Barbers and salons hike their prices ahead of July 4 re-opening 

Cost of a post-lockdown trim will make your hair curl: Barbers and salons hike their prices ahead of July 4 re-opening

  • Three-quarters of salons are expected to increase prices by at least ten per cent 
  • Some say they need more hair dye as roots have not had touch-ups for 100 days
  • Hairdressers have been told to cut out small talk to limit the spread of the virus 

Britons desperate to tame their lockdown locks have been warned their next trip to the hairdresser’s is likely to be more expensive.

In news that’s enough to make your hair curl, three-quarters of salons are expected to increase prices by at least ten per cent when they reopen in England on Saturday. 

Some say it’s to cover the cost of corona-proofing their business while others say they need more hair dye because customers’ roots have not had touch-ups for at least 103 days.

The Mail on Sunday has seen reports that one hairdresser in the capital has raised the price of a standard cut from £30 to £55 – an 83 per cent increase [File photo]

Catherine Handcock, Director of the British Beauty Council, warned there would be limited appointments and no waiting areas. 

Hairdressers have been told to cut out small talk to limit the spread of the virus and there will be reduced capacity. ‘Obviously this all costs money and prices will need to rise accordingly,’ Ms Handcock said.

‘The best way to support salons will be to understand and accept the price rises.’

The Mail on Sunday has seen reports that one hairdresser in the capital has raised the price of a standard cut from £30 to £55 – an 83 per cent increase.

In Durham, one woman went to book a cut and colour and found the price had shot up from £70 to £83.

A-list chain Hari’s Salon, run by Hari Salem whose clients include Paloma Faith, Kate Moss and Laura Bailey, announced a new £3 coronavirus fee on their website.

They pointed out the decreased capacity and added costs meant ‘the pre coronavirus model of operating a salon is no longer viable.’

They said rather than the percentage increases most salons are set to introduce, they wanted a flat fee ‘to ensure we are here to service your needs for many years to come.’

M salon in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, is not only adding a £3 temporary surcharge but also an extra £15 one-off ‘first visit back’ fee to treat longer roots. 

Tariq, who works in a Surrey barbers, said the price for a ‘short, back and sides’ for a man had gone up from £24 to £28 due to PPE.

In news that’s enough to make your hair curl, three-quarters of salons are expected to increase prices by at least ten per cent when they reopen in England on Saturday [File photo]

And one displeased customer, Gavin Robertson, said on Twitter: ‘I have a haircut booked. First since March. My guy opening from July 6, first available cut is July 22. As predicted, demand is clearly high and £5 more expensive. Loss of income to make up.’

Many salons are already booked into the autumn and are planning to open longer hours as waiting lists in some places already stand at 2,500 people.

Having been forced to shut up shop for more than three months, the hairdressing industry has suffered a catastrophic loss of approximately £1.7 billion in turnover.