at Be Salon

The second branch of Be Salon opened its doors at Wheelock Place just a week before my hair colour treatment appointment, so I was keen to check out these hairdressers in Singapore. I was impressed walking into the welcoming peachy toned space with arched halo lighting, sleek grey floors and velvet curtains.

Chester, a director with over 16 years’ hairdressing experience settled me into my seat. Over a cup of ginger tea, he asked if I had any images of the colour treatment style I’d like to replicate. Having always erred on the side of bright, ashy blonde highlights, it was my first experience with the classic darker-on-top, gradient-blonde-at-the-tips balayage look. Chester explained the Airtouch balayage method, the biggest hair colour treatment trend right now. The technique involves taking a section of hair with tension on the longest part and using a hairdryer to allow the shorter hairs to fall away. This achieves a seamless, natural blend of blonde and natural colour.

As I already had quite highlighted hair, only lowlights needed to be applied to my hair to start. After a relaxing wash and head massage, Chester closely surveyed the result. We agreed that the darker tone felt a little too heavy for my colourings. So he applied a smattering of lighter strands to my ends. That is the beauty of Airtouch balayage – it is one hundred percent customisable to your taste!

Post-wash, Chester treated me to the new Waterfall Treatment, designed to nourish dry, frizzy hair. A blow dry and styling session later, I was amazed by the result. Natural, wavy blonde balayage beauty. And the best part? Being darker at the roots, I can now stretch longer between salon visits!

– Georgina Hockley

#03-20, Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Road
#02-19, Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Boulevard
 6899 3667 | besalon.style

“Old money blonde” balayage highlights at The Hair Lounge

After five years of living in Singapore, I am always on the hunt for a good colourist who can understand my blonde needs, without frying my long fine hair. There are so many different tones and shades of blonde today that it can be hard to find someone to execute your wish.

When I met Nicole from The Hair Lounge, she carefully went through my images I had pinned earlier and was able to inform me which ones would work for my hair type, and what we should stay away from. She even went further to provide some valuable insights into the new balayage techniques and how they would work with the lived-in “old money blonde” trend that I wanted. I quickly felt at ease with her expert knowledge and guidance throughout this process.

Nicole carefully used this balayage technique to bring out the more natural tones I desired with a subtle root extension. This style of blonde balayage is more seamless in its application – rather than streaky or chunky – with the colours that melt and blend into one another, while also adding some lowlights to my existing blonde ends to bring that definition I needed. After chatting away and informing her I wear my hair in a ponytail 50 percent of the time due to the high humidity (thanks, Singapore!), she even added some highlights underneath for better coverage.

We finished off with a lovely hair treatment to add some nourishment back into my dry blonde ends, another must in Singapore. The Hair Lounge is located in Holland Village, tucked away in a quieter spot near the main square. It’s the perfect location to freshen up before enjoying a delicious lunch or browsing the nearby shops afterwards!

– Kelly Newey

277A Holland Avenue
6610 7394 | thehairlounge.sg

Blonde highlights, lowlights and K18 treatments at Hair Shaka

I always enjoy walking up to a second- or third-level shophouse to see what the owners or tenants have made of it. Hair Shaka is a joy – big windows that let in plenty of natural light, high ceilings with dark beams, and very spacious despite having areas for mani-pedis, makeup services, and lashes and brows. After being welcomed warmly with a menu offering snacks and wine, I asked for an Earl Grey tea. It arrived in its own pot with milk on the side. Bliss!

Wendy, my stylist, is from Dublin and has been in Singapore for three and a half years. She started with a spray-in K18 treatment to hydrate and protect my hair before colouring. She described my hair perfectly and understood the issues I have – fine but voluminous hair that tends to frizz, with an underlying red tone that often gives brassy results. I went for a mix of highlights and lowlights. I’m always trying to balance not over-bleaching my hair. It grows slowly and therefore gets multiple treatments, which causes the ends to break.

Wendy applied the foils while we chatted about travel, things to do in Singapore and our families. Then, she left me for half an hour without heat. (Her Kevin Murphy training in Ireland advises against using heat, as it can damage the natural ingredients like honey and pomegranate in the products.) This gave me the chance to read the many digital magazines available via a QR code while I moved around freely, not under a big hair hood!

Afterwards, I got a shampoo and head massage, followed by another K18 treatment, toner and a third K18 conditioner, before Wendy trimmed my hair. She made sure the ends were softened so they look great whether styled wavy or straight.

The colour is exactly what I wanted – cool with lowlights that look very natural but light enough to lift my skin tone. I’m very happy with the whole experience and am looking forward to trying out the Chinatown food recommendations I picked up along the way!

– Danielle Rossetti

63A Tanjong Pagar Road, 2/F
6970 0378 | WhatsApp 8266 1340 | hairshaka.com

A spa-like hair colour treatment at Trimmings Salon & Spa

Out of the many hairdressers in Singapore, Trimmings must have one of the prettiest outlooks in all of Singapore. Perched among the lush green tropical foliage in Dempsey Hill, the big picture windows let in lovely natural light, and instil a sense of calm.

Desmond my hair artist is also a vision of calm. We have a brief chat about my hair condition (poor – lots of bleaching has left my ends very split and damaged), colour (brassy – my lowlights have gone reddish and my highlights flattened out), and cut (my previous cut has grown out and it is looking tent-shaped and frizzy). He recommends we bring the lowlights from warm to a neutral colour. He also suggests only applying highlights from the roots to around halfway along the length of my hair so we’re not stressing the ends any more.

I settle in with a cup of their homemade lemon and ginger tea. Then, Desmond and his technician Akira get to work with the foils, working efficiently and with focus. An amazing neck and shoulder massage while they were setting follows, and I nearly doze off in the chair! Then it’s off to the washbasin and another fabulous scalp and head massage while gazing at the rain pouring through the giant banyan tree on the hill.

Desmond cut an inch of length off my hair and layered it through the back to reduce the triangular shape. Leaving it a little longer at the front and tapering it at the back, I can still pull it up in a hair tie if I need to, but it’s much cooler off my neck as well. It feels soft and thick but not frizzy. In just three hours, I’ve had my hair done and feel like I have enjoyed a full tropical spa experience as well!

– Danielle Rossetti

• 75B Loewen Road | 8511 5085
• 123 Tanglin Road 9710 6415
trimmings.com.sg

Enjoyed this article on blonde highlights, lowlights, balayage and hair colour treatments at hairdressers in Singapore? Read more on hair and beauty salons in Singapore.

This article first appeared in the March 2025 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!

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