Look Fabulous In London Without Breaking The Bank

Going to the salon should be a real treat. A rare opportunity to get pampered; to sit back and relax while somebody else does all the hard work. But this luxury comes at a price, and sometimes it’s difficult to know whether that price is a reasonable one. With so many hairdressers on the high street these days, from conveyor belt style cutting factories, to the big celebrity name salons, knowing what’s a fair price to pay for a decent cut is becoming almost impossible. So check out our advice on getting an amazing mane without getting ripped off.

1. Do the research

Because prices can vary so much from area to area, it’s worth ringing around a few hairdressers and hair stylists in London to get an idea of what you can expect to pay for a standard cut and blow dry. It might even be worth travelling a bit further to get a great deal on a haircut. Salons in big city centres are bound to charge more than the ones in the suburbs so jump on the bus to save yourself a few quid!

2. Beware of hidden extras

Make sure you know exactly what you’re paying for so that you don’t get any nasty surprises when it comes to settling up. Some salons charge for extras like head massages and deep conditioning treatments, which could add as much as £30 on to the final bill. If your stylist offers you a treatment, just make sure you know how much it will cost in order to avoid “that” moment when you discover your haircut has cost you a week’s rent!

3. Bag a bargain

A great tip for getting a top notch haircut or colour at a seriously discounted price, is to look out for model nights at your local salon or hairdressing college. Don’t start getting ideas about being the next Kate Moss, these model nights are essentially for the stylists to practise and perfect their technique. It might sound scary but the stylists will be fully supervised, especially if they’re still training, and if you’re after something fairly simple like a trim or a block colour, it can really save you pounds!

4. Offers and vouchers

If you’re on a budget but still want to look a million dollars, looking out for offers, vouchers and loyalty schemes can be a great money-saving habit to get into. Your local salon might run a loyalty scheme (and if they don’t, suggest they start one!) that will see you quids in or, if you prefer to shop around, check out the big voucher sites on the web that can save you big money on hair and beauty treatments. Keep an eye out in glossy magazines too; they often run offers on haircuts at the bigger chain salons.

So if you’re living a champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget, don’t panic: there are still ways to look polished and preened without having to remortgage the house!