Hair salons assume you want a fancy blow dry

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Is it just me? It used to be that you could book a hair cut and they would dry your hair for you at the end. No drama.

Now there is not even an option on my salon’s website for hair cut. It includes a blow dry which doubles the bloody cost!

I booked in this week and added a note to the booking saying I just want my hair dried, not a fancy blow dry. My hairdresser called me today sounding slightly incredulous and asked several times if I was sure I didn’t want a fancy blow dry?

No I don’t!! And I don’t want the salon to assume I want one!!

is it just me?

Yes, true. I'm sure I could negotiate down if I didn't want that.

This is why I love my mobile hairdresser! Wet cut, no blow dry: £20. I wash it and comb it before she comes and she’s in and out in five minutes 🥰

Totally agree OP!

Another thing I find is that hairdresser's prices are not particularly transparent or upfront. There's no price list.

It's a way for hairdressers to bang an extra £25-£35 onto a 'dry cut.'

I had to sift through around 7 or 8 different hairdressers in the summer before I could find one that did a 'dry cut' only (for less than £30.) All I kept finding were people offering 'wash, cut, and blow-dry' with a price tag of around £55 to £70. 'No dry cuts here Madam!'

My old hairdresser who used to do it, sadly died in the Spring, so I needed had to find a new one.

Yes, definitely! I always insist on having my hair styled 'straight and sleek' so they can't hide any irregularities

About £45!!!

My hairdresser dose what you want. My last colour I was running late so she just blasted it for me, it was windy out anyway. The lady she gave a haircut to while my hair was setting left with a full head of wet hair.

I just ask to have it left wet. As soon as the hair dresser is gone I wash it again because then it works out its own shape and I always want to know what that will be.

Saaaaame, every time I go I think 'I'll just go for the cut, and save a small fortune' but when the time comes and they offer the proper blow dry I can't resist.

😆 So true!

Same, I make sure I go somewhere after a blow dry or I feel it's wasted! C

I've got curly hair and have just found out at the the grand old age of 40 that I don't HAVE to have a blow dry. Found a new hairdresser that understands curly hair doesn't like a blow dry, so she gives it a gentle blast with the diffuser, sends me out with damp hair and knocks about £20 off my bill. Also means I don't have to wash it again when I get home

This is also my experience in the US. I suppose it's possible to just ask for a cut with no blow dry and negotiate a lower price, but I don't know anyone who wants this. But I am in the Deep South where the bouncy blow dry is considered by many to be the central element of acceptable grooming.

In the US from my experience a blow dry is included in the cost… sounds similar to your rough dry. A blow out is the fancy kind and will cost extra and usually takes more time. .

I hate having mine blow dried. It takes hours, adds money I'd rather not spend and I don't like the physical feeling of them doing it. I can tolerate a quick blast but that's about it.

My goodness OP I have always thought this and wondered why nobody else did.

My hair cut (cut and blow dry) costs £52 and while they don't break down the cost, if you go in for just a wash and blow dry it is £28 so they obviously charge quite a bit for the blow dry.

(Who are these people by the way that go for a wash and blowdry only? Rich retired people?)

So yes I too would like just the wash and cut part. I suppose getting it blow dried means you get to check it dry in case you want a bit more off it or you think there is an issue which you can't always tell when it's wet.

Oh well my hairdresser is very nice and we have a wee chat so i suppose that's something.

I'm sure when I was a kid there was an option for a wet cut where they sprayed the hair with a water bottle and cut it but I never see that now. Maybe I need to go to a 'less posh' place.

Don't knock fancy blow dries. It's when your hairdresser doesn't do it that you should be worried.
When I arrived for my latest appointment my hairdresser was still with her previous client. She had finished drying and I sat, watched and waited for at least 5 minutes while she pampered, preened and primped the person before me. She very definitely had been given the fancy blow dry treatment.
My turn came and she literally turned off the hairdryer and I was done.
She's been my hairdresser for 5 years and I felt really low and unworthy after that. Made me feel like a guaranteed next booking client so she didn't need to put so much effort in.

I've booked somewhere else for my next cut.

I tell my hairdresser I want it left to dry naturally - and he charges me a bit less!

Another reason I can't cope with the cost or time spent in hairdressers

Dry cuts all the way for me and not just due to the cost - I wish more salons in the UK were happy to do it though. I hate sitting in salons and want to be in and out as quickly as possible.

(Who are these people by the way that go for a wash and blowdry only? Rich retired people?)

Those with a particular kind of hair - the thick, frizzy, unruly kind and a lot of it - will find a professional blow dry transformative. If I had the money and could make a wash and blow dry last a week I would definitely do that, and never touch my hair myself.

It would give much better 'bang for buck' to my appearance than nails or lashes or whatever else people are spending on.

Change your hairdresser - I get a 20 min max dry cut

I always used to go to a home salon, and the price was the price, including how I wanted it dried. I then got out of the habit of going for a while and started dyeing it so went to a local salon - the first few times I had the blow dry - would you like a blow dry they would ask, and of course I would as I don’t want sopping wet hair on departure. I then somehow discovered the rough dry option (which is free - not over £30) and I go for that now and style back at home.

I actually just checked out the website for my salon - lots of details on the staff and their qualifications, what charities they support and a map of where the salon is, but no services/price list! I’m very happy with them, but probably spent about £100 I didn’t need to on my first few visits on the ‘fancy’ blow dry. I presume all salons can have the rough dry option (or dry cut if no colour, not an option for me), but it’s a money maker for the unaware/non assertive. I can see why it extra - it takes longer than any other service and time is money, but I would rather have my time and money to myself!

If I ever change salons, I’ll happily tell them rough dry thanks if it will be extra now I know.

Blow dry adds £10 where I go. I don’t book a dry (you book online with what you do/don’t want). I have thick hair that tangles easily and a very tender scalp so I find having my hair done is a form of torture anyway and don’t wish to prolong it any more than I absolutely have to. I often will take a couple paracetamol an hour before I go as it is.

I always ask for a wet cut. Sometimes they dry it off a bit before I leave, but usually they don't, which is fine. I have horrible thick wavy hair that takes ages to blow dry, so I think they're secretly relieved they don't have to try to dry and style it properly anyway. Hairdresser comes to my house, only charges £15 - excellent.