Haircuts, What is the Max you would pay?

Anonymous

I really like my hair stylist. I have been seeing him for the past 3 years. He really cuts my hair well as my hair has thinned a bit. When I started seeing him I paid $50 per cut (that is what I told the salon I was willing to pay when booking my first session). The second time I went I was informed that his rate was raised to $60. I paid this as I really like my cuts. The following year, it became $70 and last year it was raised to $80. I have a feeling that soon I will be told that his rate will be $90.

I don't know if I am willing to pay that much, plus throw in a tip and I will be spending $110 each time I get my haircut. This translates to close to $1000/ year. What is the max you would spend on your haircut or it doesn't matter since your stylist does a great job?

I know that prices vary by where you live. I live in Bucks County, PA , about an hour from Philadelphia and 1 1/2 hrs from New York City. The salon I go to is upscale, but there has to be a limit as to what people will spend. The salon has a huge staff and the owner offers medical, dental, and a 401K.

7 years ago

Off Topic

33 replies

Latest reply was from

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

My stylist, now, charges $75.00, plus tip is $90.00 every 4.5 weeks. It IS a lot of money if one steps back and looks at the annual expenditure. However, I rationalize the expense because good hair is such a crucial part of one's overall appearance on a daily basis. (Cost per wear is about $3.00, haha!) Also, it sounds as if you feel good about giving your money to an employer who looks after his/her employees. That adds value. Personally, I probably wouldn't like to spend over $100/month or, if I did, I'd be tempted to balance it out by foregoing some other beauty expense. My hair is easy and I think I could obtain good referrals to another stylist. If my hair were difficult, I would probably have more incentive to stick with the proven stylist.

7 years ago

Anonymous

I spend $60 plus tip every six weeks. I guess I would be okay with a bit more, but I think I'd run if it got past $75.

That seems like a lot of price raises considering the time period. I might start thinking about Plan B, i.e., finding another stylist.

Is it just me, or do the men always charge more than the women? That's been my experience, anyway.

7 years ago

Anonymous

I am not one to skimp on my hair, but that seems pricy to me. One thing - if you did switch, how much less would you be paying? If you'd go somewhere else and pay $70 for someone you like, that's not much savings. If you can switch and go back to paying $50, that's more of a consideration. I'd check to see who you think you'd move to and maybe try a cut to test it out.

It may also depend on your hair. Do you usually like your haircut if you go to someone new? I've only had three main hairdressers in 20 years, so I don't switch often. But I pretty well like how each of them have cut my hair, so maybe my hair is easier to work with than some.

7 years ago

Glory

Veteran

That is very tricky. I think it really depends on whether you are up to finding someone new and whether you can afford to keep seeing the current stylist.
I pay $95 every 8 - 9 weeks but it includes coloring. The coloring is a relatively new thing for me and I have contemplated trying to alternate home color one time with professional the next. I have decided against it for now and will pay her to do it.

7 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I spend $75 every three months, excluding tip and colour, for my not better than Supercuts hair. Because the girl is willing to experiment with colour. I use to pay $150 for trims, with a monthly upkeep schedule, with a master stylist.

7 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I don't think I could spend more than $50 right now. I live in the boonies and my hairdresser gives me a great deal-$30, so I always overtip and make it an even $40.

7 years ago

Anonymous

Emily K - I like my stylist because he cuts my hair so that it looks great without really having to use any styling products. So maybe I am savings by not having to buy styling products. I can wake up in the morning and run my fingers through my hair and be done.

Xtabay - I know that my stylist has been there 7 years and makes more than those who have been there longer - yes the female stylists. I guess he also has a title other than stylist so he might be an hourly paid employee rather than getting a portion of the cut price or both. I know one of my DDs use to see him, but left for another stylist who charges less at the same salon. He was not happy. But my DD cannot afford an $80 cut.

delurked- I am not sure if I would like anyone else to cut my hair at this point. I used to go to this salon a while back and was not happy with the stylists. I went to another salon where the owner cut my hair ($45 per cut) and at first I liked the cut, but after a year she did not seem to care and could not focus on clients and was constantly interrupted by phone calls or staff questions. That is when I decided to go back to the first salon and asked specifically for a stylist at a $50 pricepoint who was good with fine thinning hair.

Glory - I can afford it, but when does something become overpriced? I do care about my appearance and looking my best is important to me. I guess if he ever left the salon, I would either have to follow him or find another stylist.

7 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I have been going to my hair stylist for 32 years. I now travel 3 hours to get my hair cut by her. And I am not the only client who travels long distances to go to her. I tried a few people near where I live and I was not happy. Occasionally over the years I have gone to someone else because she was on maternity leave or something like that. No one can cut my hair like her.
Now I have explained how loyal I am to my hair stylist. I also don't colour my hair and probably never will. I get my hair cut every 3 months and do my own bangs in between.
I would probably pay a lot. Right now she charges something like $75.00 and I give a very generous tip. So it ends up being about $100.00. Maybe more at Christmas. She deserves to be paid well.
I like my hair. If I can afford it I will continue to go to her. I will give up other things to keep going to her.

7 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

I pay that for color, because it's a time consuming process and the results have always turned out better and lasted longer for me than box dye (even the more spendy eco versions). I suppose I'd figure on how much time I spent in the chair. If the actual cut takes about 20 minutes (like mine does) I'd figure out what that was worth to me and if it could be replicated elsewhere for less. If it's a more complex and time-consuming cut that I feel is working for me or improving every time, it would be worth more to me.

7 years ago

Anonymous

Such a tough one , isn't it? I think my cuts are around $55 , maybe $60 plus tax and tip. And that's every 4-5 weeks, from a senior stylist. Colour is a whole lot more. I sound vague because I am often buying more than just a haircut (product etc) I get nape and bang and "side burn" trims for free in-between - if I want them, and I usually do. I guess it's all about whether you feel you are getting value for that $. It does seem like he hiked his prices pretty often over the years - that I found odd. I would have to find someone new if my stylist moved into the $70 and up range. That's just too $ for short hair that gets cut every 4-5 weeks.

7 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Hair care is a big industry.

Afro Americans can spemt as little at $20 to upwards of $400 so ot depends upon you.

7 years ago

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Does that price include hair color? I pay $75 for a cut and color.

7 years ago

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Color and cut $120 (incl tip) every 6 weeks

7 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Haircut every 4 weeks $50, including tip.

7 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

I spend an absolute fortune on my hair. $75 for color every three weeks (plus tip to the shampoo guy/girl -- my colorist is the salon owner and she gets a bonus at Christmas rather than regular tips), $75 plus tip for a cut every couple of months, throw in $300 for a Brazilian blowout a few times a year. So I'm probably not the one to ask.

7 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

Thought I would chime in from Aus! I have a cut and colour every 6 weeks for AUD $160.00 Given my hair is short, I often need a tidy up of the nape of my neck, my undercut sides and fringe and I am never charged for that in between. What I pay is pretty standard here.

7 years ago

Lyn D.

Veteran

I am out of touch with current prices I think!
I spend $160 ANNUALLY seeing a long term stylist at her home.

7 years ago

kerry

Veteran

I live in an urban centre so I'm assuming that makes things cost more. I have my hair cut and highlighted 4 times a year. The total bill with tax and tip is about $300. The cut itself is $88 before tax and tip. I think highlights might be more expensive than single process colour. I'd like to pay less but am not willing to experiment to find a cheaper option.

7 years ago

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I have paid a lot for expensive stylists at fancy salons with separate shampoo people, wine, etc. I have had my hair cut at my husband's barbershop, I have cut my own hair, I have let my hair grow out naturally for years.

The only time the fancy stylist was worth the cost was for the all over low -lights. I felt amazing when I left, and it looked natural as it grew out. It lasted 3 months. I stopped going to her when she said it would no longer work and I'd need color every three weeks, which was not in the budget.

The latest fancy stylist gave me the same haircut as the woman at the barbershop, except maybe for some undercutting. $80-$100ish instead of $30. I was looking for a change when I went to the fancy stylist, and I might have continued to go there if I felt it was an improvement. I don't go that often. It is possible that the limits I set affected the cut - it needed to still fit into a ponytail. And there was heavy pressure to buy all sorts of products at the fancy salon. Products I didn't like. And they didn't believe me when I said that I had used the same products before.

I went to the barbershop on a lark. I hadn't had a haircut in a long time and the men in my household went, so I asked them to ask if they do women's hair. They came home and said yes, so I went.

7 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

I pay $85 including tip every 3 weeks.

7 years ago

ClaraT

Veteran

$100 (cut+ tip) every 3 months. My stylist charges ~$150 for highlights (which I don't do because $$). In my (fancy-except-for-me) neighborhood, there is the $20 cheap place, but no where else charges under $80 for a cut (I called 8 salons about 2 years ago because I thought $85 was a lot...)

If the price goes up again, danusia, I'd tell your stylist that you love how he cuts your hair that you'll be priced out soon (if that is the case). He may work with you; if not, you'll have tried.

7 years ago

Anonymous

Thanks everyone for all the feedback. I have decided that if my stylist goes to $90 that I will delay my haircuts by one week or so and in the end will be spend about the same. I know that prices are rising everywhere, but it also seems that 15% tips are in the past. I tip 20%, but now it seems 22% is soon becoming the norm. I mean, I am paying $80 for a cut with a $16 tip to the stylist and $2 to the shampooer.

7 years ago

Barbara Diane

Veteran

That's a smart plan.

7 years ago

kkards

Veteran

i just want to say that i am wowed that this salon offers health insurance and 401Ks! my hairdressier and i are friends, and i know that health insurance is one of his biggest concerns...

7 years ago

Anonymous

khards - this salon has 2 locations. In addition to doing hair, they have a makeup counter, nail salon, spa. The owners also have a couple of home goods stores and possibly 2 clothing boutiques. So they easily employ well over 50 people. I think when you have a certain number of employees you must have health insurance available.

7 years ago

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Small Midwestern city. $35 every 5 weeks, plus 15% tip, for about 1/2 hour of doing my short cut only. I have never colored my hair. I know that does not sound like much, and I know she rents chair space and does have other expenses, but it's a LOT more than I made in (hourly) salary as a full time elections administrator.

While I do not begrudge those stylists who charge more, as they do have talent, training, and expenses to perform their services, most are not really underpaid at the rates described in this thread.

7 years ago

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

I currently pay $25 including tip, every 4 weeks. This is in the women's hair salon on a military base. I'm pretty sure my husband pays half of that in the base barbershop. Mine is just a cut, no shampoo, although she does rinse my hair at the end unless I decline.

When we were stationed in another city and I found a hairdresser on the economy, the most I paid was $50. Every 4 weeks, cut and shampoo (although I really prefer that they don't shampoo my head).

7 years ago

Anonymous

I know I posted this a year ago, but I just got back from the salon and was charged $100 for a cut. No warning or courtesy as they offered me before when they increased the price. (They should have told me when I made the appointment!) That is a 25% increase ( I used to pay $80), which in my opinion, is just crazy. I am trying to rationalize this as when the price was raised to $80, I scheduled my appointments for every 10 weeks instead of 8. I don't think I could go any longer between cuts.

My daughter goes to the same salon (different location) and has been paying $50 a cut for the past 3 years. I like her cuts and cannot rationalize why she pays $50 and I have to pay $100, except her stylist has only been with the salon for 3 years and my stylist has been there over 8 years.

If I had unlimited income, this would be a no brainer, but DH is looking to retire in 4 years and I can think of better things I would like to spend my money on - like fitness classes. So I guess I have made up my mind and I will let him know because I feel like he may lose a few customers or at least one - me.

5 years ago

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I recommend that you take photos of your hair from multiple angles immediately so you have a reference for your next stylist.

I would make sure that any new stylist you see has experience with hair like yours.

5 years ago

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