The High Cost of Hair Services: What Can You Do About It?

"Why does my hair cost so much?" Whether it's a haircut, highlights, or a massive transformation, the price tag can seem unreasonable. What the hell is happening?

The Nature of Hair Services

Every strand of hair has its own unique properties. Your hair is not like anyone else's; in fact, each hair on your own head is different. The outcome of your hair during a service depends on these factors, yes, even a haircut.

• Porosity: Highly porous hair will react differently, while nonporous hair may not react at all, to products and treatments. "Kim, how do I know if my hair is porous?" Pull one hair out of your head and drop it into a glass of water. Does it float, sink, or somewhere in between? (Float = nonporous, Sink = porous)

• Texture: Silk, Satin, Cotton, Wool? Just like these fabrics, hair will react and mold depending on the texture. A blunt bob will look vastly different on each type of hair.

• Density: The amount of hair on your head plays a big part in your final outcome. Stylists can get lost in massive, thick hair and overdo it on fine hair.

  
  

The factors mentioned above are just the beginning and do

not include situations like: your natural color, if you have had previous color services, or what home care you are using. We could go on and on into the complicated nuances of hair services, but one thing is very clear: there is no simple answer.

Ok, but why is it so expensive?

Skilled Labor and Training

Salon services require stylists to have years of training and certifications. Beauty school is just the start. Add the toolkit, filled with scissors, combs, blow dryers, irons, etc., requires experience and quality. Continuing education is essential, and a good hair stylist should attend 10-20 hours per year. A great hairstylist attends 30 or more hours of training.

Salon Overhead Expenses

• Rent and property maintenance

• Tools, equipment, and supplies (hood dryer, shampoo, color, etc.)

• Insurance and licenses

• Marketing and administration

• Point of Sale and Appointment software

• Training and licensing

• Tools

• Continuing Education

  
  

These necessary expenses add to the price customers pay. It helps to remember that your stylist, whether an employee or an owner, takes home 25-50 percent of what you pay. The rest goes toward the expenses above.

Availability and Experience

Services depend on the stylist's availability and level of expertise. For example, grey hair transition services are significantly more complex than other services and require more time. A grey hair specialist has additional education and industry experience and, therefore, is in high demand for this specialized service, allowing them to charge more for this service.

Quality and Reputation

A salon with a strong reputation for exceptional work quality will cost more and reflect in its availability. A well-known salon with highly skilled professionals will take longer to get an appointment. A salon with lower quality may offer discounted services.

The most expensive services, and how to get them for less.

Grey Hair Transition

This is the most requested service, and the most expensive. To achieve your grey hair in one sitting, it will cost $1500 (or more). A lower-cost option is to split it up into 3 sessions. Your hair will feel better, and you will have more time to adjust to your new look.

Other options:

• The big chop, cut your hair short, and go with it.

• Switch your color to demi (is it really demi?)

• Color only the top; let your grey come out underneath first.

• Let it go. If you don't mind how it looks.

Platinum Blonde

That first visit. Wow. You will be in the chair for at least 6 hours and spend upwards of $700. It is going to take a lot of bleach and a lot of patience. The maintenance is huge. You will come back for a touch-up every 4-6 weeks for $250. But, you will look f@cking hot.

Or split it into several highlight visits, $250-$400 each. This method can take a year. Maintenance appointments every 6-12 weeks.

Rainbow Hair

Mix platinum blonde with a grey hair transition, and you have yourself a rainbow. I know you used manic panic in high school. This is not high school; there is no musical. The fun part about Rainbow is that the maintenance is as you choose. You can come back monthly to have the color refreshed, or wait until it all grows out and start over. Prices vary from a color refresh $200 to the full meal deal $725+

Root touch-ups, Highlights, Haircuts

This is an area where you have A LOT of wiggle room. There are all sorts of options. Like seeing a lower-priced stylist or getting express color services. Ask your stylist about scheduling a full year of appointments to keep your price point stable.

Other Ways to Manage Hair Service Costs

• See multiple providers: Maintenance appointments with lower-priced staff.

• Ask for detailed estimates: Know what is included and what might add extra charges.

• Consider timing: Space out your appointments. Add an extra 2-4 weeks in between.

• Invest in maintenance: Smaller touch-up appointments can keep your big project looking fresh longer.

• Learn basic skills: Do the homecare your stylist recommends. PERIOD.

The Value Behind the Price

While some hair services can seem expensive, quality services deliver value beyond the immediate cost. Skilled professionals save time, prevent mistakes, provide expertise that protect your investment, and lead to longer lasting, high quality results.

Understanding the reasons behind service pricing helps you appreciate the effort and resources involved. Next time you face a high-priced bill for hair services, consider the training, time, and quality that went into the work, as well as the maintenance involved.

XOXO - Kimberly