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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:
Zoejj77 · 18/04/2021 18:19

The full head colour is wrong as you had roots and olaplex seems a bit expensive but then it is RUSH. Did you know they added that in? Cut and blow dry is relatively cheap and balayage about right as you said thick hair.

amispeakingenglish · 18/04/2021 18:19

olaplex ??? I have obviously had a sheltered life!

deardia · 18/04/2021 18:21

Did you pay on credit card? Put the payment on hold, til they get back to you about why on earth it was so expensive

DiamondBright · 18/04/2021 18:23

I've never paid for a cut separately, it's always included in the price of a colour.

CateJW · 18/04/2021 18:24

Just read that receipt to my hairdresser brother in law who works in a premium hairdressers and he said "that will be London, but yeah sounds right"

His hairdressers are very well trained and do hairshows with Schwartzkopf, demonstrations with GHD etc.

MadMadaMim · 18/04/2021 18:25

That is shocking. And I would absolutely query it. Especially the £65 full head colour - it wasn't. I'd also query the £35 - £20 or £30 is not £35.

We have a rush nearby and I went once and never again for similar reasons. I had a long discussion with the manager (who was rude and tried to involve other customers!) about their price list being very misleading.

DSC94xx · 18/04/2021 18:27

That’s not a good price at all ! £300 I expect a full head of new hair for that price . I hope it looks amazing ! And probs after all this lockdown you damn right deserve it but I would question the price , I only every paid £80 for cut and colour in Manchester , £300 is a bit too much xx

Cissyandflora · 18/04/2021 18:27

@CateJW

Just read that receipt to my hairdresser brother in law who works in a premium hairdressers and he said "that will be London, but yeah sounds right"

His hairdressers are very well trained and do hairshows with Schwartzkopf, demonstrations with GHD etc.

Yes it sounds pretty normal to me too. That’s why I very rarely get my hair done. And I have definitely never seen anywhere that includes a cut with a colour treatment. Round here you don’t get a blow dry with a colour treatment either and that’s made clear.
MakkaPakka84 · 18/04/2021 18:29

OP, I feel you and that price is extortionate. However, the cut/blow-dry and Olaplex were always going to be on top of the cost of the bayalage. The only questionable bit is full head of colour, I would ask them to clarify. The other bits, expensive as they may be, are charged separately at most hairdressers.

nannykatherine · 18/04/2021 18:30

Check the cost when you book and don’t go to Rush

nannykatherine · 18/04/2021 18:31

@amispeakingenglish

olaplex ??? I have obviously had a sheltered life!
Yes what is it ???
whattodo2019 · 18/04/2021 18:34

sounds like you went to the same hairdressers as my DD Grin

Sunshinedrops85 · 18/04/2021 18:35

"Repair damaged, compromised or aging hair with OLAPLEX No.3"

www.amazon.co.uk/Olaplex-Number-Hair-Perfector-100/dp/B00SNM5US4?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Just one example.

LovinLondon613 · 18/04/2021 18:40

That is nuts. However, I'm American, and over there they would say you got away easy with just a £5 tip. But... it still sounds like crazy money. Olaplex is w-a-a-a-y overpriced, and I've never noticed much difference with it. I go to a home-based salon and got the same thing you did (minus the Olaplex) for £120.

HeraInTheHereAndNow · 18/04/2021 18:41

No. Just too too much.

ilovesushi · 18/04/2021 18:42

OMG! I would definitely question it! That is so expensive. I worked in central London for years and used to get my hair done in my lunch break in various salons and never ever paid prices like that and I always get cut, colour and blow dry. I think they should have forewarned you of the price. My regular stylist always gives me a heads up if it's going to be a bit more than usual. Really poor customer service and really over priced! I'd be gutted no matter how good my hair looked!

Room36 · 18/04/2021 18:44

I would consider taking them to the small claims court if you believe their practises were deceptive. The process is simple and affordable, the only cost to you is a £25 court fee, you can file the claim online and you don't need a solicitor or anything like that as you will defend yourself. It sounds like their website is unclear, I think you could make a strong case.

nopuppiesallowed · 18/04/2021 18:46

That's outrageous! When you speak to them, tell them that if they can't come to a reasonable agreement with you, you will tweet about it and copy them in. I've done this 3 times. Once, I had all airport car parking charges refunded. Once I had an upgraded mattress from John Lewis (long story but a satisfactory resolution). Once it didn't work (Tesco and other supermarkets still charge exorbitant prices for gluten free oats). Best of luck!

helenoftroystonvasey · 18/04/2021 18:53

Hi OP

This is a lot although not sure how hair dressing pricing works. How long were you there?

I mean if you were having complex colour corrections and there for several hours I could imagine that

I would expect to pay this in designer london salon. Not rush though, it's a horrible chain.

Having used Rush before, I won't go back. I remember the stylist aggressively up selling the whole time I was there and kept trying to sell me shampoo and conditioner set for about £60. I had to be really firm and say no.

Blueink · 18/04/2021 18:58

Unfortunately probably about right, I don’t know why the tip was only £5 on £300! No I wouldn’t pay it - but get either cut or colour not both, occasionally T section balayage (as ridiculous price for what it is) and don’t bother with Olaplex salon treatment. I have products anyway at home and don’t even rate them. Not too late to query the tint, that’s the only thing I would check.

LauraPearl · 18/04/2021 18:58

"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"...

As much as I agree that £300 is ludicrously expensive - I wonder why you didn't check the price BEFORE you had the cut/colour done? You allowed £50 for "extras", any salon charging £130 for just the balayage will charge more than £50 for the wash/cut/tint/blowdry. And after 7 months the cut would have probably been considered a "restyle" and charged more for it. Unfortunately, I think this time you'll have to swallow it - and know to check the price before-hand next time. And serve Rush... they sound like rip-off merchants :0(

Bunnyfuller · 18/04/2021 19:00

It’s stuff like this that drove me to my mobile hairdresser and home dye. Sounds like you’ve been overcharged, and I bet it doesn’t feel like £300. Every time DH says ‘I want to treat you to a salon no expense spared I used to dread it. Too embarrassed to say I fucking hate it. Last time I tried I looked like a character from Acorn Antiques, utterly awful. How can they honestly think they did well?

I now used whichever dye is cheapest, which is always a pleasant surprise with the colour I choose cos it a guesstimate! I leave it in an hour to hide the motherfucking grey. And it does.

pollymere · 18/04/2021 19:02

I have the sort of hair that really just needs trimming but I pay about £50 if I want it cut and blow-dried. I have a friend who had to pay for hair to be dyed before balyage which came to £200 without any cutting... I think you got burnt but find somewhere decent next time.

BertramLacey · 18/04/2021 19:02

£130 full head of balayage

Had to look up what that is, sounds complicated, is at least what they originally quoted.

£65 full head of permanent colour

No idea why that cost 65 quid when baya thingy whatsit is colouring it already.

£65 ladies cut and finish

OK for a good cut and finish in London. I normally pay separately for the cut and the colour.

£35 olaplex

Say what now? Did they gold plate the hair as well?

£5 tip

Well on the bright side, they didn't charge you 10%.

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 18/04/2021 19:03

They tried it on and it worked 🙄