Hair Colouring Costs (and Timings) - who is right?

[littlebauxpeep]

Went for 'balayage' which my hairdresser and I have agreed isn't really balayage - just root colour (at a 5 level), a few highlights through the roots - a few foils max 15 - finely applied but by using the comb to select groups of strands at a time rather than absolutely each strand being individually selected - and a toner (7.65). This cost £98 yesterday with a rough dry and no cut. With cut and blow dry last time it was £135.
I'm trying to keep an eye on costs - whilst also trying to hide the increasing greys so I need to go at least every 8 weeks if not 6 weeks.

Each time I wonder could I just get roots and a toner but I am caught in this cycle. I am mostly happy with the result but I can't help feeling it isn't really balayage and shouldn't be charged as such. I am also there for about 4 hours each time - mostly because they 'forget' me and leave one product on too long. My actual time with hairdresser maybe 20 mins for colour/toner and 10 mins cut and 10 mins blow dry (which I have finally got the courage to request is done properly as a rough dry with GHD straighteners put through at the end isn't a blow dry)

My mum takes great care of her hair - regular 6 weekly appointments. She pays £55 for all over highlights (root regrowth and any more that need refreshing), cut and blow dry. And she is in and out in about an hour. She can't belief the price I pay - nor how long it takes.

So who is getting the better deal? I can't figure out if my mum's is bargain basement because it's far too quick....or if I'm being taken for a ride...any and all views welcome!

Sounds as though your hairdresser is taking the piss. You could do with someone coming along and providing the correct terminology for what you actually have done so you can specify that and not get taken for a ride being charged for balayage. I'd change hairdresser.

Neither is right or wrong. People can changer what they like, but you don’t have to go there.

I wouldn’t return to anywhere that roughly dried then straightened my hair. I do that myself on the school run!

I have balayage, a t-bar of root cover and then toner. Cut and either a bouncy blow dry and pin curls or blow dried and straightened every 5 weeks for £95 (I leave £100) and it takes 2.5/3hrs.

Are you sure your mums only takes an hour? Does she have very short hair? £55 is very cheap for colour and cut. The price of yours sounds about right. Timings sound odd, how long is the product left on, do they use a timer/ check it? If you’re not happy go somewhere else as the price will likely be similar

It all depends on where you live and whether you go to the old fashioned place with pensioner special in the precinct or the well know place in town. Mine is expensive due to the area I live in and who I use but I have to say you are getting pretty poor value for what you are getting done ! I get root colour , highlights , cut and blow, toner and it is 175 as I use a senior colourist and a senior stylist. I go every 8 weeks. I am at the salon for about 2 - 3 hours. She takes about 45 mins to apply all the highlights and then the sit is at least an hour ( or it feels like it , never timed it actually). I don't know how your Mum is done in less than an hour either.

Yesterday I paid £56 for half a head of highlights, a cut and a proper blow dry (curly) which from experience will last 3-4 days.

Not a fancy salon, they don't offer me a tea or coffee and there's some waiting around as they juggle clients but it's about half the price of some I've been to in the same town.

Yours doesn't sound like great value OP.

Are you happy with the result? If not, change hairdressers. It doesn't sound as though they care about your custom.

Thanks for all views so far!

@BungleandGeorge she has just touches shoulder length hair - it's entirely processed as she has gone every 6 weeks for the past 30+ years. She used to pay more elsewhere but found this village 'bargain' which she claims is very difficult to get an appointment with. Mine seem sometime to use a timer - but yesterday I noticed it was nowhere near me so maybe not my timer? They are obviously squeezing a lot of people in with one hairdresser each day (no issue with that - but it is very obvious so it all feels very functional/conveyor belt and there are clearly some organisation issues generally) wonder if I need to speak with my feet...

@EggRollsForever my mum is far, far, more glam and 'into' hair and beauty than me - which is why I value her views - but the timings just seem so different. I can't help wonder if she is being taken for a ride too - maybe that quick processing is really damaging/not actually doing the job therefore needing such frequent top ups? I'm in the East - so not crazy commuter-town/London vibes. 45 mins to apply highlights sounds about right if it's all over highlights/actual balayage? Sounds like you have reached a happy place of acceptable price, happy with the outcome and decent/trusted salon. Maybe my expectations are too high?

@Alwayspaintyournails that's very interesting on the price - can I ask if your balayage is pretty blonde? Mine still looks very brunette with a few baby lights through the top and a toner. So really not balayage at all (I think!)

@WeAreTheHeroes thanks so much for your reply - changing is def on the horizon - just need to make sure the next place either (1) spends the right time for the work required - reason I'm gaining views here; AND (2) charges for the correct service that I am receiving - which it may be/may not be....again seeking the views of S&B! Hair is driving me nuts - esp as the grey is creeping in so colour is now NEEDED rather than just adding a bit of extra gloss/shine...grrrr.

@ImInStealthMode yours sounds amazing - and a proper blow dry too. I've had one proper blow dry (lasted 5 days and I got my passport photos done on day 3!). It was a word of mouth recommendation as I had an event to go to that evening from work (sudden invite) - never had as good a blow dry again. She spent about 45 mins to an hour doing it. Wasn't expensive - and was central London! Was worth every penny and I doubt I will ever find a proper blow dry ever again...around here the standard is rough dry and GHDs (or they think I can be fobbed off as I am not a natural salon go-er and it shows). Even a proper blow dry here wears of by the next day. The holy grail of a proper blow dry...

@Motnight I dither - it's OK but I think my creeping feeling of am I being taken for a ride is spoiling it all for me...am looking up other places right now!

I pay around £140 for senior stylist balayage, olaplex, cut and blow dry. I have the balayage about every year as the regrowth blends and my hair lightens in the summer. A normal wash cut and blow dry is £55 with no straighteners in sight always a brush to get some waves going on.

@Alwayspaintyournails it’s pretty ‘bronde’ with blonde highlights throughout in different tones with a darker (mid brown) t bar on top to give that balayage look where it really shines through when curled.

My hair was blow dried by another hairdresser yesterday (away for a wedding) and she complimented my colour and said it must cost a fortune in upkeep… well it would in their salon, a bouncy blow dry was £37 😳

I have either a full or half head of "highlights", depending on how long it's been between appointments. Half head is £70, full head is £115. It's actually 3 different colours painted and foiled around my head, not done right to the root so I don't get obvious regrowth. It blends my grey in and boost my natural colour. I'd never be out in an hour, it probably takes that for the colour to process and hand painting the sections takes a long time.

Yours does sound expensive for what you're getting, I have masses of foils in. It also doesn't sound like balayage.

Should say price for balyage at my hairdresser is from £85. But I don't think she'd consider yours a balayage.

I don't think it's ok to try and negotiate a cheaper price with your hairdresser. That's what they charge for your treatment - if you want something cheaper then stop having that colour work done or go to a cheaper salon. It's totally irrelevant what your mum pays at a different place. Hairdressers vary wildly in price and skill. You don't sound very happy with yours so I'd suggest a change rather than trying to haggle with them

Also, going grey doesn't mean you NEED a colour. It's your preference to have one. Women can age however they want - just like men do.

I have the same: roots,& a few longer stands as you describe, conditioner, cut, blow dry fir about £65
It takes a bit more than an hour.
(Not London !)
You need to find a new hair dresser

I really can't understand how people are getting all this done in an hour?

A whole bit has been missed off my message...here goes again . When you google it , it says it takes highlights 45 mins or more to take, what about the consultation, the hair wash etc?

@ThisTownAintBigEnoughForBoth thanks for your comment - I'm not trying to 'haggle' any price down and I don't know where you got that idea from. I note your point about hair and ageing - it's down to personal choice and I have made mine for now. I am not at a stage where going pepper is going to work for me. In another 40 years it might!

@ColdHappyBap I am thinking the same - I don't think I am getting balayage but I am certainly paying for it.

Based on the helpful views shared on here I am going to get a consultation with another salon (not my mum's!) and see what they quote for roots, toner and a few foils. Rather than use the 'balayage' label I wonder if just stating exactly what components have been used will be more accurate. I shall report back as there is an issue between POTENTIALLY being a 'mug' and paying for balayage which is something I'm not actually getting (and don't want) OR what I am getting would be up in that price range anyway so labels are irrelevant and suck it up...

I think my mum's timings do seem suspiciously short - as confirmed by views here - so my timings are maybe more to be expected (as long as they don't forget me too often!).

I get balayage, like proper balayage that you see in photos, I'm very happy with it. I don't really have greys yet, thank god because the cost would cripple me if I had to get it done every 8 weeks, so the root/base colour is my own.

I pay £70 for the colour and cut. The stylist is amazing at colour, honestly I've been getting my (dark) hair various types of blonde for 30 years and she is the best I've ever used. The colour lasts me really well and I only get it done every six months. The cut is only average and she does that 'rough dry/straighten' thing, but to be honest I don't give a toss about the cut really - my husband cuts it for me sometimes - but I'll pay for the colour.

Anyway it takes about 2.5 hours. My hair is above the shoulders though.

If you have long hair and you're getting the base colour done then I would probably image £95-£100 is about right? But £135 seems really really steep. Your mums is very cheap though, nowhere round here could you get a cut and highlights for that price.

Why not try your mums place? Is her hair not nice?

My root colour is kept in their file, they know what I am there for, as its been the same fir years si theres no consultation.
The root colour takes 10 mins, plus pulling the strands through with the palette & comb method, (they dont need to use foil.)
40 mins for colour taking, 5 mins to wash.
10 mins to dry
I allow 1.30 generally for the whole shebang.
Yes it can be longer , but nowhere near 4 hours