The short answer
What matters most
- Full-head colour is £60, root tint £45 and toner £20 on the supplied menu.
- Ask whether your goal concerns coverage, a shade change or the tone of existing colour.
- Disclose previous reactions and follow the product-specific pre-colour instructions.
Identify what has changed since your last colour
Look at the roots, lengths and ends separately. You may be noticing regrowth, a change in tone or a mismatch between previously coloured areas. Explain which of these bothers you most rather than booking the largest service because it sounds more complete.
Bring a recent photograph and, if available, a record of the last colour used. Tell the stylist whether you want to maintain the existing result or move toward a different shade. A refresh and a major colour change can require different assessment and planning.
Understand the three menu descriptions
Full-head colour is the menu option to discuss an all-over colour service; root tint focuses the conversation on regrowth. Toner is generally considered when adjusting the tone of suitable existing colour or lightened hair. Exact products, placement and achievable changes must be explained by the stylist.
Do not assume toner can perform every kind of colour correction or that a root tint automatically changes the lengths. Ask which area the proposed service addresses and what would remain as it is. If your concern is lightness and placement, the highlight or balayage guides may be the better starting point.
Further reading: Wella Professionals: Blonde and balayage colour services
Check prices and inclusions
Pharmacillin lists full-head colour at £60, root tint at £45 and toner at £20. These prices come from the supplied service menu. Confirm the relevant option, what it includes and any additional services before the appointment is agreed.
If you also want a cut, blow-dry or lightening service, ask for the complete plan and quote. Do not assume separate prices form a ready-made package. Clarify how a change requested during the consultation would affect the service, time allowed and final cost.
- Full-head colour — £60.
- Root tint — £45.
- Toner — £20.
- Confirm finishing, cutting and other colour services separately.
Give a truthful history of previous processing
Tell the stylist about professional and home colour, bleach, henna, smoothing treatments, perms and relaxers. Include the approximate dates and the sections involved. Older processing can still be present on the lengths; 'I have not coloured it recently' is not the same as never having coloured it.
If the hair feels fragile or you have noticed breakage, explain where and when. Ask which hair tests are relevant before proceeding. Wella's professional education materials distinguish hair-condition tests and allergy alert procedures; these are general examples, not confirmation of the colour brand used at Pharmacillin.
Further reading: Wella Professionals Education: Allergy alert tests and hair testing
Make allergy and scalp information part of booking
NHS hair dye advice identifies PPD in many permanent and some semi-permanent dyes as a possible source of reactions. Tell the stylist about previous dye reactions and black henna tattoos. Follow the actual product's instructions, and do not continue after a reaction to a test or during colouring.
A colour allergy alert test is different from a strand test on the hair and from specialist diagnostic patch testing. Ask which procedure is required and when it must be completed. A history of irritation or allergy deserves a clear discussion, not a promise that a different marketing label makes a product suitable.
Further reading: NHS: Hair dye reactions · Wella Professionals Education: Allergy alert tests and hair testing
Discuss upkeep before choosing the shade
Ask how the result is expected to change with regrowth, washing and your usual styling. Explain how much contrast you are comfortable with and how often you want to consider a refresh. Your routine and preferences help make the colour decision usable after the first appointment.
Request product and care advice that relates to the exact service. Ask what would warrant a salon review and what requires medical assessment. Persistent itching, rash or scalp discomfort should not automatically be managed by adding another colour service or a conditioning treatment.
Know when a reaction needs urgent help
If a reaction occurs, stop the service and seek appropriate advice. NHS hair dye information includes emergency symptoms such as breathing difficulty or swelling of the mouth, tongue or throat: call 999 for these symptoms. The website planner is not a route for urgent care.
For an appointment, use the full-head colour, root tint or toner guide and confirm hair-service availability at the selected location. Bring your history and questions to the stylist. The website photographs are generated service illustrations and cannot establish how your hair will look after colouring.
Further reading: NHS: Hair dye reactions
Common questions
Frequently asked
Can toner replace highlights?
Not as a general rule. They address different colour questions. Explain whether you want lighter placement or a tone adjustment to existing colour and ask the stylist which service can reasonably address that goal.
Does previously successful colour guarantee no future reaction?
No. Disclose previous use and any reactions, follow the instructions for the current product and service, and report symptoms. Do not assume familiarity with colouring replaces appropriate checks or assessment.
Can a root tint fix the colour through all my lengths?
Do not assume that is included. The stylist should explain the proposed treatment area, whether a separate service is appropriate and the full cost. Bring photographs of the roots, lengths and ends to make the concern clear.
Sources checked
Sources and further reading
Prepared by Pharmacillin for general education. Sources were checked on 6 October 2026. Confirm product-specific instructions with your stylist. Persistent scalp or hair-loss concerns need appropriate clinical assessment.
