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Original poster

Why do women pay so much for haircuts

444 replies

Moontan · 09/01/2026 16:04

My colleague just came in complaining about how expensive it is to get her hair cut. She paid 100 pounds.

I was thinking - why don't more women cut their own hair

I think that advertising and marketing has convinced a lot of women - that they must pay someone else a huge amount of money to cut their hair for them.

When it is actually very easy to cut it ourselves.

My mum always cut her own hair.

i also always cut my own hair. Its really easy to cut it very straight at the back, and I also cut layers at the front of my hair

OP posts:
hmmnotreallysure · 09/01/2026 17:56

There is no way I'd be able to cut my own hair. I wouldn't even know where to start. I have had enough crappy hair cuts in my time to completely appreciate how brilliant my hairdresser is and I'll never go to anyone else.

Original poster
Moontan · 09/01/2026 17:56

m00rfarm · 09/01/2026 17:52

Very happy to - I like my hair and I cannot do it myself. I am out at the moment, but let me get back and I will post one. Probably only the front or side though as I am not capable of cutting the back of my hair and not taking a photo of it either. Please don't tell the OP though as she will report you.

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You wrote very happy to, but you haven't.

Lol

OP posts:
GreyRooted · 09/01/2026 17:56

Allseeingallknowing · 09/01/2026 17:46

Good point- can anyone explain why men pay less? Years ago, with a straightforward short back and sides, I could understand why, but now their hairstyles are as varied as women’s!
If I cut my own hair it would look as if a rat had nibbled it!

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I, and someone else has posted to say that our husbands, and in my case, my son, pay more over the course of a year than we do.

Obviously there’s the whole colouring etc, where it’s seemingly ‘acceptable’ for men to go grey but not women, but that’s completely different from the point OP is attempting to make.

Dreamingofthebeachandsun · 09/01/2026 17:56

Not everyone can cut their own hair, do their own eyebrows, nails. It require skills and patience which I don’t have; if you earn a decent salary you are happy to outsource for the things you are not expert it. Same thing with paying a cleaner, gardener, etc. Sometimes you don’t have the time, energy and skills.

Lisavanderpumpsdog · 09/01/2026 17:55

My MIL has posed the same question about why women pay to get their hair coloured when they can just do it themselves as she does. All I’ll say is I don’t know anybody else who would want hair the colour hers is.

Original poster
Moontan · 09/01/2026 17:55

Wintersgirl · 09/01/2026 17:53

This may come as a shock to you but perhaps they WANT to? Have you thought of that? I pay to get my hair done because I want to, I work hard and I decide what I spend my money on, no one is forcing me and I've not been brainwashed, I enjoy going because my hair looks amazing afterwards, worth every penny..

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Yes of course they can want to.

I was replying to the poster who wrote "going to the hairdresser might be the only time they get to themselves". That sentence didn't make sense.

OP posts:
Jstarr7 · 09/01/2026 17:53

You wear your hair everyday. Price per use is therefore technically very low! I invest in a good cut and highlights

Wintersgirl · 09/01/2026 17:53

Moontan · 09/01/2026 17:45

That doesn't really make sense. If it's the only time they get to spend on themselves, eg they only have two hours free a week for themselves, they don't have to spend that time in a hairdressers

This may come as a shock to you but perhaps they WANT to? Have you thought of that? I pay to get my hair done because I want to, I work hard and I decide what I spend my money on, no one is forcing me and I've not been brainwashed, I enjoy going because my hair looks amazing afterwards, worth every penny..

m00rfarm · 09/01/2026 17:52

VapeFree26 · 09/01/2026 17:48

I think YOU should post a picture of your hair with something hiding your face.

I'd really like to see your salon-cut hair. Go on, show us all what a perfect job a professional does when you pay for it.

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Very happy to - I like my hair and I cannot do it myself. I am out at the moment, but let me get back and I will post one. Probably only the front or side though as I am not capable of cutting the back of my hair and not taking a photo of it either. Please don't tell the OP though as she will report you.

Original poster
Moontan · 09/01/2026 17:52

BlackCat14 · 09/01/2026 17:50

But… many people do.

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Are you following the thread?

I replied to a specific poster .

She said 'not everyone has long hair that is easy to cut"

I replied to her, "I don't have long hair"

OP posts:
GreyRooted · 09/01/2026 17:52

VapeFree26 · 09/01/2026 17:48

I think YOU should post a picture of your hair with something hiding your face.

I'd really like to see your salon-cut hair. Go on, show us all what a perfect job a professional does when you pay for it.

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That would only be useful if they posted a picture when they had also cut their own hair to see the difference though, surely?

No one is suggesting that no one should cut their own hair but it’s absurd of the OP to suggest that everyone should/can.

As it happens, I can barely wash my hair at times due to pain..feck knows how I’d manage a cut.

TheKateColumbo · 09/01/2026 17:51

Losingitalloveragain · 09/01/2026 16:34

Oh God, does anyone else remember the MN haircut?

Yes 😬

ThreeSixtyTwo · 09/01/2026 17:51

Moontan · 09/01/2026 17:44

That doesn't really make sense. If its the only time they get to spend on themselves, eg they only have two hours free a week for themselves, they don't have to spend that time in a hairdressers.

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That's the lifestyle marketing - somehow it's easier for women to get the two hours to need a haircut than to do something else which would be potentially more pleasant for them.

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 09/01/2026 17:51

Moontan · 09/01/2026 17:45

That doesn't really make sense. If it's the only time they get to spend on themselves, eg they only have two hours free a week for themselves, they don't have to spend that time in a hairdressers

But they might want to. Just because you wouldn't send your time in that way doesn't mean others shouldn't. You don't get to speak for all women.

BlackCat14 · 09/01/2026 17:50

Moontan · 09/01/2026 17:47

I don't have long hair.

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But… many people do.

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 09/01/2026 17:49

You don't have to look like an advert, spend the money on something meaningful ❤️

Who are you to decide what is meaningful? I like having nice hair. It means a lot to me and it makes me feel good about myself. I can afford it so it's not an issue.
I also enjoy the process and as I've known my hairdresser for 20 years and consider her a friend. I enjoy her company.

VapeFree26 · 09/01/2026 17:48

m00rfarm · 09/01/2026 17:19

Surely, if you can cut the back of your own hair, you are capable of putting something to hide your identity when you post a picture of this hair cut? I really want to see it.

I think YOU should post a picture of your hair with something hiding your face.

I'd really like to see your salon-cut hair. Go on, show us all what a perfect job a professional does when you pay for it.

HolidayPlanningAgain · 09/01/2026 17:48

I have a colleague who cuts her own hair, I always tell her it looks nice. In fact it looks shit but she’s not into her appearance so what’s the point in hurting her feelings?
my hairdresser doesn’t cut her own hair because it never looks as good as when someone else does it as you don’t have the full 360 view when doing yourself

Original poster
Moontan · 09/01/2026 17:47

Littlemisscapable · 09/01/2026 17:36

This. Not everyone has simple long hair that is easy to cut, I certainly don't.also this is very insulting to hairdressers. Of all the things that are marketed to women (and there is so much) trips to the hairdresser are not something I've ever seen marketed to us.

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I don't have long hair.

OP posts:
Oioiqueen · 09/01/2026 17:46

My hair is extremely thick. When I can be arsed to get it cut I am happy to pay because they are trained and know how to put varying length of layers in it. To be honest I probably go 2-3 times a year as I hate the small talk. Now my hair is falling out my husband shaved it off for me. I think when it grows back I don't think I could ever go long again. It's so much faff having long hair I think if the barber will do it then I'll do it when my 4 year old gets his cut.

Allseeingallknowing · 09/01/2026 17:46

Moontan · 09/01/2026 17:18

The difference is that men and women are charged the same for a meal out.

They are not charged the same for a trim.

Women are not even charged double. They are usually charged 3 -4 times what men pay.

Im arguing against the discrimination

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Good point- can anyone explain why men pay less? Years ago, with a straightforward short back and sides, I could understand why, but now their hairstyles are as varied as women’s!
If I cut my own hair it would look as if a rat had nibbled it!

BlackCat14 · 09/01/2026 17:46

I pay £40 for a wash, cut and blow every eight weeks.
Want to know why? I love the salon experience. My hairdresser spends a good 6-8 minutes massaging my conditioner in and it feels lovely and relaxing. She uses great products and my hair always feels lovely afterwards.
My boyfriends aunt comes round and cuts his hair every few weeks and she always offers to give me a dry cut for free in my kitchen but I don’t want that. I want the luxury feel.

Original poster
Moontan · 09/01/2026 17:45

That doesn't really make sense. If it's the only time they get to spend on themselves, eg they only have two hours free a week for themselves, they don't have to spend that time in a hairdressers

OP posts:
Original poster
Moontan · 09/01/2026 17:44

mistyeveningponder · 09/01/2026 17:36

spend the money on something meaningful ❤️

This is such an odd thing to say- you dont get to decide what is "meaningful" for other people, that will vary from person to person. For one person, having a hair cut might be the only time they get to spend on themselves

That doesn't really make sense. If its the only time they get to spend on themselves, eg they only have two hours free a week for themselves, they don't have to spend that time in a hairdressers.

OP posts:
GhostMutt · 09/01/2026 17:43

Moontan · 09/01/2026 16:45

Thats also how i cut my hair.

I tie a ponytail in front of my my face. The hair is pulled tight in the ponytail. Then I do a quick cut. It takes two minutes and it looks great.

Then i add layers at the front

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That method wouldn’t work for everyone though.
It depends on the thickness and texture of the hair. Really thick kinky or curly hair is a whole different thing to what you’re describing.