Should I be upset at paying £300 for haircut

[charlieginger1987]

Hi ladies,
Have waited 7 months to get my hair done and finally went today. I got a full head of balayage highlights, a root tint to cover my greys and a cut and blow dry. The website was really unclear and it said £130 for a full head of balayage. Knowing sometimes that hairdressers add optional extras I budgeted £180 just in case. I got to the till, the receptionist seemed awkward, didn't confirm the price straightaway, so I asked her what it was, and £300 appeared on the credit card machine. I can only guess that she didn't say the figure out loud because she was embarrassed to charge me that much. I didn't want to say too much in front of a full salon full of people but I simply said "wow that's expensive?" She shrugged and didn't say anything but "your e-receipt will be sent directly to you". I thought I'd best pay and then query the receipt later as I already felt so embarrassed and caught off guard.

Looking at the receipt they have charged me for:
£130 full head of balayage
£65 full head of permanent colour
£65 ladies cut and finish
£35 olaplex
£5 tip
Total: £300

Am I right to be completely shocked at the price of this?? It did take 4 hours and I have long thick hair but really? Have you ever heard of a haircut this expensive and fellow hair stylists, does this price sound reasonable to you?

Needless to say I have sent Rush an email but am I being unreasonable questioning the price of this haircut?

Ouch OP, I bet that hurt!

I think everyone will be paying more for their hair for a while as hairdressers will want to claw back some of the money they have lost and won't have their usual offers on.

I'm having the exact same as OP done this afternoon (not in Rush or in London). I'm bracing myself for the price now. Though I doubt it will even be half of what OP paid.

[quote jannyapple]@charlieginger1987 I'd be upset too
My normal cut and colour prior to Covid was £65 ( which included an Olaplex treatment) when she reopened I had my normal appt and without any notice of change in costs , i was charged £135 at the till
I felt exactly the same as you - shocked , embarrassed and uncomfortable. I paid and left quickly. When I got home I messaged her and said " do you mind checking I was charged properly today, just in case the girl made a mistake " her reply was we had to increase to cover PPE and reduced appts ? So I found a new hairdresser .. fast forward to this week
My new hairdresser sends out a group message " sorry everyone for the time you have waited ! No increase in cost to any of you , I've been well protected by Government grants so normal charges resume ! "
Happy days ... [/quote]
Yes - vote with your feet.

They'll find they lose custom, especially if there are other hairdressers who don't ridiculously raise their prices.

My hairdresser has increased a C/B by £3 - from £23 - 25 (we live in different circles ) and I think that's fair enough. They also had to have a card machine installed while previously it was cash or cheque only, so that will go towards their increased costs.

There is now very little friendly chat, and I know a lot of people are missing this. I'm not as I am a grumpy ole trout and can never think of anything to say unless I'm talking about my dogs.

London prices right there !
That’s expensive but that what they charge !
I did a gents haircut and only charged him £15 and he was flabbergasted he used to have it cut in London and cost him £80 🤣
Crazy because he only had a few wisps !! X

Daylight robbery Id expect to pay that in a celebrity salon in Mayfair. I’d kick up a fuss about the lack of transparency in costs particularly things like being charged full head perm colour rather than root touch up etc. I’d expect this to cost £180 tops. Once bitten twice shy, I got sick of the mystery pricing from hairdressers and now insist they quote fully up front.

I think it depends if the change you wanted was significant. If full colour was just touching up roots - then that's unreasonable price. But if they had to re-colour your entire hair and then do balayage - then it sounds about right for central London branded salon. Salons I've been to to do balayage consider it to be only that, done on your natural hair colour. If you want even a shade darker/lighter base than your natural colour, then it is considered an additional service. Given it took 4h, it sounds like that's what they were doing. I do think they should have told you exactly how much each step is going to cost in advance, and for that reason I would kick up a fuss - but the price itself, given location and brand is about right, unfortunately.

I have very long & very thick hair. Regularly get a baylage with opalex.

•you can't charge for baylage and full head
• you should be informed of opalex first

I've never paid more than about £110.

The salon in Bristol I (used) to go to pulled this trick on me when we came out of lockdown last time. £268 for roots, highlights, a trim of the ends and a blow dry.

I normally rebook as I leave but that time I didn't and they've lost a good customer. I'm not the only one I heard afterwards.

Greed does not pay long term

Unless a separate price is listed for balayage/

Did you offer the tip, tipping hairdressers is something that comes from the times before NMW, other low paid workers don't get tips. Looks like you were overcharged by just a small amount, you had a root colour not full head and the tip if you didn't ask for it.

It does seem a lot but I’m not surprised, it’s central London and a hair colour never usually includes the price of a cut. I don’t think you’ll get very far complaining, really you should have had an overall quote before you went.

Oh crikey I'd have fallen to the floor with my card gripped tightly in my hand. That's so expensive!

Sorry posted too soon.

Unless a separate price is listed for balayage or another lightening service in combination with an all over colour, I would expect to pay the cost of the balayage/lightening service AND the price of the all over tint, even if the balayage or lightening service affects more than 50% of the hair. The thing is though usually that would be like £40 for balayage or lightening added to £20-£30 for a root tint, and then £40 or so for a cut and any extras. Instead with the inflated prices and olaplex the price has just mushroomed into crazy money.

@Isaidnope

Totally flummoxed how it could ever cost so much, it’s almost a months mortgage payment for us! Absolute madness, you really shouldn’t have paid it.

cries in £850 pcm mortgage

OP, sorry but I think you have been a bit naive. Liverpool Street is full of investment bankers and that is what they charge around there.

I live just outside London and that full shebang you had would have cost me about £200. In central London, you will get charged way more. For starters, their rent in that location will be mind-boggling.

I pay £90 for a full head of highlights, treatment, cut and blow dry and I find that a bit steep!

Rush aren’t that great and are so overpriced. I always found them to be wannabe Toni and Guy.

I bet it looks amazing though!

TBH now that I think about it, a hair dye, full balayage, and Olaplex and cut in central London for £300 is actually quite a bargain!

I had my hair done Thursday. Same as you balayage cut & blowdry plus Olaplex

£130 full head of balayage
£77 ladies cut and finish
£20 olaplex
Total: £227

I use their master stylist so he is more expensive for a cut but IMO he is worth it. I would 100% query the

£65 full head of permanent colour

However, when I go to the hairdresser for the full set up I do think 2-250

Around here balayage is £200, all over colour is about £60 and cut and blow dry from £40 so the price sounds about right. That’s ok my local village hairdresser, not some fancy place.

I would not want to pay that, I hate being stung with a huge bill at the end. I haven’t been to the hairdressers for years though and care for my hair myself including dye. I might buy some olaplex now though. Never go back and look for a hairdresser less central next time.

I feel your pain OP, however if you have grey hair then I wouldn’t suggest balayage. As you probably know this won’t cover your roots hence why they did the colour as well. Highlights is the better option as these blend in the greys.

Please don't just let it go! They are absolutely relying on the fact that most people will be too embarrassed to query the price when they're out on the spot, then will feel they've left it too late after they've left.

You've got nothing to lose! I'd email their head office.

I am expecting to pay around £300 for balayage and a cut in a very trendy salon in London. That said they only charge me £65 for a cut and I have long hair - the man getting done for £80 is ridiculous!

I feel A LOT better paying £70 a pop now for full head of foils, deep conditioning, cut & style !

And loads of fancy coffees & hot chocolates too. I’m no help at all sorry !

Where are people buying this cheap olaplex from? Salon/professional use is olaplex 1 & 2. 1 you add to the colour and 2 you use after rinse. It’s £200!

The over the counter products are Olaplex 3 which is a weekly at home treatment.