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?

I pay £225 for the same thing. South London.

They do a great job and it is perfect but I'm giving up the highlights as it's just ridiculous.

Any London salon recommendations welcome here!

The tip is a piss take but the most ridiculous thing is that they charged you for a full head colour AND and beylage. ALWAYS ask for the cost upfront. I have been for hair appointments before and if they chuck in an extra £20 because it took longer than expected I will happily pay it but that is ridiculous. Never in a million years would I pay £300 for a cut and colour. It looks to me that they are trying their luck because they need to make up for being closed for so long. I guess it probably depends where in the country that you are but here it is generally £40 for a cut and blow-dry and £40-£50 for a colour but never would they charge for both colour and beylage. You been duped.

OP, are you not from London? Or do you not colour your hair often?

Firstly, Rush is generally overpriced. They are absolutely shite and try and market themselves as higher end by having branches in central and nicer parts of London.

Second, in what world did you think that balayage would include cut and blow dry? Maybe you used the 50% discount last time and that’s what you’re getting mixed up with, but never ever in any of the many hairdressers I’ve been to in London does a colour include a cut. It is always an add on.

Also, £65 for a cut and blow dry is very normal for Rush and similar salons. So again, nothing new there.

Finally, a balayage does not include root growth tint. Colouring your greys is not part of the balayage treatment.

So I do think YABU by complaining about the prices, especially when you don’t seem to know how hair services in London salons work.

I think it's overcharge by £65 too . I've paid 230-240 before for the rest

Phoebesgift
I think that a bit harsh.
I don't think she knew it would be that expensive most people think its a bit much.

Hairdresser here, you got ripped off.

I 100% see where you’re coming from, not wanting to kick up a fuss but by god, that’s extortionate.

I can't understsnd why you thought the cost of highlights would cover the root colour and the cut. I understand why you wanted the root colour because, depending on your base hair colour, highlights aren't going to cover grey roots. There would also be two separate costs for two different tints. Im not sure why people are saying it would be less for a root tint with less color used with balayage because in over thirty years covering grey (started greying as a teenager) I've only had maybe 4 comb throughs which didnt even mean adding more tint.

As for people talking about olaplex being cheaper to do at home you wouldn't complain about a restaurant meal because a home cooked one would be cheaper. A hairdresser is paying rent, electricity, the cost of product and, depending on the system, maybe staff wages if they are enployees rather than renting a chair. i don't think you can compare cenral London costs with somewhere in Scotland.

The thing is you didn't just have balayage,. You had 3 separate services: balayage, tint and a cut & blow-dry. Having all 3 done at the same time and then adding an optional extra treatment means the costs add up!

You knew that the balayage would be £130, so surely you weren't expecting to have your roots tinted and your hair cut and styled for no extra charge?

If you'd booked to just have a cut & blow-dry, presumably you would have expected to pay £65? If you'd booked only a root tint, you would have expected to pay £65 also, surely?

The only charge I think you should have refused to pay is the tip! Tipping should be entirely voluntary.

Also, to those who say she’s been overcharged and she should get her money back, simply because the prices are steep, that is not how the real world works.

If you go to a restaurant which charges £X and then another charges £Y more, you’re not going to go to the second restaurant, eat the meal and then complain that you shouldn’t be paying the full price because the first restaurant is cheaper! You pay the price of the place you voluntarily choose to attend!

Name and shame. That’s the beauty of social media.

Thanks for all your comments ladies. I think I'm just going to have to chalk this one up to experience.

For those who have asked I've lived in central London since 2006 and have never paid close to a price like this. I've had hair appointments where the cut's included in the colour, I've booked appointments where the cost of covering roots is included in the full head service, so I've had a bit of experience but have just never been charged £300 before. I was prepared to take a hit of around £180 give or take - but my bill was over £100 more. In my opinion that's still loads for London.

I'll see what Rush come back with because I don't see how placing some well targeted root dye on each side of my head, which took all of 5-10 minutes, cost £65. Last time I paid for colour a root tint wasn't charged separately and today I was never warned it would be this much by the stylist. I think if I've been mischarged it has to be for this element! But equally maybe I just wasn't prepared or aware that I would need this service 🤦🏻‍♀️

Glad most of you are as shocked - and ladies from my experience don't do what I did and not double check how much it will be when they sit you in the chair! 😂😂

The Olaplex they do in the Salon isn't the same as the ones you can do at home usually.

It's something like there's 6 levels of Olaplex and (5 and?) 6 is usually only available in a salon.

I go to my local rush, always with the same hairdresser. Never paid £300, but never had baylayage. Usually have a cut and gloss which is around £55+£39 (my hairdresser is not a senior stylist). I usually have olaplex too. The tip is not compulsory, you can add that when you pay on the card reader. If I was you I'd probably question the £65 permanent colour. I've had a toner in the past and I'm sure it was like £20. Rush do lots of offers, so I'd usually wait til they do a 40% off colour services or something, less likely they'd do this just after lockdown as the business is there. The branch I go is always busy and lots of repeat custom by the looks of it.

I got a cut and colour and highlights last week, and cost me £55. I remember going to a salon and made a mistake by not realising that the cut and blow dry was extra and nearly passed out when it was £120. . Lesson learned, but £300.I suppose London prices are ridiculous though.

I don't see how placing some well targeted root dye on each side of my head, which took all of 5-10 minutes, cost £65

It's a set price, how long it takes doesn't factor in (unless it takes excessively long.)

YANBU but I would say you’re on a hiding to nothing getting it back

Yeah Wtaf that's insane

I would be asking for my tip back at least 😂😂 CF not even telling you it was on the bill until they sent it via email !

I've paid over £200 a few years ago for highlights, colour and cut. This was Berkshire - it was creeping up steadily price wise and after that bill I never went back. I know balayage would have been more. Some salons round here would charge what you've said but I decided it was too much.
I found a hairdresser who works from home and pay £55 for exactly the same - she's every bit as good.

I pay £190 at an independent salon that includes half head with cut. Which I think it quite expensive really for half a head. I'm in South East England. I have a rough dry unless I have plans - otherwise I save my money and if I can be bothered style my hair when I get home. I don't tip anymore because I go every 6 weeks and the salon is more expensive than the other locals ones in my area. I have been stung before in the past so I will always query now if I don't feel something is right with the price.

I would email Rush and ask why you were changed for two full heads. Seems you've been overcharged.

I’ve been to Rush Liverpool before lockdown on colour Tuesdays and paid £74 for full head colour, cut and blow dry....and I thought that was expensive! ( they did a good job though😁)

Oh and since lockdown, I am now considering going back to my natural auburn colour as I am quite liking the fact that it's had time to grow out quite a bit. I'm also sick of the expense of going to the salon and having my roots retouched.

Wow, that is crazy. My salon is £140 for a balayage and if you want the root colour done too it is £150 - they called it balayage and root melt. Its definitely not a full head plus balayage. My salon add the cut and blowdry on top so its around £200 depending on the level of the stylist who cuts it. I always begrudged paying so much but I have gone to the same colourist for years so I'm vexed to move. After hearing your bill though, it sounds like I am getting a bargain I would call them tomorrow and say after reading your bill you were charged for a full head colour instead of a root melt and hopefully the give you a partial refund

Misses the point - but why tip?