Hairdressing - dry cut price increase

I would try and find a mobile hairdresser if I were you. Mine still does dry cuts and no mention at all of any change in rules! Another “due to COVID excuse!” If you ask me.

Both my hairdresser and my friends hairdresser stopped doing dry cuts long before lock down about 2 years ago I don’t know any reasons given though as I never had one in the past so it didn’t effect me
I last had my hair cut at the beginning of December and it had gone up a pound I have an appointment for 13 th April and I can’t wait I feel really scruffy and old fashioned without my usual short choppy cut
A lot of presenters who normally have short hair are looking a bit scruffy too ?

Both my hairdresser and my friends hairdresser stopped doing dry cuts long before lock down about 2 years ago I don’t know any reasons given though as I never had one in the past so it didn’t effect me

A hairdresser friend of mine told me several years ago that she stopped doing dry cuts simply to stop the small minority of customers who expected her to handle their filthy, manky, unwashed hair. Can't say I blame her, yuk!

I'm just amazed how little you've been paying for haircuts. The last time I had my hair cut it was about £45 and that's the going rate for all the hairdressers in town.

Growstuff - I'm in Greenford, near Ealing.

JulieNoted - oh yuk, that's disgusting.

I have always washed my hair before leaving the house for a five minute walk to the salon.

If I have to have my hair washed, it means I'm coming into close contact with two hairdressers rather than one. Then the hair has to be blow-dried. Seems to defeat the object, if Covid is the reason.

Plus I've a very short neck (like a mushroom) so a backward-leaning washbasin is agony for my neck and shoulders and it hurts the base of my skull.

If the reason for the increase really was Covid I could accept that. But an increase of £10/12 on an original price of £17 is just a rip-off.

Thanks for all your replies. It's interesting to see how many other people have been using the dry cut option. I thought I was the only one!

I have my hair cut and foil highlights every six weeks, last time I went, in between lockdowns, she had put her price up by £20 and told me it was because she’d had to half the amount of customers for distancing and install plastic barriers and supply masks, hand wash etc.
She also told me that for the first time ever, she was in a lot of debt by keeping the empty salon going and her home with no income.
I felt sorry for her, so didn’t begrudge the increase.
Also have you seen the price of theatre tickets as they try to re-coup their losses?
Rather that than all going bankrupt.

I'm not averse to an increase in prices to help businesses that have had losses during lockdown, but some of the increases are ridiculous. They are pricing themselves out of the market for many customers.

My son lost his job six months ago - the family have all banded together to pay his mortgage and family costs and thankfully he was recruited a month ago back to his old firm but a different position. He will pay back his siblings bit by bit for what they have loaned him. Like many who lost their income over the last year he certainly won't be able to afford the enormous hike in prices. Not everyone has saved money over lock down, lots of people are going to be stretched just paying increased food and clothing prices. Places like theatres may find themselves once again a third full, with only well off people being able to afford the prices.

If my hairdresser resorts to insisting on a pre cut wash I will simply wash it myself and turn up with it damp. If that proves unacceptable then I'll look for a new salon. Can't see that happening though. Certainly hope not.

I went on line to book my first appointment with my hairdresser as soon as she re-opens,she has put her prices up £5 across the board as most of the other salons have,so now for a shampoo cut and straight dry will cost £35.00 which I think is good value,there is no way I want to start looking for a new hairdresser who I would probably not be happy with.

Ours hairdressers are about £50-60 too, with a colour cheapest is about £90 but can easily go up to £130

My next door neighbour has a mobile hairdresser. After the last lockdown she did their whole family in the back garden

But Elliane, if you are also correctly wearing a mask, how can she be breathing up your nose?
My hairdresser will actually wear both a mask and a shield when hair washing.

Amberone

I'm not averse to an increase in prices to help businesses that have had losses during lockdown, but some of the increases are ridiculous. They are pricing themselves out of the market for many customers.

My son lost his job six months ago - the family have all banded together to pay his mortgage and family costs and thankfully he was recruited a month ago back to his old firm but a different position. He will pay back his siblings bit by bit for what they have loaned him. Like many who lost their income over the last year he certainly won't be able to afford the enormous hike in prices. Not everyone has saved money over lock down, lots of people are going to be stretched just paying increased food and clothing prices. Places like theatres may find themselves once again a third full, with only well off people being able to afford the prices.

But market forces will sort it out- businesses will adjust prices to what the market tolerates. My hairdresser has lost a great deal of income over the last year- if she puts up her prices and we’re willing to pay, it’s not her responsibility to subsidise others. If she loses customers, her prices will go down- that’s capitalism.

My hairdesser has put his prices up, not only to pay for PPE, but also because he is not allowed to fit in an extra cut for another customer while he waits for a customer' s colour to develop. He reckons he can only do about 70% of the appointments he used to do
He did not get much government support as he is self employed, and still had to pay rent to the shop landlord even though he could not open. His turnover was reduced by over 70% in last 12 months. It's been awful for him, he has a wife 2 children and mortgage to pay. At one point I think he was on the verge of bankruptcy. I'm really not surprised he has had put up his prices. Most customers have been sympathetic to his higher prices. There are cheaper hairdressers around , particularly for men who can pay rock bottom prices if they go to one of the new Turkish barbers that have spring up over last few years.

i changed where i get my hair cut early last year, just before lockdown.
i used to travel to a place i found when i was working, it suited me, simple, no appts, cheap haircuts. and there were some useful shops nearby. i paid £12 for wash and cut.
but i decided i didn't want to use public transport, so i looked around locally. i observed the best cutter, and the cleanest looking pemises was a small barber shop. one man band.
i asked if he could cut my hair. he said i can try. which was fair enough. i had it washed and cut. £20. very good service. went twice more. but after lockdown he was not doing any more washing. only one customer plus him in shop, no waiting inside, appts only, and the price was now £20 without washing. which seems fair. he can only do half as many in the time. and has had to spend on extra items, disposable gowns, sanitising gel, cleanser for seats etc between customers. i was just about to go again when they had to close in Dec.
i think they are entitled to increase prices. but i don't think they need to wash hair. maybe that's a way of justifying cost.
if you are not happy, find somewhere else. i would never have discovered this one if it had not been for the pandemic.
would not go anywhere else now.

My hairdresser has lost a great deal of income over the last year- if she puts up her prices and we’re willing to pay, it’s not her responsibility to subsidise others. If she loses customers, her prices will go down- that’s capitalism.

Absolutely - and as I said, I understand why prices will increase and have no problem paying a reasonable increase. And it's everyone's choice how much they are willing to pay.

My point (obviously not well made!) was it is quite sad that once again places like theatres will be accessible only by the very well off (ie those with plenty of disposable cash). At least for some time to come.

Amberone

^My hairdresser has lost a great deal of income over the last year- if she puts up her prices and we’re willing to pay, it’s not her responsibility to subsidise others. If she loses customers, her prices will go down- that’s capitalism.^

Absolutely - and as I said, I understand why prices will increase and have no problem paying a reasonable increase. And it's everyone's choice how much they are willing to pay.

My point (obviously not well made!) was it is quite sad that once again places like theatres will be accessible only by the very well off (ie those with plenty of disposable cash). At least for some time to come.

Sadly like so much of life in our very unequal society. Never mind the theatre , many have to use good banks.

I had no idea people got dry hair cuts at hairdressers. Is that the same as a trim? I have one friend who insists on a dry cut but she has to get it done at a barber’s as no hairdresser will do it. Tbh, it always looks awful for several weeks after she’s had it down, very pudding-bowl, but that’s her choice.

I had two cut & blow dries between lockdowns last year. I was surprised that prices hadn’t gone up (£40) especially as my stylist left and I now have the salon owner, but she doesn’t charge any more than her staff.

I’m going again on Wednesday and I won’t begrudge it if the price has gone up. The salon feels very safe and they seem to only have half the number of clients they had before, plus I’ve saved money by missing out on at least two appointments in the last year.

My former hairdresser, who sadly has been forced to close as a result of high rents and lockdown, used to trim my fringe for free, but they're the only "dry cuts" I've ever had.

I have an appointment with another hairdresser at the end of April. I didn't even think to ask how much it will be because I was just so relieved to find a hairdresser with appointments available. I'm guessing £45-£50. It needs completely restyling.

dry hair cuts are not unusual, in my experience. the place i used to go, did mostly quick dry cuts. they were not a barbers, no shaving, no colouring or crimping either.
and most of their clientele were women. the staff were female.
i used to have my hair washed there, and that was unusual.
hair can be sprayed with water if necessary. proper haircuts.
horses for courses.

They must have missed out on so much income, TBH I’m not surprised if they’ve put prices up.

I usually have a dry cut - largely because I hate sitting there for ages having to gawp at myself in the mirror, but I haven’t had mine cut since just before the first lockdown. So I won’t mind if a wet cut is insisted on - it probably needs it.
After that I might just say, give me a dry cut and I’ll pay for a wet one.

I'm the same, I have a dry cut as I hate being in the hairdressers. I'm not very good at small talk and I'm not interested in hairstyles either.

I loathe going to the hairdressers and grew my hair long partly so I wouldn't have to bother. I've had a few dry cuts over the years, mainly cutting layers back in and cutting a fringe. It's not really dry - they spray the hair with water to dampen it before cutting. Or mine did. They just don't wash it.

I do feel sorry for any hairdresser who has to handle greasy, dirty hair though.

I don’t care if my hairdresser throws a whole bucket of water over my head before she cuts it, I’m just so happy I’m getting it done after 5 months when I’m usually an ‘ every six weeks ‘ gal !!!!

supernanauna1

I have always had my hair dry cut. Before Covid, I paid about £16/17 a time.

After the first lockdown, I discovered that both my local hairdressers had stopped doing dry cuts (because of the danger of Covid, they said) and I now had to have my hair washed before cutting. All very well, but they had added £10+ onto the price.

I'm one of those odd people who hates going to the hairdresser. I'm a bit anti-social and dread having to make small talk. With a dry cut, I'm in and out in a few minutes and that suits me fine.

One hairdresser tried to tell me that it was the law that they are no longer allowed to do a dry cut. I think it was just an excuse to bring in more money!

Has another OP come across this?

I'm so annoyed by it that I'm very tempted to just let my hair grow and pin it back. I'd probably look like a scarecrow but it's worth a try to avoid spending even more time in the hairdressers!

Me too. I hate everything about a hair salon. The smell, the hairspray, the piffling small talk and mostly having someone fiddling with my hair. No complaints about the staff, they are lovely people. Like you, my latest hairdresser no longer does dry cuts. I don’t resent paying extra (I consider it danger money during these Covid times) but I wish I was paying to NOT have my hair washed!

My hairdresser visits the house, cuts it outside, if the weather is ok, or in, I wash it just before she arrives. £10, I give her £15 for the convenience/her transport.