Looking for full or half head foils from Hawthorn? KOHORT Studio is at 234 Bridge Road, Richmond, a short trip across the Yarra. Our independent colourists place every foil by hand, support the lift with Olaplex or K18, and tone to finish. You book the colourist who matches your colour goal, and she owns your result from start to finish.

Why Hawthorn clients cross the river for foils

Hawthorn and Richmond are separated by the Yarra but they are genuinely close. A lot of Glenferrie Road and Burwood Road clients make the short trip over because they want a colourist they can actually book with directly, someone who knows their hair, not a rotation of different stylists each visit. KOHORT is a co-working salon, which means each stylist runs her own column and her own client list. When you find the right person, you book her specifically, every time.

Foils are also a service where consistency matters. The difference between a foil job that looks calculated and one that looks uneven usually comes down to the weaving pattern, the placement around the face, and the toner choice at the end. Those are decisions a colourist makes based on your face shape, your base, and how you want it to grow out. There is no formula that works every time.

Full head foils versus half head: the honest difference

This is a question that comes up at almost every consult, and the answer is simpler than most salons make it sound.

A half head takes foils through the top and sides, the sections people actually see most often, and finishes with a toner. It is the right call if you mostly wear your hair down, you want a refresh rather than a full transformation, or you are working with a budget that does not stretch to a full head right now. The result looks bright and dimensional, and most clients are genuinely happy with it.

A full head goes all the way through, back sections and underneath included. You need this if you regularly wear your hair up and want consistent brightness from every angle, or if you want the kind of all-over lightness that a half head simply cannot deliver. It takes longer, costs more, and for the right hair goals it is absolutely worth it.

Your colourist will give you a straight recommendation at the consult based on your hair and what you are actually trying to achieve. The full head foils page and the half head foils page have more detail on each service.

What foils look like at KOHORT

The appointment starts with a proper look at your hair: your current shade, what has been on it, how long it has been since your last colour, and what your actual goal is. If there is mineral buildup from hard water or residue from previous colour, your colourist will run L'Oreal Metal Detox through the hair before the foils go in. That pre-treatment makes a real difference to how evenly the lift comes up.

Olaplex or K18 goes through the lightener to protect the bond during the lift. Once you are at the right level, she rinses, tones using something like Kerastase Blond Absolu or a Wella toner depending on the shade you are going for, and finishes with a gloss if the hair wants it. The tone is not an afterthought. It is what makes the difference between hair that looks lifted and hair that looks the actual colour you chose.

More detail on the service is on the highlights page.

Getting to KOHORT from Hawthorn

Hawthorn is directly east of Richmond, across the Yarra. From Glenferrie Road or Burwood Road, you come over the river and into Bridge Road in a few minutes by car. Glenferrie Station and Hawthorn Station are both on the Lilydale and Belgrave lines, which connect through Richmond Station. From Richmond Station, 234 Bridge Road is a short walk. We also regularly see clients from Kew to the north and South Yarra to the west who are making a similar short trip. Parking along Bridge Road and the surrounding streets is metered, so public transport is usually the easier option for a longer colour appointment.

Which KOHORT stylist does foils for Hawthorn clients

Taylah is our blonde and brunette colourist and handles a lot of the dimensional foil work, particularly on darker bases where you need precision to get the brightness right without overprocessing. She is the one to see if your hair is on the brown or bronde end and you want foils that lift it without reading flat or patchy. Grace works across natural blonde, highlights, and balayage, and is especially good for clients who are already light and want to maintain or build on that. Both have their own pages with their work and booking details. The full team page is the right starting point if you want to compare before you choose.

Foils pricing and timing from Hawthorn

Half head foils at KOHORT start from around the mid-$200s. Full head foils are more, and the final price depends on your hair length, how dense it is, how much colour history is on it, and whether you are adding a treatment, toner, or cut to the appointment. Budget around two and a half to four hours for a full colour appointment. Your colourist confirms the price at your consult before anything starts. We accept card, EFTPOS and Afterpay.

Frequently asked questions

How do Hawthorn clients get to KOHORT on public transport?

Glenferrie and Hawthorn stations are both on the Lilydale and Belgrave lines, which run through Richmond Station. From Richmond Station, it is a short walk to 234 Bridge Road. Most Hawthorn clients find the train easier than driving and parking for a longer colour appointment.

Is KOHORT far from Glenferrie Road?

No. Glenferrie Road is in the heart of Hawthorn, and Bridge Road Richmond is a short drive across the Yarra. Most clients cover it in under ten minutes.

What is the real difference between a full and half head in terms of result?

A half head brightens the top and sides. A full head adds the back and underneath sections. If you wear your hair mostly down, a half head usually delivers what you want. If you wear it up often or want all-over brightness, the full head is the right call. Your colourist will tell you at the consult.

Can foils be done on dark or previously coloured hair?

Yes, regularly. Dark and previously coloured hair just needs an honest plan, sometimes a Metal Detox pre-treatment and occasionally staging the lift across two appointments to protect condition. Taylah handles a lot of darker bases and will give you a straight answer on what is achievable in one session.

How do foils differ from balayage?

Foils wrap each woven section in heat-trapping foil, driving a brighter, cleaner lift closer to the root. Balayage is painted freehand on the surface for a softer, more diffused result that grows out with less visible contrast. Foils give you more control over placement and brightness; balayage gives you a more natural grow-out. Your colourist will advise which suits your hair and how much upkeep you want.

How often should I come back for foil maintenance?

Most foil clients refresh every eight to twelve weeks. Some Hawthorn clients come in for a toner or gloss in between to keep the shade from going warm, which extends the life of the full colour appointment.

How do I book foils from Hawthorn?

Go to Taylah's page or Grace's page, look at their work, and book directly through whichever fits your goal. If you are still deciding, start on meet the team. Each KOHORT stylist runs her own books, so you are booking the person who will actually be doing your hair.