AIBU that a haircut shouldn't cost £60!?

[HollyLondoner]

Why is the cost of my haircut increased every time I visit? I have my haircut every 12 weeks on average and the price increase a few pounds every time. It's gone from £35 around 5 years ago when I started to £60. My favourite hairdresser hasn't been promoted so it's not that. I know she gets paid minimum wage and it doesn't feel right but she's an amazing hairdresser. I went today and was charged £62!?

The cheapest person is £58 and most expensive £90! Not a crazy fancy salon. I'm on the outskirts of London fyi so no means central!

YABU - that's how much it cost
YANBU - it's become so expensive!

My last mobile hairdresser used to charge me £10. My new one (last one moved away), charges £20.

I refuse to pay a small fortune at a hair salon.

These messages are making me cry
I had to stop going to my salon as it was, no joke, over 500 for cut and colour. In Marylebone
I now pay 250 which felt a bargain until this thread

Yes me too. Tho am going less and less frequently as can’t afford it as much anymore - the cut is brilliant and so much better than any where else I’ve been.

((my dog groomer is around £60… drops 💣😅… and quietly leaves MN 🫣))

Well wielding a pair of scissors is something we all can do from about age 5 - however being able to cut hair across the varieties that exist and do it well is a very hard skill. Even really experienced hair stylists aren’t always able to deliver a good cut that suits the person or can’t translate what the client is looking for into reality.

I’ve had some awful experiences at both cheap and pricy places. And the other day I had one of the best structural hair cuts from a woman my MIL wanted to do a favour for to bung her a little bit of extra cash. I just said give me a quick trim and she did such an amazing job. I didn’t even realize it until later because she didn’t blow dry it because we were in my MIL’s kitchen.

I’m guessing people who don’t see the skill in cutting hair just have a really easy style and hair and don’t realize the skill involved for most people.

They will charge what they charge based on a combination of overheads (expenses) as well as customer demand. There is a minimum they have to charge to make it a worthwhile business, which will vary by region as well as set-up (I know some who operate from home and charge far less than brick and mortar in a prime location). But not all hairdressers will or should charge the minimum - if they are very good at their job and their services are in demand then they should absolutely charge more.

I’m not a hairdresser but do work on a freelance supply and demand basis after leaving salaried employment when my kids were young. I made a conscious choice to charge at a higher price point and optimise hourly wage over volume - basically I would rather work 10 hours a week for a decent amount than work 40 hours for only slightly more. Added bonus of working for clients that recognise the value of what I do.

if you view all hairdressers as interchangeable then by all means find the cheapest in your area. I’m happy to pay a bit more for expertise and a higher level of service.

I’ve given up my swanky chain because even with work discount it was 60 quid 18 months ago. I’ve got collar length fine hair and ended up with the same, boring hair cut every time. And I was in and out in the blink of an eye. Go to cheap and cheerful local (as in round the corner) now, 30 quid (which is still expensive) but she listens, she is willing to take risks, cuts really well,her daughter washes and it’s honestly the best wash ever(I iknow loads hate the massage, but I love it). Decent coffee, good craic and Dh actually can tell I’ve had it cut.

10 years ago I used to pay £8 to a girl from work who did knock off hair dressing in the evenings. If I gave her £10 she'd even have my tea ready for when I arrived! 🤣

I have moved away now and pay £35 which I think is steep for where I live.

Interesting about the bins contract @Soddingcat . That will explain why the salon owner who has a plot at my allotments would bag hair and dump
it on the plot’s waste heap. Cue foxes spreading it all over my plot. It was grim ( and I was furious).

My local salon charges £70 for a haircut. In zone 3. She charges £5 for a fringe trim bizarrely.

I once asked my hairdresser friend why
men’s cuts are so much cheaper even when/ if they have long( ish) hair
her response was that ‘men just won’t pay for it’

interesting

Also , we have a huge waiting list for clients willing to pay £240 for our colour specialist , she literally can’t get them all booked in , and she’s brilliant

they all come back , and send their friends too .

Im also fully booked 6 months ahead , with 40 clients a week
I do actually think highly of myself and my staff as we do a bloody good job and work very very hard

Im very proud of what we do , and for all the people looking down on us ,
You’re all quite silly , because we love our job 😃
and I absolutely love all my clients , which is why they fight to get an appointment with me !

ps , I forgot the 2000 annual insurance
500 fir new fire extinguishers
the electrical check for 300
the salon chairs that were 1800 each
the basins and chairs were 5000 each

can you tell I’m rattled 🤣🤣

I think prices have gone up a lot, I'm guessing to cover overheads as well as staff wages but for me personally I was priced out of getting my hair dyed so I do it myself at home now and then just get it cut every 6 months/ year and it's about £50. I used to love going and getting it dyed but I just can't justify the cost any more.

Generally in a time service industry the charge out rate for staff is at least 3 times their hourly rate. This covers running costs and incorporates a profit element. With 5 years experience her wage should be above minimum wage, otherwise she'll be paid what apprentices are getting and that doesn't make sense.

Also just to clarify when I say I can't justify it - I mean I can't justify it among my other personal expenses it's not a dig at hairdressers themselves - I think everything has just got so expensive now.

I had this whinge today after having my hair done. She is increasing her prices every single time I go which is every 12 weeks.

I have been a loyal customer for 20 years but I now fear she is pricing me out of going.

I’m guessing people who don’t see the skill in cutting hair just have a really easy style and hair and don’t realize the skill involved for most people

Thats not what OP was saying at all. She was saying the cost V minimum wages didn’t add up.

I just won't pay that anymore. I remember when supercuts charged less than 10 quid. For several years now, my dd has been cutting mine with the scissors I use to trim the dog, so they are scissors meant for hair cutting. Obviously I clean them well, but DD has been cutting my hair since she was 12. With no instruction, just get on and cut. I just couldn't give a shit if there are bits that aren't perfect. The first time she did it, we had a laugh because it was so hilariously bad. But she had a great time doing it. I also got clippers during covid so I could do DH's hair and he has never been back to a barber since.

I do pay for both teens to get haircuts because they are older teens and much more scrutinised on their appearance than me and DH who are 40s.

Are you sure that’s the case? Most hairdressers are self-employed, and have to give the salon they work in a cut, but certainly not 70% of their takings.

If it is true, perhaps you could come to a private arrangement with your hairdresser and have her come to your house to do your hair, for a lower overall price but with her keeping all of it…

That is VERY interesting. 🤔

And I can believe it too.

Snap. I round up to £20 from £18.

I pay £25 he uses a spray bottle to dampen the hair before cutting. He has been cutting my hair for over 30 years now and does it in his own home. He used to work in a salon but his business partner wanted out and he couldn’t afford to buy him out. He said though that if he could keep 3/4 of his clients then he could afford to do it from home and that was around 10 years.

This! This! This!
It really annoys me how people are so begrudging to pay what is a reasonable cost when the salon/hairdresser has to factor in
rent
insurance
products
water
electricity
laundry
phone bills
booking system
accountancy
NI
Tax
pension contributions
holiday pay
ongoing training
sickness
vat
Plus they need to pull at least minimum wage from that £60.
You are also paying for expertise and often years of experience.
prices will continue to go especially with the minimum wage and NI increase.

I love my hairdresser. She does amazing cut and colour. Yes it's expensive but I'm normally in there for 3-4 hours so on an hourly rate it's reasonable.

Why do people think it's ok not to pay a decent wage. As I noted above, a starting point for charging in a time based service industry is 3x hourly rate of the staff member. This covers the running costs and incorporates a profit element. With hairdressers costs can be higher due to the products that are used in the service, so the multiplier may be higher.

After one memorable "die fringe die" moment between haircuts (I can highly recommend not thinking that before picking up the scissors, it was very short afterwards), my hairdresser implored me to put down the scissors! She's amazing and will do a complimentary fringe cut between visits if needed.

She charges a premium price for a premium service.

As for my dogs, I didn't want the standard oodle clip so groom them myself, which involves stripping coats etc. Doing that I fully understand why groomers just clip fur instead of investing time in breed specific grooming. It takes ages and would cost more than owners want to pay.

I don't pay begrudgingly - I just don't pay. All I need at home is scissors.

Makes me realise my £70 for full head colour and cut/blow dry is good value for money in Surrey/London Borders.

I think it is because of how it is set up - there is a salon owner but the others rent a chair for them so you pay them the money directly (cash or cheque) as they are all self employed and then pay rent to the owner