I am 42 and I’ve increasingly noticed that over the years, going to the salon went from being an affordable splurge to get my hair colored to an absolute luxury I can no longer afford. Not only that but the cost of just a simple trim has gotten absurd where I live.
In addition, I’ve noticed it used to be understood that a haircut or trim is just a routine part of grooming. Now stylists are proudly saying “it’s a luxury, if you can’t afford it oh well”.
It used to be stylists would either post their prices, or at least gladly tell you up front the cost when you describe what you want. The last time I got my hair professionally cut and colored—4 years ago—I told my long time stylist that I just wanted a trim, and to skip the expensive balayage I had been doing and just do a simple all over color. I ASSUMED even with inflation it’d be the same or less than what I used to pay, which was $200. Nope. She charged me $350!! For a very quick trim and a simple all over color and she absolutely didn’t give me a heads up about her price increase even after I explained to wanted to go back to an all over color to save money.
So I quit going to her. I just went to Sally and got everything to dye my hair myself and started trimming my hair myself. My color skills are not bad at all. Trimming? Eh. But it is what it is.
A few weeks ago I decided to try a new stylist to get a trim or cut to fix my hair. Went in and during the consultation I was very up front about dying my hair myself and she lectured me about how “bad it is” (when honestly my hair looks really nice). She asked what hair care products I use, I told her the Dove bond strength line and she lectured me that it’ll wreck my hair and “coat my hair in wax” when 1)my hair has never looked healthier, 2)I’ve studied the science; many drugstore shampoos are fantastic including the one I’m using. It’s simply a myth they still believe and tell their clients. And I CANNOT AFFORD SALON PRODUCTS. I told her this. She said that if I care about my hair I’ll pay what it costs and I’ll pay for professional cuts not home trims. I felt so embarrassed I just thanked her for her time and left.
So I’ve yet to go back to her or any other professional stylist. It makes me too damn anxious. I’ve tried a handful of times to ask various stylists a price for what I want and it’s always far more than I can pay. Same elitism basically saying “if you’re broke just say that”. It’d be one thing if I expected an intricate color service for $50 but literally just looking for a simple TRIM for under $50.
Do some stylists really NOT understand the current economy? We are all broke! Well, I don’t expect to get to be able to afford professional coloring right now, I feel like just wanting to keep my hair in good condition with regular trims is not a luxury. And I’m tired of being shamed for using drugstore shampoo, and coloring my hair myself
Is this everywhere or is it just where I live? It’s just mind blowing to me.