Hair Highlights in Santa Barbara, CA

There is highlighting, and then there is Matson & Co. highlighting. Our color specialists craft sun-kissed, multidimensional blonde that looks like you just spent a perfect afternoon on Butterfly Beach. Whether you want a soft, natural glow or full-on California blonde, every highlight is custom-blended to complement your skin tone, your lifestyle, and the way the Santa Barbara light plays off your hair.

What Are Hair Highlights?

Hair highlights are lightened strands woven through your hair to add brightness, dimension, and movement. They can be placed with foils for precise, uniform lift or hand-painted for a softer, lived-in effect. Highlights range from subtle, face-framing pieces to an all-over transformation, and they are customized to your base color and the look you want.

Dimension. Light. Natural Movement.

Jeff Matson has been perfecting the art of blonding since 1997. It is not just something he does. It is his craft, his obsession, and the reason clients drive from across the Central Coast just to sit in his chair. With nearly three decades behind the foil, Jeff has developed an intuitive eye for placement, tone, and the kind of seamless grow-out that keeps you looking polished for months, not weeks.

His approach is never one-size-fits-all. Jeff reads your hair's natural movement, studies your base color, and maps out a highlight pattern that enhances what is already there. The result is hair that looks effortless, expensive, and unmistakably well done. At Matson & Co., highlighting is a conversation, not a formula. Our intimate six-chair studio means you get undivided attention from start to finish, and Nancy Garza brings her own versatile color talent to the chair alongside Jeff.

At Matson & Co., highlighting is a conversation, not a formula. Every appointment starts with a genuine consultation where we listen to what you love (and what you don’t) before we ever pick up a brush. Our intimate, six chair studio means you get undivided attention from start to finish. No assembly line. No rushing. Just a relaxed experience with a team that genuinely cares about getting it right.

Nancy Garza brings her own talent to the color chair, delivering everything from soft, blended highlights to bold, head turning transformations. Between Jeff’s legendary blonding expertise and Nancy’s versatile color skills, Matson & Co. covers every shade on the spectrum. Whether you’re maintaining your signature look or going lighter for the first time, you’re in the best hands in Santa Barbara.

How Hair Highlights Work at Matson & Co.

  • Your stylist assesses your current color, hair health, and goals to build a custom plan. We talk through maintenance, placement, and shade range so there are zero surprises.

  • We choose the ideal technique for your result: traditional foils for maximum lift and precision, balayage for a hand-painted lived-in effect, or a combination. Every section is placed with intention.

  • Once we reach the perfect lift, a custom toner neutralizes brassiness and dials in your exact shade. This step separates salon-quality highlights from everything else.

  • After a fresh blowout, your stylist walks you through a personalized maintenance plan and the right products to keep your color vibrant between visits.

TYPES OF HIGHLIGHTS WE OFFER

  • Full Highlights

    All-over brightness from root to tip for a complete, luminous transformation.
    See our dedicated full highlights page.

    A woman with long wavy blonde hair getting a haircut from another woman with dark hair in a salon with green plants and large windows in the background.

  • Partial Highlights / Face Framing

    Strategically placed around the face and crown for a subtle, sun-kissed refresh without a full commitment.
    See our dedicated partial highlights page.

    A woman with blonde hair in curlers at a salon, sitting in a chair.

  • Balayage

    Hand-painted highlights with a soft, graduated grow-out.
    See our balayage page.

    Comparison of a person's scalp before and after hair treatment showing increased hair density and coverage.

  • Foilyage

    Balayage painting sealed in foils for brighter results with a seamless finish.

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  • Babylights

    Ultra-fine, delicate highlights that add soft luminosity with no obvious lines.

    A woman lying down with her eyes closed, having her eyebrow shaped or tattooed by a professional in a beauty clinic or salon.

  • Dimensional Blonding

    Jeff Matson's specialty, layering multiple highlight techniques and tones for depth and richness. Explore full blonding services.

    A woman sitting on a medical exam table in a clinic or doctor's office, smiling at the camera. She is wearing a black top with sheer, striped sleeves. There is a medical device and a painting on the wall behind her, with window blinds and trees visible outside.

  • Color Melt / Ombré

    A seamless gradient from darker roots to lighter ends with no harsh lines.

    Person receiving a massage on their back in a clinical setting.

Your Best Blonde Is Waiting

Whether you’re dreaming of a subtle glow or a full blown transformation, our team will get you there. Book your appointment today and see why thousands of clients call Matson & Co. the best hair salon in Santa Barbara.

Book Your Highlighting Appointment

Santa Barbara's Premier Highlighting & Blonding Studio

When it comes to hair highlights in Santa Barbara, Matson & Co. has been setting the standard for nearly a decade. Located at 1213 State Street in the heart of downtown, our intimate six-chair studio is where the Central Coast comes for expert blonding, precision color, and personalized attention you will not find at a larger salon. Owner Jeff Matson is widely recognized as one of the top highlighting specialists on the South Coast, with a career spanning nearly 30 years and a team that has served more than 20,000 clients.

Contact: 805.403.5277

Email: info@matsonandco.com

 

Where Our Highlighting Clients Come From

Santa Barbara

Our home turf. From Funk Zone creatives to State Street professionals, locals trust us for highlights that look gorgeous in every light.

Montecito

Polished, refined highlights that complement the Montecito lifestyle. See our Montecito page.

Summerland & Carpinteria

Sun-kissed, low-maintenance highlights for beach-town living. See our Carpinteria page.

Goleta

A quick drive down the 101 for expert blonde. See our Goleta page.

Santa Ynez

Worth the drive over the pass for expert blonding. See our Santa Ynez page.

San Luis Obispo

SLO clients make the scenic 101 trip for highlights done right.

Book a Free Consult

Hair Highlights Questions, Answered

  • Partial highlights brighten the top and sides of your hair, around the face and crown, for a natural refresh with less time and cost. Full highlights cover the entire head, root to tip, including the back and underneath, for all-over brightness and a bigger transformation.

  • Balayage is freehand, hand-painted, for a softer, graduated transition. Foil highlights isolate strands in foil for more precise, uniform lift. Both are beautiful; Jeff often combines them for the most natural, dimensional result.

  • Pricing depends on the technique, your hair length, and density. We provide a custom quote at your consultation so you know exactly what to expect before we begin.

  • Most clients come in every 8 to 12 weeks. Balayage and dimensional blonding last longer because the grow-out is designed to be seamless. Your stylist will recommend a schedule.

  • Yes, but it is a journey, not a single-session miracle. Jeff specializes in gradually lifting darker hair to a beautiful blonde while protecting its integrity, and will map a realistic timeline at your consultation.

  • We do. Subtle, well-placed highlights add dimension and a natural, youthful look to men's hair. Jeff and the team have extensive experience with men's blonding.

  • Toner is a semi-permanent treatment applied after highlights to neutralize brassiness and perfect your shade. At Matson & Co. toning is standard with every highlighting service.

  • Any lightening involves some processing, but we prioritize hair health, use professional-grade products, monitor timing, and tailor every formula to your hair's condition. Most clients are surprised how healthy their hair feels afterward.

  • Your stylist will recommend color safe shampoo and conditioner, along with any treatments that benefit your specific hair type. Avoiding excessive heat, using UV protection, and booking regular toning appointments will keep your highlights vibrant and fresh between full sessions.

  • Come with clean, dry hair that hasn’t been freshly washed that day (a little natural oil actually helps). Bring reference photos of looks you love, and be ready to have an honest conversation about your hair goals. We’ll handle the rest.

  • We require a credit card on file when you book. We ask for 48 hours’ notice if you need to reschedule. Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice are charged the full service price. Highlighting appointments are significant blocks of time reserved just for you, so we appreciate your understanding.

What Our Clients Say

  • Six black five-pointed stars arranged in a row on a black 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. Matson & Co is my secret.

    Sadie Nardini, Google review

  • Six black stars arranged in a row on a black background.

    This place is top-notch! It's a beautiful space with beautiful people and when I get done there I'm looking beautiful! I highly recommend Matson and Co.!

    Nicholas Araza, Google review

  • Six black stars with a dark teal outline arranged in a horizontal row.

    Jeff and Ariel are both amazing. I am a middle aged woman with a pixie cut and constantly I get compliments on my hair.


    Aria Bercovich     Google review

Make It

Book Your Highlights

Matson & Co.  |  1213 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA  |  (805) 403-5277  |  info@matsonandco.com

Hours: Mon 9am–6pm, Tue–Sat 8am–6pm, Closed Sunday.

Book Your Highlighting Appointment