Hair cut and colour now exceeds what I earn in a day. Absolutely fed up.

[Burntout01]

Obviously everything is going up and up. Just went to book hairdressers- I don’t go often , maybe every four months since I went grey ( used to box dye it for 30 years before that). Its my one bit of self care.
Cost has jumped from £120 to over £170 since I last had it done in September. For full head highlights for chin length bobbed hair plus wash and rough blow dry.
It’s not that I don’t believe its worth that price and I am not knocking my hairdresser, its not about that. But I am a senior NHS nurse with 30 years experience. My job has taken a lot from me and my family. I take home £150 a day. The hair appt is 2.5 hours.
I just cannot justify the expense for myself any more.

It is all insane. I switched from salon color to at home color, because i can’t keep up with it since i have gone gray. I am in the U.S. and a cut and color with tax and tips is over $500. I am not doing that every 6 weeks.

Maybe try a local college. I do know what you mean though it’s stonkingly expensive. I’d struggle to justify so I’ve gone back to box dye.

You’re right, it is unreasonably expensive, I don’t bother anymore

Find a hairdresser who works from home they tend to be cheaper.

How about half head highlights? Either that or try a different stylist, some salons have different graded stylists that are cheaper?

Sad think is I can’t use box dye anymore as it sensitised my scalp which is why I switched to the foils. So only choice now is to allow the horrible iron grey to take over.

Whereabouts are you in the country? If you give us a rough idea we might be able to recommend someone? I can get a cut and highlighted bob done for £90 in Saddleworth.

I use a mobile hairdresser now as a result of the cost in a salon. I pay £65 I think for highlights and a cut and blow dry but it’s not a full head. Maybe see whether there is a recommended mobile hairdresser local to you?

It’s a business. It has to make a profit and pay staff, electricity, NI contributions, rent, Council tax, products, and other overheads. Nurses don’t pay any of these. You could possibly find cheaper but the high street will go if we all bail out. Their costs aren’t their fault. £150 take home is decent. How many days do you work? What band are you on? I think your take home is decent and I bet your pension will be amazing in comparison to a hairdresser.

No-one is forcing you to get your hair coloured. Embrace the grey, it's a very chic look these days.

I understand re overheads although my hairdresser rents a chair. My pension wont be that good as I have worked part time for the majority of my career and its calculated on ‘whole time equivalent years service’. And much of my pension is under the newer less valuable scheme. In addition I pay professional subscriptions, use of my car costs me a significant amount (I am community based so have to have/ use my car- last month they reimbursed me £27)..

Wages aren’t keeping up with the cost of living and it’s leaving people (me!) feeling unmotivated and resentful at work. I enjoy my job but it’s really taken the shine off knowing that no matter how hard I work or how well I do, I’ll never be able to keep up with the rising costs of everything.

I’ve increased my income after retraining but I’m far worse off now than I was before, it makes me wonder why I bothered. Conversely, if I hadn’t bothered and was still on my old wage, how the hell would I pay my rent and bills with the increases? My rent has increased by a ridiculous amount, and that’s not even including all the other increases in bills and groceries.

When I decided to retrain, I was excited to finally be able to afford regular hair cuts and to go crazy and pay for a dentist check up twice a year at the private dentist because there aren’t any NHS ones. Instead, I’m more skint than I was before, my dentist visit will have to wait til I’ve won the lottery and hair cuts are still out of reach. I’m pissed off!

Whereabouts in the country are you? £170 seems bonkers!
I pay £85 for full head highlights and cut and blow for similar length hair to you but she comes to my house. I used to go to her in a salon but she went mobile. She is very good.

I was quoted £330 for colour and blow dry. Toni and Guy

It’s shit, OP. As someone who works in a professional job, you should be able to afford to get your hair cut and highlighted a few times a year. The cost of living is getting out of control.

Home hairdresser in south cost 85 for full head, cut and blow dry. Maybe home dressing will work better for you?

I'd get some prices from other hair dressers, mine charges £85 for colour, highlight, cut, wash, blow dry. If I go a lighter shade it's an extra 30 for the toner

Is there anyone in Hertfordshire who can recommend a good mobile hairdresser for highlights and cut? My last in salon appointment was £240 for half head highlights and cut and blow dry. I can’t pay that anymore either now.

Buy a wig?

I made the decision to embrace the grey. I just can’t justify salon colour costs. I’m actually quite liking it now although it looked a bit rubbish as the colour grew out. The shade of grey is very light and I get lots of nice compliments on it.

I would consider embracing the grey. I refuse to spend money at hairdressers any more. My teenager gives my hair a chop and that’s the extent of what I do.

My hair is in a state because I’m stretching the time between appointments further and further. £170 sounds a lot: where do you live? It can be worth travelling to an area with lower living costs
for a haircut.

Wowzers, that’s spenny! My cut and colour is around £80 in the NW. Really lovely and talented hairdressers in a nice salon just a little outside of our town centre. Maybe shop around? Ask for recommendations on social media for salons with more competitive prices

It’s ridiculous !! The price is honestly disgusting . And no unless you rent in a very posh shopping centre etc no cost can justify that price .

My hairdresser charges £170 for a cut and blow dry. My colourist £270. It’s a very expensive business.