What This Service Includes

  • Root or Full-Head Application

    Color where you actually need it. Roots only, or all over.

  • Custom Formula

    Mixed to your level and tone, not a one-size-fits-all pull from the shelf.

  • Gray Coverage if Needed

    We can cover up to 100 percent gray with full-head application.

  • Finish

    Blow-dry to see the result + product picks to maintain it at home.

What to Expect

  • 1. Consult

    Going darker, refreshing, or covering gray? We pick the level and tone together.

  • 2. Custom Formulation

    Your colorist mixes a formula tailored to your hair and what you want.

  • 3. Application + Process

    Application is fast and even. Timing is precise: we watch tone the whole way.

  • 4. Finish

    A blow-dry, a check on tone, and an honest at-home plan.

Who at Cut Above does this service

All stylists. Meet the team to choose your stylist.

Pink hair color accent by Jen at Cut Above Salon in Middletown, NY

How does root-to-ends color go on?

Before anything is mixed, your colorist checks how much gray you have and where it sits. Gray at the hairline and part often resists color more than the rest, so those areas may get the formula first.

  1. We divide your hair into four sections and brush color onto the regrowth in thin partings, so every root is covered.
  2. If your ends have faded, we pull color through them for the last stretch of processing. If they're still rich, we leave them alone so they don't build up darker.
  3. We rinse, shampoo and condition at the bowl.
  4. With Single Process with Haircut, your cut comes next, on clean, freshly colored hair. With Single Process / Blow Dry, we go straight to the finish.

We use Aveda plant-powered color. Aveda says its permanent hair color is vegan and 96% naturally derived (ISO 16128).

What makes all-over color fade, and how do you slow it?

Permanent color holds well at the root, but ends fade from sun, heat and frequent shampooing. Wash two or three times a week if your scalp allows it, rinse cool, and use a color-safe shampoo. A dry shampoo like Aveda Shampowder buys you extra days between washes. Wear a hat in summer, since sun pulls warmth out of brown shades. Before an event, a root powder can hide a gray line for a day. Skip box dye on the regrowth. It overlaps onto colored hair and leaves dark bands we then have to work around. Rebook by your part line, not the calendar.

Color with the owner, Jen

Jen, Jennifer Petermann, owns Cut Above. She's known for warm, dimensional brunettes, and single process services are on her menu. In the chair, she walks you through what she's doing as she does it, so you know why your formula looks the way it does. She also teaches you to style it at home. Every stylist on our team does single process, so you have options. For current color work, see our Instagram.

Page updated October 2026.

Book with Jen

Frequently Asked Questions

When does single process beat highlights?

When you want one consistent color (full coverage, going darker, gray coverage), single process is faster, gentler, and cheaper than highlights.

How long does single process last?

Roots show in 4 to 6 weeks for most guests. Gloss can extend the cycle if you are not ready for a full root retouch.

Can I go darker in one session?

Yes. Going from light to dark is the fastest color change and usually a single appointment.

Will single process cover gray?

Yes. Full-head application can cover up to 100 percent gray. Roots-only application covers regrowth between full visits.

Is it gentler than highlights?

Yes. No lift involved unless we go several levels lighter. Single process is one of the safest color services for healthy hair.

Can I add highlights to a single process?

Yes. Many guests do single process + a few face-framing highlights for dimension without committing to a full highlight service.

Ready to Book?

Live availability for every service. Two clicks to a confirmed appointment.

Current pricing for Single Process Color is on our Service Menu.

Looking for related services? See our full Hair Color page or browse the complete service menu.

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