After about a year and a half of living here, I finally found a hairstylist that could give me a haircut that wouldn't result in me leaving the salon on the verge of tears, or wouldn't require me driving into the city. Not only do I like her haircuts, I love them. She's got a way with thick curly hair that is nothing short of magical. So, a few months ago when I decided I wanted ombre highlights, I didn't think twice about having her do them for me.
After a couple months of putting some extra dollars away, I finally decided to take the plunge and schedule the appointment (set for a couple weeks from now). When I made the appointment, I asked her how much she charged; She only accepts cash, so I needed to know how much to bring. I had a ballpark figure in mind, but what she quoted me was NOT AT ALL what I was thinking. It was ASTRONOMICAL. In fact, when I told a friend how much I would have to pay, she responded by saying, "Um, do they last FOREVER?". To be fair, my stylist's haircuts aren't exactly the cheapest. But, although I knew I wouldn't be paying the lowest price for the ombre hair of my dreams, I still couldn't help but be a little floored by all the $$$$.
After the shock wore off a little, I decided to do some research. I asked my friend, Marissa, who has killer ombre hair (pictured), how much she shelled out for her locks. When she told me she paid LESS THAN HALF of what I was quoted, I started to get second thoughts. Guys, I really don't mind paying top dollar for a job well done, but if I can get a job well done for $$, then why on earth would I ever hand over $$$$ of my hard earned money? Sure enough, I started asking salons in the area (good ones, too), and all of them charge a price closer to what Marissa paid.
Well, now I'm at a crossroads. I am certainly not going to pay that insane price I was quoted. So, what's the solution? Do I cheat on my new stylist that I love and get the color done with someone else? Or, do I remain faithful and take this as a sign that maybe ombre highlights aren't for me... even though I really, REALLY want them? Or, the final option, do I just find someone new altogether? What would you do? Any hairstylists out there, is it totally not cool to have one person cut my hair, and a completely different person highlight it? I really don't want to piss anyone off, but at the same time, I can't help but feel that I'm being taken advantage of here.
*Yes, I know that some of you think that ombre highlights look like grown out roots that look like crap, but that doesn't phase me at all, so zip it.
**Ok, I'll shut up about my hair now for at least a month. After that, I can't make any promises.
personally, I'd get it done someplace else. because I'm passive aggressive like that and I wouldn't want to be the one calling out my stylist for her extreme pricing (it is NOT a sign that you shouldn't get them though - your hair wants what it wants!)
ReplyDeleteI'm also glad to hear you call them ombre "highlights." when I went in I spent $120 getting my hair ombre "dyed" which was terrible. I was going for subtle and ended up with blonde hair with brown roots. highlights are the way to go. (and be sure to articulate how light you want the light part, so you don't end up with "hay-blonde" when you were going for "warm honey")
The way I see it...if you really want something done, get a job well done at the best price possible! (Even if that means going to another hairstylist)
ReplyDeleteI have several hair stylist friends, and they don't seem to care if I go to one of them for a specific service and another for another service. I say go for it. And if your hairstylist gets huffy, just tell her it was too much for you to pay cash, but you love her haircuts. Perfectly reasonable! It's your money!
ReplyDeleteThis totally depends on your relationship with her, but I'd at least consider asking straight out if there's a reason hers are so much more expensive - maybe she has some grand reason, or MAYBE she just doesn't know she's losing business by overpricing. You could end up with a discount and problem solved.
ReplyDeleteIf that's out of the question, I would get your color done elsewhere but when it comes up at your next cut, say you went to a friend's stylist who has fabulous results, and it made you less nervous to go to a "color specialist" - I mean, you see a curly-hair specialist for your cut, right?
Either way, keep it adult/not-passive-aggressive so you can keep your fab stylist!
DONT try getting your haircut elsewhere.
ReplyDeletewhat i wouldnt give for a stylist i liked.
i am a wimp and would white lie
"oh my girlfriend is a stylist and blah blah blah but i wouldnt let her cut it, i like how YOU do it too much."
something?
I am, shamefully, the white lie telling kind too. Only, I would slip in there that the girlfriend offered to do the colour when I was upset that I simply could not afford to get it done by 'you'. Thus, allowing an oppotunity to discuss overpricing, should she want to take it up.
DeleteHaving quite a few close friends & family for stylists- they don't seem to be offended at all if you cheat with another service. Say they're a colorist, they don't mind if you have someone else cut it- and vice versa. If she colors your hair though, thats a dif story. You can't just cheat & not acknowledge it, she'll know when you go for a cut.
ReplyDeleteI made the mistake of getting ombre highlights from my regular cut girl. She charged over $250. And what was I supposed to do? Not pay? I didn't do my research so I ate the cost (and was so upset about it I never went back to her and spent a year finding a replacement).
Before you do anything, I'd bring it up to her asking if her price included a cut, and if not, just say your sister (cousin, friend, whatever) had it done for X amount of dollars & you don't want to go broke over it.
If it helps, I've had them done 3 different places & my current, regular girl charges $90 for them with a dry cut & style.
Call her up and discuss the different prices and services.
ReplyDeletethose ARE killer ombre highlights. (good luck!)
ReplyDeleteI would call her and tell her that the price seemed high to you and when you checked around you found that many reputable places would do it for less money. Tell her that you love how she does your hair but you can't afford the price she quoted and if she can't adjust it then you'll have to get your ombre on somewhere else.
ReplyDeletei work at a salon. don't tell her you think she is charging too much, THAT would be offensive. it's not at all offensive if you just get your cuts with her and your color somewhere else, that happens all the time
ReplyDeleteHave to agree with most people here - I think stylists are okay if you pigeonhole them. Most of my friends who get color done have a colorist and a separate stylist.
ReplyDeleteMy salon completely segregates the stylists from the colorists because they think it's better if people specialize. My stylist says he likes it better that way.
wouldn't it be the shits if your stylist turned out to be a bad colorist and still charged you massive dollars? can you go to marissa's person for color? and then if your person asks you can just say ... well, nothing?
ReplyDeletebut get it cut first, if the two people aren't working together they won't be able to discuss length and placement of highlights, etc, etc.
ps - i've had separate colorists and stylists for the past 8 years. it's worked out well.
i think get your hair cut with the stylist you trust and then get the colour elsewhere. it can take forever to grow out a bad cut, at least bad colour can be fixed reasonably easily (even if you had to do a home job).
ReplyDeleteOMG! I'm famous! Big smiles and thanks for the hair compliment!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with some of the other comments. you do not have to go to her for both cut and color. I wouldn't think twice about it, especially if she has not done your color before. xoxo
I'm all for loyalty, but you have to draw the line somewhere. Like you said, why pay $$$$ with no guarantee that you'll love it when you can pay $$ and have some assurance you'll love it? Can't imagine there'd be hard feelings if you keep using her for your cuts.
ReplyDeleteI'm a straight up floozy when it comes to stylists. I openly admit it to them too, and none have seemed too bothered by it. It's me, not them.
ReplyDeletethanks for all the advice, guys! i'm going to cancel my appointment with her, and make it with someone else. unfortunately, her price does not include a cut, and i only know this BECAUSE i made my appointment right after she cut my hair.
ReplyDeletei think confronting her/asking about the price is a bad idea. like jenniferlynnn said, it might offend her, and considering i really like her cuts, i want to avoid any awkwardness at all costs. i think i'll just be honest with her, and tell her that it's not in my budget to have the highlights done by her. the truth is, if i want to go back for "upkeep" appointments, i really can't afford her anyway.
xo
It's a sign.
ReplyDeleteYour friend's hair looks so fabulous, you just must get the highlights at her place.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about your stylist at all.
It is your hair and you have to be happy with the results.
Go for it, and good luck.
Okay, this has been bothering me since you first posted this...the man in the picture looks so familiar to me. Well, I just figured out that he reminds me of Joe Manganiello (the actor from True Blood). Maybe not in real life, but definitely in this picture.
ReplyDelete