The owner of a city salon has been forced to hike her prices after her business was under threat of being crippled due to soaring costs. 

Rachel Rowley said the decision to raise the rates at Hair & Beauty Matters, in St Stephens Road, was not taken lightly.

But stocking the salon with high-quality products, keeping the lights on and paying her workers a fair wage could cripple her business if she doesn't follow the steadily growing trend.

"I used to only put my prices up roughly every four years because my outgoings didn't change much but now I swear every six months things just go up and up," she said.

Hair & Beauty Matters, in St Stephens RoadHair & Beauty Matters, in St Stephens Road (Image: Google Maps)

"Overall, it's increased by £300 a month since two years ago, and that's not including utility bills, wages etc, so now I feel I have no choice but to put prices up more regularly."

Rachel, who has owned the salon for seven years, cites the Covid pandemic as a key reason for the issues she's facing and also the cost of living crisis which has seen consumer products jump up in cost across the board.

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She said that items such as shampoo, dye and nail paints have seen huge price hikes since January, with some having risen by as much as 150pc. 

Rachel Rowley has owned the salon for seven years but worked there for 20 yearsRachel Rowley has owned the salon for seven years but worked there for 20 years (Image: Rachel Rowley)

"We like to provide our clients with the best products but the best comes at a price," Rachel said.

"And I can't use cheaper products because my clients just won't get the same quality in the hair that they do now."

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Although the change won't take effect until August, Rachel is keen to assure her customers that it was a last resort in the face of an increasingly hostile business climate. 

Rachel needs to raise her prices to pay her workers, such as stylist Georgia, a fair wageRachel needs to raise her prices to pay her workers, such as stylist Georgia, a fair wage (Image: Rachel Rowley)

"Since Covid, nothing has been the same," she added.

"Even though electricity has come down it's still very high compared to before the lockdowns.

"I don't want to be greedy, I just need to put the prices up to cover what's going up in price for me.

"Everyone's in a tough situation at the moment and I hope people understand I wouldn't do this unless I really had to."