A little brightness around your face. Softly blended highlights. A bold new shade that changes your whole look.
At HAYATO LONDON in Covent Garden, we create personalised bleach colour, highlights and balayage, with particular expertise in Asian and naturally dark hair.
Your starting colour, hair condition and desired finish guide our approach, helping you explore a look that suits both your style and your routine.
Bring us your inspiration. We’ll help you understand the possibilities, the maintenance and the best way to begin.
Which colour service is right for you?
You don’t need to know the technical name before getting in touch. Show us the effect you love, and we’ll help you choose.
| Service | The look | A good option if you want… |
|---|---|---|
| Full-head bleach & colour | Lightening throughout the hair, followed by your chosen colour or toner. | A more noticeable transformation, from brighter blonde to expressive colour. |
| Highlights | Lighter strands woven through your base colour, with placement tailored to your haircut. | Added brightness, depth and movement, with some of your existing colour retained. |
| Balayage | A blended transition with depth around the roots and brightness through the lengths. | A softer contrast as your roots grow, with a natural, dimensional finish. |
| Regrowth touch-up | Lightening focused on new growth to maintain an existing bleached look. | To refresh your roots, with separate toning if needed. |
These techniques can also be combined. Your stylist will recommend the placement and level of lightness that work for your hair.
Discover a shade that feels like you
- Milk tea beige and creamy blonde: soft, delicate tones for a lighter look with a gentle finish.
- Ash beige and cool blonde: a cooler colour direction, from understated beige to a more striking blonde.
- Honey and caramel: warm, golden accents that bring depth and brightness to darker hair.
- Rose, lavender and vivid shades: expressive colour, whether you want a subtle accent or a bigger change.
- Platinum and silver: a bright, striking finish that requires a very light base and more frequent attention to tone.
Your achievable shade depends on how your hair lifts and how much lightening its condition can tolerate.
Inspiration photos help us understand your preferences; we’ll discuss how to adapt the look to your hair.
Do you have to bleach your hair?
As with most of life's difficult questions, the ultimate answer is: it depends.
However, when it comes to hair colouring, Asian hair is naturally darker and more resistant, so colour choices are more limited unless the hair is bleached.
Caucasian hair, on the other hand, is easier to lighten, often achieving a lighter shade without bleaching, due to its lower melanin content and naturally lighter shades.
Differences between Asian and Caucasian hair
Asian and Caucasian hair have distinct structural and behavioural differences that affect how they respond to treatments such as bleaching and colouring.-
Hair structure
Asian hair tends to be thicker and stronger, with a rounder cross-section and a higher density of melanin, making it naturally darker and more resistant to bleaching. The cuticle layer is also thicker, which can make it harder for chemicals to penetrate.
Caucasian hair has a more oval cross-section and a wider range of natural colours, from blonde to brunette. It also tends to contain less melanin, making it easier and quicker to bleach. -
Colour fading
When Asian hair is bleached, the underlying tones often shift towards reds or oranges due to the higher concentration of melanin. Additional bleaching/toning may be required to achieve the desired shade.
Caucasian hair tends to fade to lighter yellow or brassy tones and typically requires fewer bleaches to achieve a pale blonde.
Understanding these differences is essential in tailoring the bleaching and colouring process to achieve optimal results for each hair type.
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Detailed consultation
We offer a detailed consultation to carefully assess the condition of your hair and understand your desired outcome before starting any treatment. This ensures that we can achieve the results you want while maintaining the health of your hair. -
Scalp-Free Bleaching
Our bleaching technique avoids direct contact with the scalp, significantly reducing the potential for discomfort. While sensitivity may still occur depending on your individual condition, this method helps to minimise any potential irritation during the process. -
Treatments to minimise damage
Bleaching is not just a one-off procedure; we want you to enjoy a beautiful colour for a long time. To achieve this, we use bleach formulas and treatments specifically designed to reduce damage and keep your hair in the best possible condition. -
Extensive colour knowledge
Our stylists have a deep understanding of hair colour and use this expertise to offer a wide range of tailored colour options. We provide thoughtful recommendations to help you achieve the look that complements your style and preferences.
Benefits of Bleaching
Bleaching opens up a much wider range of colour possibilities and is often essential when creating lighter, brighter or more vivid results. When carried out carefully and professionally, it allows your stylist to create a highly personalised colour while taking your hair condition and previous colour history into account.
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Greater Colour Possibilities
Bleaching lightens the natural or artificial pigment in the hair, making it possible to achieve shades that may not be visible on darker hair.
From bright blondes and vivid colours to soft pastels and muted tones, bleaching creates the lighter base needed for a wider variety of colour options.
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Essential for Lighter Shades
Colours such as platinum blonde, silver, ash, beige and pastel shades usually require the hair to be lightened first.
The level of lightness needed will depend on your target colour, natural hair colour and previous colour history.
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Highly Customisable Results
Bleaching does not always mean lightening the entire head.
Our stylists can tailor the placement and level of lightening using techniques such as highlights, balayage or partial bleaching to create brightness, dimension and contrast while maintaining more of your natural base colour.
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Greater Control Over Tone
Once the hair has been lifted to the appropriate level, toners and colour can be used to refine the final result, helping create cooler, warmer, softer or more vivid tones depending on your desired finish.
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More Colour Options After Bleaching
Once the hair has been lightened, it generally remains lighter unless it is coloured darker or the bleached section grows out.
As your colour fades, the lighter base can give you greater flexibility to refresh the same shade or explore different colours at future appointments. Depending on your hair condition and the remaining pigment, this can make it easier to enjoy a wider variety of tones without starting from your original dark base each time.
Considerations & Risks of Bleaching
Bleaching can create beautiful colour results, but it is also one of the more intensive chemical services for the hair. Understanding the potential risks and maintenance requirements is important before proceeding.
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Dryness, Weakness & Breakage
Bleaching changes the internal structure of the hair in order to remove pigment. As a result, the hair may become drier, more fragile or more prone to breakage, particularly after repeated bleaching or overlapping previously lightened areas.
For this reason, our stylists carefully assess your hair condition and chemical history before proceeding.
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Changes in Hair Texture
Bleached hair may feel drier, rougher or more porous than untreated hair.
If the hair becomes over-processed, it can lose strength and elasticity and may feel unusually soft, stretchy or fragile. In these situations, further bleaching may not be recommended.
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Scalp Sensitivity
Bleach can sometimes cause temporary tingling, warmth, itching or irritation on the scalp.
Please let us know if you have a sensitive scalp, existing scalp concerns or have previously experienced a reaction during bleaching. If significant discomfort occurs during the service, your stylist may need to adjust or stop the process.
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Colour Fading & Ongoing Maintenance
Bleached hair is generally more porous, which can mean toners and fashion colours fade more quickly.
Regular maintenance may include toning appointments, root touch-ups, professional treatments and suitable home-care products to help maintain the colour, softness and condition of the hair.
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Results Depend on Your Hair History
Previous permanent colour, dark dye, henna, bleaching, straightening or other chemical treatments can affect how evenly and safely the hair can be lightened.
In some cases, your target colour may need to be achieved gradually over more than one appointment to protect the condition of your hair.
Do I need bleach to achieve my chosen colour?
Not every colour change needs bleach. Some brunette shades or subtle changes may be possible with colour alone.
Lighter blondes, delicate pastels and clearer cool tones on a dark base usually need pre-lightening. Your natural colour and any previous dye both affect the options.
What is the difference between bleaching and toning?
Bleach creates the lighter base. A toner or subsequent colour application refines that base into your chosen shade, such as creamy beige, ash blonde or pink.
Toner can balance unwanted warmth, but it cannot make an insufficiently lightened base into a pale blonde. We plan both stages together to work towards your desired finish.
Can I go from dark hair to blonde in one appointment?
Yes, but it depends on your starting colour, previous treatments and the blonde you want. Pale blonde, silver and pastel shades may need more than one appointment, and some goals may not be suitable for your hair’s condition.
We’ll explain what may be achievable at your first visit and whether a gradual approach is more appropriate. Further lightening always depends on reassessing your hair.
Can you bleach hair that has been dyed black or dark brown?
It may be possible, but previous dark dye can be difficult to remove, particularly after repeated applications. Some pigment may remain even after bleaching, leaving warmth or uneven areas that limit the final shade.
Tell us about salon colour, box dye, henna and colour-depositing products, including older applications still present in your lengths. A strand test may help assess the possibilities; a light, cool result cannot be guaranteed.
Will bleaching damage my hair, even with Olaplex?
Bleaching changes the hair’s structure and can cause dryness, weakness and breakage. The risk increases when already fragile or previously bleached areas are processed again.
Bond-building treatments can help support the hair during lightening, but they do not make bleaching damage-free or return it to an untreated condition. Your stylist may recommend a less dramatic colour change or advise against further bleaching.
Can I have bleach after Japanese straightening, a perm or a smoothing treatment?
Please tell us exactly which treatments you have had and when. Previously straightened, permed or heavily processed lengths may be unsuitable for bleaching because of the risk of breakage.
Waiting longer does not undo permanent chemical changes in the treated hair. Suitability depends on the treatment used, the condition of the remaining lengths and an individual assessment.
How long will my colour last, and will it turn brassy?
The lightening itself is permanent, but the colour or toner applied afterwards gradually fades. As it fades, warmer undertones can become more visible.
How quickly this happens depends on the shade, hair condition, washing routine and heat exposure. Pale pastels and delicate cool tones may need frequent refreshing. We’ll discuss the likely upkeep for your chosen colour before you commit.
Will I need to bleach my whole head again when the colour fades?
Often, no. If the existing lightened base is suitable, a toner or colour refresh may be enough to restore the shade. New growth and changes in your colour goal are assessed separately.
Full-head blonde, highlights and balayage also have different maintenance needs. A softer root blend can make regrowth less noticeable, while an all-over blonde usually needs more attention to the roots. Your stylist can suggest a schedule for root work and colour refreshes.
Do I need a patch test or a strand test?
Contact us in advance to check the testing requirements for your planned service. An allergy alert test may be required for the colour or toner, following the product’s instructions. Please disclose any previous reaction to hair colour.
A strand test checks how a small section of hair responds to the proposed process. It helps assess colour and condition; it does not replace an allergy alert test or guarantee the final result.
Is bleaching suitable for a sensitive scalp?
Tell us about any scalp sensitivity, irritation or previous reactions before booking. Where suitable, bleach can be applied away from the scalp to reduce direct contact, although this does not eliminate the possibility of irritation or an allergic reaction.
Tell your stylist immediately if you feel burning or discomfort during the service. You should never feel that you need to tolerate pain to achieve a colour.
Choosing the right specialist is important, but proper aftercare is not just a recommendation - it is a necessity to maintain the health and appearance of bleached hair.
Follow these expert tips to protect and revitalise your hair after bleaching.
Essential Aftercare Tips / How to Care for Bleached Hair
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Use Professional Shampoo, Mask & Leave-In Care
Bleached hair needs extra moisture and protection to stay soft, strong and vibrant.
Choose a gentle, colour-safe shampoo and avoid overly harsh cleansing products that can leave the hair feeling dry or cause colour to fade more quickly. Purple shampoo can also help neutralise unwanted yellow or brassy tones when used as needed.
We also recommend using a nourishing hair mask regularly, together with a leave-in treatment or heat protectant to help maintain moisture, smoothness and manageability.
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Wash & Dry Your Hair Gently
Bleached hair is more fragile than untreated hair, so reducing unnecessary friction is important.
Avoid rough shampooing, vigorous towel drying or pulling the hair tightly when tying it up. Instead, gently squeeze out excess water, pat the hair dry with a soft towel and use snag-free hair ties to help reduce stress and breakage.
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Dry Your Hair Before Sleeping
Hair is more vulnerable when wet, particularly after bleaching or other chemical treatments.
Leaving the hair wet for long periods or sleeping with wet hair can increase friction and tangling, which may contribute to cuticle damage and breakage.
For this reason, we recommend gently drying your hair thoroughly before going to bed.
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Minimise Excessive Heat Styling
Frequent use of straighteners, curling irons and other heated tools can further dry out already-lightened hair and may also accelerate colour fading.
Whenever possible, reduce the frequency and temperature of heat styling. Always apply a heat-protective product beforehand and use the lowest effective temperature for your hair type and condition.
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Maintain Your Colour with Regular Appointments
If you regularly bleach your roots, maintaining an appropriate appointment schedule can help achieve a cleaner, more even result while reducing unnecessary overlap onto previously lightened hair.
For many clients, root maintenance is recommended approximately every 6–12 weeks, although the ideal timing will depend on your hair growth, colour design and desired result.
Waiting significantly longer may make the regrowth more difficult to lighten evenly and can sometimes increase the risk of overlapping bleach during future appointments.
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Continue Professional Hair Care Between Colour Appointments
Regular salon treatments can help maintain softness, shine and manageability between bleaching appointments.
Your stylist can recommend the most suitable treatment and home-care routine based on your hair condition, previous chemical history and colour goals.
Your estimate depends on hair length and thickness, stylist level, colour history and the work required.
Starting prices for lightening only, with an Associate stylist:
| T-section highlights / Balayage (across parting and both sides around face) |
from £100 |
| Half-head highlights / Balayage (over the crown and side, also the top layers) |
from £130 |
| Full-head highlights / Balayage (all over the head) |
from £160 |
| Bleach regrowth touch-up with Olaplex (up to 2 inches) |
from £190 |
| Full-head bleaching with Olaplex (short hair / up to the lip line) |
from £220 |
*The subsequent colour / toner application will be charged separately
*Olaplex is not included in Highlights / Balayage; please ask about adding it
*Blow-dry is not included. A separate blow-dry charge applies unless you book a haircut
*Any discounts offer except student discounts cannot be applied to this service
An in-person consultation costs £20, deductible from your service if you book before leaving the salon.
How long should I allow?
Bleaching and toning can take several hours.
We’ll advise on the estimated appointment length during consultation.
A major colour change may require separate visits.
Ready to explore your next colour?
You don’t need to arrive with every decision made.
A few inspiration photos and an honest hair history are the best place to start.
A consultation is required before booking bleach, highlights or balayage.
Please complete our enquiry form and follow the instructions to send:
- Clear photos of your current hair, including the roots and lengths, ideally in natural light.
- Photos of the colour or style you would like.
- Details of previous colouring, bleaching, straightening, perms or smoothing treatments still present in your hair.
- Your preferred dates and whether you would also like a haircut.
We’ll review your information and advise on the next steps, estimated cost and appointment availability.
Your hair will also be assessed in person before treatment.