Rapunzel and her trailing locks. Goldilocks with tresses so luscious she was named after them. Sadhna’s iconic fringe that inspired a whole generation. Rekha’s enviable kohl-coloured hair cascading down her waist. Preity Zinta’s glorious curls that defined Y2K style. Looking back, it’s hard to think of a time when long, strong, gorgeous hair wasn’t romanticised.
Decades later, conventional beauty has run up and down the trend roller coaster, but when it comes to hair, little has changed. A glossy mane is still prized, and a widening middle part is still tsk-tsked. What has transformed, though, is the environment we exist in; as of 2025, 71 per cent of surveyed Indian women reported moderate to advanced hair loss. As the fear of balding rises, so do a barrage of treatments to resist, delay and deny hair fall.
And as you may have guessed, these advanced-tech, chemical, molecular, Ayurvedic treatments cost a pretty penny. Below, five people across ages, cities and professions, but bound by a shared love for their tresses, tell us just how much they drop every month in the name of haircare.
Flies to another city for haircuts
Khushi Guglani, 24, social media manager, Chandigarh
Monthly income: ₹50,000 to ₹1,50,000
“As a Punjabi, people expect me to have great hair. But with pollution, so many people are having premature hair fall. I don’t want to risk that. I get an Ayurvedic hair spa every month, which includes a scalp detox, deep oiling, and head massages. For three days after that, I also follow a hair strengthening nutrition plan that the spa provides. This costs ₹18,000 but it includes private consultation and follow-up calls. I don’t get keratin or tannin Botox treatments yet because I feel I have a few years before I have to use chemicals for protection. A big expense for me is my haircut appointment—I tried a salon in Gurgaon with my cousin and now I only trust that stylist. So, every few months I fly to Delhi to get my hair cut and styled; if you include flight tickets, this is around ₹15,000. Honestly, I don’t have to budget for this too much because it’s a necessity and I live with my parents, so my expenses are minimal. Until I move out, I want to make the most of the access I have.”
Favourite spa tech comes home for weekly head massages
Hansika Shetty, 32, site engineer, Bengaluru
Monthly income: ₹1,50,000 to ₹3,00,000
“Growing up, my mother and grandmother laid a lot of emphasis on taking care of our hair. They would use curry leaves, coconut oil, and jasmine to press their own oil, and to this day that’s what I use. But I prefer it when a professional gives me a head massage. So, every week someone comes in from my usual spa to oil and braid my hair. Once or twice a month I get a blow-dry at the salon, and I alternate between hair spas based on the stylist’s suggestion. Last month I got a K18 peptide treatment. Before that we did an Olaplex bonding spa. And in 2024 I got the hair Botox as well. These maintenance treatments usually cost between ₹15,000 and ₹25,000 a month, and my oil massages come up to another ₹20,000. Twice a year I get more pricey hair spas, but those are around special occasions, either before a holiday or a family wedding. I don’t regret it because I cut down my expenses elsewhere—I don’t get my nails done every month, and sometimes I wash my hair at home instead of going to the salon.”
Drops around a lakh a year on haircare
Divya Jagwani, 40, producer, Mumbai
Monthly income: Undisclosed
“For as long as I can remember, I have experimented with my hair. I’ve had bangs, a perm, different colours, different cuts. I even started chemically straightening my hair when I was around 17. Now, a stylist comes home to blow-dry my hair every week, and in the monsoons—when my hair tends to get frizzy—I get Brazilian Cacao treatments to straighten it out. Every three or four months I refresh my hair colour and sometimes get a fresh, full-colour job, which costs anywhere between ₹12,000 and ₹25,000 depending on what I opt for. I have really thick locks, so for me hair treatments are more about looking neat and presentable. It’s a practical demand. On an estimate, I spend about ₹1.5 lakh yearly on my haircare, which is honestly not a lot if you think about it.”
Bought a hairbrush for ₹51K
Riddhi Nag, 31, website developer, Bengaluru
Monthly income: ₹1,50,000 to ₹3,00,000
“Let me start by saying I’m aware I have to cut down the budget for my hair routine, but isn’t it better to spend thousands now than lakhs ten years later for a transplant? I usually go to the salon for a weekly hair mask and deep clean—it’s like getting a massage or meditating—and that comes to ₹22,000 monthly. I also get a keratin treatment every three months, and even though my dermatologist has recommended exosome hair therapy, I have pushed it to 2026, so there is some self-restraint. June was a very expensive month, because I finally gave in and bought the Mason Pearson hairbrush—in the full size and the travel size—so that alone was around £440 (₹51,000 approx). My friends are doing an impromptu trip to Thailand next week, and I’m sitting out because I spent my spontaneity budget on boar bristles, so let’s just hope people on Reddit are right and it lives up to the spend.”
Never washes hair at home
Karma Dhingra, 27, content creator, New Delhi
Monthly income: Above ₹5,00,000
“As a creator, I need my hair to look stylised and presentable every day—it is part of the profession. So, I usually get two blow-dries each week and I never wash my hair at home. I prefer to go to the salon, because it saves me time while working. I also get a hair spa every 15 days—they are non-negotiable—and every few months I touch up my hair gloss. It’s a semi-permanent treatment that brings the shine back into the hair. On an average, I probably spend about ₹25,000 to ₹30,000 on my haircare every month. Over time, I’ve realised these treatments are necessary to minimise damage and protect my hair from everyday styling, which makes it worth it. Even at home, I use a silk pillowcase and skip the usual conditioner for the Fino Hair Mask and the Olaplex Bonding Oil. For my scalp, I use House of Beauty’s High Frequency Wand and do a traditional oiling session every 10 days.”
