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

Having read a few threads about the cost of hair appointment these days when I had my hair done on Monday I asked my hairdresser what she charges for highlights, cut & blow dry... £55

She's a mobile hairdresser who comes to your house so minimal overheads. I pay £35 for one colour & trim, I just dry it myself. She charges DH £10

Agree to shop around, that and try getting hair done only once or twice a year. I sound like you, box colours absolutely burn my head but embracing the grey means I look exhausted and sick!!! Instead I go to a cheaper place that is absolutely no frills twice a year and come out feeling human again! Plus I get to give her a great tip!!

I paid £220 for full head highlights, toner and cut (no blowdry) in outer London. And I shopped around after my old hairdresser went up to £260. I only go every 6 months though.

I absolutely agree. Hairdresser isn’t a particularly well paid profession (on average. There will obviously be some exceptions). It’s also considerably more strenuous than we (aka the people sitting in the chair) might initially assume.

That doesn’t change the fact that it is expensive. Maybe the real luxury was the “average person” getting to enjoy semi-regular hair appointments (for the last few generations)…

I used to get a full head of perfectly blended highlights. They were blended so well that they didn’t need any upkeep / no visible root differences and most family members and friends didn’t notice them.

but they cost nearly 500 CHF (so about £470). I haven’t gotten those done since 2023. it’s not that I can’t afford it. But I just don’t want to spend that kind of money.
and also the amount of time…!

I have also started to really enjoy my natural hair colour so I’d like to enjoy it for as long as it lasts / before it turns grey.

your hairdressers chair rent will probably be close to £1000 a month, a lot of colours I use have doubled in price the last couple of years. They won’t be earning anywhere near that a hour, nor will they have holiday pay/sick pay or a work based pension. All of their ongoing training will be coming out of their own pocket which is needed to keep up with trends

My hairdressers rent for her salon was £2k a month. So she had to make that before she even covered anything else. That was an eye opener to me as I’d always felt her prices were high, but I do get it.
She has moved to a home based salon now.

I prefer a treat at a beautician to shelling out on hair maintenance.

I accept that prices are going up but the jump from £120 to £170 is unreasonable. I’d be looking at another hairdresser.

I pay £85 for a full head and cut and blow dry in the South East. That’s very low for the area. My hairdresser works from home and he is an absolute gem. I’m not sure what I would do if something happened to him.

I have a cut and colour from a hairdresser who works from home. She's brilliant and it only costs £65. There are bound to be some near you if you do some research.

I can’t believe people still use salons. I gave up on it several years ago when the price went up yet again. It shut shortly after.

Pmsl at blaming the demise of the high street on women not willing to pay through the nose for highlights.

Get a mobile hairdresser much cheaper.

I can understand why you would jump to it, but you shouldn’t really compare your £150 take home pay with the £170 2.5 hour haircut.

The salon owner gets the £170 minus a percentage of business rates, premises rental, utilities, product purchases. They also have to pay themself (plus taxes, pension, etc) and then pay their staff. Their staff then have taxes and pension deducted. If you look at it that way I am sure you are still clearly out-earning the hairdresser (and possibly the salon owner)!

Yet people on here think dentists and vets charge far too much and should pretty much work for free in some cases?

If someone comes on here claiming a private dentist charges £70 for a half hour check up everyone rants about the cost. Yet the dentist needs to pay the same tax and also pay his staff and the rent and bills as well as materials etc. I’ve had people say private dentists should see children for free because it’s morally the right thing to do. And people say vets should see sick animals for free because they are meant to be animal lovers after all so how dare they charge someone who can’t afford it.

I use a mobile hairdresser. Great job. Cut and colour £50-£55. I can't afford the time and expense for salon nowadays either.

This is what I mean when i say look for somewhere cheaper nearby 🥰

How utterly patronising.

I dont think the cost of having your hair done is ridiculous. I pay £75 every 6 weeks for foils and my hair is short. Can I afford it? Just about. Why have it done? Because I like the way I look. (I'm in Wales btw for cost context)

If you are struggling financially, see if there's somewhere cheaper nearby.

If there isn't, do what makes you happy. Don't feel guilty.

Me and DH have been cutting out regular luxuries. The one off treats can still be stretched to but things like expensive gym memberships (or regular expensive hair appointments) are going sadly.

Part of it is planning for the future now that income tax is being frozen.

170 quid? Who's doing it, Vidal Sassoon?
50 quid from my hairdresser

Same. I haven't been to a hairdresser in ten years.

I highlight myself, using a cap and crochet hook. Cheap and easy.

I stopped getting highlights/lowlights and colouring due to cost but recently went to my local college's salon for a cut and blow dry (very long hair) and it cost 15 pounds and had to be checked and signed off. The costs for highlights/colouring much lower also.

I’ve always found it expensive so have always got my hair done in academies with trainees, never had any problems. All the main hair salons have them, Toni & Guy, Vidal Sassoon etc.

I have dyed my hair at home for ,30 years. Garn ier Nutrisse is excellent. I have been cutting my own hair since the COL. It is curly so hides any mistakes I make!