How Many Grams of Colour Do I Need Per Service?
The short answer
Budget 60 grams of mixed colour for a root touch-up, 90 to 120 grams for a full-head single process on shoulder-length hair, and 150 grams or more for a full-head foil. Short hair can be covered with 45 to 60 grams, while long or dense hair can need double the full-head figure.
Grams by service
| Service | Short hair | Shoulder length | Long or dense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root touch-up | 45 g | 60 g | 75 to 90 g |
| Full-head single process | 60 g | 90 to 120 g | 150 g+ |
| Full-head foils | 90 g | 150 g | 200 g+ |
| Toner only | 30 g | 45 g | 60 g |
Why you always mix a little extra
Running out mid-application is worse than wasting thirty grams, because the section you finish last sits for less time than the section you started with. Uneven processing shows as banding on the ends.
The practical target is an extra ten to fifteen percent over your estimate. If a service consistently wastes more than that, the estimate is wrong, not the mix.
Frequently asked
Does the grams figure include developer?
No — mix the colour to the gram figure and add developer by the ratio on the tube, then total the mix.
How many grams are in a standard colour tube?
Most professional colour tubes hold 58 to 60 grams, so a full-head foil service typically uses three tubes.
Keep reading
- Hair Color Mixing Calculator — Exact Colour and Developer AmountsExact colour and developer amounts for any brand and ratio, scaled to the hair in the chair — free, no login.
- What Developer Ratio Do I Need? Colour Mix CalculatorEnter colour weight and ratio, get the developer weight in grams — no login, no signup.
- What Formula Covers Resistant Grey?Permanent, one level lighter than target, 20 volume, natural series at half — and why grey goes hot.
- The Benefits of Incorporating Styleit.to into Your ConsultationAgree on the shade on screen before you mix — fewer redo appointments, faster trust, and a formula the client has already approved.
Part of Tools in the S2 Academy.