A stunned mum who booked herself in for her first post-lockdown haircut in seven months told of her 'complete shock' at the £300 bill.
The customer went to the salon after hairdressers reopened earlier this month as part of the easing of coronavirus restrictions.
Her reaction to the bill has now attracted hundreds of comments after she posted it online.
She told how she was left aghast as the final cost was more than double the advertised price.
After writing of her experience on parenting forum Mumsnet, the mum's post drew more than 800 messages - as fellow posters rushed to support her.
The Echo reports how the woman wrote: "Hi ladies, have waited seven months to get my hair done and finally went today. I got a full head of balayage highlights, a root tint to cover my greys and a cut and blow dry. The website was really unclear and it said £130 for a full head of balayage.
"Knowing sometimes that hairdressers add optional extras I budgeted £180 just in case. I got to the till, the receptionist seemed awkward, didn't confirm the price straight away, so I asked her what it was, and £300 appeared on the credit card machine.
"I can only guess that she didn't say the figure out loud because she was embarrassed to charge me that much. I didn't want to say too much in front of a full salon full of people but I simply said "wow that's expensive?"
"She shrugged and didn't say anything but "your e-receipt will be sent directly to you". I thought I'd best pay and then query the receipt later as I already felt so embarrassed and caught off guard."
The bill included £130 for full head of balayage, £65 for full head of permanent colour, £65 for ladies cut and finish, £35 for Olaplex and a £5 tip totalling £300.
She added: "Am I right to be completely shocked at the price of this?? It did take 4 hours and I have long thick hair but really? Have you ever heard of a haircut this expensive and fellow hair stylists, does this price sound reasonable to you? Am I being unreasonable questioning the price of this haircut?"
Immediately Mumsnet users leapt to agree with her with one saying it was 'insane'.
They said: "Insane! I certainly would have said something. They've really taken the p***."
One person wrote: "Wow. Just wow. Extortionate."
A second person added: "My word you have been well and truly ripped off! And the cheek to charge you £5 for a tip!!!!! Name and shame."
A third replied: "I paid £140 once and winced. I tend to do my own now even though I can afford it. I must be a tight a**e I think. YANBU and you have my sympathy!"
A fourth said: "That is mental. Even the cost of the cut seems steep. I think that is probably the cost of my haircuts for the last 10 years put together. I feel like if they are going to charge that much they need to tell you up front. I hope it looks bl***y awesome."
A fifth joked: "Did they treat it with the magic flower from Tangled? Does your hair now glow and heal?"
And another added: "Upset!!!! I'd be f****** raging and I rarely swear!"
But some said she should have checked the prices more carefully.
One person wrote: "Surely you didn't think the price for balayage included the cost of a cut and finish though?"
A second replied: "Totally and utterly ridiculous. Why the f*** did you not check the price first? A fool and her money are easily parted."
And a third said: "Never known a place to include a cut and finish with a colour."
