Hair Salon Prices UK
Hair salon visits in the UK cost £30-150 for women's cut and color, with prices varying dramatically by location, salon type, and services required. Understanding salon pricing helps budget for regular hair maintenance while achieving desired results. While budget chains charge £15-30 for basic cuts, mid-range salons cost £40-80, and premium salons in cities reach £80-200+ for cut and color. Women typically spend £400-1,500 per year on hair maintenance depending on frequency and services. Let's explore UK hair salon costs for 2025.
Salon services include cuts, coloring (highlights, full color, balayage), treatments, styling, and specialized services like perms or extensions. Appointment frequency ranges from 4-6 weeks for root touch-ups to 12-16 weeks for full color refresh. Men's cuts are significantly cheaper at £10-30 versus women's £30-80 for equivalent salon quality.
How Much Do Hair Salons Cost?
Women's Haircut: £30 to £80 depending on salon. Budget chains (Supercuts, Toni & Guy Essentials) £25-35. Mid-range salons £40-60. Premium salons £60-120. London West End salons £80-200.
Men's Haircut: £10 to £30. Budget barbers £10-15, mid-range £15-25, premium barbers £25-40. Much cheaper than women's cuts for equivalent time/skill.
Full Head Highlights: £70 to £180. Includes cut usually. Budget salons £70-100, mid-range £100-150, premium £150-250. Takes 2-3 hours.
Full Color (Root to Tip): £60 to £150 plus cut £30-80 = £90-230 total. Budget £60-90 color, mid-range £90-130, premium £130-200+.
Balayage: £120 to £300 including cut. Trendy hand-painted highlights technique. More expensive than traditional foils due to time (3-4 hours) and skill required.
Root Touch-Up: £40 to £90. Maintains existing color, faster than full head. Needed every 4-6 weeks for gray coverage or dark roots showing.
Blow-Dry/Styling: £20 to £50. Quick service for special occasions. Budget £20-30, mid-range £30-40, premium £40-65.
Treatment (Keratin, Olaplex): £30 to £150 added to cut/color. Deep conditioning £15-30, Olaplex £25-50, Keratin smoothing £100-300.
Annual Hair Maintenance Costs
Natural Hair (Cuts Only): £240-640/year. Cut every 8-12 weeks (4-6 annually) at £40-80 = £160-480. Plus occasional blow-dry or treatment £80-160.
Highlighted/Colored Hair: £600-1,800/year. Full highlights every 12-16 weeks (3-4 times yearly) at £120-180 = £360-720. Plus root touch-ups every 6-8 weeks (4-6 yearly) at £50-80 = £200-480. Plus treatments £100-200.
Balayage Maintenance: £480-1,200/year. Balayage refresh 2-3 times yearly at £150-250 = £300-750. Plus cuts between colors £120-320. Lower maintenance than traditional highlights but higher per-visit cost.
Men's Regular Cuts: £120-360/year. Short styles need cutting every 4-6 weeks (8-12 yearly) at £15-30. Significantly cheaper than women's maintenance.
Factors Affecting Salon Costs
📍 Location
Central London salons charge 50-100% more than regional salons. Same service costs £80 in Manchester versus £150 in London West End. Small towns cheaper again - £40-60 for services costing £80-120 in cities.
👨🎨 Stylist Experience
Junior stylists charge £25-40, mid-level £40-70, senior stylists £60-120, artistic directors £100-250. Paying for junior at good salon often better value than senior at budget chain.
💇 Hair Length and Thickness
Short hair costs standard price. Long or thick hair incurs £10-30 surcharge for extra product and time. Shoulder-length color costs £100 versus waist-length £140 at same salon.
🎨 Color Complexity
Simple root touch-up £40-70. Full highlights £100-180. Balayage £150-300. Corrective color (fixing mistakes) £200-500. Going from dark to blonde requires multiple sessions costing £300-800 total.
How to Save on Hair Salon Costs
🎓 Use Training Salons
Toni & Guy Academy, Vidal Sassoon School offer 50-70% discounts. Supervised students provide cut/color for £15-50 versus £80-150 at main salons. Takes longer but excellent value.
🕐 Book Off-Peak
Weekday daytime (Monday-Thursday) often 10-20% cheaper than evenings/weekends. Some salons offer £10-20 off quieter times.
💡 Lower-Maintenance Color
Balayage needs refreshing 2-3 times yearly versus highlights 4-6 times. Saves £300-600/year despite higher per-visit cost. Natural-looking colors with less contrast reduce touch-up frequency.
🏠 DIY Between Salon Visits
Home root touch-up kits £6-12 extend time between salon visits from 6 to 8-10 weeks. Saves 2-3 salon visits yearly = £100-240 annually. Only for maintaining existing color, not major changes.
FAQs
How much is a women's haircut UK?
£30-80 depending on salon and location. Budget chains £25-35, mid-range salons £40-60, premium salons £60-120. London adds £20-50 to these prices.
How much do highlights cost UK?
£70-180 for full head including cut. Budget £70-100, mid-range £100-150, premium £150-250. Root touch-up cheaper at £40-90. Balayage more expensive at £120-300.
How often should I get haircut?
Every 6-8 weeks for short styles, 8-12 weeks for medium/long styles. Colored hair needs attention every 4-6 weeks (roots), full color refresh every 12-16 weeks. Balayage lowest maintenance at 12-20 week intervals.
Should I tip hairdresser UK?
Yes, 10-15% customary for good service. On £80 appointment, tip £8-12. Tip stylist directly (cash preferred) even if paying by card. Not mandatory but appreciated, especially for exceptional service or complicated work.
Are expensive salons worth it?
Depends on priorities. £150 salon cut lasts no longer than £40 cut - paying for expertise, products, experience. For complex color (balayage, corrections), worth premium. For simple cuts, mid-range offers best value. Training salons provide £20-40 services matching £80-120 quality if you have time.
Conclusion
Hair salons in UK cost £30-80 for women's cuts, £100-180 for highlights, and £120-300 for balayage, with annual maintenance ranging from £400-1,500 depending on color complexity. Budget chains save £20-50 per visit versus mid-range salons, while premium salons charge £50-100 premiums. Training salons offer 50-70% discounts (£15-50 cuts) for excellent value if flexible with time. Choose lower-maintenance colors (balayage over traditional highlights) and extend intervals with home touch-ups to reduce annual costs by £300-600. Men spend £120-360/year versus women's £400-1,500/year - significant lifestyle cost difference. Compare to hair transplants at £3,000-10,000 one-time versus £15,000-45,000 spent on salons over 30 years. 💇
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Alan Frost |
| Grew up in and live in Birmingham. Writer, publisher, editor, EFL teacher, composer. |
