A colour appointment at Iron + Ivy is a considered, unhurried experience — not just a service. From the consultation through to the moment you see your finished result, every stage is deliberate, skilled, and focused entirely on you and your hair. Here’s exactly what to expect.

The Consultation — Before Your Appointment
All new colour clients at Iron + Ivy attend an in-person consultation at least 48 hours before their appointment. This is where the real work begins. Your colourist will assess your hair’s condition, look at your inspiration together, discuss tone and placement, and carry out a skin test and strand test. You leave knowing exactly what’s planned and what to expect on appointment day.
Appointment Day: The Application
You arrive, you’re settled in, and your artist gets to work. Depending on your service — freehand balayage, precision foil highlights, or seamless all-over colour — the approach is always the same: careful, intentional, and bespoke to your hair. Processing time varies; during this time, you’re welcome to relax, read, or simply sit quietly. We’ll check in regularly and keep you comfortable throughout.
The Rinse: Your Moroccanoil Wash
Once your colour has processed, it’s back to the backwash. Colour is rinsed and your hair is treated to Moroccanoil Colour Care Shampoo and Conditioner — protecting your new tone and keeping it vibrant for as long as possible. A warm towel is wrapped around your hair, and your stylist gives you a proper head, scalp, and shoulder massage while the conditioner absorbs. It’s the part most clients say they weren’t prepared for how good it would feel.

Toning, Finishing, and the Blow Dry
For most colour services, a toner is applied after the rinse — this is where the final magic happens. Toner neutralises brassiness, softens the result, and personalises the tone to your skin. Then comes your blow dry: your artist finishes with a professional style using Moroccanoil products throughout for that signature shine. You don’t leave with damp hair. You leave looking and feeling your absolute best.
Fancy Adding Olaplex?
We strongly recommend adding an Olaplex Bonding Treatment ($49) to any lightening service. Applied during the colour process itself, it rebuilds disulfide bonds as the colour works — so your hair comes out not just beautifully coloured, but actively stronger. It’s the most worthwhile $49 you’ll spend in a salon.

Ready to start? Book your complimentary colour consultation — or explore: Balayage Queenstown · Foils & Highlights · Hair Colour Queenstown.
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