Grey Blending vs Root Tint: The Real Cost
A root tint is the cheapest colour appointment on the menu. That’s exactly why it ends up being one of the most expensive.
It isn’t the price of one visit that matters. It’s that the visit never stops. So before you decide how to handle your grey, it’s worth costing it the way you’d cost any other recurring bill: over a year, then over two.
The Root Tint Treadmill
Grey regrowth shows fast. Against a dark base, most people can see the line within three to four weeks, so a root tint becomes a monthly habit.
At Gusto, a regrowth tint starts at £45. Every four weeks, that’s 13 appointments and £585 a year at our entry price. Next year, the same again. And the year after.
There’s a second cost that doesn’t show up on the receipt. Every tint lays more permanent pigment on hair that’s already coloured. Over the years it builds up, darkens and flattens the lengths. When people finally decide to stop, that build-up is what makes going grey so hard, and sometimes it needs colour correction to undo.
The Grey Transition Programme, Costed
Our Grey Transition Programme works the other way round. You spend more at the start, then much less.
Year one: the programme from £445 (Grey Blueprint consultation, The Break, The Refine and your first Silver Gloss), plus around three further Silver Glosses at £45. Roughly £580, about the same as a year of root tints.
Year two: Silver Gloss every six to eight weeks. Six to eight visits, around £270 to £360. Less than half a year of roots, and falling as you find your own rhythm.
| Root tint every 4 weeks | Grey Transition Programme | |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | £585 | about £580 |
| Year two | £585 | about £270 to £360 |
| Visits per year | 13 | 4 to 8 |
| Visible regrowth line | Every month | Never designed to have one |
| End date | None | Built in |
Cuts are priced separately in both cases. All figures are from our current price list and are “from” prices: very long or very thick hair can cost more.
What You’re Actually Paying For
With a root tint, you’re paying to stand still. The hair looks the same as last month, and it will look the same next month, provided you keep coming back.
With a grey transition, you’re paying for a change. Most of the money goes into one long, skilled session with a senior colourist, where years of colour are broken up and blended into your natural grey. That’s harder work than a regrowth tint, which is why it costs more on the day, and why it costs less over time.
Questions to Ask Before You Pay for Either
Whichever salon you choose, a few questions will tell you whether you’re buying a plan or just an appointment:
- What happens to the colour already on my lengths? If the answer is “it’ll grow out”, you’re buying a root tint with a different name.
- How many sessions will this take, and when? A real transition has a timeline. Expect at least two colour sessions, six to ten weeks apart.
- What does maintenance look like after year one? You should hear a number of visits and a price, not “we’ll see”.
- What’s the total? Ask for the full figure, including toning and cuts, before anything goes on your hair.
If a salon can’t answer those clearly, keep your money where it is.
When a Root Tint Is Still the Right Call
We’ll still do your roots, happily. A root tint makes sense if you want no grey visible at all, if you have only a few greys and they really bother you, or if now simply isn’t the time for a change. There’s no wrong answer, only an uncosted one.
If you’re on the fence, book a Grey Blueprint consultation. We’ll look at your hair, your history and your budget, and tell you which route makes more sense for you.
Book at Oxford Street | Book at Covent Garden
