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?

How long is your hair? I ask because I paid similar but I’m in London and my hair is very very long. Took about 4.5 hours.

Thank God I’ve let my colour grow out and now have a head of lovely grey hair on which I’m complimented frequently. I pay £40 for a great haircut and have a fantastic hairdresser.

I pay £160 for bayalage and it includes the cut and finish, and the Olaplex. £300 is 😱

[quote Lassy1945]@SamW98

Was that also the TW Rush?[/quote]
No it was a different branch but seems to be a common practice.

My appointment time was actually changed as well to fit with the managers schedule - the stylist I originally booked with was available but I was moved without her being told as the manager controls the booking system

@Valerievalerie

I’m astounded at the people paying 30 / 50 ish for colour and highlights. A tube of premium colour costs about a tenner . Toner is the same price . I did an all over colour with highlights last week and charged her 110 2 tubes of hair colour 20 1/2 tube for highlights 1/2 tube of toner . £30 just for product . Any mobile stylist charging 35 for bleach and toner does not value themselves as after products are earning about £6/7 an hour. The lady who pays £6 for a hair cut , well I’m shocked . With travelling time added on she is practically doing it for free I’m disappointed in these people who think that’s an acceptable amount to pay hairdressers . I’ve put my prices up between 5 and 10 pounds for colours , only one lady mentioned it . I value my skills and my time and am heartily sick of people who don’t value our skills . I joined a few fb hair groups during lockdown and there are clearly 2 camps, the mega cheap stylists and the dearer ones . All amazed at what the others are charging The stories and behaviour from some clients I’ve been gobsmacked at . Without fail the awful rude clients are from the very cheap mobile stylists who quibble prices, ask to pay next week when they get paid , say they haven’t got enough money to pay once their colour is on . Ive never once been treated like that .

Charging more means you don’t attract bargain hunters who don’t value my time
We have the loveliest clients and I genuinely enjoy all their company ( apart from 1 🤣)
We give free beer , lovely coffee with chocolate and clients love coming .

Why do some of you think we are worth paying so little ? I’m genuinely interested
Would you be happy to pay a joiner 20 for 3 hours work after cost of materials ? Or an electrician ?

To the lady paying £6 . I do hope you at least round it up to £10

After first lockdown last year lots of clients were handing over big notes in tips as they felt so sorry for us .

And no , I don’t do NHS discount too , we do loads of NHS workers but lots are doctors earning way more than me .
Anyway, we aren’t all idiots and deserve respect
Please check prices before you start , avoid chains if you can as they charge way more. Lots of small independent salons are much nicer to visit and need the Buisness too .
But please stop being proud of paying peanuts to people trying to make a living

Well said . It's the same with everything - the ten a penny nail people who pop up on the local FB group with pictures of nails which are dire ! I would love to live in a place where I could get the same hair for half the price but it's just not the case . My option is to go to the old lady/granny salons but I wouldn't get the technical ability of a hairdresser who is regularly on training courses . When you build up a relationship with a hairdresser they value your service and will not suggest products you don't need and will not rest until you are happy walking out their door.

@Whitegrapewine

I KNEW this would be Rush from the title!!!

They always have offers that make it look like you are getting a deal and they always add more on. It borders on sharp practice. I have been caught out by them 3 times and NEVER AGAIN.

EG I had the balance for 180 offer - they said it didn't include toner at the till. I argued that balayage was the name of a style with lighter toned hair at the ends - not just "bleaching part of your hair".

Their ads are written SO SO sneakily. I would really caveat emptor with them.

I have a friend who was a former manager of a Rush branch and she left due to the way they were encouraged to add on as many extras as possible. The headline offers (which have stopped since the lockdowns) always end up not being quite what they seem

I knew this would be rush even before you said it..
I go there but to the Stratford branch.

The most I’ve paid is about £220 and that’s for full
Head of balayage cut and blow dry roots and toner... I don’t always get all that done though usually I pay at most £180.

They always ask if I want olaplex or a treatment and I say no they shouldn’t just add it on.

I’ve found a hairdresser in my branch I really like and trust now but I have had problems with rush in the past and I have made complaints

Their customer service department is quite good they fully refunded me once and sorted everything out. Going directly to the salons to complain I found was pointless

After the first lockdown they made it mandatory to have a £65 cut and blow with any colour service even if you didn’t want it . I found this ridiculous as I don’t always get a blow dry if I’m not going anywhere that day. My hairdresser even admitted she thought it was out of order. I was told they have since removed that rule

Oh and also the ‘nicer’ the area in london the more expensive the prices are. If you look online all different branches are different prices and it also depends on the experience of your hairdresser. There are different levels all different prices

@Valerievalerie Completely agree. For goods, I'm always keen to find a bargain, price doesn't necessarily mean the best quality. BUT for services, you get what you pay for. I want someone who takes pride in their work, whether that's a hairdresser, plasterer or mechanic!

@Valerievalerie I absolutely agree. In my chosen line of work people do not value time, effort and skill. I've also seen it in my husbands line of work too. People want someone to do work on their house but don't want to pay what it's actually worth. Fortunately my husbands clients value his talent and hard work. I think alot of people undercutting others on prices make customers feel they are being ripped off when they are actually paying for a good quality service and not some odd job man who says he can do the job for £££ less but then leave them with a shoddy job that won't last

Valerie Valerie
I agree with you, due to have cut/ colour was £60, so expecting it to be £80.
Great cut and. Colour too
Two of them ,one who owns it nothing flash, tho if somewhere new would ask, before committing.

You can buy a whole bottle of Olaplex bonding treatment for £26.

I use Rush

I booked and had a cut and blow dry for £50. They asked if I wanted a 'treatment' for £20, I said no. I offered and gave a £5 tip.

You allowed yourself to be totally ripped off, which was silly, but not to say that they are without fault. What's the point in balayage and permanent colour? What on earth is an oxaplex?

And I thought my dentist was expensive!

@lolacola77

Insane! I certainly would have said something. They've really taken the piss.

This.

Which stylist did you have because this can sometimes be the difference on prices is this somewhere you normally go . Is this London pricing ? I mean I’ve just had a cut restyle half head highlights wash and blow dry this was £90 but I’m not in London I’m Henley on Thames head mid stylist my normal girl

Rush is insainnnnnn prices. I got a cut and colour once - root bleach and all over tone and a little cut £250.... I have boy short hair like the sides are shaved.... fuming

You knew the price of the balayage, and I guess you know a price for a cut and for a full colour, so it shouldn’t have been too much of a shock

My mother used to say 'what did they rush you for that'. Now I know why!

@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?

And this. I've never been charged for both colouring methods in one go. One or the other. And did you ask for the treatment? Seems REALLY extortionate.

Price is essentially fine if you are aware in advance

Rush is terrible. Always has been. And never pay without querying.

Ouch ip

That's a total piss-take. It's amoral to charge that much money for 4 hours work and the ingredients ... I totally understand that you were too embarrassed to say anything at the time, but I'd take them up at head office level, if it's a chain, on the basis that you can't have had both a full head of permanent colour and a full head of balayage. It cost me £65 before a tip to have a full head of multi-colours and the cut and blow dry, I consider that more expensive than I can really afford and my hairdresser is excellent, it's not like I get a shoddy job for the money. Definitely take your custom elsewhere next time and make sure you get them to itemise everything you want before you finalise the appointment!

My first car cost me £300 😂