When It Comes to Services, How Much Is Too Much?

July 13, 2009

About 10 years ago, I used to save up money for a haircut at Orbit in Ann Arbor, MI. (Go see Chuck if you're in town; he's great.) A trim cost $35, which was a princely sum to my working-three-jobs-at-once self. Surprisingly, the salon's prices for a haircut have gone up only $5 to $15 — which isn't too crazy, considering how much time has passed.

Meanwhile, in the last year and a half, my hair-removal esthetician's prices have jumped twice. First it was $40 for a bikini wax, then $45, and on July 1, it just increased to $55 — which means that when I'm not going the DIY route, I'll have to find someone more affordable. Especially considering the rough economy, I'm all for people earning a fair wage for their work, but at what point do you move on because of pricing?

Photo by dborman2

Money Recession-proof Beauty

21 Comments

POPSUGAR Beauty 3 years 44 weeks

ckeller825, yeah, the at-home Brazilian usually winds up with wax all over the place for me. But for a Brazilian in a clean place (i.e., no double-dipping of the wax stick) the going rate in SF seems to be $50 to $75. Which is why I don't always take a trip to Brazil, heh.

risqueredhead 3 years 44 weeks

I practically live in Ann Arbor; Salon Vox is really great. Cheaper than the salon you mentioned, but still too much for a poor college student. Which is why I haven't gotten my haircut in several months :p

ckeller825 3 years 45 weeks

I can't believe people actually pay THAT MUCH MONEY for a bikini wax! It's really easy to DIY...I swear by Surgi Wax because my hair is so coarse to begin with, and I never pay more than $6. I've even done my own Brazilian and it worked wonders, but it was probably THE most painful thing I've EVER done to myself. I know, tmi!

ckeller825 3 years 45 weeks

I can't believe people actually pay THAT MUCH MONEY for a bikini wax! It's really easy to DIY... I swear by Surgi Wax because my hair is so coarse to begin with, and I never pay more than $6. I've even done my own Brazilian and it worked wonders, but it was probably THE most painful thing I've EVER done to myself. I know, tmi!

terryt18 3 years 45 weeks

I'm surprised no stylists weighed in w/ their opinions. I go to 3 different places, 3 different ppl, 1 barber, the other two stylists. Depending on what I want to get done, I'll pay $10, $15, or $20, including tip. The barber cuts real short, the one stylist is perfect for maintaining a look, and the other when I just want a little off and more of a style. But I live in rural Kentucky.

terryt18 3 years 45 weeks

3 years 45 weeks

I love getting my hair cut but my salon went up a CRAZT amount! I started going a year ago and it was 55..on the pricey side for me but a great cut and a great salon. After my 2nd cut it went up to 65..then 75..I had to switch salongs at 75. I understand charging for a great cut but 75 for just a cut, no color is alot. I might also mention I live in burlington vermont..not a big city by any means! still searching for a new stylist :-(

Autumns_Elegy 3 years 45 weeks

I think that $80 for a colour is too much. I don't want to shell out $80 a month when I can spend $15 and do it myself. I also do all my hair removal myself, saving myself up to $60 a leg! And I trim my own hair cause it saves me $45, but when it comes to a full style I'd rather leave that in the hands of my stylist.

Autumns_Elegy 3 years 45 weeks

I think that $80 for a colour is too much. I don't want to shell out $80 a month when I can spend $15 and do it myself.I also do all my hair removal myself, saving myself up to $60 a leg!And I trim my own hair cause it saves me $45, but when it comes to a full style I'd rather leave that in the hands of my stylist.

dani17731 3 years 45 weeks

Margokhal, I'm with you on the relaxers. I have really thick hair and my stylist would charge $80 (plus tip!) because she had to use so much product. That was fine when I was in high school and I could use my measly check for that, but now my mom does it for me. $7.99 for a box of Cream of Nature and I'm on my way... I also do my own eyebrows, I just buy the Sally Hansen wax strips and shape them to my eyebrow. I've had the same box for about a year and still haven't run out of strips, I think it cost about $6. One thing I can't do is nails. Polish is cool but I can't help but love the acrylics!

dani17731 3 years 45 weeks

Margokhal, I'm with you on the relaxers. I have really thick hair and my stylist would charge $80 (plus tip!) because she had to use so much product. That was fine when I was in high school and I could use my measly check for that, but now my mom does it for me. $7.99 for a box of Cream of Nature and I'm on my way...I also do my own eyebrows, I just buy the Sally Hansen wax strips and shape them to my eyebrow. I've had the same box for about a year and still haven't run out of strips, I think it cost about $6.One thing I can't do is nails. Polish is cool but I can't help but love the acrylics!

POPSUGAR Beauty 3 years 45 weeks

Margokhal, yep, this Bella was a Wolverine. Rowr rowr! I'm not sure if Orbit does Black hair well or not, but it's definitely worth a phone call to find out when you go to A2.

Sabrina See 3 years 45 weeks

I live in Santa Monica & I had been visiting a woman in Venice that does all sorts of waxing. The bonus was that I could drink as much wine as I waited to help put off my whining. But when the recession hit it was really just one of those things I knew I could do without, a 70 dollar pussy waxing is just crazy. I found a chick for $25 and it felt like her only purpose was to punish me for being cheap. I'm still looking.

bigestivediscuit 3 years 45 weeks

I live in London but always wait for the once or (if I'm lucky) twice a year that I'm at home in the US to get my hair cut by this girl in my small town - for $20. Yep, that's right. $20 for the best cut EVER. She's fantastic. I've had my hair cut in designer salons and nothing has ever compared.

margokhal 3 years 45 weeks

P.S. Bella are you a Wolverine alum? Because I'm totally living there for the next few years for grad school! :D I might take a look at Orbit, it's gotten some great reviews, but I wonder if they can work on my hair - maybe just a trim and color, then.

margokhal 3 years 45 weeks

I don't get my hair CUT that often...because it doesn't grow very fast, I have to get it trimmed every 6 weeks to keep away split ends. That costs $10 - a full cut (according to my hairstylist, that's anything longer than an inch) is $20. Every 4-6 weeks, I spend $60 on a relaxer [sorry I tried going natural and my hair is actually wavy and does not sit...it's also very fine, so I can't flat-iron it into submission]. I've never had any of the other things [hair removal, etc.], because I thought they were kind of excessive and not worth the money, so I can't comment on that.BUT I spend more on regular maintenance of my hair than a lot of people I know, simply because I do a lot of it at home. I *could* go to my stylist for EVERYTHING - but that would be $150/mo and I just haven't got it. Black (I mean African-American) hair requires a lot of different products for care, particularly mine.

margokhal 3 years 45 weeks

I don't get my hair CUT that often...because it doesn't grow very fast, I have to get it trimmed every 6 weeks to keep away split ends. That costs $10 - a full cut (according to my hairstylist, that's anything longer than an inch) is $20. Every 4-6 weeks, I spend $60 on a relaxer [sorry I tried going natural and my hair is actually wavy and does not sit...it's also very fine, so I can't flat-iron it into submission]. I've never had any of the other things [hair removal, etc.], because I thought they were kind of excessive and not worth the money, so I can't comment on that. BUT I spend more on regular maintenance of my hair than a lot of people I know, simply because I do a lot of it at home. I *could* go to my stylist for EVERYTHING - but that would be $150/mo and I just haven't got it. Black (I mean African-American) hair requires a lot of different products for care, particularly mine.

Gdeeaz 3 years 45 weeks

The most i ever spent on a hair cut was $50 and it wasn't that great. Now i get my hair cut at the community college I go to. The teacher is amazing and only charges $7 for a cut. The only thing is that i have to make an appointment a few weeks in advance cuz she has tons of people going to her.

POPSUGAR Beauty 3 years 45 weeks

$12 for an amazing haircut? Color me jealous.

Chrstne 3 years 45 weeks

Well, when eyebrow waxing goes up to 20 friggen dollars, see ya later! I don't do bikini waxing at a salon. Hmm, hair cuts I will be more generous with. The best stylist I ever had did my hair for 12 dollars! 12. No 60 dollar cut ever compared. I think 20 is a reasonable price for nothing too fancy. As soon as you start rounding 40, I better know what exactly I am paying for. Now, I trim my hair at home, I do my own nails, and I only do brows once every month and 1/2.

Chrstne 3 years 45 weeks

Link Love

21 Comments

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