Hair colourOxford Street · Covent Garden

Colour Hair colour salon & colourists in central London: Oxford Street & Covent Garden

Colour is what Gusto is known for in central London. Freehand balayage, clean platinum, glossy brunette, copper, and the kind of colour that gets you stopped in the street. Every colour starts with a complimentary consultation.

4.94 from 358 client reviewsTwo West End salons

Book Oxford StreetBook Covent Garden
Icy silver-blue mullet with a micro fringe and shaved side at Gusto Hair LondonComplimentary consultationIce blue mullet · Gusto
Find your colourSeven ways to wear it

Which colour is right for you?

Start with what you want from your hair, not the technical name. Your colourist confirms the right service at a complimentary consultation.

BalayageSay it after me: bal-aye-ahhrj

Balayage, painted by hand

Soft, sun-kissed and built to grow out gently.

Painted freehand, lighter towards the ends, with your own colour left at the root. Blonde is the classic; red, pastel and fashion balayage too.

In the chair
2½ to 4 hours
Upkeep
Every 3 to 4 months
Best for
Soft, lived-in brightness that grows out gently
Book
Oxford Street 110 Wigmore StreetCovent Garden 224 Shaftesbury Avenue
Balayage at Gusto
01
Long brunette waves with hand-painted caramel balayage, back view, at Gusto Hair London
Bronde balayage blending to creamy blonde on long layers at Gusto Hair London
Fig. 01.2 · Bronde balayage
Fig. 01 · Caramel balayage · Gusto
BlondeDare to be blonde

Blonde, all the way

From soft highlights to clean platinum.

Peach, honey, ash, strawberry or ice: blonde that looks expensive and stays healthy. Big changes are planned over more than one visit.

In the chair
2 to 5 hours
Upkeep
Every 8 to 12 weeks
Best for
Anything from soft highlights to full platinum
Book
Oxford Street 110 Wigmore StreetCovent Garden 224 Shaftesbury Avenue
Peach blonde
02
Icy platinum blonde long waves, back view, at Gusto Hair London
Golden honey blonde with a soft root and long face-framing layers at Gusto Hair London
Fig. 02.2 · Golden blonde
Fig. 02 · Icy platinum · Gusto
BrunetteGood enough to eat

Brilliant brunettes

Chocolate, cocoa, cappuccino, caramel.

Matched to your skin tone, warmed with honey balayage or lifted with a gloss. Mirror shine is the point.

In the chair
1½ to 3 hours
Upkeep
Every 6 to 8 weeks
Best for
Depth, shine and blending early greys
Book
Oxford Street 110 Wigmore StreetCovent Garden 224 Shaftesbury Avenue
Glossing
03
Glossy chocolate brunette waves with a curtain fringe at Gusto Hair London
Brunette with caramel balayage and face-framing at Gusto Hair London
Fig. 03.2 · Caramel on brunette
Fig. 03 · Glossy chocolate · Gusto
RedCopper hair colour trends

Copper & red

Long ginger copper hair with a full fringe and soft curls, side profile, at Gusto Hair London
Fig. 04 · Ginger, full fringe
Golden copper balayage on long curls at Gusto Hair London
Fig. 04.2 · Golden copper
Rich red copper bob with soft waves at Gusto Hair London
Fig. 04.3 · Red copper bob

"She made me into a copper mermaid!"

Mia A. · Client review
04
As subtle or as loud as you like.

Copper, burgundy, cherry and peachy blonde, built with whichever technique suits your hair. Let us find your inner Rita Hayworth.

In the chair
2 to 3 hours
Upkeep
Gloss every 6 to 8 weeks
Best for
Warmth, from strawberry blonde to deep auburn
Book
Oxford Street 110 Wigmore StreetCovent Garden 224 Shaftesbury Avenue
Copper ideas
Fashionista coloursWhat's new

Fashion colour

Electric blue blunt bob with a micro fringe at Gusto Hair London
1. Electric blue
Neon lime green bob with a blunt fringe at Gusto Hair London
2. Neon lime
Platinum blonde with pastel pink tones and long layers at Gusto Hair London
3. Pastel pink
Opal pastel colour with lilac, mint and blue tones at Gusto Hair London
4. Opal
Hot pink layered cut at Gusto Hair London
5. Hot pink

"In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different." Coco Chanel

Different, on purpose.

Electric blue to opal, made to look intentional. Most shades need lightening first, so we plan the route together.

In the chair
2 to 5 hours
Upkeep
Refresh every 4 to 6 weeks
Best for
Statement colour, usually on pre-lightened hair
Book
Oxford Street 110 Wigmore StreetCovent Garden 224 Shaftesbury Avenue
Plan it first
05
Face framingThe money piece

You've been framed

Instant brightness, right where it counts.

Chunky Ginger Spice streaks, circa 1997, or fine pieces that lift your balayage. Any colour, any base.

In the chair
1 to 2 hours
Upkeep
Every 8 to 10 weeks
Best for
Instant brightness without a full colour
Book
Oxford Street 110 Wigmore StreetCovent Garden 224 Shaftesbury Avenue
Consultations
06
Dark brunette curly bob framing the face at Gusto Hair London
Pastel pink face-framing colour on long straight hair at Gusto Hair London
Fig. 06.2 · Pink face frame
Fig. 06 · Curly bob · Gusto
GreyThe Grey Transition Programme

Going grey, beautifully

Stop colouring, with no hard line.

Our Grey Transition Programme moves you to your natural grey in phases. Not ready yet? Root colour keeps it seamless.

In the chair
1½ to 3 hours per stage
Upkeep
A planned programme
Best for
Growing out colour with no hard line
Book
Oxford Street 110 Wigmore StreetCovent Garden 224 Shaftesbury Avenue
The programme
07
Natural silver grey curls after a grey transition at Gusto Hair LondonFig. 07 · Silver curls · Gusto
X-ray of a pelvis with a colour bowl, foils and a Gusto tint brush inside
Fig. 08 · The colour kit, X-rayed
Why GustoBefore you book

Why colour at Gusto

Book
Oxford Street 110 Wigmore StreetCovent Garden 224 Shaftesbury Avenue
  1. 01

    Complimentary consultation

    Plan your colour with your colourist before you commit. Book one

  2. 4.94

    Rated by clients

    From 358 client reviews, across both salons.

  3. 7

    Days a week

    Oxford Street is open seven days. Covent Garden until 9pm on weekdays.

  4. 48h

    Skin test, sorted

    A quick allergy alert test at least 48 hours before your first colour with us.

  5. +

    Colour that lasts

    Lightening always finishes with a toner, and we tell you exactly when to come back.

In the pressAnd in the chair

"Renowned for their colour work."

Fabric Magazine

"They expertly hand-painted specific areas to give my hair definition that other methods could not."

Sloan Sheridan-William, celebrity life coach
4.94out of 5, from 358 client reviews
"A blonde wizard"

All blondes will know the risks of going to a new place for highlights. I cannot recommend Olimpia enough.

Holly L.
"The exact colour"

I came in with a picture and she managed to make the exact colour. She works magic!

Mia A.
"Never disappoints"

She was very attentive and even explained the process and the colour choices throughout.

Alexandra A.
Hair colour terminology

The colour dictionary

  1. Colour meltVarying shades of colour are overlapped from roots to tips to give the appearance that they have been melted into one another.
  2. BalayageThis low-maintenance hair colour is usually hand-painted in vertical sections throughout your hair, leaving your base colour at the roots and mid-lengths, growing lighter towards the ends.
  3. FoilayageA mix of balayage and traditional highlights. Foilayage highlights are applied in V shapes, away from the root, for natural-looking regrowth.
  4. TonersOften added after lightening to blend and even out unwanted warm or brassy tones, or as a colour refresher.
  5. Root stretch balayageAlso known as smudging, colour melt or root drag: your natural root colour is stretched for a low-maintenance balayage look.
  6. Root regrowth / root touch-upOnly the roots of your hair are coloured. Often used to cover grey hair.
  7. OmbréA two-tone look where one hair colour is blended into another from roots to tips.
  8. Money piece / face frameA brighter, often lighter blonde runs through the front section of your hair, framing the face from roots to ends.
  9. Full head colourAll of the hair is coloured.
Quick answers

Hair colour, answered

How much does hair colour cost at Gusto?

Every colour is priced to your hair: its length and thickness, the technique, and the colourist you choose. Your colourist confirms your price at a complimentary consultation, and the full menu is on our prices page.

Balayage or highlights: which is right for me?

Balayage is hand-painted for a soft, lived-in result that grows out gently, so it suits you if you want low upkeep. Highlights are woven through foils for a brighter, more even blonde and usually need refreshing sooner. Your colourist will recommend the right one at your consultation.

How long does balayage last?

Because it grows out softly, most balayage clients come back every three to four months, often with a toner or gloss in between to keep the tone fresh.

Do I need an allergy alert test?

Yes, before your first colour with us. Please pop in to Gusto at least 48 hours before your colour appointment and we will do a quick skin test.

Are you the best hair colour experts in London's West End?

Our colour technicians are highly trained and have the creativity, expertise and experience to deliver the latest hair colour trends, which means we can create every look from highlights and lowlights to fashion colours, blondes, brunettes and redheads.

Which hair colourist is right for me?

All our colourists are highly trained, but some have more experience than others, which is reflected in their job titles and our pricing structure. If you are unsure, call the salon and we can help match the right colourist to your hair. Why not meet our team?

Do your central London hair salons offer balayage?

Yes. Balayage is one of the most popular hair colour trends in London, and the balayage experts at Gusto in Oxford Street and Covent Garden are highly skilled in the latest looks, including blonde balayage, red balayage, fashion balayage and ombré.

Do you offer men's hair colouring in London's West End?

We certainly do. Our men's hair colour specialists can enhance your hair's natural texture, blend away unwanted grey and create bold, fashionable colours that are bespoke to you.

Where are your hair colour salons?

Gusto Oxford Street is at 110 Wigmore Street, London W1U 3RW. Gusto Covent Garden is at 224 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8EB. The Oxford Street salon is in Marylebone, a few minutes from Bond Street station. The Covent Garden salon is by Seven Dials, a few minutes from Tottenham Court Road station.

Do you offer hair colour consultations?

Yes, our hair consultations are complimentary. We analyse your hair, talk through your daily routine and come up with looks that will suit you, whether that is a new haircut and style or colour. Call Covent Garden on 020 7836 9163 or Oxford Street on 020 7486 5044.

Can you do a complete hair colour change?

Yes, we love getting creative with colour. Book a consultation first so we can plan it; a big change can take more than one appointment.

I have a hair colour problem. Can you help?

We are the go-to colour experts in London and we know how to bring your hair back. Book a colour correction consultation so we can assess your hair and make a plan. Do not worry, we have got you covered.

BookTwo salons in the West End

Book the chair

Pastel pink bob and sunglasses in a Gusto T-shirt
Fig. 08 · Pink bob · Gusto

Oxford Street

110 Wigmore Street, Marylebone, London W1U 3RW
A few minutes from Bond Street station
020 7486 5044 · Open seven days

Book Oxford Street

Covent Garden

224 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8EB
By Seven Dials, a few minutes from Tottenham Court Road station
020 7836 9163 · Until 9pm on weekdays

Book Covent Garden
Gusto · Oxford Street & Covent Garden, LondonPrices