The holiday season is nearly here, and if you're anything like most of our clients at Salon Tel Aviv, your calendar is already filling up faster than a Christmas stocking. Office parties, family gatherings, New Year's Eve celebrations, holiday photos—each event deserves you looking your absolute best. But here's the thing: great hair doesn't just happen overnight.

Think of your holiday hair transformation like baking the perfect batch of cookies. You wouldn't throw everything in the oven at once and hope for the best, right? The same goes for your hair. Whether you're dreaming of rich winter brunette tones, a stunning blonde refresh, or just want your ends looking healthy and polished, timing is everything.

After twenty years behind the chair serving clients throughout Sharon, Easton, Walpole, Norwood, and beyond, we've learned that the most gorgeous holiday hair happens when you plan ahead. So grab your calendar (and maybe a latte), because we're breaking down exactly when to book what—so you can spend less time stressing about your hair and more time enjoying the festivities.

The 6-Week Out Mark: Time for Major Transformations

Best Services to Book Now: Color Correction, Dramatic Color Changes, First-Time Balayage

If you're thinking about a major hair change for the holidays—like going from brunette to blonde, fixing a color mishap from another salon, or trying balayage for the first time—now's your moment. Six weeks gives us the time we need to work magic without rushing the process.

Here's why the six-week window matters: dramatic color transformations often need multiple sessions, especially if we're lightening your hair significantly. Your hair's health comes first at our salon, and that means we won't compromise the integrity of your strands just to get faster results. Trust the process—it's worth it.

Color correction is our specialty, and this time of year, we see a lot of folks who tried DIY box dye during fall and now... well, let's just say they're ready for professional help. Whether your blonde turned brassy, your brunette went muddy, or you've got multiple tones that need evening out, we've got you covered. But these fixes take time, patience, and often more than one appointment.

At this stage, we also recommend booking a consultation if you're not quite sure what you want. Come sit in Shimi's chair, talk through your vision, and let us show you what's possible for your hair type and current condition. We use organic, formaldehyde-free products that protect your hair while creating stunning results—but we need the time to do it right. Meet our expert team to learn more about who'll be creating your holiday hair transformation.

Pro tip: If you're going significantly lighter, plan on a K18 treatment during this process. It's a game-changer for maintaining healthy bonds in your hair during the lightening process, and your hair will thank you when you're styling those holiday curls later.

The 4-Week Countdown: Color Refreshes and Keratin Treatments

Best Services to Book Now: Full Color, Highlights, Keratin Treatments, Permanent Straightening

Four weeks before your main holiday events is the sweet spot for most color services. This gives your color time to settle, soften, and look its absolute best—not "I just left the salon" fresh, but naturally gorgeous and lived-in.

This is when we're booking most of our balayage appointments, full foil highlights, and all-over color transformations. Those honey blonde tones everyone's requesting? The coco melt browns that look expensive and low-maintenance? The champagne blonde that's perfect for winter? Four weeks out is your golden window.

Here's something most people don't realize: hair color actually looks better after a week or two. It has time to oxidize fully, blend with your natural oils, and settle into that perfect shade. If you color your hair the day before your holiday party, it might look a bit too fresh. Four weeks gives you that sweet, lived-in perfection that looks like you woke up this gorgeous.

And can we talk about keratin treatments for a second? If you're dealing with frizz, humidity damage, or just want your hair to be ridiculously manageable through the entire holiday season, now's the time. Our formaldehyde-free Keratherapy treatment lasts up to six months, smooths your hair without eliminating natural texture, and makes styling about ten times easier.

Think about it—wouldn't you rather spend five minutes on your hair before that office party instead of forty-five? That's what our keratin treatment gives you. Plus, it works beautifully with all the other services we offer, so you can get keratin and color in the same visit if you're really organized.

Massachusetts winter weather alert: Between the freezing temps outside and the cranked-up heat inside, your hair is about to go through it. A keratin treatment now means you're protected through the worst of it. No more static, no more fly-aways when you take off your hat, no more fighting with your hair every morning. Just smooth, gorgeous, holiday-ready hair.

The 2-3 Week Sweet Spot: Balayage and Grey Blending

Best Services to Book Now: Balayage, Grey Blending, Lowlights, Root Touch-Ups

Two to three weeks before your holiday events is when we love booking balayage appointments. Why? Because balayage is all about that naturally sun-kissed, dimensional look—and it actually gets better as it settles in.

Unlike traditional highlights that can sometimes look stark fresh out of the salon, balayage is painted on by hand to blend seamlessly with your natural color. Give it a couple weeks, wash it a few times, and watch it transform into that effortless, "I-spent-summer-in-the-Hamptons" vibe everyone wants.

Grey blending is another service that shines at this timeline. We're not covering your greys completely—we're blending them beautifully with lowlights and highlights to create dimension and depth. It's particularly popular with our male clients who want to look polished and professional without obvious color. Two weeks out gives the color time to blend naturally, so nobody can tell you got it done—they just think you look fantastic.

This is also prime time for root touch-ups if you're maintaining your current color. Fresh roots that aren't too fresh, if that makes sense. You want to look like your hair naturally grows this way, not like you just came from the salon.

What's trending right now at our Sharon salon: Everyone's asking for warm, dimensional tones. Think toffee highlights, caramel balayage, those creamy blonde tones that catch the light beautifully. We're also seeing lots of requests for subtle dimension that adds depth without being high-contrast. The goal is natural, expensive-looking hair that doesn't scream "I tried too hard."

The 1-2 Week Window: Haircuts, Trims, and Bangs

Best Services to Book Now: Haircuts, Bang Trims, Long Layers, Face-Framing

One to two weeks before your holiday events—that's haircut sweet spot territory. Cut it too early and it grows out a bit before your party. Cut it too late and you're still getting used to the new shape. But time it right, and you'll have that perfect fresh-but-not-too-fresh look.

This year, everyone's talking about curtain bangs, and honestly? They're perfect for the holidays. They frame your face beautifully, work with literally any hairstyle you're planning, and they grow out gracefully if you decide they're not your thing. Plus, winter is actually the best time to get bangs because you're not fighting humidity—they'll behave so much better than they would in summer.

We're also doing tons of long layers with face-framing pieces. It's that Sabrina Carpenter-inspired fluffy, voluminous look that photographs beautifully and styles easily. Whether you're wearing your hair down in soft waves or pulling it up in an elegant updo, those layers add movement and life.

For our shorter hair clients, the modern bob is having a major moment. Not the blunt, severe bobs of years past—we're talking textured, lived-in bobs with soft movement. It's chic, it's manageable, and it works beautifully with cold-weather scarves and coats without getting that awkward tucked-in look.

Timing matters here: Hair grows about half an inch per month on average. So if you get your cut two weeks before your big event, you're catching it at that perfect just-grown-in stage where it has movement but still looks intentional.

The Week Before: Blowouts, Glosses, and Final Touches

Best Services to Book Now: Toner Refresh, Gloss Treatments, Blowouts

The week leading up to your holiday events is all about those finishing touches that make everything pop. This is when we book gloss treatments to add major shine and depth to your color, toner refreshes to keep blonde looking perfect, and of course—blowouts.

A gloss treatment is like a filter for your hair. It adds incredible shine, softens your color, and makes your hair look healthy and expensive. It lasts through several washes but isn't a permanent commitment, which makes it perfect for the holidays. Want your brunette to look ultra-glossy and rich? Gloss. Want your blonde to be absolutely luminous? Gloss. It's basically magic in a bowl.

Toner refreshes are specifically for our blonde clients whose color might be looking a touch brassy or dull. A quick toner appointment takes less than an hour, costs way less than a full color service, and makes a world of difference. We use our Milk Shake toning products that are organic and conditioning, so your hair actually feels better after.

And then there are blowouts—our specialty. Picture this: it's the day of your holiday party, you've got your outfit ready, your makeup's done, and you walk in for a blowout. We wash your hair with our luxury organic products, give you a scalp massage that feels like a mini-vacation, and then style your hair into absolute perfection.

Want old Hollywood waves? We've got you. Sleek and straight with the perfect flip at the ends? Easy. Voluminous, bouncy curls that last all night? That's literally what we do. A professional blowout lasts 2-3 days with the right care, which means you can get it done the day before your event and still look incredible.

Our most requested holiday styles:

• Voluminous waves with a slight curl at the ends (think red carpet ready)
• Sleek, high ponytails with face-framing pieces
• Soft romantic waves that work for any occasion
• Polished straight with just enough body and movement

The Day Before: Touch-Ups Only

Best Services to Book Now: Bang Trims, Quick Blowouts

The day before your event isn't the time for anything major—trust us on this. But it is perfect for quick touch-ups like bang trims or a fresh blowout if you didn't get one earlier in the week.

Some clients love getting their blowout the day before rather than day-of because it gives the style time to settle a bit and look even more natural. Plus, there's zero stress about timing if your party is in the evening. You can get your hair done in the morning, sleep carefully that night (silk pillowcase, loose bun—we'll show you), and wake up looking amazing.

What NOT to do the day before: Please, we're begging you—don't try a new hair service the day before a major event. No color, no major cuts, nothing you haven't done before. The day before your holiday party is not the time to experiment. Stick with what you know works for you.

Special Considerations for Different Holiday Events

For Office Holiday Parties

Book a polished, professional blowout or a subtle balayage refresh that says "I put in effort without trying too hard." Stay away from anything too dramatic or edgy unless that's totally your work vibe. Classic, elegant styles work best here.

For Family Gatherings

Low-maintenance styles are your friend because family gatherings can be long, sometimes chaotic, and you want to look good in all those photos without constantly checking your hair. A keratin treatment a few weeks out plus a simple cut and style will keep you looking put-together through multiple events.

For New Year's Eve

This is your moment to go all out. Glitter roots? Do it. Sleek high ponytail with rhinestone accessories? Absolutely. Dramatic waves that took an hour to perfect? Worth every second. Book a blowout for the day-of or day-before, and don't hold back on the glam.

For Holiday Photos

Plan your services so everything's fresh but not too fresh. Two weeks before photos is ideal for color, one week before for cuts. The day of or day before for blowouts. And make sure to talk to your stylist about what photographs well—some colors and styles look incredible in person but don't translate to photos, and we can guide you toward choices that'll make those pictures frame-worthy.

What to Avoid During the Holiday Hair Rush

Let's keep it real for a second: the holidays are our busiest time of year. We love it—the energy, the excitement, watching our clients transform into their most glamorous selves. But it also means booking gets competitive. Here's what to avoid:

Waiting until the last minute: If you're reading this in mid-December and hoping to get in for a full color service before your party next week, you might be out of luck. Our books fill up fast, especially for our most popular time slots.

Trying something totally new: The holidays are not the time to experiment with a pixie cut if you've had long hair your whole life, or to go platinum blonde if you've been brunette forever. Save the dramatic experiments for January when the pressure's off.

Skipping your consultation: If you're planning something bigger than your usual maintenance appointment, book a consultation first. Shimi's been doing this for over twenty years, and he'll tell you straight up if what you're imagining is realistic for your hair and your timeline.

Forgetting about your hair health: All the fancy color and styling in the world won't look good if your hair's damaged. If your ends are crispy, if your hair's breaking, if it feels like straw—address that first before worrying about whether to go with champagne blonde or honey highlights.

Our Organic Approach Makes a Difference

Here's something that matters more than most people realize: the products we use at Salon Tel Aviv actually make a difference in how your hair looks and feels, especially during the demanding holiday season.

We use organic, vegan, cruelty-free products for everything we do. Our Milk Shake color line is free from harsh chemicals while still delivering gorgeous, long-lasting results. Our Keratherapy treatments are formaldehyde-free, which means you get smooth, manageable hair without exposing yourself to toxic fumes.

Why does this matter for the holidays specifically? Because your hair is already stressed. Between the dry winter air outside, the forced heat inside, increased styling for multiple events, and possibly more color services than usual—your hair needs all the TLC it can get. Using gentle, nourishing products means your hair actually stays healthy while looking incredible.

Plus, K18 treatments are built into most of our color services. K18 actually repairs broken keratin chains at a molecular level. It's not a conditioner that sits on top—it penetrates into your hair and rebuilds what's been damaged. This means your hair can handle the holiday demands without turning into a disaster by New Year's.

How to Maintain Your Holiday Hair Between Services

You've invested in professional services, now let's make sure they last. Here are our top tips for maintaining your gorgeous holiday hair:

For color: Use sulfate-free, paraben-free shampoo (we sell Milk Shake products at the salon that are perfect for this). Wash less frequently if possible—every other day or even every third day helps color last longer. When you do wash, use cool or lukewarm water rather than hot, which can fade color faster.

For keratin treatments: No hair ties for the first 48 hours, and definitely no washing. After that, use sulfate-free products and avoid getting your hair too wet in the shower if you're not washing it. The treatment actually continues bonding with your hair for a few days after the service.

For cuts and styles: Regular trims keep your cut looking sharp. If you got a fresh cut for the holidays, book your next trim for 6-8 weeks out to maintain the shape. For styles like curtain bangs that grow faster, you might need mini-trims every 3-4 weeks.

For blowouts: Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase to reduce friction. Don't shower until you absolutely have to. Use dry shampoo strategically at the roots to absorb oil and add volume. Touch up any pieces that fall flat with a curling iron on low heat.

General winter hair care: Deep condition weekly, use a leave-in treatment on your ends, protect your hair before going outside in the cold (hats lined with silk are worth the investment), and run a humidifier in your bedroom to combat the dry indoor air.

Ready to Book Your Holiday Hair Transformation?

Listen, the holidays are stressful enough without worrying about whether your hair's going to cooperate. Let us take that worry off your plate. Whether you're looking for a dramatic transformation or just want your current style looking its absolute best, we've got you covered.

Our team at Salon Tel Aviv has been creating gorgeous holiday hair for clients throughout Sharon, Easton, Walpole, Norwood, Canton, Dedham, Stoughton, and Foxboro for years. We know what works, what doesn't, and how to time everything perfectly so you're looking incredible when it matters most.

Shimi's calendar is filling up fast—same with the rest of our stylists. Don't wait until two weeks before your office party to realize you need color and a cut. Start planning now, book strategically, and you'll spend the entire holiday season looking and feeling amazing.

Book your holiday appointments now by visiting our online booking system at vagaro.com/salontelaviv or calling us at 781-790-4301. During your booking, mention any specific events you're prepping for and we'll help you create the perfect timeline.

And hey—while you're planning your hair, might as well think about maintenance for the new year too. January is actually one of our favorite times for new clients to try us out. Less rushed, more time to really personalize your service, and you can start 2025 with a fresh hair plan that keeps you looking incredible all year.



Happy holidays from all of us at Salon Tel Aviv. We can't wait to make you look absolutely stunning.

Salon Tel Aviv - Award-Winning Organic Hair Salon in Sharon, MA

Serving Sharon, Easton, Walpole, Norwood, Canton, Dedham, Stoughton, Foxboro and the South Shore of Massachusetts

Specializing in: Organic Hair Color | Balayage | Keratin Treatments | Color Correction | Haircuts | Blowouts | Grey Blending | K18 Treatments

Book your appointment: 781-790-4301 | salontelavivma@gmail.com | Book Online