What Is Lived-In Colour? Everything You Need to Know (From Our Dartmouth Salon)

Lauren Arbuckle
2026-04-05T16:17:01-03:00

Lived-in colour is one of our most requested services at Lox — and one of the most misunderstood. Here's everything you need to know before you book.

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If you've been scrolling through Instagram and falling in love with those effortless, sun-kissed hair looks that seem to always look good — that's lived-in colour.

At Lox, it's one of our most requested services, and for good reason. Here's everything you need to know.

What is lived-in colour? Lived-in colour is a modern colouring technique that creates soft, dimensional, low-maintenance results. Rather than a stark, uniform colour, it blends lighter and darker tones in a way that mimics how hair naturally lightens from the sun. The result looks effortless — because it's designed to.

Unlike traditional highlights or all-over colour, lived-in colour grows out beautifully. There's no harsh line of demarcation. That means longer gaps between appointments, which is a win for your schedule and your budget.

Is lived-in colour the same as balayage? Balayage is one of the techniques used to achieve lived-in colour, but they're not exactly the same thing. Balayage refers to a specific painting method. Lived-in colour is more of a look and a philosophy — it can involve balayage, foiling, toning, and multiple techniques combined to create a result that's custom to you.

How long does it take? At Lox, a full Luxury Lived-In Look is a four-hour appointment. This allows our artists to take their time, customize your placement, and finish with a toner or gloss to perfect the result. A maintenance appointment runs two to two and a half hours for guests keeping up existing colour.

How often do you need to come in? That's the beauty of it. Most lived-in colour guests come in every 12 to 20 weeks, depending on how much grow-out they're comfortable with. Your artist will help you create a maintenance plan that fits your lifestyle and budget.

Is it right for your hair? Lived-in colour works beautifully on most hair types — blonde, brunette, grey blending, and everything in between. The best way to know if it's right for you is to book a consultation or take our Artist Match quiz so we can connect you with the right stylist for your goals.

Ready to start? Book at thelox.ca or take the Artist Match quiz to meet your perfect Lox artist.