To think this is a sickening amount to spend on my hair?

[MrsMachin]

A colleague was shocked to hear how much I spend getting my hair done. I really didn't think it was that extraordinate an amount. Then I sat down and worked it all out.

£40 for a trim, deep clean and blow dry (every four months)
£60 for a full head of colour (every three months)
£35 for full head of highlights and lowlights (every six weeks)

It comes to £640 a year in total. That's not including shampoos, conditioners, nourishing masques, styling sprays, heat defence sprays, hairspray, and basics such as bobbles, kirbies and Velcro rollers. In addition to this I have three pairs of straighteners, three curling wands of various sizes, two hairdriers and a multi-purpose thingamajig, which cost hundreds altogether.

Is this way too much? Really hoping someone else spends an even worse amount than me..

If you can afford it and you enjoy it, then why not?

I don't spend that much on hair and beauty, or clothes, but I admit to spending what probably sounds ridiculous amounts on a) bedding b) handbags c) geeky computer hardware and software (including games).

As long as you're not feeding your kids Pot Noodles for tea in order to fund your hair treatments, it's nobody's business but yours!

Depends what you can afford and what to spend. I don't go to the hair dressers. I spend about £105 a year on hair dye (£7 a time) which I do at home. Then I buy shampoo and conditioner with the weekly shopping so not much really.

Your hairdresser is an absolute bargain. I spend probably closer to double that. If you are able to afford it, I can't see the problem.

My shampoo and conditioner are £7 each and I usually buy more every fortnight - thinking back on that I could probably settle for cheaper!

pocket oh, no way - Pot Noodles are firmly banned in the Machin household!

I don't think that's silly. I spend a fraction of that but mine is a nice colour albeit graying so I don't really want to die it yet. So I'm 'only' paying £50 for a cut every two months. I'm the same with clothes, I don't tend to spend a lot as I just but a few things I really like then wear them to death and I'm not very imaginative about fashion.

But I spend a ton on make up and skiing holidays so it all balances out.

Holly it's Chanel Le Lift (the Fine version), I got given a sample and basically realised I needed it in my life!

I haven't had my hair cut since before my sixth form leavers ball... my hair is very curly and hairdressers always cut it as if it is straight hair and it looks weird. Or they take too much off. I do it myself at home. I only buy basic shampoo and conditioner as I'm not convinced spending a lot of money on something you wash out of dead strands of hair is worth it. But I did recently buy a bottle of hair oil to tame the frizz which was £50, it is beautiful though and that is more what motivated me to buy it than anything else I usually just use a cheap oil.

It's none of her business what you spend on your hair, most people spend a bit of money on something they enjoy, you enjoy doing your hair, someone else might enjoy having an expensive hobby or eating out etc etc. I bet your hair looks lovely

God, mine has crept up to £200 a time . In my defence, my favourite hairdresser left on maternity leave and I tried several others in the salon and ended up with one of the more expensive ones. I know I should look for somewhere cheaper but i'm scared they'll do a crap job!

It's not a crazy amount to spend fwiw I spend £25 on having it cut every 6 weeks and £70-£100 every 8-12 weeks on highlights. I used to use home dyes but I'm moving from dark brown to blonde to cover the white so it needs a professional dye job now.

silkpyjamasallday thank you so much! I bet yours looks gorgeous too.

Holidays and meals out are difficult due to my two eldest (anxiety and ADHD) so don't spend much in that respect. I would always make sure the bills had been paid and there was food in the fridge before I spent anything on my appearance, of course.

There's nothing wrong with spending money, if you can spare it. You're just spreading it around so people can have jobs and get paid.

Even for those people who say "I don't spend much on XYZ so I treat myself on having my hair done".... why?! You don't need to justify what you spend your own money on!

This thread has been remarkably nice because if it was about designer handbags there would be the usual uber-competitive "I spend 5p on a plastic bag and use it until it wears out" ;)

If it makes you feel good and you can afford it I think it's absolutely fine.

It depends on your hair type / style too. People with shorter styles and coloured hair are going to need more regular appointments than those with longer / uncoloured hair.

I bet your colleague spends money on other things that you'd find extravagant, it's just a question of priorities.

QueenMortificado - just have to say - I LOVE your name!

I spend €110 euros every 2-3 months for cut and colour from my absolutely amazing hairdresser. It's worth it. Nails, brows etc I take care of myself, so it really is my only beauty indulgence. That and interesting Korean skincare from TK Maxx.

I don't think it sounds like too much, particularly as you enjoy going. £40 for a cut and blow dry is reasonable round these parts. (You can of course pay less or more depending on where you go). I think that is the average price point for a standard/ non fancy salon that gives good results. I have been places that charge less, and whilst my haircut was OK it wasn't as nice. I'm sure people who pay hundreds would say similar about a £40 cut though so it's all relative.

If I actually enjoyed going to the hair dresser I imagine I would spend similar amounts as you. But I don't. I force myself to go when my hair really needs it - maybe twice a year - sometimes once a year - and pay about £40 for a cut and another £10 tip. I used to pay £££ when I was getting my hair dyed all the time, but now I've switched to henna (was gradually getting more and more allergic reactions to chemical dyes) I spend about £3 every 6 weeks instead.

If I was part of your conversation OP I wouldn't have batted an eyelid at how much you pay. (At least it's not like my SIL who pays around £90 for a cut every 6 weeks and travels 70 miles to get there)

That's fine Mrs. I bet your hair looks lovely.

I'd love to be able to wait 6 weeks between colour touch ups, but my hair grows quickly, and the greys are coming through thick and fast.

I need to re-colour the roots every three weeks, so have to do it myself, otherwise I'd be spending thousands at the hairdressers a year. Luckily I've finally found the perfect, colour (blonde on the box, but turns out a rich chestnut brown on my hair, what is with that?).

Thanks DowagerCountess! Tackling SLT/CP meetings are so much easier with a shiny new do sometimes

I really have to ask though - did you try the blonde colour aiming to go blonder and it went darker?

I knew someone who found someone who could straighten her hair like no other so she kept going back.

To Singapore.

From Moscow.
She's British, so not an oligarch's daughter. Everything else pails into insignificance really, doesn't it?

Thanks MrsMachin, there's actually a whole thread about it in classics because i name changed to find someone had almost exactly the same name; then everyone on the thread changed to various mortificado names too to wind me up

Ooh what's the title, QueenMortificado? Definitely sounds like a better read than the reports I'm currently trying to plough through

I get mine cut and coloured every 8 weeks at £70 a time. My shampoo and conditioner cost £20 each and I use a hair mask once a week, the pot costs £35.

I'm a single parent and nights out/socialising are rare occurrences so I like treating myself to beauty treatments. I get my nails and eyebrows done monthly and a facial every 4 weeks.

A friend of mine gets hair extensions every couple of months and they cost hundreds, she's single with no DC though so she can afford it. Nothing wrong with spending money on things you enjoy as long as bills are paid.

Sounds about right to me...

Here you go, it loses its way after a while but the first few pages are worth a read

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/2788166-Someone-has-nicked-my-username

It costs me roughly £130 for a cut and a half head of hi-lights, and I have that done several times a year. I also prefer Aveda hair products, which don't come cheap.