How much should a hairdresser charge in the UK?
UK hairdresser pricing spans a wide range depending on service type, location, and experience. This guide covers typical rates for the most common services, how to account for long colour appointments, and when to raise your prices.
UK hairdresser pricing ranges by service (2026)
These are typical price ranges for independent and freelance hairdressers in 2026. London prices are typically 30–50% higher. Prices below reflect medium-length hair; long or thick hair may carry an additional charge.
Ladies cut (wet cut)
30–45 min
£30–55
Cut and blowdry
60–90 min
£40–75
Gents cut
25–40 min
£20–40
Root tint / root touch-up
60–90 min
£45–80
Full head tint
90–150 min
£65–110
Full highlights
2–3 hr
£80–160
Balayage (partial)
2–2.5 hr
£80–150
Balayage (full)
3–4+ hr
£120–250
Toner
30–45 min
£25–55
Blowdry (standalone)
30–45 min
£25–50
London pricing typically sits 30–50% above these figures. Prices for long or thick hair may include a surcharge.
Colour appointments and why they need careful pricing
Colour services carry risks that cuts do not: product cost, longer appointment times, patch test requirements, and the possibility of a result that requires correction. These factors should all be reflected in your pricing.
Product cost is significant for colour
Colour services use more product than cuts. Bleach, developer, toners, and gloss treatments all add material cost per appointment that needs to be factored into your price — not absorbed as a fixed overhead.
Long appointments deserve long prices
A four-hour balayage that earns you £120 works out at £30 per hour before materials. A 45-minute cut at £45 earns £60 per hour. Review your colour pricing in terms of effective hourly rate, not just the total price.
No-shows on colour are more costly
A no-show on a 3-hour colour appointment costs three times the income of a one-hour cut no-show. Many hairdressers require deposits or full payment at booking for colour appointments specifically because of this.
How to set your prices as a freelance hairdresser
Freelance and mobile hairdressers often undercharge in the early years. Use these principles to set prices that reflect your actual costs:
- —Calculate your minimum effective hourly rate: monthly costs divided by paid appointment hours
- —Research what independent hairdressers in your specific area charge for the same services
- —Price each service based on time taken, not based on what seems socially acceptable
- —Build material costs into your colour service prices — product is not free
- —Raise prices when you are turning clients away or when your books are full three weeks ahead
Related reading
Common questions
Answers about booking, payments, and getting started with Nextro.
How much should a freelance hairdresser charge for a cut and blowdry?
A cut and blowdry for a freelance hairdresser in the UK typically sits at £35–65 outside London and £60–100 in central London. Shorter hair takes less time and product, so many hairdressers price cuts differently by hair length — short, medium, and long. Review your prices every six months and raise them when demand consistently exceeds your available appointments.
How much should I charge for balayage as an independent hairdresser?
Balayage is a premium colour service and should be priced as one. A partial balayage typically sits at £80–150; a full balayage at £120–250 outside London, higher in central London. The price reflects the time involved — a full balayage on long hair can take 3–4 hours. Charging below market rate for a 4-hour appointment means earning significantly less per hour than your cut clients.
Should freelance hairdressers charge more than salon hairdressers?
Not necessarily — but you should price based on your costs. Freelance hairdressers often have lower overheads than salons, but they also lack the infrastructure (reception, assistants, a walk-in client base) that supports higher volume. Price based on what you need to earn, what your local market will bear, and what your experience level commands.
How do I reduce no-shows as a hairdresser?
Require payment or a deposit at the time of booking. Colour appointments — which can run 2–4 hours — are particularly vulnerable to last-minute cancellations because clients know they are harder to rebook than simple cuts. When clients have already paid, cancellation rates drop significantly. Nextro takes payment at booking automatically for every appointment type.
How much should I charge for a root touch-up?
A root tint or root touch-up for an independent hairdresser typically sits at £40–80 outside London and £70–120 in London. Duration is usually 60–90 minutes including processing time. If you include a blowdry, add the appropriate time and price separately. Patch testing requirements for colour services mean new clients cannot usually book a first colour appointment without a prior consultation.
Protect your appointments with Nextro
Nextro lets hairdressers take payment at booking for every service — cuts, colour, balayage, blowdries. No chasing deposits, no no-shows, no wasted colour appointments. From £29/month.