How much foil a highlight service uses
The foil a highlight service uses is the number of sections foiled, and that depends on the technique, the density of the hair and how fine the weave is. A partial service uses fewer foils than a full head; balayage uses fewer, larger sheets. Foil cost per client is the foils used multiplied by the cost per foil.
Foil counts by service and hair length
The number of foils is the number of sections foiled. Four things set it.
| Factor | Fewer foils | More foils |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Partial highlights, face framing | Full head |
| Section size | Broad slices, balayage panels | Fine weaves, babylights |
| Hair density | Fine or sparse hair | Thick or dense hair |
| Sheet size | Wide sheets | Narrow sheets |
Hair length changes the size of each foil more than the number. Long hair needs a longer sheet or a longer piece from the roll, which is why length matters to cost even when the count stays the same. Sizes by hair length are on the hair foil size chart.
We do not publish typical counts, because we have not collected them from salons, and a figure without a source would be a guess. The method below produces a real figure for your own salon or your own customers.
To measure foils per service: note the sheet count on a new box, record the services done from it, and divide the sheets used by the number of services of each type. Ten services give a usable average.
Cost per client by format
Once the count is known, the cost follows.
foil cost per client = foils used × cost per foil
| Format | Cost per foil | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pop-up sheets | Box price ÷ sheets per box | Fixed length; nothing to cut |
| Pre-cut sheets | Box price ÷ sheets per box | Fixed length; longer and wider sizes |
| Roll | Roll price ÷ foils per roll | Depends on the length each piece is cut to |
For a roll, the foils per roll are the roll length divided by the cut length. A 100 mm roll 100 m long gives 444 foils cut to the length of a 100 × 225 mm strip, and fewer if the pieces are cut longer. The full table, for every roll length and cut length, is on pack counts and cost per foil.
Foil is a small part of the cost of a colour service beside the colourist’s time and the lightener. The comparison that matters between formats is usually time at the chair, which is set out in pop-up vs pre-cut vs roll hair foil.
Monthly usage for a salon
A salon estimates its foil use from three numbers it already has or can count.
- Foils per service, by type, from the method above.
- Foiling services per week, by type, from the appointment book.
- Sheets per box, from the box.
boxes per month = foils per service × services per week × weeks in the month ÷ sheets per box
Work it out for each service type and add the results. Keep a margin for busy weeks and for training.
Ordering quantities for distributors
A distributor scales the same calculation up.
- Estimate boxes per month for a typical salon customer.
- Multiply by the number of salons you supply, or expect to.
- Multiply by the months between shipments, including the production and transit time of the next order.
- Add safety stock for the time a late shipment would cost you.
Then check the result against the carton and the container. Cartons per container for each SKU are in the specification table, and the stages that set the time between shipments are on the order timeline page. Hair foil for salon distributors covers container planning in more detail.
FAQ
How many foils are used for full highlights?
The number of foils in a full head of highlights depends on how fine the sections are and how dense the hair is, so it varies widely between colourists and clients. Hair Foil Factory does not publish a figure it has not counted. A salon can find its own number by counting the sheets used in ten services.
How much does foil cost per highlight appointment?
Foil cost per highlight appointment is the number of foils used multiplied by the cost of one foil. The cost of one foil is the box price divided by the sheets in the box, or the roll price divided by the foils cut from it. The pack counts page gives the counts to divide by.
How many boxes of foil does a salon use per month?
A salon's monthly foil use is the foils per service, multiplied by the foiling services per week, multiplied by the weeks in a month, divided by the sheets in a box. Each figure comes from the salon's own appointment book and a count of sheets used.
Do wide foils reduce the number needed?
Wide hair foils cover a broader section, so a service that uses them places fewer foils. They are used for balayage and foilyage, where panels are large, not as a substitute for narrow foils in fine weaving. Each wide sheet contains more foil and costs more than a narrow one.