These are the differences between a $100 haircut and a 1,000 | Style

They say Rihanna even left 16,000 euros (57,600 reais) a week at Ursula Stephen’s salon, craftsman of her avant-garde and talked about haircuts. David Beckham paid over 5,000 euros (18,000 reais) in exchange for his imitated look. Madonna, Penelope Cruz and Katie Holmes pay 500 euros (1,800 reais) to stylist Andy Lecompte every time they want to change the shape of their locks. In addition to the eccentricities of celebrities, who have hundreds of dollars in the bank waiting to invest in a more extravagant and expensive whim than before, we wonder if there’s a real difference between an expensive haircut and a cheap one. What can a cut of 1,000 reais (300 euros) give us that we will never achieve by paying 100 reais (30 euros)? How much do we lowly mortals have to shell out to get a good cut? Do five-digit scissors come with a unicorn as a gift?

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First, let’s define what a good haircut is. “For starters, the customer should feel great when they leave the salon. But the real proof comes with the first bath. A good cut should be easy to comb and wash without too much effort. The second test to determine the quality of the cut is to see how the hair looks as it grows”, he explains to EL PAÍS Stuart Phillips, known to be one of the most expensive stylists in the world and the best in the UK. His works cost around 23,000 euros (82,800 reais) and his clientele includes tennis player Serena Williams, as well as a handful of Russian oligarchs with full wallets. The price of its services has not stopped increasing in recent years, but its business has not stopped growing. “We’re not famous for a specific cut that everyone asks for. In fact, our differential is to study each client in depth: the shape of their face, their bone structure, the type of hair and even their personality”, he explains. The price includes covering any customer need: from a cook who prepares their favorite dish to a caretaker for their pet dogs. “The more you pay, the better the experience the salon will offer and the greater options for image changes it will provide. I’m not saying that a cut of 50 euros (180 reais) is not good, but a more expensive one, in a salon with a better reputation, must have better quality”, says the Brit.

In addition to the “extras” offered by luxury salons like Phillips, there are many other factors that influence the cost. The location, the hairdresser’s experience, the demand and the awards he received are elements to take into account. And of course: if you like Alexa Chung’s locks, one of the most desired cuts in the plan, you can also afford a higher price. “Celebrities cannot risk having a bad hair day. If they trust a certain stylist, it’s a sign that he’s really good. In my case, people can see what I do with the famous and they know that, if they come to my salon, my team and I will be able to create these cuts and hairstyles”, he tells EL PAÍS George Northwood, creator of the hairstyle of it girl British and blonde model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. In his opinion, “for 30 euros you can do what the customer asks for, nothing more. Cut the ends and that’s it. Consumers know their hair and have an idea of ​​what they like, but it is up to the hairdresser to know how to explore their physique so that the result is the best possible. Only the best professionals can do this. Now: if you have hair that is complicated, fragile or that changes drastically due to an illness, it’s worth spending more on a better, more experienced stylist,” he says in an email. “The difference is that a good hairdresser will cut following the client’s instructions, while an excellent one can create a look inspiring within the limits established by the user”, he summarizes.

Alexa Chung, owner of one of the most desired haircuts in the world.Getty

However, as with a simple branded white shirt and another one coming from a net low cost, it could be that the difference is in the quality of the fabric, the pattern or the durability, or that the exaggerated price of the former is simply justified by the logo that appears on the label. “It is possible that, at times, a high price is a marketing strategy to achieve popularity”, acknowledge the two stylists. “But in the end, only the salon’s excellent skills and experience can support that price over time.” The best way not to fall into the trap is “not to assume that a higher price is synonymous with better quality. See how customers exit the salon. Look for any article that shows the stylist’s work and find the right professional in the right place for you”, advises Alexa Chung’s hairdresser. Remember that many of these famous professionals cut the hair of celebrities for free, achieving enough notoriety and reputation to inflate their rates for other customers.

Since it’s unlikely that any of us frequent salons with dog caretakers or a chef who prepares us lunch while we flat iron and paint, is there really a difference between a 30 euro cut and a 300 euro cut? Would paying 150 guarantee you never leave the salon unsatisfied? Xavi García, artistic director of the well-known Hall 44, from Madrid, helps to resolve doubts. “One of the main differences between an expensive cut and a cheap one is usually the time used. We invest about an hour and fifteen minutes for each client (initial diagnosis, cutting, drying and cutting dry hair to ensure the desired result), while a low-cost salon will spend just 20 minutes per person”, he says. “The most important thing is that the cut is easy to keep at home and that it has something special.”

García says that, starting at 300 euros, we have already talked about a haircut that is too expensive, which could only be justified “if you are in a palace in Paris”. For the rest, the stylist says that in Spain – of course the rates vary a lot depending on the country, and national rates do not compare with what we could pay in London, New York and San Francisco – “a good haircut should cost between 50 and 250 euros”.

David Beckham’s look, one of the most copied and admired by men, could cost 5,000 euros (18,000 reais) Jayne Kamin-Oncea (AFP)

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