Why do women's haircut's cost more?

[AgeingArtemis]

At my local "unisex" hair place the cost of a cut for a woman with short hair (they have different prices based on length) is more than twice the equivalent men's cut.

AIBU to think prices should be based on time and difficulty? For example, a man wanting a fancy undercut would be more effort than a woman wanting an all over buzz. And I'm not a hairdresser, but surely someone with long hair who just wants an inch off the bottom is no more difficult than a complex short cut?

As for the scissor sharpening, throughout the industry we ALL need professional scissor sharpening regularly not just a barber. Lots of women have thick course hair and often hairdressing blades are used for slicing/texturising so for longer periods than general barbering.

Looks like the OP might have had a point

www.independent.co.uk/news/business/women-paying-more-than-men-for-everyday-product-thanks-to-unacceptable-gender-price-gap-a6820816.html

Genuine question - isn't this just a case of pricing a good at what your target market will pay for it?

Not sure what happens with men with long hair who want a trim, surely that should be the same price as a woman's hair cut??

I used to have very long hair (male). I didn't have it cut for years and when I went for a trim I was told I would have to pay the price for a woman's cut, and did.

Must depend where you live then Nosey.

DS has beautiful, thick, wavy almost down to his arse hair not jealous at all! and when he had it trimmed it was normal barber prices.

There does seem to be huge regional difference in hair dressing prices as well, which probably has a lot to do with that one.

He decided not to get too much taken off, would spoil his rock god look

The thing is times have changed and the prices havent changed with it.

Over the last 20 years there has been a massive boom in male grooming.

So previously it was relatively simple - majority of women went to hairdressers.

Hairdressers will give women a wider option on styles, therefore a longer consultation, wash the hair with a massage, cut the hair technically and blowdry, use a few products. This takes 45- 60mins.

Men generally had clipper hair cuts, done on dirty hair, number 2 on the sides. Job done in 10/20mins.

NOW we have men wanting more a grooming service. A whole 60min appt. A skilled haircut on washed hair. Skin fades, blending styling etc.

The thing is- hairdresser haven't been able to raise their prices in line with women as men wouldn't pay that amount!

But as an example a haircut in Toni and Guy could be £65 for a women in 50mins and £52 for a man in 40mins (probably really needs same as a women) A barber is a totally different thing so it's really able to be thrown into a comparison.

My hairdresser is marginally more expensive for women than men. A senior stylist for a woman is £51 and £39 for a man. The actual time involved will probably be much longer for a woman so possibly men pay more per time spent.

On all colours and tints there is no difference. Starts at £57 up to £90. I do see men in having colour done.My colour takes ages due to very thick hair.

Yes, I agree unimaginative, I think times have definitely changed regarding hairstyles.

I don't think the toni and guy example is that bad a difference to be honest. And I don't personally know any guys who go to salons or stylists- barbers may be less "qualified" but they have more practice of men's current styles.

Around here there's a lot of young guys going to trendy barbers to get haircuts, but the price for a top-notch barber is still way less than the cheapest salon the girls can go to. It's annoying, but I can just about deal with it as they are separate establishments. There are a couple of salons which do a cheaper men's rate, but to be honest I've never seen a man in there so I can't really be annoyed by that either.

It's the "cool" cheap places that a lot of my friends (young) go to that cut both men's and womens hair and are known for doing a good "unusual" style. If you want a mohawk, that's where you go
They charge 12 quid for men and 25 for women, for what is often the same haircut

I'll still go there, because they're good and 25 pounds is still cheap, but it does annoy me.
I suppose to be fair to them, if they made their prices 17 pounds for everyone, a lot of the men would go elsewhere

A barber is trained in clippers.

A hairdresser is trained in scissors and will use a scissor over comb technique it's a much more skilled technique

This is the price difference.

Also to add the majority of an appointment is the blowdry and even if men have long hair they probably wouldn't have a blowdry like that.

There's lots of points really as to why the price difference.

I would say that the razor example is better to show the gender gap.

If you want a men's short back and sides and want to pay the same go to a barbers.

They charge 12 quid for men and 25 for women, for what is often the same haircut

That's a bit crap. Whenever I had a mohawk cut, they always clippered it. In the end I used to do it myself.

Maybe women just expect to pay more for a haircut? Even if the hair is being cut in exactly the same way?

These points would be valid if you paid per style.

£20 for a bob
£10 for a Mohawk

As you would find only a minority of styles would be chosen by both men and women. Most women's styles take longe hence the price.

Ageing, I don't know where you are but in London there are loads of places that will charge the same for the same cut regardless of gender. In my case it's just a trim and the same price would apply to a man with same length hair. Definitely question it and don't use them if they won't budge on price.

One local barber made the mistake of labelling them up different for men and women but my sister asked and he said, oh if it's clippers it's the men's price. He changed the board after that!

Do you mean regardless of sex ?

That's really good to hear lorelei

I have short hair, it needs cutting every 4-6 weeks. I hated hairdressers. Hated having my hair washed (only some would do a 'wet cut' with my hair just sprayed) , having to make small talk etc. After some "sorry we only do men's hair" I found a barbers, I can nip in when it suits me,
it's £8 on a Thurs, £11 the rest of the week. I love not having to book, I've gotten used to reading 'Men's Health' if I have to wait and the barber is lovely. My hair had various lengths and layers, needs thinning out etc...... Friend has long straight, unlayered hair. 2-3 times a year she has a few inches lopped off the bottom..... It costs her £50. Seems ridiculous that hers costs so much more. I did challenge the previous hairdresser as to why a men's cut was so much less and they agreed to charge me men's rate for a wet cut (£18) rather than the standard women's charge of c. £40.

Firstly a barber and a hairdresser are two different things .

Your friend with long hair couldn't go to a barber to get a haircut.

Also just to point out when people say 'only a trim' you don't pay for the hair that's left on the floor.

If you have cut off 1 inch or 10 inches the same sections need to be put in and cut so will therefore take the same time.

Restyles like a one length cut to a crop will take longer as you are putting a whole new haircut in. But hairdressers rarely charge more for this.

Just to set the record straight, I went to a different haircutters, and was charged the men's rate without even asking, because my haircut was very simple and didn't have a wash or blowdry.
I would have happily paid a bit more (so I left a tip instead) but I don't think it's fair that my 20 minute clippers haircut should be charged the same as a full-on ladies re-style, so I'm glad that for once it wasn't!

I still think instead of having a "mens" rate and charging some women with short hair that rate, they should charge by style eg:
All over Buzzcut (no wash or blowdry)
Short simple hair (no wash or blowdry)
Short and medium style
Long hair
Restyle

PS It's actually the best cut I've had in a long time and I'm very happy

Last time I went to the hairdressers I went to a walk-in chain and there was a bloke before me who sat down 10 minutes before I did. When I was called, just asked for the whisps at the back of my head to be cut off, took less than 10 minutes, £14. Bloke in front of me, took twice as long, £7. He paid just after me and I almost said something then. Fucking cheek!