How Much Should a Hairdresser Charge in the UK?
A practical way to think about prices, without guessing.
This is one of the most common questions in hairdressing. The problem is that copying the salon down the road does not tell you whether your own prices are profitable.
The question is not just what others charge
Your prices need to reflect your skill, location, service time, product use, overheads, tax, demand and positioning. A cheaper nearby salon may have different costs, different goals or a completely different business model.
That is why this page links back to the wider Salon Pricing UK guide.
Typical price areas to review
- Cut and finish
- Blow dry
- Root colour
- Full head colour
- Half head and full head highlights
- Balayage and colour correction
- Toners, treatments and add-ons
Simple pricing examples
A stylist charging £35 for a cut and finish may look affordable, but if the appointment takes an hour and the salon has significant overheads, the real profit may be too low. A colour service may look profitable at first glance, but product cost, timing and finishing can quickly reduce the margin.
Before setting your prices, work out what your salon needs to earn per hour, then build your service menu around that number.
To test the numbers, use the Salon Profit Calculator UK page and explore the Salon Business Tools planners.
Do not undercharge colour work
Colour often carries more hidden cost than owners realise, including product, timing, consultation and correction risk.
Charge for structure
Prices should support the whole business, not just the appointment in front of you.
Review prices regularly
Costs move. Wages move. Product prices move. Your service prices need reviewing too.