Why do women's haircut's cost more?

[AgeingArtemis]

At my local "unisex" hair place the cost of a cut for a woman with short hair (they have different prices based on length) is more than twice the equivalent men's cut.

AIBU to think prices should be based on time and difficulty? For example, a man wanting a fancy undercut would be more effort than a woman wanting an all over buzz. And I'm not a hairdresser, but surely someone with long hair who just wants an inch off the bottom is no more difficult than a complex short cut?

[Pipistrella]

I was trying to work this out the other day but what Slugs says makes sense.

I asked my sons' barber if he would do my hair and he said no. (I only wanted a trim)

OTOH there was a young chap in front of us getting all sorts of fancy schmancy things done to his hair, funny shaped beard, half wedge half clippered and stuff shaved into it, you name it, it was so complicated - and the best bit was he was talking all about his baby and his recent illnesses and all the stuff you think men don't gossip about!

I'd only go in a barbers to avoid the conversation, tbh, but it looks like it's just as bad

[MarkRuffaloCrumble]

I also asked if my local barber could just trim the back of my hair with clippers, as I'm growing it out and just wanted the nape of my neck tidied up. They said they weren't insured to cut women's hair

So galling that I then had to pay £25 for it to be done at a hairdressers and they refused to use clippers because "it's not feminine" so y cut about half the amount off that I wanted and a week later it looked exactly the same. Rip off! I have previously got to the point where I cut it myself, but I butchered it and had to pay a hairdresser to fix it anyway, so there's no easy way.

[MarkRuffaloCrumble]

Oh and the best part was, while they were telling me they weren't insured to cut women's hair, there was a woman sitting in one of the chairs having her hair cut!

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid]

I'm amazed the barbers would cut your hair mark MIL used to go to a barbers.
She didn't pay more than her dh for the privilege (very simple cut).

[Pointlessfan]

When I have my hair cut it takes about 45 mins including wash, shampoo etc, drying and styling.
When DH has a haircut they spray it with water, cut it and send him on his way, it takes about 10 mins plus waiting time as barbers don't tend to have an appointment system. I think that would account for the price difference.
Not sure what happens with men with long hair who want a trim, surely that should be the same price as a woman's hair cut??

[toboldlygo]

I recently went from mid back length hair to a short crop. I didn't question paying more for the initial restyle - it involved a lengthy discussion, poring over pictures, going back over some bits after drying etc. which all took time and I was happy to pay for it.

I now have hair that is very similar in length and style to my DP (hoping that's not as creepy as it sounds) but he pays £17 for a trim to my £36 at the same salon. I have also noted their reluctance to use clippers and also to trim sideburn-y bits, they all seem to want to leave pointy feathery bits there and I get tutted at when I ask them to be buzzed short as it's 'masculine'. Not sure now whether to attempt visiting a barber.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

My hairdresser will do a dry cut on me because I have 'easy' hair, I wash my hair myself and I don't complain about what she does. It's half the price.

I think it's a combo of the actual service, time and training, the tax on being female and the expectation that grooming should be an enjoyable hobby for women.

[HoneyDragon]

I get mine done at the barbers and pay the same rate as everyone else.

[RJnomore1]

When I go to the hairdresser I get a head massage, multiple fancy coffees, magazines brought over, loads of products used on me and I can be there for hours. I don't mind paying a small fortune a lot more than dh. But if I nipped into his barber for a short back and sides I'd grudge being asked to pay more than him just for being female.

[Mide7]

"When I go to the hairdresser I get a head massage, multiple fancy coffees, magazines brought over, loads of products used on me and I can be there for hours. I don't mind paying a small fortune a lot more than dh. But if I nipped into his barber for a short back and sides I'd grudge being asked to pay more than him just for being female."

No such thing as nipping into a barbers, takes forever! Especially considering it takes about 10 mins per hair cut. It's worth paying more in my opinion to get an appointment.

[AgeingArtemis]

Yes, I don't mind salons charging more than barber's because they're a totally different experience.

But I'm annoyed by places that cut nearly equal amounts of men's and women's hair, and expect women to cough up twice as much for the same service.

For example, why should she pay more than him? It's essentially the same haircut.

[Pointlessfan]

I also think a hairdresser salon must have massive overheads that a barber probably doesn't eg. Lots of hair products, electricity for dryers, washing hundreds of towels etc.
That doesn't explain why a men's cut in a unisex salon would be cheaper except that if I had a quick dry cut I'd be annoyed to subside people having highlights, blow dries etc.

[amarmai]

another example may cast some light. When shopping with my eldest son for a raincoat , i was amazed at the diffeerence between men's and women's. Men's are better tailored , better quality material , many added tailoring details etc and way cheaper.This can be seen in virtually all articles of clothing including leather goods such as belts and footwear. So who is subsidizing who?And do not forget the UN stats that job matched to job , women are paid 70C to the $ compared to men .I cd continue on this theme for pages but will be considerate and leave some examples for others.

[MyNameIsInigoMontoya]

I can understand it costing more if women are wanting a wash, coffees, fancy styles, blow drying etc etc.

However, I don't think that's the only reason. For example when I take DS to the barber's, his hair takes a bit of time as it's quite thick and needs clippers up the back, a "fringe" of sorts cutting across the front, the top needs cutting by hand etc etc. - but he can walk in and get that for £6 (and a free lollipop for each of them).

If I want to take DD - she has basically a one-length, straight-line-cut-along-the-bottom style which I think even takes me less time than for the barber to do DS, even though I am pants at cutting hair. Literally just taking some length off the ends all round. And yet the barbers won't do it, instead we have to make an appointment (which I'd prefer not to) and pay at least £10 (and no lollipops! to their great outrage).

[Pointlessfan]

Surely it would make sense for haircuts etc to be priced up according to what is in involved? Some men have long hair, colours etc just as some women have short hair. My hairdresser who is very cheap does this, she also used the clippers on my hair when it was short!

[Grimarse]

Has anyone actually asked a hairdresser about this?

[Elendon]

I treated my son to a posh hairdressers for a restyle cut. It cost £18.00 because of his age (14). Adult male haircuts are £22.00 regardless - age 16 and over. Barbers are cheaper but they don't do a good enough job. He had a cup of tea as well - as did I because he asked me to stay with him.

My restyle will cost £38.00.

[Elendon]

His haircut took an hour and he had a wash and blow-dry as well. I have to say, it was gorgeous, he looked most handsome and he's well pleased with the result.

[Crumbles12]

I'm a hairdresser. In a barbers men are in and out in about 15/20 minutes, the training to become a barber is a much shorter amount of time as they do not learn the longer or textured cuts or colours etc. for hairdressing. (in general) even in the salon, we do men's and women's, a man's hair needs a quick rinse, generally clippered and a dry that takes 10 seconds, a women's cut (generally) includes two shampoos, conditioning, a much longer cut as it would involve all the sectioning etc. And a blowdrying/styling. Plus the overheads being more. The equipment we use is more pricey along with coffee machines, magazines etc. That are more expected in a hairdressers. Although as above if a woman did have short hair needing a trim most barbers would accommodate as whether or not it was a man or woman's head they would be able to cut it in the exact same way as they would with a men's cut.

Obviously there are different styles but a price list with one price for a women's short cut vs a long cut/ trims etc. Would get far too complicated. Having 'just an inch' off a long cut also doesn't take any less time with all the washing/drying/sectioning than a more complicated style so the price would be the same. Hope that helps

[Elendon]

Crumbles, I think you should charge adult men more and adult women less. That would be more equal. I bring my Kindle in to read whilst getting my hair cut and sometimes just have water.

I don't mind paying good money for a good haircut, in fact I think it's essential. But clearly, there are inequalities in the payment. I see more and more men in salons now. They care about their appearance and take their grooming seriously. Bite the bullet and charge them more and reduce the price for women.

[Elendon]

Also, why do women need their hair washed twice? I never do this at home.

[Elendon]

One more thing. Male hair is coarser and blunts scissors more. It costs a lot to get a professional scissor sharpener in.

[Crumbles12]

The men who come to a hairdressers are charged more than they would do in a barbers anyway. Around here it is atleast double the price, but it does come down to the timings. 90% of the men we have in the salon just require a quick wash and dry, both which take a fraction of the times a long haircut takes and a bit of wax to finish. If something takes half the time it will be half the price as in any other business. And yes there are times that someone may take less time for example some women have masses of hair and take over the allocated time, compared to someone with finer hair who wants minimal amounts cut off but it would be a very complicated and long price list to allow for what hair will take longer/ who will have tea coffee etc. So it is made more general. The washing twice is to clean the hair and any products/old shampoos remaining, just makes it easier to cut and a better result. Also many people come into the salon not having washed their hair for a few days and one shampoo isn't enough for the build up.