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Original poster

Reducing outgoings - hairdressers

32 replies

TheMindfulMum · 26/06/2022 08:32

Okay, so I've been going to my hairdresser for about 8 years. I have always loved the whole experience and have seen it as my treat to myself every 8-10 weeks. 3-4 hours of no kids, adult chat and a few hot drinks. I don't spend any other money on me as I don't drink coffee or have magazine subscriptions and I don't have any other beauty outgoings like nails or brows.

However, over the last 2 years every time I go the price keeps going up. Two years ago it cost me about £100. The last visit cost me £160 😱 I'm now at the stage where sadly I just can't afford that amount of money on a hair appt.

It's a small salon owned by my hairdresser. Initially, mid pandemic I felt like I was supporting the business after it had been closed for so long and I could justify the extra £5/£10 increase each time. But last time I sat there and we were chatting and I just realised we are now worlds apart. His partner gave up work a year ago to find himself so they've lived off his wage in this time, they've just had a whole month travelling in Asia, we chat a lot about food as we're both foodies and he admitted they eat out more than at home. The restaurant recommendations he was giving me were WAY out of my budget.

I now don't feel excited about my next appt. I've only just cleared the money on my credit card from my previous appt. This isn't a luxury I can afford anymore. I wish it were and I wish the salon all the success but whilst their business is clearly booming enough to be living quite comfortably it would seem, we're cutting back like many other families are having to.

So my question is, how much do you pay for your hair? I have mid length hair and have a full head of highlights (usually 2/3 colours) and a cut and blow dry (tbf it's usually just a trim as I never change the style).

Also, cheaper salons, are their products worse on your hair? If I shop around for an alternative are there questions I should be asking about the products other salons use?

OP posts:
OldTinHat · 26/06/2022 08:34

I go to the local training college - £6.50 for a wash, cut and blow dry. If I go to a salon it's £35 for the same thing.

ChuckBerrysBoots · 26/06/2022 08:37

Less than £40 for cut and blow dry but I also only go about twice a year.

Nap1983 · 26/06/2022 08:38

It sounds like you get quite a lot done when you go. If you take into account four hours work and all the products it’s not really as much profit as you think.
I have my roots done every 3 weeks at a salon it’s £45. If I get my highlights done which I only do maybe 3 times a year it’s £100. And that’s me getting a discount.

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SecretVictoria · 26/06/2022 08:38

Shop around, the salon I use (in a city) does half price colour on Sunday. Have a look for recommendations and go for a consultation, usually free.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 26/06/2022 08:41

£90 for roots, cut & blowdry, in central Manchester using Aveda products. Get a full head of colour once or twice a year which costs more.

Neverendingdust · 26/06/2022 08:42

£160 is quite reasonable given what you have done.

ancientgran · 26/06/2022 08:42

I pay around £90 for colour, highlights, cut and blow dry. Two years ago it was £80 so not too bad an increase. If it goes over £100 I'd have to seriously rethink. I'm thinking of just letting it go grey, I definitely would if it was white or silver but it is sort of dark grey and harsh, it seems to happen alot with redheads, instead of the colour going and hair being white it seems the red goes leaving this dark grey and then a long wait for the white hair. My husband had jet black hair, he is black, and then almost overnight it was just all white. I'm quite jealous.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 26/06/2022 08:43

Agree with PP, you are getting a lot done.

Sallycinnamum · 26/06/2022 08:45

Same here OP.

I've been going to the same salon for 20 years for a cut and highlights.

Pre covid I was paying £110 for half head and £130 for full head. Last time it was £165 for half head and a trim.

I'm now going to a hairdresser who works from her home. Cost £110 for full head and cut and frankly she's done a better job of the colour than the salon.

I

OompaLoompaa · 26/06/2022 08:55

£160 per visit every 8 weeks works out your hair costs £20 per visit.
My DH and I have recently retired, pre retirement our income was just under 200k and my hair worked out to cost £14 per week. Then covid happened I do my own colour and my regular cut and in between fringe trim work out at £5 per week.
You are spending a lot. Have you asked how much it would cost just for the colour and then go else where for a wet cut if it’s just a trim? Could you space out your appointments more? I don’t think where the hairdresser goes out to eat comes into it, it’s about whether you can afford it and if so is it value for money?

gingersplodgecat · 26/06/2022 08:57

Blimey, what are they using - silver scissors and gold leaf?

Hettypants · 26/06/2022 08:59

I have exactly what you have for £60. My hairdresser used to visit me at home but now has a garden building.

Thisbastardcomputer · 26/06/2022 09:02

Mine is £65, roots, toner, cut, wash and blow dry. My hairdresser lives a much more extravagant lifestyle than I do but that's my choice

Motnight · 26/06/2022 09:06

I spend about £20 less than you, Op, for similar services, though there is the option of getting 10% off if I go on a certain day.

Your hairdresser's lifestyle isn't your business. What you need to think about is if the service they provide is worth it to you. It sounds as though it no longer is, so have a look around for cheaper places near you.

I have stayed with my hairdresser for many years because it suits me to, if it didn't then I would find somewhere else to go.

WeAreTheHeroes · 26/06/2022 09:07

Imho it's the skill of the hairdresser which is important not the location or the products. Obviously you're paying more if the salon is in a place where rents are high.

Either speak to the hairdresser about changing the regime to save you money or ask someone whose hair you think looks good who they go to and see if changing hairdresser can save you money.

I stopped having salon colour when the cost become too much due to the frequency I needed it and then grew out the dye. I'm now naturally grey so only pay for a good cut and blow dry. But that's not for everyone I know.

cushioncovers · 26/06/2022 09:09

I have a cut every 6 weeks. I go to my hairdressers house, it costs £10. I dye my hair with a box dye I get from Amazon on subscribe and save so I get 15% off. So my cut and dye cost around £14 every six weeks. not helpful I know. 😁

Akite · 26/06/2022 09:16

The hairdressers lifestyle doesn't come into it, he's clearly running a successful business and fair play to him. If you can no longer afford his services, you have no obligation to keep going.
I pay very little to hairdressers, but I would pay for other treats for me instead - massages, spa treatments etc. it's good to have something for yourself that makes you feel good but you could investigate alternatives that are affordable for you and cut down what you have at the hairdresser or find a different, cheaper salon

ChristinePerfect · 26/06/2022 09:17

I pay £55 for t-section highlights with cut and blow. I used to go to a small, cheap salon, and really liked the hairdresser there. She then moved to a much more up-market salon and the cost trebled. Same person doing the same cut, just in swishier surroundings, for me it wasn't worth paying the extra money.
My SIL pays similar to you but she likes having the full "posh" experience so it's worth it to her.

RudsyFarmer · 26/06/2022 09:17

You need to ask around. Get some recommendations. Try something new. I only have my hair done a few times a year and it’s around £60 for three colours full head. .

Original poster
TheMindfulMum · 26/06/2022 09:19

Thanks for all the helpful tips.

I didn't even know having only your roots done was even an option. Because I've been going there for so long I've just always had the same treatment. Maybe there's a conversation to be had about reducing my cost by having a different treatment.

Just to clarify, the comment about his lifestyle was more to point out that I'm now feeling like the price increase is no longer helping the loss of income due to the pandemic. That hole seems to have been filled on the face of it. And I am all for people living life and enjoying it if they can afford to. It's a great salon and they deserve to succeed but when we're chatting for 3/4 hours about life and it feels like we're tightening our belt but they're not (and it's taking me 2 months to pay my appt off), the scales have tilted too far. This was more about my financial position than his and me trying to gauge what others pay and if I can pay less for great hair still 💜

OP posts:
AndSoFinally · 26/06/2022 09:24

Full highlights, root blend, cut and blow dry = £80

If you just want T zone or scattered highlights, it's £50 for the above.

Get some recommendations and shop around!

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 26/06/2022 09:24

I pay £90 for what you have at a really good salon and it takes 1.5-2 hours. I only have it done 3 or 4 times a year as I ask her to blend it in so it grows out without harsh re growth.

Bettyboop3 · 26/06/2022 09:26

£60 & mine also takes 3-4 hours, roots, highlights, trim, wash & straighten. Hertfordshire. Although my next app is next w/e & i believe prices have just gone up but i hope nowhere near what you're paying 😱

DisplayPurposesOnly · 26/06/2022 09:27

I didn't even know having only your roots done was even an option.

It is for me because i only have one colour. You have several.

shiningstar2 · 26/06/2022 09:28

I have my hair coloured and also highlights. It needs doing every 4 weeks as the roots come through. I have cut down by not having high lights so often. They only get done about every fourth visit. I don't have a cut every time the roots are done. Recently I leave the roots an extra week and just use that spray on colour so that saves a bit as well.