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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think £150+ is very expensive for highlights and a trim?

177 replies

Mischone · 17/07/2019 16:56

I've been a bottle blonde for years and started letting my roots grow out last year to give my hair a break. I've got quite a bit of regrowth now and wanted it all done properly, as opposed to doing it myself at home as I'm used to.

I went to a well known salon today for a consultation with a senior stylist who has a great reputation and i was quoted £140 (minimum) For the highlights and then an additional £20+ for a small trim.

She recommended I opt in for conditioning treatment too but I can't afford that.

I paid the £50 deposit for the highlights and booked in because I really want it done, I've had a shit time of it this year battling depression and PTSD so i wanted to treat myself for once and feel like the "old me" again.

Now I'm home and the excitement has worn off I'm feeling quite uncomfortable about the cost. I'm not well off, I can afford to have it done as a one off but if that's the price I'll have to pay every 6-8 weeks there's no way I could continue to go there.

AIBU to think this is bloody extortionate?

OP posts:
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Original poster
Mischone · 17/07/2019 17:05

My hair is also quite fine and shoulder length if that makes a difference, there's not that much of it thickness wise.

OP posts:
RedPanda2 · 17/07/2019 17:07

Sounds about average really. You'll be in there a while so that's why it costs so much. Just take advantage of the tea or coffee and enjoy it!

Honeysuckleandroses · 17/07/2019 17:08

Just had this conversation with a friend who is on minimum wage. She is paying £170 for highlights and cut, long hair which hasn’t been highlighted for a year. I was horrified.

SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 17/07/2019 17:10

That’s pretty average for a decent salon and with a senior stylist, unfortunately. If you can’t afford to pay for the upkeep, have you considered balayage instead of highlights? They wouldn’t need doing as regularly, so you could spread out the visits and only have it done when you can afford it.

browzingss · 17/07/2019 17:15

I pay around £150 for a full head of highlights with the most senior colourist, they charge separately for cut/blow dry too so a bit more expensive than yours. I think it’s standard pricing tbh. You can obviously have a less senior stylist or go to a cheaper salon, you have to balance price with skill/aesthetics/potential damage etc of course

HopefullyAnonymous · 17/07/2019 17:17

I go to a fairly posh salon and I pay £74 for roots, toner and a trim. Every 6 months or so I have the balayage redone when the root stretch becomes, well, too stretched and that’s £90ish with a cut. Maybe it depends where you are? I live up north-ish so I’d expect prices to be a bit cheaper up here.

LordEmsworth · 17/07/2019 17:18

That sounds expensive to me. I went a couple of weeks ago, my hairdresser specialises in colour and is excellent; I paid £105 for root cover all over, plus highlights on top, plus a cut.

Original poster
Mischone · 17/07/2019 17:19

Ah, see I'm glad people have pointed out that this was the norm because I'm a salon virgin and when I heard the price I thought she'd seen me coming Grin

Would balayage look ok on fine straight hair? I was in two minds as to whether have that or highlights.. the creature of habit in me opted for highlights as I missed my all over platinum blonde.. but balayage would certainly be the sensible option in regards to upkeep and cost.

Could I turn up on the day and say I'd like balayage instead or would I need to ring and amend the booking first?

OP posts:
aibutohavethisusername · 17/07/2019 17:19

Sounds about right to me to be honest. South East.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 17/07/2019 17:20

I'd expect there to be cheaper places, but for round here £150-200 is normal.

Balayage would be much easier to keep up

Original poster
Mischone · 17/07/2019 17:21

The salon is in blackheath London (so quite a "naice" area)

I don't know if I'm allowed to say the name of the business on here but it rhymes with pony and pie Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
Mischone · 17/07/2019 17:25

I'm definitely thinking I should do balayage now.. it was one of the two options I went to discuss.. and I've done a total 190 on the highlights because of the upkeep cost.

Should I ring the salon and explain in advice that I want the balayage instead?

OP posts:
Battenburg1978 · 17/07/2019 17:26

I recently had my hair cut at a training college salon (SE London - not Blackheath though!) and noticed that even their prices for a full head of highlights started at c£80 not inc cut and blow dry so I can imagine that £150 would be about t!

Marilynmansonsthermos · 17/07/2019 17:26

Not sure this is the norm?! I wouldn't pay more than £120 tops!

LaurieMarlow · 17/07/2019 17:27

I pay about the same for T&G Grin

It’s the top end of the high street type brands, but I know they’ll do a good job so I’m ok with it.

Is there a way of minimising how often you get it done. My highlights aren’t that far off my normal colour so regrowth not that obvious. I only get it done every 5/6 months.

OwlBeThere · 17/07/2019 17:28

That’s insane money.

Chottie · 17/07/2019 17:31

OP - I live within spitting distance and yes, that price is the norm.

SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 17/07/2019 17:32

Pony and pie Grin

If you’re decided about balayage, I would probably ring in advance to let them know, in case they need more or less time blocked out for your appointment. I have no idea if that’s the done thing though!

666onmyhead · 17/07/2019 17:32

I've been in the exact same place. I bit the bullet and had it done. It looked lovely for the first month. But now I wish I'd had the balayage thingumy instead as I can see I'm going to have to go again pretty soon. It's too flipping expensive !

LaurieMarlow · 17/07/2019 17:34

What would be the advantages of balayage? For those in the know?

Original poster
Mischone · 17/07/2019 17:35

My natural hair colour is medium brown, I've 5ish inches of regrowth then the rest is light blonde. I'll try to upload a photo if it lets me.

OP posts:
bellabasset · 17/07/2019 17:36

It depends where you live. In 1986 I paid £80 for highlights, cut and finish in Chelsea.

Nanny0gg · 17/07/2019 17:38

If you go to that kind of salon, that's what you'll pay.

It doesn't mean you'll get anything better than any other up-to-the-minute salon.

The best way imo is word of mouth and looking at others' hair. If you know someone that's been there and you and they like what's been done then it may be worth it. But you can do that with cheaper salons too.

Original poster
Mischone · 17/07/2019 17:38

I think I'm going to ring them before they close and change the booking to balayage!

That's what I'm worries about 666, I'll be thrilled for a month and then annoyed with myself because I can't afford to go back and have it done again anytime soon Sad

I think balayage looks stunning, I usually see it styled with wavy hair but mine is quite thin and poker straight. It'll look a damn site better than roots of doom though Grin

OP posts:
LakieLady · 17/07/2019 17:39

My hairdresser works out of an odd little salon that still does old ladies' shampoo and sets, but she's the best hairdresser I've ever had (I had one who was marginally better at cutting, but he didn't colour and his colourist was a bit shite).

She charges me the the princely sum of £66 for a full head of highlights, cut and blow dry, despite being in a rather up itself SE town where you can't get a cup of tea for less than £1.80 and beer is almost at London prices.

It'd be worth you paying £30 return to come down on the train, OP, and have a nice day out while you're here!