Calculating the average cost of getting your hair, nails, brows, lashes, and spray tan done, we've uncovered the average cost of a glow-up in the UK. We've looked at all the major UK cities to reveal the least and most expensive hotspots. To create a level playing field, we've analysed price data for treatments from the top 5 highest-rated salons listed on both Treatwell and Fresha across each of the UK's 17 major cities. Included treatments:
Whether you're glowing up for a hot girl summer or looking to revitalise and impress for an upcoming event, expect to pay an average of £257 for a full makeover. Across the board, the price of a hair balayage with cut and blow has the biggest impact on cost, but there are substantial differences in the price for nail, eyelash, tan and brow treatments too. Here's the breakdown: Total cost: £257
8 cheapest cities for a glow-up in the UK
- Hair Balayage with Cut and Blow
- Gel/BIAB Nails
- HD Brows
- LVL Lashes
- Full Body Spray Tan
Join us as we explore the average cost of a UK glow-up, listing both the most affordable and expensive cities for a full-body makeover!
The average cost of a glow-up in the UK - £257
Whether you're glowing up for a hot girl summer or looking to revitalise and impress for an upcoming event, expect to pay an average of £257 for a full makeover. Across the board, the price of a hair balayage with cut and blow has the biggest impact on cost, but there are substantial differences in the price for nail, eyelash, tan and brow treatments too. Here's the breakdown: Total cost: £257
- Hair - £137
- Nails - £27
- Brows - £29
- Lashes - £41
- Tan - £24
8 cheapest cities for a glow-up in the UK
1. Belfast £209
Istanbul, watch out Belfast could soon be the new hotspot for beauty tourism! Consistently scoring in the top 4 for cheapest beauty treatments, the Northern Irish capital offers premium services at budget prices.- Hair - £108
- Nails - £23
- Brows - £25
- Lashes - £35
- Tan - £17
2. Leicester £219
Another surprising contender for the title of UK glow-up hotspot, Leicester offers a more than affordable range of services. In fact, they're cheaper than Belfast for a balayage with cut and blow but they up the cost slightly across all the other treatments.- Hair - £105
- Nails - £25
- Brows - £27
- Lashes - £38
- Tan - £23
3. Nottingham £227
Rounding off the top 3 of our most affordable glow-ups is Nottingham! Bag a full makeover in the shadow of Sherwood Forest at affordable prices, with haircuts even cheaper than Belfast. Surprisingly, though, Nottingham has one of the top 5 most expensive full-body spray tans!- Hair - £107
- Nails - £25
- Brows - £30
- Lashes - £38
- Tan - £26
4. Swansea £228
Wales' second-largest city makes the top four in our list of the UK's most affordable glow-ups. On the one hand, it's the cheapest city in the UK for a full body spray tan but if you're planning on getting your brows done, expect less competitive prices, higher than even some of the most expensive glow-up cities!- Hair - £119
- Nails - £27
- Brows - £31
- Lashes - £36
- Tan - £15
5. Newcastle £232
The home of the Geordies lands the title for fifth most affordable UK glow-up. You may want to avoid getting your eyelashes done, though, as they're only £2 less than Bristol, our second most expensive city for a glow-up! On the other hand, a Newcastle balayage with cut and blow shares the title for the UK's most affordable!- Hair - £105
- Nails - £28
- Brows - £30
- Lashes - £46
- Tan - £23
6. Liverpool £236
With its reputation for glam outfits, whatever the weather, it's no surprise Liverpool offers a fair share of beauty treatments! It's the most affordable city for lashes and nails, but prices jump a little when it comes to a hair balayage with cut and blow.- Hair - £134
- Nails - £19
- Brows - £28
- Lashes - £34
- Tan - £22
7. Sheffield £243
Sheffield offers a comprehensively affordable glow-up, with prices nearly always placing in the lower half of our index for each service. For example, it's the fourth cheapest for a hair balayage with cut and blow and is only outpriced by Belfast and Swansea for a full body spray tan!- Hair - £119
- Nails - £29
- Brows - £29
- Lashes - £45
- Tan - £21
8. Glasgow £249
While they are the cheapest UK city for Gel and BIAB nails, Glasgow only just makes the list. The reason they only just make it is down to less competitive haircuts and lashes. However, a full body spray tan with brows and gel nails clocks in at less than £75 less than all but Belfast and Swansea!- Hair - £139
- Nails - £22
- Brows - £24
- Lashes - £39
- Tan - £25
Key takeaways:
- Belfast emerges as the most budget-friendly city for a glow-up, totalling only £209, with significant savings on hair treatments compared to other cities.
- Leicester trails closely behind at £219, mostly down to their super affordable hair services.
- Nottingham and Swansea are in a tight race on affordability, with total costs of £227 and £228, respectively – a balanced approach to makeover costs across the board. Newcastle,
- Liverpool, Sheffield, and Glasgow complete our UK index for the most affordable glow-ups, regularly offering beauty treatments at prices well below the pricier cities.
1. London £355
No surprises here, given London's reputation as the UK's most expensive city. Clearly, the luxury and prestige of the Capital's salons come with a cost. The most significant price is for a hair balayage, followed by a cut and blow – 12% more than the next most expensive and a whopping 59% more expensive than Belfast, the UK's most affordable.- Hair - £198
- Nails - £30
- Brows - £39
- Lashes - £53
- Tan - £34
2. Bristol £306
Vibrant and arty Bristol ranks a close second on our list of the most expensive UK glow-ups. With pricey hair treatments around £40 more than the UK average, and the most expensive Gel/BIAB nail treatments, you may need to save up if you're after a full makeover!- Hair - £175
- Nails - £32
- Brows - £27
- Lashes - £48
- Tan - £24
3. Edinburgh - £299
Next on the list is the second of the UK's four capitals, Edinburgh, with an overall beauty treatment cost of £299. Interestingly, they're 9th cheapest for brow treatments and similar for lashes. But the cost of a hair balayage with cut and blow is the same price as London, upping the total cost and granting them the bronze medal for the UK's most expensive glow-up.- Hair - £171
- Nails - £31
- Brows - £29
- Lashes - £40
- Tan - £28
4. Manchester - £276
While a full Mancunian glow-up comes in at a rather costly £276, the Northern powerhouse is substantially more affordable for hair treatments than the rest of the top four. Expect an average saving of £29! And as they're neighboured by cheaper alternatives in Liverpool or Sheffield, it may be wise to venture along the M56 or A57 to save yourself a pretty penny!- Hair - £152
- Nails - £27
- Brows - £28
- Lashes - £42
- Tan - £27
5. Aberdeen - £274
As one of Scotland's most prosperous cities, it's no surprise Aberdeen make the top 5. Expect luxurious treatments with prices to match. Interestingly, it's the third most expensive for nail services and second for getting your brows done, but the cost of a haircut sits below the UK average.- Hair - £141
- Nails - £31
- Brows - £33
- Lashes - £45
- Tan - £24
6. Southampton - £259
Now we venture into the more affordable of our most expensive glow-ups. It's still somewhat pricey compared to the lower end of our index, but a full makeover in Southampton will set you back around £40 less, on average, than the cities above not bad, hey!- Hair - £142
- Nails - £22
- Brows - £30
- Lashes - £41
- Tan - £25
7. Leeds £255
Second to last in our most expensive UK glow-ups, the artsy and contemporary Leeds! Do bear in mind the fact this study is based on 17 cities, making them the 11th cheapest too more middle of the pack than expensive!- Hair - £132
- Nails - £30
- Brows - £29
- Lashes - £41
- Tan - £23
8. Cardiff £251
Coming in just £8 less than Southampton and £4 cheaper than Leeds, Cardiff is the last in our index for the UK's most expensive glow-up. Generally speaking, capital cities are dearer, so it's no surprise they make the list. However, it does have the fourth most affordable tan so, if you're off to visit Cardiff Castle anytime soon, maybe add a tan to your itinerary too!- Hair - £139
- Nails - £30
- Brows - £27
- Lashes - £35
- Tan - £21
Key takeaways:
- London tops the list as the most expensive city at £355, with hair treatments notably higher than every other UK beauty hotspot.
- Bristol follows at £306, only really offering competitive pricing when it comes to HD brows.
- Edinburgh and Manchester clock in as mid-range options, with total costs of £299 and £276, respectively.
- Aberdeen, Southampton, Leeds, and Cardiff offer a mix of pricing. Each has specific treatments priced higher than in the more affordable cities, but all in all, they sit just shy of the average UK cost for a full makeover.