Hairdressing costs - aibu to think that this is way too pricey?

[downwiththatsortof]

I went to a new hairdresser and checked beforehand to get a rough idea of cost. I usually get a cut and colour (roots regrowth) and when I checked the cost was around £50 for cut and £50 for colour, so I imagined approx £100. When I spoke to the hairdresser, she suggested doing some highlights to break up the colour, to which I agreed and had had before (in another salon) and has cost me maybe £20 on top.

When it was finished, I thought overall it was ok, but I didn't absolutely love it and when I went to the desk, I was charged £200!! I then left feeling uncomfortable and quite frankly ripped off and when I checked the receipt, I saw the breakdown -:

Highlights £80
Root colour £50
Gloss toner £20
Cut & finish £50

I emailed the owner afterwards to say that I was taken aback by the cost and to clarify the cost of highlights - she came back to say that although there was no discussion of price, the hairdresser had talked me through all the steps.

Aibu to think that maybe hairdressers need to be more transparent about prices but also that this is too expensive for this service?

It's very much dependent on location. I'm in the SW. I just had a full head of balayage, toner, a few little highlights through the fringe and a cut and style. I have very long hair. It came to £135. I'm happy with that. No doubt in London it would be a lot more

A half (or full) head of highlights will always cost more than a cut or a root touch up IME. So no that's not surprising at all, no.

Is 50 a reasonable amount for the cut?
If yes: 80 for half a head of highlights seems very reasonable to me.

Charging the cut and the root colour separately is also normal imo.
These are two different services and people often book them separately => separate prices.

So, it's interesting that the lack of transparency over prices has caught quite a few people out and @JustFrustrated I agree it's not like a menu as you generally know the price before you order as it's printed in front of you. @DoNotKeepAsking - I will be taking that advice of being shameless in asking😁and I also agree with @Chchchchchangesss the way the prices are listed is confusing and deliberately so, (i think), so it is open to interpretation and confusion.

Thanks for all the general comments re prices etc - it shows it's so wide open with regard to pricing and service😫

If they suggest any extras I would ask the hairdresser for a running total of costs. It's not cheap to ask. The costs can rack up. And they should be telling you the cost when they suggest it.

I am booked for foils, cut and blow dry next week, told £90ish, I have very thick hair so possibly a little more. I live in a city but not London.