Hair cut and colour now exceeds what I earn in a day. Absolutely fed up.

Its not insane if that's the going rate for the location.
Cheaper salons do exist but they aren't always good.

I think posters aren't aware of the difference in the cost of living in various parts of the UK. Hairdressers and houses!

Lol that's an insane cost. I spend £70 on a full head colour, cut and blow dry. And that feels pricey to me.

Find a cheaper salon, or look at beauty colleges where you can often get a much cheaper cut/colour by a student with heavy supervision. I wouldn't be fuelling them charging that much by paying it. They're cutting and colouring hair, not performing CPR.

I’m interested in how you like your highlights. Many hairdressers do them quite chunky, whereas I like them very fine and blended so that the re growth is not noticeable.

I don’t disagree the cost of living is high, but try a different hair dresser. I have root colour, baylage and tone for £120 with a cut and blow. You obviously use an expensive salon, shop around.
Also you’ve likely had more of a pay increase an a better paid pension than most, full sick pay etc. you are better off than most - add all that on to your take home as a total package.
I spend over £600 a year on professional fees, over £250 a month on travel to and from, don’t get any home working and the bare minimum in pension.
Stop looking at the net day rate and think about your total package. How much paid sick leave or maternity etc have you taken? How much more per year does the nhs pay in above the bare minimum? All adds up.
if you don’t like it and want more in your net daily then look at private sector.
A business has had exponential costs costs lately, thy don’t operate at a loss!!

I guess higher taxes are needed to ensure you’re paid what you should be.

I am more concerned that you only take home £150 a day after being in a job for 30 years and are now at senior level.

I never accused you of saying anything.
I think society puts pressure on women over their appearance more than men.

It is expensive. A few have commented do I not come more regularly. Lol. Dublin is pricey too for hair and then upkeep of it. I couldnt afford it regularly

I know that. Just seemed odd to comment eye watering price and then also saying they spend £680 on hair a year. Seemed a bit contradictory. Esp when there are others on the thread who may not even afford to go at all.

People have different incomes.
Some go to McDonalds, others to the Ritz.
No one is right or wrong just different.

I didn't say every woman should do it.
Most of my friends hardly wear any.
In fact I'm of the view that I'm the odd one out as most women I see don't use it.
And I don't care either way.

If you are all over grey, colour is needed every 6-8 weeks as for darker hair, it’s a visible grey line. It’s impossible to go every 3 months if hair is grey and you don’t want it visible. I’m well off by most peoples standards but now it’s all about cut and hair quality, not colour.

Men and society don’t judge women on hair colour. Many very chic women are grey - Christine Legarde snd many more. It’s about skin quality and looking your best, and that’s not hair colour.

My hair has never looked better using home dye. Looks natural. Hate going to the hairdressers.

Sorry if I upset you with that. I don’t mean to demean anyone. I appreciate that you like doing it, but not everyone wants to wear make up FOR THEMSELVES. I certainly don’t. Yet I am looked down on for not doing it.
I get that you do it for yourself, it doesn’t mean that the expectation should be for every woman to go along with this, and unfortunately, whether you wish to acknowledge it or not, there is societal pressure on women to do this and not on men.

Yes embrace the grey and spend some of the saving on good regular cuts

We are held to completely unrealistic and unfair standards compared to men. I’ve been getting my nails done a lot due to social events these past couple of months, but from the new year, I’m going to reduce to special occasions only. I don’t think social media helps us as many other women and girls look super polished on it.

No, I completely understand that — but for some of us, that’s still a lot of money, especially if you don’t spend your money on coffees, takeaways etc.

I try not to buy coffees out and I don’t buy many takeaways either but I couldn’t afford £170 x4 times a year. Max would be once (birthday) or prior to Christmas or a special occasion!

But many people will waste that on takeaway food, coffees, meals out, or similar. I spend that amount a year on my hair. It's within my budget having worked hard for decades. The actual cost over a year is less than £10 a week.

I think it's demeaning to decide that women only do these things for society / men rather than for themselves.

If I lived alone on a desert island I'd still want nice hair, make up, skincare, the lot!

It's self-care and taking pride in how you look for YOURSELF.

Good for you if it gives you confidence and you can afford it.
It pisses me off that as a society in general it’s ok for men to age, but not women. It’s looked upon as we haven’t made the required effort. Same with make up, heels etc. I’m lucky I’m in a job where nobody gives two hoots what I look like, but it is a low paid job. I don’t think I would pass muster in a high flying career anyway, no matter how much money I spent on my appearance. Can’t make a silk purse from a sow’s ear.
What business you are in? Just interested to know why having grey hair might be a barrier to it?

Agreed! Nobody gives a shit about men going grey. They are silver foxes. Why aren’t we silver vixens?
I do love getting my hair done, and have nothing bad to say about hairdressers, but I simply can’t afford it regularly, and never have done. I’m getting a haircut in January because I have been saving for over a year. I’ve been growing out my highlights for over two and a half years. My hair is awful at the moment but if I can’t afford it the that’s the end of it. I can’t afford a lot of things, but that’s life.

Four times a year is a lot at £170 a pop!

I’m with you, OP.

I just paid £170.00 for a full head of highlights, cut and blow dry, Eye watering price and that’s the reason why I only go four times a year.

For me it’s an investment in me which gives me confidence in my business on which my income depends