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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should I be upset at paying £300 for haircut

831 replies

charlieginger1987 · 16/04/2021 22:16

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?

OP posts:
Arbadacarba · 17/04/2021 08:15

Surely you should be charged for the balayage or the head of colour but not both.

waterlego · 17/04/2021 08:15

YANBU. I don’t see how they can have charged you for the balayage AND a full head colour.

Also, the cut is expensive. I can imagine that is the cost of a cut in some salons, but the place I go to (small local salon) charges less for the cut and style if you are having it alongside a colour treatment.

kirinm · 17/04/2021 08:15

@BeingATwatItsABingThing

Holy shit!!! My mum, DD1 and I all had our hair cut for £10. Grin We have a family friend do it though.

I honestly could not part with £300 for someone to do my hair. I love my natural hair colour (auburn) so won’t be dying it until the grey starts/takes over. I don’t get a wild and crazy hair cut either because I don’t have the time or the energy to style it each day.

OP, I would definitely query the two heads of colour. That doesn’t make sense.

You underpaid.
jannyapple · 17/04/2021 08:17

@Nekoness you can buy Olaplex on Amazon
I just never know which number to buy apart from the obvious shampoo and conditioner lol
My hairdresser charges 8 quid for the one off shot and uses the shampoo and conditioner as standard
I might ask her next time if I need the intensive moisture or the bond repair or the bla bla that I don't understand 🤣

XiCi · 17/04/2021 08:18

Highlights is the better option as these blend in the greys.
Completely disagree with this, especially if you are dark. Balayage usually is darker at the roots anyway so really lends itself to a root touch up as part of the colour. Looks so much better than highlights as well.

Nekoness · 17/04/2021 08:19

Oh and my central London haircut is £110. He started out at £70ish 15 years ago and his rates go up with his experience. As someone else pointed out, Rush is a bit like Dominos pizza — always deals/sales on, hardly ever pay full price, and it’s a chain.

XiCi · 17/04/2021 08:20

Holy shit!!! My mum, DD1 and I all had our hair cut for £10.We have a family friend do it though
Really hope you gave her a big tip!!

Jimdandy · 17/04/2021 08:21

Rush are notorious for doing this to people!! How can they charge for a balayage and a full head of colour!

I booked an appointment there but luckily they discussed the price with me before the appt started so I left.

Everywhere else I’ve been, I’ve had highlights, and you just pick the colour of the chart. In fact all the places I’ve ever had my hair done they’ve let you pick up to three colours off a chart before they charged extra.

Rush wanted to charge me for plain peroxide highlights and then charge me etc for each colour about £20 for the toner to mix with it. Making a full head of highlights and a cut and blow dry about £220!!!

I usually pay £100 another prestige salon and because this was “high profile” I was expecting about £150.

When she sat down with the price list I said I’ve never been charged extra for the toner that’s mixed in highlights you just pick off the chart and it’s built in, no one I know just has pure peroxide highlights, so I just said I’ll leave it and left the appointment with her mouth hanging open.

I think this had happened before what happened to you and she had someone make a scene as no other salon I’ve ever been has come and sat next to you with a price list to do that.

Looking at Rush’s reviews it happens a lot!!

YouAreYourBestThing · 17/04/2021 08:21

My card would have been declined 😱 🤣
That's insane!! I had mine done yesterday...similar treatment to yours, including Olaplex, and it cost £87.50. My hair looks amazing - my stylist is an absolute artist!

I would be crying if that happened to me OP 😢😢 But to be honest, I always ask when booking how much it's going be be, including any extra treatments and the cut, so maybe 'lesson learnt' there (a painful and expensive one!!)

myusernamewastakenbyme · 17/04/2021 08:22

£300 is absolute daylight robbery...find another salon Op...these chains are usually overpriced.

Nekoness · 17/04/2021 08:24

@ jannyapple thank you!!! I’ve never seen them on sale as single use. 😍

VaVaGloom · 17/04/2021 08:24

That is a lot but a cut and blow is always a separate service to colour in my experience so you should have expected to pay at least £200 At least it looks good!

Flibbitygibbit · 17/04/2021 08:26

I had mine done yesterday, only the roots £27 ! It’s a proper old ladies salon in a village but have been going for years and they do a great job. I’ve got thick curly hair too and it took 2 hours. Saying that if they put Olaplex on it that’s around £30 odd for a bottle, as long as you’re thrilled with it I guess.

Deathgrip · 17/04/2021 08:26

To be honest I am not shocked by the price but a bit surprised you are shocked - you knew the balayage was £130, which it was. If you wanted a cut, that would be on top. You agreed to the olaplex knowing it would be additional. I’m not sure why you didn’t factor in the cost of the cut?

If root dyeing was needed they should have explained this would be an additional cost - that’s the only thing that I think is a bit unreasonable. Otherwise the cost of the cut separately is on their website.

I haven’t had my hair coloured for years but I know it’s insanely pricey (which is why I’m letting the grey happen!)

3WildOnes · 17/04/2021 08:27

I live in an outer London borough. I would expect to pay over £200 for all of that. I pay £120 for balayage & £65 for a cut and blow dry at a local independent mid priced salon. I have mid length fine hair.

MintMatchmaker · 17/04/2021 08:29

I go to Rush but outside of London. My Balayage is £130 and cut £65 so exactly the same price as yours. It is one of the more expensive stylists though.

Rush have never been cheap (although have regular colour deals on so I try and go when it’s half price) but their pricing is very clear on their website.

LovingBob · 17/04/2021 08:30

Did you not read the reviews before going out and having something major done at vast expense, reviews are terrible.

Lairymary · 17/04/2021 08:30

YABU for referring to it as a hair cut. It's not just a hair cut is it!?

FizzyPink · 17/04/2021 08:31

I knew this was going to be about Rush. They had a deal on once for half price colour so I phoned up and booked. They didn’t ask who I wanted it to be booked in with and I was too young and naive to check.
Turns out it was the colour director and a full head of highlights, cut and blow dry half price was £300 Shock

Bluntness100 · 17/04/2021 08:32

Rush prices are clear on their website, although they say “from” not an absolute price, Ie from 115, and a root regrowth dye is about the same price as full head colour , but again they give starting prices as much will depend on the clients hair.

It is clear that a hair cut is not part of the price of a balayage and that would be incredibly cheap if it was.

PiccallilliCircus · 17/04/2021 08:34

I don't dye my hair anymore. But I looked at the prices of the salon we go to and for a CBD it's gone up from £50 to £65 (zone 2 London independent salon)

I come from a market town in the east Midlands and my parents still live there so when I am permitted to visit I'll get my CBD done at my mum's favourite salon (v highly rated) for under £30.

My hair is long and wavy, tons of split ends but I am not spending £65 just to get the ends chopped off.

Nicola54 · 17/04/2021 08:36

@goodwinter

How are they charging for a full head of balayage AND a full head of permanent colour?!

Did they ask you if you wanted the Olaplex treatment?

^ this

I get my hair done in central London (Balayage and cut and blow) and it’s normally around £200. They’ve overcharged you the full head tint and the treatment if they didn’t offer you it beforehand.

ChronicallyCurious · 17/04/2021 08:37

That is extortionate even for London I think. In my home town it is £45 but in the city that I live in they start at £180 plus the price of a cut so I always travel home.

Every time I get my hair done they always offer extras and ask if I want olaplex treatment but they always tell me what it will bring my total to if I have it. I also think they should have told you that you’d be paying the price of two head colours if you went with the balayage. I know a lot of hair dressers offer two options. The cheek of adding a £5 tip! I will be shocked if you’re offered any money back though.

makingmyway10 · 17/04/2021 08:42

My highlights cost includes cut and blow dry! That is incredibly expensive! Even for London !

Whatwouldscullydo · 17/04/2021 08:43

I don't think the price list being available fir public view is a good enough reason to appear to be charging double what anywhere else does fir the same things.

Being able to afford it doesn't mean it makes ripping people off ok. Do they train on unicorns and have gold pigment in their hair products?