I save £510 a year on haircuts by asking for one simple change at the salon

Maintaining our  hair, from dealing with rapidly appearing roots to trimming dead ends, can be both time-consuming and expensive.

It’s estimated that the average UK woman spends a staggering £1,188.93 annually on their hair, including costs for cuts, colours, blow drying and styling appointments.

However, haircare enthusiast Cara Bradley, 31, from Chester, has discovered a method to reduce her grooming expenses, saving over £500 on her yearly maintenance costs.

She told vivamoney.co.uk: “It always feels like a luxury to get that big, bouncy, salon-finish blow-out after a fresh cut, but this hair habit could be setting your savings back.”

The average cost of a wash, cut, and blow-dry in the UK is £48, rising to a whopping £130 if you also add a colour.

These prices increase even more if you’re in London, with a cut and colour averaging at £184 per appointment. 

Choosing a dry-cut – where the stylist simply trims your hair as it is, rather than washing it first – could be more economical, as you’re not using shampoos, conditioners, and treatments.

A dry cut at popular salon chain Supercuts will cost you just £21.95, compared to a shampoo cut, which will set you back £25.50. If you have your hair cut every eight weeks, opting for a dry cut could save you around £23.80 a year.

She said: “Additionally, if you’ve had a dye job without a cut, you could offer to skip the blow-dry and leave with wet hair, although your stylist may want to see the finished result on dry hair to ensure that the colour has set properly.”

Stylish savings

“Some salons charge varying service rates depending on the stylist. For example, a senior stylist is likely to charge more than a junior,” Cara added.

Of course, those who attend the salon regularly probably have a favourite stylist – after all, trusting someone with our hair is a big deal!

On the other hand, if you don’t have a preference, choosing a junior stylist could reduce your overall hair bill.

Saks is another popular UK salon chain. We used the Chester site as a random example, and found that a full head of highlights costs £100 with the salon director, while the same service is priced at £78 if carried out by a stylist.

Choosing a qualified stylist over the salon director would equate to a saving of £22 per visit. 

Salons, colleges, and universities sometimes advertise for hair models that students and trainees can practise on.

You’ll usually get the service for free, although you should bear in mind that the stylist may have an idea of the look they want to create – be sure to check this before agreeing to anything. The last thing you want is to go with a simple trim in mind and then come out with a bright purple pixie crop.

Take care of your hair

Cara, a haircare expert, has shared some golden tips for maintaining healthy hair and saving money.

“Good haircare is not only beneficial for our luscious locks, but also for our wallets. The healthier your hair, the less often it will need cutting, although you should still aim for regular trims to maintain optimum condition,” she advised.

She also highlighted the importance of minimising heat styling to prevent damage: “When it comes to heat styling, most of us are familiar with the rules: the less used, the better.

Regularly subjecting your strands to heat through the use of straighteners and curling irons can cause breakage and split ends.

To combat hair woes between salon visits, Cara suggests a DIY approach: “Keep any lingering split ends at bay by making your own deep conditioning treatment at home between salon visits, using household staples such as olive oil and eggs.

“Remember to patch-test each item on a small area of skin behind your ear before covering your scalp.”

She shares her personal experience with natural remedies: “I have been using homemade olive oil masks on my long hair for years.

“Olive oil leaves my locks feeling just as replenished as any salon treatment. Using natural remedies in your hair can take practise – have a play around with different methods until you find the one that best suits you.”

Addressing the issue of root regrowth, Cara said: “The root of the problem” is a common concern. “Whether you’re covering up pesky greys or dark patches beneath your signature blonde locks, roots can be a real nightmare for coloured hair. The appearance of dreaded roots can have us trekking back to the salon a lot sooner than we’d hoped,” she revealed. “Fortunately, there are a number of ways to hide regrowth and prolong the time between salon visits.”

Headbands, ribbons, scarves, and hats are all great ways to cover up roots, although they’re not always practical in every setting. 

Root sprays are another option to consider.

They’re quick and easy to use – simply spray and go. Many brands are instant-drying, too, making them the perfect fuss-free hair hero.

Cara says: “I have very dark, almost-black hair, and root sprays have been a real lifesaver for me. Before I discovered sprays, I was attending the salon every four weeks to get my roots touched up, spending an average of £85 a time.

“This equated to an annual cost of £1,020. Now, I’ve been able to stretch my appointments out to every 8 weeks instead, which has cut my yearly salon-spend by £510.”

Joe Lytwyn, a personal finance expert at Viva Money, remarked: “Personal care, such as hair appointments, is of great importance to many people. Cara’s tips demonstrate that great hair doesn’t need to break the bank.

“Investing in root sprays and looking after your hair by reducing the amount of heat you subject it to and applying homemade deep conditioning masks can all increase the lifespan of your salon-finish hair in between visits, helping you to cut back on your spending.”