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

Well if it's as reasonable as everyone is saying here OP, then get yourself on a bus or train, go further afield and spend the day being pampered in a new place. If you book early enough and get cheaper train fairs you could have a lovely day out and explore a new place for less money.
Worth a try with some recommendations maybe?

Are you in a particularly expensive area? My apt takes 2.5 hrs (full head of foils, trim) and it’s £95. Maybe shop around?

At Headmasters the price for a cut and blow dry ranges from £60 to £136.

Summer lites with 8-12 foils ranges from £92 to £110. Or be completely gorgeous for up to £240.

I cut my own fringe in between cuts . £6 for a 30 second fringe trim . I colour it myself too .

I've given up altogether. TBH I never particularly enjoyed going to the hairdressers, so I definitely never saw it as a treat, always saw it as a chore. I've let my hair grow long, and I dye my roots once every couple of months. it looks surprisingly good long. I'll cut it my self if it gets too long, or I'll go to the really cheap hairdressers that cost £15 for a trim. I cut my fringe myself.
Hairdressers get away with charging that much because a lot of women are prepared to pay it. Barbers are much cheaper because most men are like me and see going to the hairdressers as a chore, so won't pay it.
We'll all just go back to the days when everyone cut their own hair (or each others), like my Mum did in the 1950s.
Honestly, OP, it's not that bad, it's actually quite good and freeing - just try it - don't bother dyeing or cutting, you'll save a fortune.

Im in Kent and my hairdressers also charge about £170 for a cut and colour.
It wasnt that long ago it was £120ish but since covid its gone up a lot.
Youve put it in perspective as it is also significantly more than I earn in a day,especially after tax, obviously there are overheads but still it is a lot of money.
I like my hairdresser, she does a good job and Ive been going to her for years, its a bit of me time but I am starting to baulk at the cost particularly as i am fighting the grey so need it done more frequently.

Not always, it’s not. I’ve had more compliments since going grey than I ever did when it was brown.

I’m so glad for my hairdresser…£23 for a (great) cut and blow dry. My daughter’s getting a full head of foils with a cut and blow dry for £75 next week.

I bet your pension will be amazing in comparison to a hairdresser.

25 years in the NHS and like OP had to work part-time whilst the children were little, my pension is forcast at £300 a month, not sure how I am going to spend it all ?

Don't know if helps, but those highlighting kits with a daft looking cap over your head can help. Will help soften the grey as your colour grows out and it's much harder to get the dye onto the scalp as it's only the bits that you crochet out that get dyed.

I hear you @Burntout01 I used to go to the hairdressers every 8 weeks then 3 months now I only go once every 5 months for a cut and just have highlights once a year. I found my favourite hairdressers were being swiftly promoted and moving out of my budget but I occasionally see them if they have a standby appointment available. Luckily DH has become very good at doing fringes etc.

I’m shocked on two counts. The cost is ridiculous! Must depend where you stay but that’s a disgraceful amount to charge.

Secondly I’m shocked at your wage. Had no idea a senior nurse would be earning that amount. I earn £250 in a 5 hour day. I don’t work anywhere near as hard as you’ll be working. That’s bloody awful.

Yep, I haven’t been to a salon since before covid. Would never be able to afford it. Cut and colour my hair myself at home. Still skint.

Ask about on your local Facebook group for home hairdressers. Much cheaper

or college nights

but yes you should be able to be your hair coloured without costing More then you earn in a day for 2/3 hrs work

I just get a cut now every six months. I order professional salon dye and learnt to use it myself from YouTube videos. I get the same results. I use Redken Colour Gel Oils on the roots and Redken Shades EQ on mid lengths and ends. Beautiful results, super shiny. Maybe look into doing this?

Herefordshire. Cut and colour with blow dry afterwards 75.00. Trim is 25.00

Not grey (yet) but i stopped getting my hair professionally done years ago.

My mum chops an inch off every couple of months and I've simply embraced my natural dirty blonde colour.

It's not as bad as I thought it would be and honestly I've got used to it.

I used to have my highlights (full head) and trim touched up every two months without fail. LOL... no way now.

Local hair salon ( in fact 50 yards from my house) . Not a big salon in town.. this would cost £70/90.. l have highlights.. wash .. cut and blow dry on my grey hair.. l pay £70 because l have a short pixie cut.

North/South has literally nothing to do with it. There are plenty of salons in the NW where you'd pay hundreds of £s for colour alone.

I live in a little Scottish village.
The salon charges £50 for a cut and colour.

I use the mobile hairdresser. She charges £18 for a cut. I colour my own hair.

Both village hairdressers are extremely talented.

Ahh deprived northern city. One of the few perks, that and my 4 bed detached house that we paid £120k for 12 years ago

Depends entirely where you are local to! I go to a local salon and it’s £300

Same. Just paid £300 for a trim and half head highlights. Not even a blow dry. London but zone 4 and not a fancy area. Can’t even embrace the grey cos am just mousy and look half dead without it

Oh it isn't.
Grey hair is very ageing.

This isn’t just about the hair colouring though is it? It’s about not being able to enjoy the little luxuries in life that make long working hours worthwhile; whether that’s having a dog, buying a new sofa, or going out for a meal once a month. The point is that costs have gone up, with no corresponding rise in salaries, and this has gone on for too long. No need to be quite so unsympathetic to op.