To not understand hairdresser prices

[SuperAunt08]

I don’t go to the hairdressers anywhere near as often as I should/would like but I tend to grow my hair to about boob length and then get sick of it and get it cut to just above shoulder length but it is very thick and needs thinning out too.

I usually book a cut & blowdry, mainly because I don’t know any better but I’m often caught out by the final price when instead of the advertised price they say ‘ it was a restyle so will be ££’ what constitutes a cut vs a restyle? How many inches cut off? Time taken?

I don’t begrudge them charging more for their time but I would like to have an idea of how much it’s going to cost me before I get to the till

Omg this irritates me so much! I don’t think I have EVER paid the price I was originally quoted. It’s always more! Various excuses which I can’t really argue with after they’ve done the service and I’m stood at the till. I once heard a lady complain when she was charged extra for toner - which is correct but she hadn’t been told it would be more so didn’t realise. When she left all the staff were slagging her off and calling her stupid because she ‘didn’t know’ it would be chargeable (I haven’t been back there). Next time, I’m taking cash and telling them at the start that it is all I have so please don’t add any extras as I do not have the money for it.

I think the only way to stop this is explicitly book a ‘trim’ and say ‘just a trim’ when they ask what they can do for you when you are sitting there. Then if they try the restyle, firmly said that you booked for a trim and made that clear before the cutting started so you won’t be paying for any extra stuff that they chose to do on top. Agree that it’s a bit crafty as they could claim even a simple tweak is a complete ‘restyle’.

I stopped going because of this. It was always more than I had worked it out to be! I would check the prices on their social media page and in store and every single time it was more. I haven’t had my hair cut since 2020 and I dye it at home, it’s desperate for a trim but I think I’ll go to one of the over priced super cuts no appt needed because I would rather know what it will be even if it seems expensive. I find it stops you building up a relationship with your hairdresser because there’s resentment there which is a shame.

I go to the barbers (they advertise as doing men and women) and pay £16 for a cut. I wash it before I go. I also colour it myself using a box colour varying in price from £5 to £8 depending on supermarket offers. I concluded many years ago that I didn't enjoy the whole hairdresser experience, the ever increasing prices, the add ons and upselling and having to book every 6 weeks (talked into it whilst paying for the haircut).
Now I just drop in when I fancy a cut, take my turn in the queue and save lots of money.

I tried a different hairdresser specifically for curly hair, omg no up selling, price as expected and at the end she said that style will hold, forget 6weeks see you in about three months. Book in via website! She is my new favourite, they are out there.

If they can follow the line of your previous cut (generally an inch or two off) it is a trim. If they cannot follow it because it is too grown out it is a restyle. It does take longer to do a restyle.

I usually pay £17 for my regular dry cut with a local person.

@Crazycatlady79 My hair needs thinning out. My hair is very, very thick. I have an undercut and there is still masses of it!

Ditto - The hairdresser I’ve been going to for a number of years is exactly the same , possibly the same franchise company. Unfortunately the lady who cuts mine is now £83 for a cut and blow dry and I just can’t justify it, it’s ok but not fantastic.
The last couple of cuts I’ve had in our local village by a lady who worked in a very prestigious salon in a neighbouring town but set up on her own 6 years ago. So much better cut , no chipping in or “ I need to straighten it to see if it’s level “. A fantastic cut and this week she apologised as needed to raise her prices by a £1. £33 for a cut and blow dry.