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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:
AngelDelightUk · 18/04/2021 19:08

I’d love to know the justification on their side for that

widgie · 18/04/2021 19:11

What a joke I went to a hairdresser before COVID who offered a free cut from the trainee and it was one of the best cuts I’ve ever had so I’m going again now she’s trained and it’s only £20 for a cut and blow dry I colour my own hair with tint if it needs it, I think I would have fainted, after smelling salts were administered then questioned it!

sjonlegs · 18/04/2021 19:13

The most I've ever paid is just shy of £200 for a cut/style and colour at a very exclusive and reputable salon in central London - and I was absolutely thrilled. They also gave me lunch and refreshments and I had the top stylist, etc.

I'm astonished!!?*

Newmum3200 · 18/04/2021 19:14

I would ring up and ask the manager to review the bill, it sounds like an error to me..

Buffs · 18/04/2021 19:33

Don’t beat yourself about this I can really see how this happens and whilst expensive I know people who actually pay these sums. I would definitely complain though especially about all the different charges adding up and that not being clear at the beginning. I also think it’s fair enough that you didn’t want to make a fuss in the shop. That doesn’t stop you from writing a punchy letter, and following it up. You can also post comments places where they should respond.

Annoymoususer · 18/04/2021 19:36

Opalex? How gullible do people think we are, nothing fixes damaged hair, only a good cut and a good conditioner can help. If that was done after the colouring with the cut and styling then there was no need for the opalex. They can't be very good if they rely heavily on hair relaxers

TreacleTits · 18/04/2021 19:36

Even the Olaplex is over priced 😬

Orla1970 · 18/04/2021 19:42

If seems that hairdressers now seem to be charging for every treatment separately which I object to tbh. It’s v steep. I hope you love it. I got stung a few months ago having looked at the price list and assuming cut and blow dry was included but it wasn’t and ended up paying an extra 50 quid on top of colour. I hated the colour but found myself giving them a great tip too like an eejit. I think 35 quid for olaplex is a cheek. I used to get it at my old salon and it was 15 quid a pop. I used to ask myself why I paid for it as I had a big bottle of olaplex at home! I now get SOS recovery treatment at my new salon which is an extra 15 quid too and I think is much better. I now pay £100 for colour, cut and blow dry with treatment. My husband thinks that’s shocking cos he is a tenner. Lol.

In future I would find a good salon off the main drag. Years ago I used to pay through the nose to go to a very famous hairdresser which I stopped once I realised I didn’t relax when I was there and the cost was ridiculous x

sophe · 18/04/2021 19:45

What price vanity, eh? The breakdown looks about right. You have just become very high maintenance.

TreacleTits · 18/04/2021 19:45

@Annoymoususer

Opalex? How gullible do people think we are, nothing fixes damaged hair, only a good cut and a good conditioner can help. If that was done after the colouring with the cut and styling then there was no need for the opalex. They can't be very good if they rely heavily on hair relaxers
In fairness Olaplex works (it’s not a relaxer) but each dose costs no more that £2.

Clients get mugged for it as it doesn’t add time to the service either.

cyclingmad · 18/04/2021 19:45

Again someone please explain why are we tipping hairdressers? Its not like they are earning below minimum wage!

honeybee88 · 18/04/2021 19:48

You went to Rush! Thats why....they are good but do charge.
I do my own hair and have worked as a hairdresser. Assume you had a colour put on all your hair first and then Balyage. Then the haircut.....well if I had done it for you it would have been £150.
Hope you could afford it and it disnt leave you short for other things. If you hadnt been there before...did they do an allergy test in advance of appointment?
In my opinion you should have been made aware of costs in advance.

Coffeepot72 · 18/04/2021 19:49

Three years ago I stopped going to Toni and Guy (in the Midlands) when I was charged £125 for highlights and a trim

TreacleTits · 18/04/2021 19:51

@cyclingmad

Again someone please explain why are we tipping hairdressers? Its not like they are earning below minimum wage!
If you’re going to tip anyone, rip the apprentices! Some of those young workers are earning next to nowt
TreacleTits · 18/04/2021 19:51

*tip

MumofPsuedoAdult · 18/04/2021 19:52

Jeez....that makes my resistance to paying £50 for a cut and blow dry pale into insignificance. I would have caused a stink!!

Bouledeneige · 18/04/2021 19:53

I think the most I've ever paid is once being £130 or £150 and that made me blanch. And I go to Trevor Sorbie!

Do you usually have all those treatments? Do you normally go somewhere else? And how long do they last? Sorry fir all the questions....

LipstickLou · 18/04/2021 19:53

London prices unfortunately. I would find a local salon and hope for clearer pricing. I was once told by the famous Denise McAdam that a £300 haircut was only worth it if it was a restyle. I had straight one length hair so a waste of her talent and my money. Her honesty was refreshing.

Cariadm · 18/04/2021 19:54

Unfortunately some of these 'central' salons in big cities seem to have a degree in arrogance and cheek!! They just go for it cos they know that most British people don't 'do' complaining easily, especially when caught 'off guard' in this way, sadly it's contrived and they know they're taking the piss big time! They go into the psychology of it I'm sure and play on the fact that, in front of other people, you wouldn't want to appear 'cheap' or to infer that you maybe couldn't afford that much but if you think about it, we shouldn't give a toss about that, they are strangers who we will never see again so why should we care WTF they think! All well and good after the event of course and I am so sorry that you have been ripped off in this way, because there is no doubt, they saw you coming.

kimmsutt · 18/04/2021 19:56

I think they should not have charged you for both balayage and full head of colour. But actually I think they mean half head as £65 is half £130 (highlights and balayage are same price in my hair dresser, both v time intensive). Either way not sure you should be charged for both? I’ve been to Rush in Canterbury. Also have think hair so was there 4 hours, had a great laugh handed over my 40% off voucher and was promptly charged £160 (this was 7 years ago). I was horrified and never went back. Cut and colour were v good but I can’t justify that. Hope it looks lovely.

teaontap · 18/04/2021 19:58

This amount seems completely normal to me but I think where your living might be a key point in this. I'm outskirts of london and have never been able to afford getting a cut and colour in the same sitting.

I usually pay £150-£200 for bleach, with no cut. It goes up to £200 with olaplex so I only sometimes do that.

I think if you're used to getting tint and not usually get a balayage then the price can be a shock. Any type of bleach is always a lot more expensive then normal tints. But at least with a balayage you won't have to keep getting it every 6 weeks!

I once had a mini heart attack in a hairdressers. I'd been in there almost 5 hours after the hairdresser convinced me that back to back highlights was the best thing for me. At the end she said oh yer the back to back highlights cost double normal highlights... normal highlights were £140 and that's not including olaplex, toner and blow dry... luckily she realised she hadn't told me before doing it (probably saw the shock on my face) and said I didn't have to pay the full amount as she didn't disclose it prior to the treatment. Which could be a good way to contest it OP, if you say the extra cost for the tint as a separate treatment wasn't disclosed.

1678bfj7 · 18/04/2021 20:04

Unfortunately this seems reasonable, except I'm not sure about having a full head of permanent + balayage.

The cut and finish sounds about right - I pay £60 at an excellent salon which is not in London.

Balayage would be £100 wish (you have to get a quote)
Root tint would be £68 / or full head highlights would be £105

goldielockdown2 · 18/04/2021 20:04

The colour part was clearly a fuck up. Querying it by email or phone is hardly kicking up a stink!

Annoymoususer · 18/04/2021 20:05

I was a junior hairdressing learning back in 97, I earned a whopping 1 pound an hour to wash people's hair, sweep and make endless cups of teas. Tip the juniors who wash your hair most are apprentices on bare minimum, people forget about them!
And honestly I wouldn't pay for opalex, once hair is damaged, it's damaged, esp bleach. Cheaper just buying a decent wig.

CrankyFrankie · 18/04/2021 20:08

I had a very bad experience in a Central London Rush. They’re shysters!