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I love my stylist; she's a dear friend, she does beautiful work, and I've been seeing her for at least ten years, but I had to break up with her today. I had an appointment scheduled for tomorrow, but had to cancel it when she sent me a flier noting her new prices.

About three years ago, I was paying her under $200, including a 25% tip, to get partial highlights, root touch-ups, and a cut. And sometimes I got vivids, which were a little more. Her prices slowly crept up to about $250 with tip. I've never paid more than $300, even when I got vivids.

Her new prices are $300 MINIMUM for traditional hair color. $600 minimum for vivids or balayage. $100 minimum for cut and style.

I called my BFF's stylist and made an appointment with him for next week. I asked how much it would be and the receptionist said "About $120 for partial and root touch-up." Hallelujah! My BFF's hair is great, so I have high hopes.

Last time I got my hair done, I told her that I wanted to try growing it out to see what's under there. I was considering sucking it up and going through the grow-out process because I couldn't stomach the thought of paying $250 every six weeks. Now I don't have to! Hell, I may ask the new guy how much it'd be to get full highlights.

I finally stopped colouring and grew it out about 2 years ago. So my prices are not exactly current, plus I'm in Canada. I was going to a woman who sometimes rents a chair at someone else's shop, did own her own shop for a bit, and eventually just started doing it out of her home. I was paying under $100 including the tip! I would have colour/roots, highlights (foils) and cut/style. My hair grows super fast so I'd have to go every 5 weeks, and it's also super thick.

I'm happy I grew it out. I'm happy to save the time and expense, and I kinda dig the way my hair looks now. Some people think I'm paying for *this* colour!

That is insane. I dont know how long your hair is but that seems excessive. My BF from childhood does mine and I have short hair, she usually does blond and brown foils and a cut. I'm in and out in a little over 1 hour. I pay $60 she charges me less but she does good work.
I would love to stop coloring it but my gray is not even enough yet.

Wow!!!

I was paying $100-120 for color and a cut for medium length hair.

My stylist retired over a year ago and I switched to home coloring. My sister does it for me. I can't tell the difference. My appointments were always 2-2.5 hours and sometimes 3. I am much happier not doing that anymore. I can't wait to stop coloring.

My cuts are under $50 including tip.

I think it all depends on where you live. I've been getting my hair colored/root touch-ups for nine years. When I was in the Midwest, it was the cheapest... probably around $120, including tip. That included a cut.

When I was in SoCal, I was paying around $230, which included tip, for a color and cut.

In the Boston area, I'm paying $163 for color and cut, plus 20% tip. So it's less than LA, but more than the Midwest. Everything in LA and Boston is more expensive than the Midwest, so I've had to adjust my expectations.

I also give a generous gift of around $100 in the form of a gift card at the holidays.

I go about every 5-6 weeks.

Evidently there's a market for her price point, otherwise she wouldn't be raising her prices.

I’m in California and I pay about 200 to 225 with tip for highlights, low lights, and a cut. She’s great and I only have to redo it every 12 to 13 weeks. (Not covering grays - so far they are minimal).

I’m in the Midwest. I have a very close friend (who started as a hairdresser) who comes to my house and does me, my mom, my aunt and cousin (and used to do my Grandma as well when she was alive) all in one day.

She charges $80 each for cut and color. I usually give her $140 because of the drive she makes to get here (it’s a good 2 hours), tip, and what I know to be the current cost elsewhere. She obviously under charges and I want to be respectful. I appreciate the hell out of her.

When I’ve been to the salon recently, (when we aren’t able to make our ‘hair days’ work) I’ve paid in the $200-$250 range plus tip for cut and color depending on the level of experience of the stylist, or $50-$80 for just cut. I’ve tried going to both high end salons and your more basic ‘walk-in’ places (cost at walk ins was more in the $30 for cut or $150 for cut and color) and I’ve had disappointments at both. I usually just make note and try elsewhere, and when I find someone good, I pay attention and pay the price, and keep them in my back pocket for when I need them. :)

Evidently there's a market for her price point, otherwise she wouldn't be raising her prices.

Exactly. I knew the day would come when she'd price me out of being able to see her, but it snuck up on me! She's really creative and sort of Instagram-famous for her vivids. Also, she's pregnant and wants to work less. She's in a small salon that specializes in vivids, so my little highlight and root touch-up jobs weren't her thing, really, though she did a beautiful job. My BFF says her guy/my new guy is kind of a cookie-cutter, get-em-in, get-em-out stylist, but as long as it looks good, it's a trade I'm willing to make to pay less.

I'm happy I grew it out. I'm happy to save the time and expense, and I kinda dig the way my hair looks now. Some people think I'm paying for *this* colour!

That's what I'm hoping for! I may continue down this path and really see what's under there. I'm already 12 weeks in, but my hair is bra-strap-long, so it'll be a loooong process. I'll see how I feel next week before my appointment.

I think it all depends on where you live. I've been getting my hair colored/root touch-ups for nine years. When I was in the Midwest, it was the cheapest... probably around $120, including tip. That included a cut.

When I was in SoCal, I was paying around $230, which included tip, for a color and cut.

Exactly. I'm in the Dallas suburbs, so that's a big factor.

when I find someone good, I pay attention and pay the price, and keep them in my back pocket for when I need them.

Yes! It took me a few tries to find her. I LOVE her work, and was willing to pay the $250 with tip, but not $300 before tip. Assuming about a $50 tip, that'd be over $3k a year just for my hair! I can't do that.

Wish me luck with this new guy!

With a beginner tier aveda stylist which is a lower cost around $100 for a few highlights a few years ago.

Cost now starts at $200 so I have not highlighted for a few years.

I got a guy at the airport that does it for 20 bucks...

I started thinking about what a hassle it would be to stylist-shop again if I don't like this new guy, and I think I may have figured out a way to stick with my beloved stylist. I asked her today if she would be offended if I didn't tip her, and if I come every seven weeks instead of six. She's fine with both. She's my friend, so I felt okay asking her about the tipping. I wouldn't have done that if we weren't tight.

I did the math:

Every six weeks = 8.67 times per year @ $250 = $2167

Every seven weeks = 7.42 times per year @ $300 = $2226

Essentially the same cost. I'm a happy girl.

Holy shit!!!

$2000 for hair? It really looks scary when you figure it out for a year.

I used to get mine highlighted about every 3 to 4 months and paid about $150 each time. And I thought that was a lot!

That has been many years ago.

Well, now my hair is a terrible awful mess… Has gone from a nice blonde to a medium, ugly shade of brown. And I can’t seem, even at 70 years old, to get any gray to come in. I was thinking about getting some highlights of blonde-ish and gray so that I could ease into the gray look. But, boy I can’t afford those prices!

Also, my hair is below my butt, so it would probably be so much more because of that.

😏

Also, my hair is below my butt, so it would probably be so much more because of that.

Can you please clarify? Is that where it's growing from or to?

T/J

How in the world do you get your hair below your butt?

I've never cut my hair in 10 years and it's just below my shoulders.

Well if I straighten it, probably to just above my butt but I have embraced the curl even though the curl isn't all curl. There's areas where the hair is wavy and other areas where it turns into ringlets. I wish it would pick one way to be and just be that!

Is the key to growing it long getting it trimmed alot?

How in the world do you get your hair below your butt?

Well, for us menz, once you get to a certain age, by not shaving there...

I justify the expense because other than my hair, I'm very low maintenance.

I don't do nails, Botox, facials, massages, fancy face creams, nothin'. I maybe get two pedicures a year. And I work from home, so no need for a bunch of clothes and shoes.

Can you please clarify? Is that where it's growing from or to?

Yes!!! Bahahahahaha

Not really. I can’t tell you why, but after about age 8 or so, my hair just kept growing and growing. I literally wear it the same way now as how I was wearing it in my senior picture from high school. It’s just longer now. And I promise you, it is thinning so much that it’s probably only about 50 hairs that go that long! 🤣

I used to get it trimmed about three or 4 inches every six months or so, therefore, keeping it about the same length… Between my bra and my waist. And on 3 occasions I had it cut considerably and donated it to "locks of love".

But now, the price has gone up so much for having anything done to it professionally that I just let it go. I’m pretty much a homebody now, so I braid it and it goes down my back and I never have to see it.

I stopped getting my hair professionally dyed after I had Covid and my hair started falling out (has since started growing in).

At that time I think the cost for a cut and color was about $125 + tip. (northeastern NJ), which is very reasonable for this area. However, I've been going to the same stylist for 30+ years, so I do get a little break for customer loyalty. My hair is just below the shoulder.

I started dying my own hair using non-ammonia dyes about every 8 weeks, and I decided I'm not going back to the hairdresser for color. I hate sitting in the hair salon, and doing it myself saves me hundreds and looks just as good.

I've been with my stylist for 20 years, and she hasn't raised the price in at least 5 (but I know that's as a favor to me). My hair is medium longish, just past my shoulders.

I pay $165 for a partial foil (but it's really a full) and a trim.

Every five weeks!

Then I tip her $40.

Chicago area.

I honestly cannot believe what women have to pay for this crap. I will not do botox or any of that stuff which I think makes people look weird, not young. I hate all this stuff on principle, but the cost is a huge deterrent as well. Ridiculous.

If I have to start paying $300 every five weeks, I'll need to take out loans.

[This message edited by OwningItNow at 10:21 PM, Saturday, October 14th]

Late to the party, but if you can find a beauty college in your area, they tend to charge much less. And they are usually VERY thorough as they are in training, and their instructors check their work. I've done it a few times and never had a bad experience!