You might recall that the last time I got my hair cut, I went to the Paul Mitchell school and paid $22, including tip. At the time, I was pretty happy with it. For the money, at least, it was a pretty decent cut. I noticed that the stylist didn't use the techniques I was used to when she added the layers to my hair, but I didn't think too much of it at the time.
As my hair grew out, however, I realized that it appeared to be one length and simply didn't maintain the shape I would have expected. The layers were indiscernible, and fluffy at the end. To put it simply, my hair looked very blah.
And I realized that I didn't want to go back to the school. My hair is my favorite feature. Despite the increasing number of white hairs, it's still the one thing about my appearance that I'm happiest about. That makes it worth spending some money on.
I looked up the salons at the closest mall, and picked one that was upscale but reasonably priced. I ended up with a junior stylist who charged the starting price of $55. (I paid $66 with tip.) Even a junior stylist at an upscale salon is far better than one coming out of beauty school, of course, and I ended up with the exact cut I wanted and a fabulous blowout.
I don't get my hair cut very often, and I should be able to go at least four months before I need another cut. So I'm very willing to pay an extra $44 if it means I spend the next four months feeling good about my hair.
6 comments:
This is one area I will no longer skimp on :). I have found a fab stylist and I'm not willing to let her go for any price. I'm also trying out some new *expensive* shampoo b/c she said it would help my color last a whole lot longer...we'll see about that!
I agree. I can go longer betweem haircuts, when I get a good cut. It grows out still looking good. My stylist told me that Pantene Ice is a good alternative to their more expensive products.
that's exactly why I am frugal. I am spending money where I get good VALUE, not just a low price.
I want to be able to spend money on things that make me happy, and someone with talent touching my hair.. makes me happy.
I'm glad I'm not alone :)
And Whimsy, I love the way you put things about being frugal so that you can splurge selectively. You're absolutely right!
This topic is a point of contention for me because I've tried both the cheaper salons and the more upscale salons and I can't find a stylist that knows how to cut my hair the way I want it. Every time I get my hair cut, the layers are uneven and look terrible when they grow out. At the moment I'm trying to grow my hair out anyway, so I'm waiting to get a styled cut; however, every time I go in for a trim, they cut off way more than I want them to. I have absolutely terrible luck with salons, no matter the price I pay.
@ katy - Just curious, but the last stylist I spoke to about Pantene said the wax they use in the product builds up in the hair and causes a lot of the damage my fine hair experiences. Is the Ice version a different formula and how does it work on colored hair?
And that's another thing, they charge through the nose for a color at a salon and it doesn't last very long at all. I can do the same job at home with a box for well less than half the price!
Can someone give me some tips on finding a reasonably priced salon?
@Kristy - I'm sorry for your frustration! Where do you live? If you can't get a referral from friends or family, I've found that in major cities, a fairly safe bet is the mall. They tend to be less expensive than stand-alone hair salons, but the people who work there are usually reasonably competent. Not outstanding, but good enough, which is exactly what I got.
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