Haircut prices = DUMB!

[*Anya*]

I found an awesome stylist who really knew how to cut my long, curly hair. Not everyone can give a good cut for curly hair and I have had some winner haircuts/trims in my day.

She was an outrageous $80. Then she got a job in Newport Beach in Fashion Island- a pricy part of OC. She did not tell me until she presented the bill for $110 that she upped her prices to match the locale. Needless to say, I was upset. That did not include the tip.

Since that time, I have my daughter trim my ends and I trim my own hair. Total cost: $0.00. It is not as bad as is sounds. I used to cut all my friends hair and went to cosmetology school for a few months before changing to an RN program. I just can't bring myself to pay for it anymore. I know they are entitled to a living wage but there comes a point where it feels abusive to me.

[Gayla]

It took me almost 8 years in Washington to find a barber that I liked and that cut my hair the way I wanted it cut. It was a small shop that had different prices for men and women. She charged me $7.50, which was $2 less than the usual price for a mans cut because my hair is so short.

I imagined it was going to take me awhile to find a place I liked here in SF. A bit of googling led to some sticker shock and I really doubted that I would find a decent barber for less than $25 + tip and then it would just be a crap shoot as to whether I'd even like it.

Nina spend some time on Yelp and found a barber shop with a 5 star rating and sterling reviews from folks with flattops, fades and other assorted short cuts for $12.50. I went in a few days ago and they did a great job. I think it's a better cut than my person in Washington and it cost me $5 more.

[justkim]

Abusive? Not sure I understand what you are saying so I will ask if you could elaborate. As a stylist I find that most days I don't get paid enough to put up with the attitudes that sit in my chair. I am not only doing my best at cutting/styling/coloring your hair I am also your therapist... all for the lovely sum of 9.75 an hour... and if I am lucky you may tip me after you have paid 14.00 for your hair cut and still complain about the cost even after you have told me you have paid over a 100.00 bucks for the same cut...
Anya, as far as I am concerned what your stylist did to you by not informing you about the price increase was bad form. I do know that most Salons have gone to booth rent which means the stylist pays for the space they use and most of them are at a high cost. Well over 1000 bucks a month and that doesn't include product or taxes.

I have been doing this job for 20 years... I Love what I do and I am very passionate about it and it shows in my work...

*puts her hair cutting soap box away...

Happy Hair cuts everyone!

Originally Posted by Anya/Georgia

I found an awesome stylist who really knew how to cut my long, curly hair. Not everyone can give a good cut for curly hair and I have had some winner haircuts/trims in my day.

She was an outrageous $80. Then she got a job in Newport Beach in Fashion Island- a pricy part of OC. She did not tell me until she presented the bill for $110 that she upped her prices to match the locale. Needless to say, I was upset. That did not include the tip.

Since that time, I have my daughter trim my ends and I trim my own hair. Total cost: $0.00. It is not as bad as is sounds. I used to cut all my friends hair and went to cosmetology school for a few months before changing to an RN program. I just can't bring myself to pay for it anymore. I know they are entitled to a living wage but there comes a point where it feels abusive to me.

[Write14u]

We have a place that sounds similar to the Knockout place minus the cheesy ref outfits and high prices. It's call Sports Clips. They only serve men ...and this butch, who walked in and said, "Hey, wanna cut my hair. I want the same thing those guys want." I've been going there for almost a year. I pay $13 plus a tip. For another four bucks (when I want to splurge), I get this awesome shampoo/massage while sitting in a massaging chair with a hot towel wrap on my face. It's pretty cool. I usually go the lower end because I get my hair cut every four weeks.

I remember when I first cut mine from ear-length short to buzz cut short a couple years ago. I went to my mom's stylist, a woman I'd know for years. She cut my hair with reservations (when my mom saw my hair she said she wasn't going back to her stylist again.) This lady was cutting my bio-male roommate's hair, as well as mine, at the same time. The first two times, she charged him $10 and me $13. After that, she looked up at me one day and said, "I don't know why I'm charging you more." From then on, she charged us the same. She was a great stylist, even if she was a bit hesitant cutting my hair in such a masculine style (small town, what can I say? Plus, she knew my mom hated it.)

[Write14u]

As a side note, my mom was a stylist in the 60s before leaving to help my dad with his business. She's never stopped doing cuts and colors and perms for family and friends over the years. She gave me my share of bad hair cuts, perms and colors (think Billy Idol) over the years. Through it all, I learned three things:
1) It was free. Shut up and go on.
2) Hair grows out.
3) Appreciate (and show it) when you get a really good cut.

[*Anya*]

Originally Posted by justkim

Abusive? Not sure I understand what you are saying so I will ask if you could elaborate. As a stylist I find that most days I don't get paid enough to put up with the attitudes that sit in my chair. I am not only doing my best at cutting/styling/coloring your hair I am also your therapist... all for the lovely sum of 9.75 an hour... and if I am lucky you may tip me after you have paid 14.00 for your hair cut and still complain about the cost even after you have told me you have paid over a 100.00 bucks for the same cut...
Anya, as far as I am concerned what your stylist did to you by not informing you about the price increase was bad form. I do know that most Salons have gone to booth rent which means the stylist pays for the space they use and most of them are at a high cost. Well over 1000 bucks a month and that doesn't include product or taxes.

I have been doing this job for 20 years... I Love what I do and I am very passionate about it and it shows in my work...

*puts her hair cutting soap box away...

Happy Hair cuts everyone!

Gee Kim, are you talking to me? Yes, $110.00 for only a cut, no shampoo or blow-dry, to me is abusive.

It also does not include the tip I gave her of $10 bucks because I never stiff a tip no matter how outrageous the cost.

As I said, I was not told her prices were raised when I made the appointment.

Your welcome to PM me if you would like to discuss this further. I believe I am entitled to state how I feel about that charge, given the title if this thread.

[Daywalker]

I say everyone joins the Hippy Movement and just
drives by all the hair places with their manes flying in the wind.


Except for Kim's, she needs some appreciative customers.

[Write14u]

Other cool thing I like about Sports Clips: The stylist records how she cuts my hair, so it prints up every time I check in. That way, if I don't get the same stylist, they can quickly see which length to use on the blade, etc.

[MissItalianDiva]

Ok well I have a different view on this since I have been there done that. I am a licensed cosmetologist. I paid in total 21k for my education. Now granted I did not attend a run of the mill beauty school but the creme de la creme of schools. Now with that being said I do have my own business and do not cut hair but I would freakin shoot myself if I was paying my student loans back with 15 dollar haircuts on top of booth rent. Talk about digging yourself a hole.

There are huge differences between a barber and a stylists. I personally pay 115 bucks every 4 weeks for my cut and keratin treatments which to me is a steal. Now when I had color or highlights which is about every 4/6 weeks as well then that easily goes over 230. Is it a lot of money yes but it is worth every penny.There were years when I was in my early 20's where I went to places where I could get a cut and color for under 120 and while it wasn't done badly I did not love the condition of my hair or the quality of service.

As with some other things in life...you get what you pay for. If you want to go to supercuts or Regis...blah blah blah expect to get what you pay for. These stylists are generally paid hourly and one can only ponder why a stylist who has invest 15k plus for their education would want to settle for an hourly wage. I know out here in San Fran it's generally because they could not pass an audition at a general salon if their life depended on it.

[justkim]

I work for a Franchise because I enjoy the people that come through the door. For the most part that is. I have worked in Booth rental situations and personally prefer to be paid hourly. If you were to look at the people still in the industry today that you went to school with you would find more than half of them no longer are in the field. Why is that I wonder? I also continue to improve my skills by attending classes via the web or in person, I can't say that for the girls I work with.
Time to head out to work and make the most of it.

Have a great hair day everyone!