The Real Cost of Budget DIY Hair Services: Damage, Redos, and Regret
If you've ever tried to save money on your hair and ended up spending more later, you're not alone. I am Meg Ann Lee, a stylist at Moss Salon in Eau Claire . I see this cycle all the time because where do you go when you need to fix a DIYÂ hair problem? The salon!! I secretly love a challenging color correction. Most of these clients aren't making bad decisions - they're just trying to be practical. The problem is that hair doesn't work well on shortcuts. Hair color is a chemical reaction. When you take shortcuts, sometimes you lose control of the outcome.
Lower-priced hair services often come with hidden costs. A quick trip to the drugstore to buy a $10 Box dye, rushed appointments, choosing incorrect hair levels, or overly aggressive lightening can cause damage that doesn't show up right away. At first, the hair might look fine but then it fades unevenly, turns very brassy, breaks, or refuses to hold color. That's usually when clients book a corrective appointment - and that's where the real expense begins.
DIY Haircolor
One of the biggest issues I see is at home color. Now, I will say I SUPPORT DIY color because.. how fun, right!? I was a DIY hair girlie for years before going and getting my license. My DIY hair was uneven and breaking.. lucky for me, emo razor cut shags were in and my broken yellow, blonde hair under my horizontal headband was "indie cool". Â Usually, the lack of product knowledge and technique leave people dissatisfied with their at home color. It feels predictable and affordable, but it removes control from the process. Most box color lifts and deposits at the same time, it's also formulated to work on almost anyone who buys it, aka, it is strong! Â It often can deposit on hair too dark or lift too warm when applied to the incorrect hair level. When clients come in wanting to go lighter or more dimensional afterward, it usually takes multiple sessions, treatments, and trims just to undo what happened. What started as a money-saving choice can easily turn into months of correction.
Budget Salon Hopping
Another common pattern is salon hopping based on price and not hearing what you want from the hairstylist. Every stylist has a different approach, formulation style, and vision. When hair doesn't have consistency, it struggles. Switching stylists for every hair appointment makes it harder to achieve a specific look - especially color correcting in sessions, blonding, or extensions - because no one is guiding the long-term plan. Choosing a stylist based on skill and alignment with your goals matters more than choosing based on the lowest number on a service menu. Especially because choosing a stylist who is $50-$100 more probably will get you to your long-term goal more efficiently.
Are You Choosing Damage for Color?
I'm always honest in consultations. Could I push hair further in one appointment? Sometimes, yes. But hair health determines longevity. Damaged hair fades faster, breaks easier, and rarely looks good for long. Most clients don't want to hear that...they want us to say "Yes we can 100% make your dark hair white blonde in one session!" and that's NOT everyone's hair story. Honestly, some clients don't GAF and WANT me to push it to the brink of existence. They are choosing a color despite the damage it will cause. Often when I say I won't do that, they just go to another stylist who will, that's the reality. When clients invest in the right color level, realistic timing, and proper maintenance, they usually spend less over time - not more.
The goal isn't to spend the most money. It's to spend it wisely. Choosing a stylist who can actually achieve your desired look, explain the process, and plan ahead saves you from redo appointments, emotional frustration, and unexpected costs later. It's about strategy, patience, and working with someone who's honest about what your hair can handle - not just what looks good the day you leave the salon.