To be upset after hairdresser visit

[carlottavaldes]

I've been going to the same hairdresser for 3 years and we've always had a good relationship. I went in today for a consultation before my haircut and colour next week. I'm dark blonde and want to go lighter so I asked for balayage - I had it done by her two years ago for £200 so was expecting a similar price. Instead she quoted me £300. She also said that if I paid less it would look unfinished, blocky, dry, not shiny, and I would be disappointed - which made no sense, as I paid less last time.

I told her that, but she kept pushing and didn't suggest any alternatives (e.g. highlights) - it was basically "pay £300 or have crap hair". I know she's trying to recoup the money she lost during lockdown, and to make the most of people's desperation for haircuts at the moment, but a 50% price hike is ridiculous.

I had been really looking forward to treating myself and being pampered and instead I found myself being pressured and manipulated and told that my budget was no good, which was upsetting as £200 is a lot for me. I don't want to go back, even for a cut, but I'm struggling to find an appointment elsewhere.

Has anyone else experienced hairdressers hiking their prices to make the most of people's need for post-lockdown haircuts? I have a feeling it might backfire for them.

[userxx]

She's a cheeky bitch.

[Fluffinell]

I wouldn’t pay more than about £120. You’re in a different part of the country but still £150 tops for me I think. I actually pay a lot less (under 100) and she does a great job. It’s wild to say she can do it for two but it would be rubbish. A bad job is a bad job at any cost. I mean what is changing, colour doesn’t cost a lot trade price at all. Should be the same amount anyway! Her time? That’s a lot of money. I would go elsewhere on that basis

[neveradullmoment99]

£200 never mind £300
Then again, maybe its where you live.
I pay about £45 for a cut and blow dry and find that an expense!

[Northernsoullover]

@MoreWater

I'd say if you can't afford £300 for your hair, you probably can't afford £200!

Are you always this much of a knob? Do you know what a budget is?

[Nogardenersworld]

I used to pay around 300-350
I was scared to go somewhere else because I thought these people must be good if it was that much
But then I went somewhere else and it was 150 and I couldn’t tell the difference to be honest.

No idea where people are getting a balayage for £60 and wish I lived there!
It costs more than that most places here for just a cut

If she’s a good hairdresser there’s no reason for your hair to look ‘bad’ so I wouldn’t trust her

[KindleRemote]

They are entitled to put up their prices how they see fit. However, I do think some salons are quite frankly taking the piss and taking advantage of some people's desperation due to not being able to get the service for four months. If a large chain retailer did this, there would be public outcry.

Vote with your feet and your purse OP. I've noticed a few salons I've been to (and not returned due to poor service) have been very quick to email me recently, telling me all about the appointments they have available. I do think of people have realised they can survive without dropping eye water sums of money on poor haircuts.

[Lessthanaballpark]

Will someone tell us uneducated people with obviously scuzzy hair what Balayage is?!

[Clydesider]

I'd find another salon which has good reviews and just wait it out till you can get an appointment. I'm gobsmacked a stylist would charge you £200 for a poor job! I just wouldn't go back there.

I've just had 2 tone highlights, a cut and finish for £60. My stylist is the salon owner and she's keeping her prices as they were pre-Covid. There is quite a bit of competition locally and she also takes into account that people in the area just can't afford big price rises.

[Notonthestairs]

I think £100 price difference seems odd - toners etc might have increased but I doubt it will be that much. Yes I'd be upset if my hairdresser suddenly cost an extra 100. However your hairdresser clearly believes her clientele will pay that

The hairdressers that I know have increased their working hours not their prices.

[EarringsandLipstick]

@Lessthanaballpark

It's hand-painted highlights, rather than using foils. It creates a more natural look.

Often to get the look you want, you need to have a toner / permanent colour applied with the balayage applied to 1/4, 1/2 or full-head.

It is pricey (not £300 pricey I wouldn't have thought tho!)

[Roselilly36]

That’s an outrageous price, no way would I dream of paying £200. I could afford it, but it makes no sense to spend that kind of money.

[carlottavaldes]

Thanks for all the replies everyone, interesting to get all your different takes.

To be clear, I didn't ask her to lower her prices, I only queried why they'd gone up, and I told her I'd let her know if I wanted to go ahead. I agree that she can charge what she likes, but I didn't like her saying it would look bad if I paid less than that - that felt manipulative and like she was trying to scare me into paying more. It's also clearly untrue, as so many of you are paying much less than that!

[Erictheavocado]

I think it's a bit mean of a hairdresser to try to recoup any lockdown losses in this way. My hairdresser hasn't I creased her prices at all - she told me she didn't need to as the government help she received during lockdown covered her losses. I ended up giving her a my h bigger tip than usual as she had been so reasonable.
OTOH, if the last time you had this done was two years ago, are you sure the price hike is due to covid, rather than just two years worth of price increases?

[tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz]

Gosh OP that's an awful lot of money. It's understandable it was a bit of a shock.

Slightly off topic but when I last had my hair coloured the price was a bit more than I'd quoted and when I asked it turns out they'd added the cost of the toner on. It wasn't crazy money but on top of the £98 I was paying it did surprise me. It felt a little dishonest of them but to have been upfront that it was apparently an extra but not something indulgent like say a treatment. Surely if it's necessary for the colour to work it should be baked into a he cost?

Hey ho, forewarned is forearmed for next time I guess

[apooagnuandyou]

The price is absolutely fine, she can charge what she wants, as long as it's clear BEFORE - which it is. If it's too expensive for you, go elsewhere.

It's the "pay that or get a crap job" I am not happy with! It sounds very unprofessional - unless she means it would be a half head instead of full head kind of thing and not the result you are after.

[withlotsoflove]

Maybe try and get highlights somewhere? Lots cheaper & can work really well on mid - dark brown.
I think £300 is crazy! Greedy actually!

[ivfbeenbusy]

Why is everyone obsessed with Balayage at the moment? All the threads about "hair appointments gone wrong" are from a balayage

[Batteriisincluded]

@MoreWater

I'd say if you can't afford £300 for your hair, you probably can't afford £200!

Don't be so bloody rude.

[ExConstance]

I paid £90 for a very full head of low and highlights this week, and a great cut. I think it has gone up £5 since last year. I was there for 3 hours, very nice salon. I've been going to this hairdresser for years.

[Notnowjo]

@Lessthanaballpark

Will someone tell us uneducated people with obviously scuzzy hair what Balayage is?!

Ha ha this

Sounds like something you do to hay on a farm!!

[neveradullmoment99]

@apooagnuandyou

The price is absolutely fine, she can charge what she wants, as long as it's clear BEFORE - which it is. If it's too expensive for you, go elsewhere.

It's the "pay that or get a crap job" I am not happy with! It sounds very unprofessional - unless she means it would be a half head instead of full head kind of thing and not the result you are after.

Of course she charge what she wants. That doesn't make it fine!

[Fairyliz]

Ok it was two years ago since you last had it done but that’s a 50% increase!
Has anyone’s salary gone up by that much?

[apooagnuandyou]

Of course she charge what she wants. That doesn't make it fine!

why on earth not?

Some posters are saying they pay £60 for what cost £250 for others! Why would that not be fine?

Hairdressers charge absolutely what they want, the more popular, the higher the price. As long as you know what you are booking, what is the problem?

That constant race to the bottom is boring.

[SpringtimeSummertime]

It's quite nasty to imply she is price gouging

Sounds exactly what she is doing.
1/3 increase in two years? I don’t think so.
She can charge what she likes and good luck to her but if I were you, I’d go elsewhere.
The fact that she didn’t offer alternatives is bad. Also, what is this ‘rubbish’ job she is talking of?

[apooagnuandyou]

Balayage is stroke highlights, well done makes for gorgeous hair

www.byrdie.com/brown-balayage-hair-5071915