All Over Color in Santa Barbara, CA
Whether you're covering grays, going darker, or completely reinventing yourself, this is where it starts. Custom color that looks like it grew out of your head.
Color That Looks Like It Was Always Yours
Here's what we believe about hair color: it should look natural. Not natural as in boring, but natural as in believable. When someone compliments your color, the reaction you want is 'thanks, I just have good hair' not 'yeah, I just got it done.' That's the difference between okay color and great color, and it's what our colorists are obsessed with getting right.
Nancy Garza is our color specialist and she's been mixing custom formulas for years. Victoria McHone brings an organic approach for clients who want gorgeous results without harsh chemicals. And Jeff Matson is the guy to see if you want to go blonde. Between the three of them, there isn't a shade, a tone, or a correction they haven't handled. Every color job starts with a conversation about what you want, what your hair can handle, and how to get there without compromising the health of your strands.
How Color Works
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We talk about your vision, your hair history, and your lifestyle. How much maintenance do you want? Are you covering grays or going for a whole new look? Do you wash your hair every day or twice a week? These details matter and they shape the formula.
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Every single color we mix is custom. We don't pull a shade off a chart and hope for the best. Your colorist blends a formula specifically for your hair, your skin tone, and the result you're going for.
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Your colorist applies the color with precision and monitors the processing time carefully. This is where experience matters. Knowing when to rinse is just as important as knowing what to mix.
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We finish with a rinse, conditioning treatment, and style. Before you leave, your colorist will walk you through how to care for your new color at home so it lasts as long as possible.
Every Shade of You
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All Over Color
A single, uniform shade from root to tip. Perfect for covering gray, enriching your natural color, or making a dramatic change.
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Base Color
Root touch ups and base refreshes to keep your color looking fresh between full appointments. Quick, affordable, and essential for color maintenance.
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Organic Color (with Victoria)
Plant based, ammonia free formulas for clients who want beautiful color with fewer chemicals. Victoria McHone specializes in organic color that's gentle on your hair and still delivers vibrant, long lasting results.
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Gray Coverage
Seamless gray blending that looks natural, not painted on. We can do full coverage or leave some dimension depending on what you prefer.
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Color Correction
Had a color disaster somewhere else? We fix those. Color corrections take time and honesty, and we'll tell you upfront what's possible and how many sessions it might take.
Pricing
All Over Color: $200
Base Color / Root Touch Up: $120
Organic Color (with Victoria): $200
Color Correction: $300
Your Perfect Shade Is One Appointment Away
The Central Coast's Trusted Hair Colorists
Looking for a hair colorist in Santa Barbara you can actually trust? Matson & Co. has three color specialists under one roof, each with their own approach and expertise. Nancy Garza handles custom color formulation and has been mixing shades for years. Victoria McHone offers organic, ammonia free color for a gentler option. And Jeff Matson specializes in blonding for clients who want to go lighter without the brassiness.
We're on State Street in downtown Santa Barbara, and our color clients come from all over the Central Coast. Montecito, Summerland, Carpinteria, Goleta, Santa Ynez, and San Luis Obispo. If you've been searching for someone who can nail your shade the first time (or fix what someone else got wrong), we'd love to meet you.
Where Our Color Clients Are Coming From
Santa Barbara: Everything from root touch ups on your lunch break to full color transformations on a Saturday. We're right on State Street, five minutes from pretty much anywhere in town.
Montecito: Rich, dimensional color that looks effortless. Our Montecito clients tend to want shades that enhance rather than overhaul, and our colorists are great at that subtlety.
Summerland and Carpinteria: A short coast drive for color that lasts. A lot of our regular color clients come from down the coast and have been with us since the beginning.
Santa Ynez: Worth the 45 minute trip. Wine country clients who trust us with their color, including corrections from other salons.
Color Questions, Answered
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Typically 4 to 6 weeks before you'll want a touch up, depending on how fast your hair grows and how much contrast there is between your natural shade and your colored shade. Your colorist will give you a personalized maintenance timeline.
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Yes. Victoria McHone specializes in organic, ammonia free color. It's a gentler option that still delivers beautiful, vibrant results. If clean beauty is important to you, Victoria is your stylist.
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Not when it's done right. We use professional grade products, custom mix every formula, and monitor processing carefully. Your colorist will also assess your hair's condition before starting and recommend treatments if needed to keep things healthy.
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We can. Color corrections are one of our specialties. They do take time and sometimes multiple sessions, but we'll be honest about what to expect, how long it will take, and what it will cost before we start.
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All over color is a single, uniform shade applied root to tip. Highlights add lighter pieces throughout for dimension. They're different looks and serve different purposes. Not sure which is right? Book a color appointment and your stylist will walk you through the options.
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Color safe shampoo, less frequent washing if you can swing it, and UV protection in the summer. Your colorist will give you specific recommendations based on your shade and hair type before you leave.
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It depends on where you're starting and the condition of your hair. Going significantly lighter usually takes multiple sessions to avoid damage. Jeff Matson is our blonding specialist and he'll give you a realistic timeline during your consultation.
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For standard all over color, you can book directly. For color corrections or dramatic changes, we recommend a consultation first so we can assess your hair and give you an accurate plan and quote.
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Absolutely. If you've never colored your hair before, we'll take extra time to explain what's happening, what to expect, and how to take care of your new color. No assumptions, no jargon. Just a friendly conversation.
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![Five black stars with a black line above them on a white background.]()
I've lived in LA and NYC where you'll find some of the best hairdressers and colorists on earth. Jeff is not only their rival in haircutting talent and quality, his color is out of this world too. I literally have people ask me every other day where I get my cut & color. Matson & Co is my secret.
Sadie Nardini
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I discovered Victoria McHone (one of the stylists and colorists now at Matson & Co) through a friend who had amazing hair color. I went for hair color, and ALSO discovered Victoria is the first hair stylist I've ever had that really took the time (and has the skill!!) to cut my curly/wavy and generally moody hair. I send all my friends to Victoria. She's also just a rad person and 10000% enjoyable to chat with (or not if that's not your thing at the hair salon, she gets it.)
Rebecca Tucker
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I love this hair salon! Especially my stylist Victoria who has been doing my hair since I moved to Santa Barbara 14years ago (Gasp!) She is kind, knowledgeable, skilled and cares about her clients. I’m always happy with her service and have enjoyed our conversations over the years. I can’t recommend her enough 💗
Katinka Goertz
