Hairstylist raises her prices from $300 to $500 for highlights and a haircut, blindsighting her loyal customer of 10+ years: 'I was completely shocked. A 20% tip on that would be $100 on top of that massive amount.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Jan 22, 2025 8:00 PM EST

If there's anyone who knows about wasting money for extravagant hair purposes, it's me. I've spent the past 4 years throwing money into the furnace that is being bleach blonde. I think it's worth every penny, mainly because I do it on a budget. Every hairstylist I've ever met wants you to dye your blonde roots every 4-6 weeks, and by that, they mean every 4 weeks. There's no way I can justify spending $250 a month on just staying blonde, so I let my roots grow out and spend that every 2 months. I had to leave my last hairstylist, whom I was loyal to for over a year because she wouldn't stop insisting I get my hair done monthly without even considering what that would do to me financially. So many hairstylists are clueless about how much an average person who is not Christy Turlington is willing to spend on an unnecessary luxury service. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10457732608
    via Brooke Cagle (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    AITA for not tipping 20% on a $500 hair appointment

    I know what you're thinking... of course I'm an a hole. Because who doesn't tip 20%? Hear me out.
    via u/Every_Channel4901
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    I have been going to the same hairdresser for 10+ years, since she was still an apprentice studying for her license. Back then, I paid $50 for a full highlight. It was amazing. But obviously, as she got better at her job, her prices increased, which is fine and expected. But as I got
    via u/Every_Channel4901
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    older and gained more responsibilities (I started seeing her when I was 21), I couldn't afford to spend a lot on my hair. So, I switched to getting it done only 2-3 times a year instead of going somewhere cheaper because I love her so much as a person and she has always done a great job. The last time I went was in July, and I paid $300 for a
    via u/Every_Channel4901
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    full highlight and cut before a 20% tip ($60). She mentioned that her prices would probably be going up, but I guess I didn't think much of it. By the way, I ALWAYS tip 20%, no matter where I am. I promise.
    via u/Every_Channel4901
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    I went to get my hair done yesterday, and when I checked in, the receptionist told me that my stylist had been promoted by the salon and her prices had increased again, which is fine, because I was expecting it to be like a $50 increase like it had in the past, which is my bad I guess because I could have asked. But I didn't.
    via u/Every_Channel4901
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    She did my hair. It looked good at the end as usual. She also had an assistant this time, which she hasn't had before. Her assistant washed/blow dried my hair, which was totally fine and good.
    via u/Every_Channel4901
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    Cheezburger Image 10457736448
    via Jayson Hinrichsen (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    I said goodbye to her and went to pay. That's when the receptionist told me my total was $500 for my usual highlight and cut. I was completely shocked. I discreetly did the math on my phone and saw a 20% tip on that would be $100 on top of that massive amount. I was panicking
    via u/Every_Channel4901
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    and trying to keep my cool at the same time. I honestly don't know what was going through my mind. I was just shocked. I wrote $60 for the tip and then left.
    via u/Every_Channel4901
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    Cheezburger Image 10457735936
    via Brooke Cagle (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    Ever since then, I have been thinking about it. I feel terrible. But at the same time, I couldn't afford that. Should I start seeing a new hairdresser if I can't afford to tip her 20% anymore?
    via u/Every_Channel4901
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    Oh and by the way, I did some research and found out her salon raises prices after promotions by percentage, not a flat dollar amount, so that's why it increased so much.
    via u/Every_Channel4901
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    Caseypenn11 $500 is nuts no matter where in the US you are just for highlights, I'd go elsewhere. I'm sure she'll lose customers given that increase went up that high.
    via u/Caseypenn11
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    PmMeAnna Kendrick $300 was nuts, $500 is insane
    via u/PmMeAnnaKendrick
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    redditsavedmyagain yea people have options in a pretty nice area of los angeles at an upscale mall i saw a place that does dyes, bleaching, highlights all that stuff and they have a package thats like $168 a month "all you can dye" like you can come in every day if you want and change your colour
    via u/redditsavedmyagain
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    here (beijing) i took a friend to a place a girl i met at a club recommended to get her whole hair done. knee-length really thick hair, full dye. purple pink green blue teal something like that, total rainbow job. guy took 600 rmb (about $100). it took 9 hours, the sun was up by the time we were done $500 for insane highlights? you're right, thats
    via u/redditsavedmyagain
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    Every Channel4901 OP Thank you for saying this. I live in Florida so I feel like salons can get away with overcharging here because people are pretty obsessed with appearances. I don't know if she'll lose customers because the salon she works at is really upscale. The only reason I started going there is because she was an apprentice at the time
    via u/Every_Channel4901
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    Big_Ant5209 Even if you are in Miami, $500 for a highlight and cut is insane. Almost doubling the price of a service over the span of 6 months is ridiculous. With the increase being this significant, it should have also been verbalized to you. "Your services previously totaled $300, but with the increase these services will now cost $500. I want to be sure you're comfortable with the new price prior to your appt."
    via u/Big_Ant5209
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    I probably wouldn't have tipped at all. I'd assume the significant up charge to her services would cover the tip I would have given. Time to find a new hair dresser. I promise you can find someone great that doesn't charge this much.
    via u/Big_Ant5209
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    D_2614 my question is WHY DO WE NEED TO TIP EVERYWHERE. Like I cannot fathom this, this is their job right? The prices include rent, product, salaries and everything, thats business 101. Why tf do we have to tip for every thing. I work in finance, should I go ask my clients for a tip along with charging them high fees? No I am actually confused as to why do we have to tip everything and whats worse a % is demanded ? Like we arent even allowed to be nice according to our standards
    via u/D_2614
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    JohnRedcorn Massage NTA But why on earth are you still going to her? That's an outrageous amount of money for a cut and highlights. I can't imagine it taking more than 2 hours? That's 250+ an hour. Doctors and don't even make that much!
    via u/JohnRedcornMassage
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    Every Channel4901 OP You're right. Plus while her assistant was washing/drying my hair, she got started on two other clients. She is making an absolute killing. I still go to her because I have been seeing her for so long and I've always really liked my hair. Plus she works at an "organic" salon which I like, but you're absolutely right. It's robbery.
    via u/Every_Channel4901
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    merry1961 I no longer get my hair colored or highlighted, but that price point is so much. I am sure you can find somebody else who can do your hair for less than half that and it will be just as good. Start asking around so you have a new place. I am sure you are not the only one she has priced out, You can either let her know or not.
    via u/merry1961
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    allthecrazything NTA price increasing THAT much without a warning - she's probably lucky you tipped at all. Because most people wouldn't have been able to cover that change. I'm sure you feel loyal and really like her, but it's probably time for a change. I'm stupid loyal to my hairdresser but I wouldn't be able to afford that and it would probably sour me on her if her prices increased that much without more of a warning
    via u/allthecrazything
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    Every Channel4901 OP She did mention it at my last appointment but she definitely didn't prepare me for HOW MUCH they were going to increase
    via u/Every_Channel4901
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    AcmcShepherd My son is a celebrity stylist. Like he actually does hair for people walking down the red carpet at the Oscars. He charges $500. Yours is over priced.
    via u/AcmcShepherd
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    waxedgooch This is bulls for several reasons: 1. A $500 Hair Appointment is Already Insane A full highlight and cut jumping from $300 to $500 is an absolute cash grab. That's a 67% price increase! Not 10%, not even 20%-but almost double. And you didn't even get a luxury spa day out of it—just the same highlights and cut you've been getting for years. 2. Your Loyalty Means Nothing to Them You've been supporting her for over a decade, from when she was an apprentice making $50 a session to now bei
    via u/waxedgooch
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    discount? No. She let you sit in that chair, do the work, and only when you went to pay did they drop the bomb. That's shady as h_I. 3. Tipping on a Hyperinflated Price is Stupid You already tipped $60. That's more than what an entire highlight session used to cost! You weren't cheap, you didn't stiff her, and you still walked away feeling guilty-which is exactly how these ridiculous service industry expectations are designed to make you feel. 20% is meant for standard, reasonable pricing. It is
    via u/waxedgooch
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    $10,000+ a week before tips. And she has an assistant now, meaning she's probably doing even more clients while paying someone a fraction of what she makes. She's not scraping by—she's raking it in. 5. The Industry Relies on Emotional Guilt-Tripping Why do hairstylists expect 20% no matter what? Why do you owe her an extra $100 just because she charged you an insane base price? At some point, the cost of the service should include good pay for the stylist. Otherwise, what the h_T is that $500 ac
    via u/waxedgooch
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    Bottom Line: You're Not the Ah le―This System is This wasn't a $50 restaurant meal where a $10 tip is expected. This was a luxury service with an already massive price tag, sprung on you at checkout, from someone you've supported for over a decade. You tipped generously within reason. If she or the salon expects unquestioning compliance with arbitrary percentages, they can get fed. If anything, the real question isn't whether you should have tipped more—it's why the h_I you should keep going bac
    via u/waxedgooch

  • If this stylist is working for a salon, 65-70% of the cost of your service is going to the salon, not the hairdresser. $500 is exorbitantly expensive, but unless she's doing house calls, she's not getting all that money. That's why hairstyling is a profession that is commonly tipped in the United States.

  • 32
    Ahrjun American tipping culture is so weird. This much agony and worry over not leaving a 20% tip on a 500 dollar appointment? The injustice. LOL
    via u/Ahrjun
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    Finchyisawkward I'm in SoCal. A full balayage, with money piece, cut, & style is less than $350 here. I have really thick 3a half- Japanese hair.
    via u/Finchyisawkward

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hair salon price hairstylist pricey haircut haircuts hairstyle stylist highlights service hairdresser expensive too expensive money hairstyles
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