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Style and beauty

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Original poster

Do you think a more expensive haircut is better?

77 replies

MarshaBrady · 15/10/2010 17:47

I don't mind paying more for highlights (at Aveda). As do think that makes a difference.

Do you notice a difference if you spend more for haircut? Ie covent garden aveda v less expensive.

Any hairdressers too, wdyt?

OP posts:

Original poster

MarshaBrady · 15/10/2010 18:06

Not just hairdressers.

Am interested to know how much is for ambience and location, and how much for 'the cut'. Iye.

OP posts:

perfumedlife · 15/10/2010 18:36

I detest going to the hairdressers. I used to have my hair cut at home by my dear friend who was a brilliant stylist. Sadly he died four years ago, some of his best haircuts were when he was pissed

I now go to Toni & Guy and pay 55 for a cut and the ambiance is nice, good head massage and good attention to detail. I think you probably have to decide if that's important to you.

What I would ideally like is for the vibrating chair and stylist to visit me at home, either that or a private room instead of gawping clients all looking in each others mirrors. Hate it.

veryweirdteacher · 15/10/2010 18:38

I don't think cost is the issue TBH.It's how they cut your hair.

I pay £60 in central London (Clerkenwell) but was paying almost £70 out in the sticks - outer London.

Rents in London are HUGE so that will be reflected in the cost, as will the decor, shop fittings etc.

I think you might end up paying more with a chain of hairdressers rather than for an independent one.

Also, most salons have a sliding scale depending on the stylists' experience.

IMO you need to find a cutter who makes yur hair look good and this doesn't always equal a £300 cut by Trevor Sorbie or Nicky Clarke.

Original poster

MarshaBrady · 15/10/2010 18:41

Sorry about your friend.

See I hate the massages, chairs and blow outs .

But will pay for nicer lighting. Less noise and less chat.

I pay £57 for hair. Probably junior stylist.

But want it to be quick. Hurry up with the faffing.

OP posts:

Original poster

MarshaBrady · 15/10/2010 18:43

My iPod keeps correcting stuff so slow argh.

OP posts:

Original poster

MarshaBrady · 15/10/2010 18:44

I have never had same hairdresser for a cut. I need to be more observant to the result rather than think sheesh glad that is over.

OP posts:

coolma · 15/10/2010 18:44

I pay an absolute fortune for my haircuts I've been going to the same hairdresser for 16 years now and he is absolutely the best in town. I am not a clothes, shoes or beauty products lady at all, and hair is my one and only extravagence. It really does, I think, make a huge difference. I will add a disclaimer though - I have a badly disfigured ear and went through hell before I met him with hairdressers gawping and finding it distasteful, so I am very happy that I have someone who treats me 'normally'.

Original poster

MarshaBrady · 15/10/2010 18:48

It's fine to pay loads don't worry.

I pay £160 for cut and half-head highlights.

Maybe I should pay more for more experienced stylist?

Skimping a bit there.

Especially as would be nice to have someone my age.

OP posts:

polyhymnia · 15/10/2010 18:48

Used to have my hair cut at Covent Garden Aveda by Antoinette and, though £££, was definitely worth it. After all, your hair is the one part of your 'look' that is with you all day every day and I'd rather invest in it than, say, a designer bag.

I'm sure others will disagree, but do tend to think you get what you pay for, and, as my hair's difficult to manage, have always gone to top London salons. Never had a disaster - though liked some cuts better than others. There are certainly some stylists who trade on their names/ fancy salons and are not very interested in 'ordinary' people, but, when I've come across someone like that, have moved salons / changed stylist.

It must be perfectly possible to find a great cutter in cheaper, local salons and lots of people on here will have found them. But can't recall seeing any great hair-cuts on people who go to local hairdressers in our particular London suburb.

Original poster

MarshaBrady · 15/10/2010 18:49

Coolma how much do you pay (don't worry if a lot. That's good!) do you get layers etc?

OP posts:

Original poster

MarshaBrady · 15/10/2010 18:52

Good to hear that poly. I like it at that Aveda too.

I would like someone to suggest a good style\cut rather than me have to describe.

Not sure if that is possible.

OP posts:

applecrumbleandcream · 15/10/2010 18:54

No I definitely don't think a more expensive haircut is better. I've paid £70 at the most expensive hairdressers in town and come out miserable and disappointed and I've also paid £14 to a mobile hairdresser and been very happy with the cut.

I now pay around £30 for cut/blow every 6 weeks + £40 for highlights every couple of months which I am OK with, though I only usually have a trim! I think prices also vary round the country.

reptile · 15/10/2010 18:55

I find cheaper cuts don't last as well, but my cheap is really cheap, and I feel like I'm pushing the boat out when I pay £30.

If I could unscrew my head, send it in the post to the hairdressers, and get it posted back I would do it like a shot. I find it a real faff (all in all I think there's some aspects of being a proper woman that I just have never got the hang of)

coolma · 15/10/2010 18:55

I pay £70 for a cut and blow dry - sorry it's called something posher nowadays . I have a simple bob generally as I can't show my ears, nearly everyone I know is outraged, but it works out at about £300 a year so not a lot really. Thank God I don;t wear grown ups shoes!!!

coolma · 15/10/2010 18:56

The thing is, as well, when it's growing out, I can still dry it myself and it looks lovely - and he trims my fringe for free inbetween.

Librashavinganotherbiscuit · 15/10/2010 18:58

My best haircut ever cost me £13.00 at SuperCuts in Farnborough. My worst haircut and colour cost me £xxx at Charles Worthington in London. I think it's about finding a stylist who listens to you and knows how to cut your type of hair (I have curly/wavy hair and most hairdressers cut it as if it was straight)

Ewe · 15/10/2010 19:00

I think a more expensive cut is usually worth it but that it does depend on your hair. I have long thick straight hair that I usually have trimmed and a few long layers... Cheap or expensive it's such an easy cut and I have easy to manage hair so I personally don't bother paying lots for a cut now.

However, when I had shorter hair that was a very styled cut it was definitely noticeable when I had been somewhere more expensive.

animula · 15/10/2010 19:01

I can recommend a v. good mid-price hairdresser: Arielle at Jo Partridge (Clapham area).

If that's any good.

Fwiw price isn't the issue. I've had brilliant hair done by friends and friends-of-friends v. cheaply. Brilliant hair at a v. expensive place (Mid-range stylist and colourist at Nicky Clarke and Caroline at Charles Worthington), and terrible, terrible hair at a fairly pricey place.

But the thing about getting a great hair cut/colour for less is that you need the recommendation, really. (Does that make sense?)

veryweirdteacher · 15/10/2010 19:02

I pay around £100 for highlights, with cut and dry on top- but colour is only every 6-9 months most.

I had a friend who owned a salon- which is where I go now- and she used to go to all the top hairdressers in London- including Nicky Clarke- but she then employed staff who she "road tested" or got her manager to roadtest- and that's where I go now. She rates my current cutter as the best ever.

It's all about getting somone with a creative eye for your face shape, type of cut you want,what will suit your hair texture and then cutting expertise.

The difference I notice is that some use just plain scissors, whereas others mix in razor scissors, do texturising, cut it twice- ie once when wet then when sry to check it all over.

Mine takes an hour to cut it.

animula · 15/10/2010 19:02

Librashavinganotherbiscuit - My worst ever haircut and colour was there!!! Going back was an act of faith, but C. is as lovely as her reputation has it.

veryweirdteacher · 15/10/2010 19:03

sry? dry!

animula · 15/10/2010 19:04

veryweirdteacher - name! name! - please.

Original poster

MarshaBrady · 15/10/2010 19:07

My hair is fine, but quite a lot of it. Gets knotty easily.

So it's pretty much do you want layers? Y or n fringe? Y or n. How much off? They are really quick that does annoy me a bit.

Wish I had loads of hair that really benefitted from superior cutting.

I end up feeling frustrated and not sure why.

A cheaper cut is worse as I enjoy it even less!

Think I am a hairdresser's nightmare.

Probably why I am not loyal.

I am fine with colour btw as I see I am getting something.

OP posts:

Pounamu · 15/10/2010 19:12

I think although paying more doesn't guarantee you a better cut it does reduce the chances of getting a absolutely terrible cut.

The worst haircut I've had in recent years was when I went home and decided to splash out on the top salon in the city (this was in NZ, iirc it cost NZD$100+). I asked the hairdresser to please cut my hair no shorter than my jawline as I wanted to be able to tuck it behind my ear and/or tie it up - anyway I left with hair shorter than I've ever had it. It was winter and when I wore a beanie you couldn't tell I had any hair at all!