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How to break with hairdresser?

(109 Posts)
EllaMary Mon 12-Aug-24 16:18:47

I have had my hair cut by the same girl for the last 27 years. She is excellent, and has always charged a little more than other hairdressers, which, while my husband and I had our business, was absolutely fine. However, my husband passed four years ago, and although I am not pleading poverty, I cannot warrant paying her fee. She has just put it up again, and I’ve worked it out that over a year i would be paying about £11.50 per week! The awkward thing is that she is best friends with my son and his wife….. Any suggestions how I can tell her in a polite friendly way that I am not going to her any more? Many thanks

HeavenLeigh Tue 13-Aug-24 12:56:29

I’d be honest I wouldn’t be making excuses I’d be upfront as I always am. Tell her the truth you cannot afford her prices . You have been a regular client of hers for many years. You never know she could do it a bit cheaper for you. I wouldn’t say I’ve been a regular client of hers for many years as she knows that already. I don’t really think the fact she’s friendly with your son and wife has any bearings on it. Her prices are too high for you now. Good luck and hope she gives you a discount for your loyal service 27 years is very long time to stay with same hairdresser.

Lizzie44 Tue 13-Aug-24 13:04:24

Be honest with hairdresser. It was my hairdresser's suggestion to change from a full "cut and blow dry" to a wet cut in order to reduce costs. Admittedly my hair is short and very fine so dries and scrunches back into shape very quickly with a towel dry.

Glenfinnan Tue 13-Aug-24 13:33:37

I pay £40 every 4 weeks for cut and blow dry. I used to pay double for colour as well… but since going grey it’s cheaper!!!

VANECAM Tue 13-Aug-24 13:40:21

“By the same girl”

Surely after 27 years she’s no longer a girl?

Eddieslass Tue 13-Aug-24 14:09:59

When the hairdressers closed down the lady I’d often had to cut mine started out on her own. She comes to the house - around every 5 weeks - just to cut it (dry). She recently increased the price to £15. Very pleasant and enjoys a chat so I’m well satisfied.

4allweknow Tue 13-Aug-24 14:29:48

I pay £45 forcut and blow dry every 6 - 8 weeks. Hairdresser does a good job but I'm thinking of opting for a home hairdresser charging £20.00. Friend has been using her for about 6 months and her hair looks good.

kwest Tue 13-Aug-24 14:32:57

After Covid (during which time I grew my colour out) I decided that I liked my white hair and I did not fell comfortable sitting at a backwash basin with someone breathing over my face. I spoke to my hairdresser about it and now I was my hair before going to the salon so that she just sprays my hair from a normal spray bottle with water and then she cuts it and blows it dry. I pay 25.00 and have it done once a month but if she is on holiday sometimes it will stretch to six weeks. I am very happy with this arrangement.

Eirlys Tue 13-Aug-24 14:55:04

I have been with the same hairdresser for over thirty years. She used to come to my home and permed, (yes those were the days, my friends, ), and set my hair twice a year then cut and set it every six weeks. I wasn't bad at dealing with my hair then.f Now I am a ancient and widowed she comes to my flat and sets my hair for £15. I wash my own hair and comb it out. While my hair is drying she tidies my kitchen, does my floors, and cleans my bathroom. She is so good I insisted on paying her during lockdown as she is self-employed. We are good friends obviously and, although she is not the best cutter, she knows my hair which isn't a bad thickness and is still mainly its original mouse!

Fleurpepper Tue 13-Aug-24 15:00:11

So there is a huge difference between cost of cut and blow/finish.

For £12 home visit, one has to wonder if it is declared. Seems like a bit of unfair competition, like Airbnb, as proper businesses have rent, heating, rates, and so much more to pay.

Interesting.

WelwynWitch3 Tue 13-Aug-24 15:01:20

I changed hairdresser earlier this year, although it is a local salon it isn’t open regular hours and I had know the stylist since she was an apprentice. On the off chance I went back to one I use to go to pre Covid the cost is the same £32 cut and blow dry but stylist is better and I am happier with the result. I only go every six to eight weeks

JadeOlivia Tue 13-Aug-24 15:16:09

I' d check first that you' re not leaving a tried and trusted hairdresser for one that you don' t know, who doesn'xt know you, and who might only be a bit cheaper as they all put their prices up regularly. I would stay with her but cut down your visits, and tell her why.

MissInterpreted Tue 13-Aug-24 15:28:20

Fleurpepper

So there is a huge difference between cost of cut and blow/finish.

For £12 home visit, one has to wonder if it is declared. Seems like a bit of unfair competition, like Airbnb, as proper businesses have rent, heating, rates, and so much more to pay.

Interesting.

I'm sure there are many reputable home hairdressers who do declare everything, but I'm also sure there will be some out there who don't. If people think they're getting a bargain, they probably won't ask too many questions.

Wolfie59 Tue 13-Aug-24 16:17:48

Hi, you don’t say what it is you have done. If it equates to £11.50 per week, times that by 52 weeks that amounts to £99 every 6 weeks. If you’re having cut, blow dry, and colours/highlights every 6 weeks that’s high but could be higher depending on where you are in the UK and the kind of salon it is. Need more info really.

Nannarose Tue 13-Aug-24 16:30:26

We all have to decide how to spend such spare cash as we have to help us get by or give us pleasure. I follow this with fascination, and hope it has been helpful to OP.
I now have to ask: what is a 'finish'? My mind is boggling!

GreyKnitter Tue 13-Aug-24 16:37:29

I pay my hairdresser £38 every five/six weeks - depending on her availability and mine - for a wash, cut and blow dry. So works out about £7 per week.

Marthjolly1 Tue 13-Aug-24 16:41:36

Customers come and go, it won't be taken personally. Its business. Good luck with a new hairdresser.

Emerald888 Tue 13-Aug-24 16:43:49

I used to live in Essex and pay £30 for a cut, colour and blow dry at a local salon. Over 60s rate. Busy town. Moved during lockdown to a rural Midlands county. Cut and dry is £30 in our village. With a cut, colour and dry £90 at the local salon. Expensive in nearest towns too. Possibly because a lot of wealthy pensioners move here from the south.
Recently heard of a mobile hairdresser who will colour, cut etc for £50.
Shocked at the difference!

Aldom Tue 13-Aug-24 16:55:11

My dry trim (water sprayed to dampen hair) and quick blow dry costs £34. Salon in a small market town in Oxfordshire. I go every four or five weeks. Same hairdresser for nine years. The price goes up annually.

Grandma70s Tue 13-Aug-24 17:20:41

I’m amazed how much people spend. I pay about £15 for a damp cut every eight weeks or so. I am lucky in that at 84 my hair is still dark brown with very little grey (my father was the same), but I wouldn’t colour it anyway. It almost always looks unnatural, but people don’t seem to mind that. I am not short of money, but prefer to spend what I have on other things.

MaggsMcG Tue 13-Aug-24 19:54:10

My pensioners discount price was £35 I know she's put her prices up recently so I might have to look for another one. I have a wash, cut and blow dry but only maybe once or twice a year

Fleurpepper Tue 13-Aug-24 20:16:32

About the 'finishing' bit- I hate my hair being blow dry, so the hairdresser 'scrunch' dries it. She is French-Algerian and loves the word... and I am her only customer who requires it.

38 Euros, every 3 months approx.

Nannarose Tue 13-Aug-24 21:41:49

Thank you!

Madmeg Tue 13-Aug-24 21:46:00

I seem to be too busy to make a regular appointment plus we go away in our touring caravan when the fancy takes us, so my hairdresser might be free or not. If not I do what I did during Covid - cut my own. It isn't perfect but then I'm no good at styling it even when the hairdresser has cut it, so it looks okay to me. I colour it (it's now a muddy grey shade naturally) every 3 months or so with a semi-permanent colour that lasts a lot longer than the suggested 8 washes and fades gradually. My hair is chin-length and layered. Admittedly layering the back myself is a bit hit and miss but my hair only ever looked "great" when curly perms were the fashion. Even then I used to do my own!!!

henetha Tue 13-Aug-24 23:15:53

Isn't it expensive! I'm quite pleased that I do my own hair.

Freespirit55 Wed 14-Aug-24 05:21:53

I had to change she didn’t make it a pleasant experience, I have very fine hair and I’ve found hairdressers only like thick hair. This has happened to me twice now, they don’t listen and cut far too much off to annoy me and make me leave. Still haven’t found a nice hairdresser my hair badly needs a cut but feel reluctant to go