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Money & Career

The shocking amount of money it costs to be a blond

A new survey finds that women spend an astronomical amount of money maintaining their hair colour.
Two women (one blond one brunette) in party dresses Find out what it really costs to maintain your hair colour

There are some expenses that justify themselves — or at least they seem to. Getting my hair done on a semi-regular basis is one of those eminently justifiable extravagances. I can go without a pedicure, a manicure and a facial when times are lean. But when my blond highlights are in full fade, and my roots are as dark and threatening as storm clouds, something has to be done. Money needs to be found, begged or borrowed to correct Mother Nature’s folly.

The average woman will spend just over $23,000 on her hair between the ages of 18 to 50, reports The Daily Mail. That spending includes everything from salon appointments to shampoo and conditioner (frizz control for me!) to styling accessories.

In the span of a year, this investment equals about $735. Compare that to what Jennifer Aniston must spend on hers — some celeb hairstylists charge upwards of $600 for a hair cut! — and the average woman looks pretty thrifty!

Blonds — or those who go to great lengths to appear that way — will spend a lot more than that however. The Daily Mail article, which summarizes the results of a U.K. survey by hair salon Toni&Guy, also does its own math and concludes that blondes pay the most, spending more than $53,000 over their lifetime.

That price tag includes pricey services such as highlights and dyeing. By contrast, brunettes will spend close to $47,000 over their lifetime.

The numbers may be enough to make Gail Vaz-Oxlade fall over, but most women shrug it off as a necessary cost — a need rather than a want to use Oxlade's logic. According to the article, 83 percent of the more than 2,000 women surveyed said that they felt that the money was worth it. More than half said they’d spend as much as it takes to keep their hair well maintained.

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How much would you say you spend on your hair's maintenance on a year? Tell us in the comment section below.

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