Hairdressing - dry cut price increase

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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'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.

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.

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'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.

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!

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 ?

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.

A lot of hairdressers aren’t doing blow dries either- their establishments, their rules.

My hairdresser phoned me a few days ago to offer me an appointment as soon as they were open. Yippee!
I always just have a dry cut and I am certain she would have mentioned if I would have to have it washed there first.

I guess every establishment is entitled to make its own rules and price increases are to be expected, but I can’t help feeling that ‘because of covid’ will be used to bring about changes for months if not years to come.

Same here BlueSky.

I find it odd to be truthful, because surely having to blow dry hair after styling could be said to be dangerous? All those Covid particles being blown around the salon? Might as well take down all the perspex screens between stations!

Glad you mentioned it, I haven’t had my hair trimmed since last year and I always have a dry cut. If they are no longer allowed to, I’ll trim my hair myself!

I agree, the increase in price is fair.

And likewise my exhalations must be going up her shield.

It's the upside down position I am talking about.

Sorry - should have added that price increased by £2 to cover PPE which I’m more than happy with.