When you’re visiting Turkey, it’s hard not to miss the fact that appearance is on the top of everyone’s list especially in cities like Izmir, Istanbul and Ankara. You’ll never see a wrinkle in a shirt or dress, everyone is sure to have their outfits freshly pressed and tailored. Even easier is that on any corner you turn onto, you will find at least one hair salon packed with women getting a blow out or hair dyed by professional European stylists.
Getting glammed while visiting Turkey like the locals do is something I recommend doing even if you usually don’t visit a hairdresser back home. With high standards in beauty and appearance, if there is anywhere that you could have a make over for the price of lunch, it’s in Turkey. Turkey aligns with Paris when it comes to hair and makeup so you will be in safe hands when you walk into a beauty salon.
Turkish Blow Dry Bars
In the last 2 years, blow dry bars have opened up all over major cities in the US, but in Turkey, a blow out has been the only acceptable method of having your hair straightened for years. Flat irons are essentially non-existent and I had a hard time explaining to my hair stylist in Turkey why I had split ends caused by my flat-iron.
A blow out hair styling in Istanbul will cost you about $5 or 10 YTL and the fact that it’s so affordable, everyone woman in Istanbul has their hair done. Regardless of the style, the price shouldn’t change. You can get your hair style in full volume or sleek straight. I noticed on Trip Advisor some reviews about getting your hair done for $15 at the Ritz Carlton being a great deal; it’s actually not a great deal unless you want to say you got your hair done at the Ritz or are staying at the Ritz. The salons may not look glamorous, but the stylist know what they’re doing. You usually will never have to make a hair appointment and if there is a long wait at your salon you can always find another one down the street.
Things to know about getting a blow out while in Turkey
- A blow out/blow dryer is called “fon” as a verb and noun.
- Salons in Turkey go by Kuafor, the French word for hair salon.
- Hair styles can go for $5-$20,
- A simple “fon” should not cost more than $5
Get Waxed Turkish Style
Brazilians have been getting all the credit for waxing, but in the middle east waxing has been the cultural norm for centuries and unlike Brazilian waxing, they don’t like to leave anything behind.
Getting waxed in Turkey costs about $7 for any part of the body. The process is quick and painless using a sugar wax, which is what is widely used in the middle east and in Turkey. If you’re headed to the beaches like in Antalya or Marmaris and need to stop at a salon to get waxed, make sure you do that at least 2 days before the beach trip so you’re skin is not red or irritated when you get there.
Words to know:
agda (ah-dah): wax
ayak: leg
kol: arms
kash: eye brows
koltook alt: under arm
bu-yuk: upper lip
Manicure and Pedicure
Acrylics in Turkey are non-existent as well so if you were hoping to go somewhere for a quick fill, you will be out of luck. Everyone has a manicure and they are your standard manicure with cuticle trimming nail filing, etc. as are pedicure, however, they do use a tool that is rightfully band for shared use in the US. The callous exfoliation is banned in the US for years because sharing them can cause grotesque skin infections. If you bring your own tool, that will be fine to use, but if not I recommend to just skip this step. They’re not illegal to use in Turkish salons so just pay attention if you notice that they’re going to use one on you and you can just ask them not to use it. Like in the US, use good judgement when choosing a nail salon, if it looks like it isn’t sanitary, then don’t use their services.
A manicure and pedicure cost about 15 YTL which is around $7 and you can get them done at a hair salon while you are getting your hair done.
The fish pedicure is also popular, but is more of a tourist attraction. Locals don’t really take part in this.
The Rundown
Regardless of whether you are in Istanbul or at a coastal resort, you will find a kuafur in any neighborhood. Another thing to remember is that tipping is customary so don’t cheap out on this especially if you plan on returning to the same salon. If you are looking for a suggestion, Mos and Tony & Guy are popular salons in Istanbul with chains throughout the region, but they are more in the high-end. Makas is also a popular salon chain, with prices listed on their website.
*Update 12/29/2016
I recently received a few comments about the price of getting hair done in Turkey being so expensive compared to my post. Most of the commenters have listed several treatments like getting a haircut, hair dye and hair styling and are upset about how much the total comes out to. This post is very specific to getting a BLOW DRY and hair removal treatments and NOT hair cuts and hair dyes by master stylists. Please keep this in mind when you use this article for reference and ask the stylist for a price list before you get any treatment done! If a stylist is quoting you 100 YTL or more for a BLOW DRY (fon), they are over charging you, 100%.
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Hey, thanks for the post. I have been looking around online trying to find sites that could break this all down for me. I will be in Istanbul for a year on a student exchange so I’m curious as to how much you should tip (as a percentage)?
Also, with the sugaring, is it common to get a Brazilian wax in Istanbul? If yes, what do they call this type of wax?
Hi Erin! Thanks for the question, tipping in Turkey varies between places, but for salons you should expect to offer 15% for tips which usually adds up to just a couple of dollars. In other places including casual diners you can just round up to the nearest YTL.
Regarding the waxing, the wax is literally called “sugar wax” when translated from Turkish (Sir Agda, the sir sounds like sear). If you tell them you want a Brazilian wax, they will understand, but if not say “mayo agda istiyorum” (I want a bikini wax) and they’ll clean you right up hah. It’s extremely common and part of the culture so it’s not taboo to get waxed or anything. Let me know if you need anything other info regarding Turkey, have an awesome time studying there! It’s an interesting place to be.
Hi! I know this is an old post but i will be going to Turkey next month and i was wondering if you know any particular place to get the waxing done??
thankyou so much !!
Hey Andrea! Do you already know what area / neighborhood you’ll be staying in?
Hello,
Thanks for the great post!! I will be visiting Turkey in 2 weeks and i wanted to dye my hair. Do you know any good salons in Istanbul with reasonable pricing? Especially in Sultanahmet area? I wanna go for a lighter tone or an ombre.
Thanks,
Hi Jena!
I’ve only had my hair dyed in Bakirkoy and that would be out of the way for you. I’m not familiar with salons that are in Sultanahmet, but there is a Toni&Guy salon in Etiler which is about 30 minutes away. Istanbul has a lot of good colorists so if you see a salon near where you are staying I’d recommend popping in and feeling them out. To be honest I don’t I think you will have a hard time finding a good salon to get an ombre done. This salon also sounds good but it’s also in Etiler, http://www.theguideistanbul.com/spots/view/2349/makas/
Hi, I just paid 875 TL for a hair cut, color, highlights and a blow dry + manicure at MOS! Is this reasonable?!!!
Hi Radwa, that is almost $400 USD! Which location did you go to? Were the prices posted? I’ll find out about the prices because that sounds too expensive even for a high end salon.
Hey susan
where can i find waxing for men in Istanbul ?
Sorry for the late response, but someone else might be looking for the same information! Were you looking for general body waxing: chest, back, etc? or lower manscaping?
Hello! Do you know any salons to get waxing, where they speak English?
I’m sorry, I don’t! I would think that ones in more trendier areas maybe in Takism, Nisan Tas, Beyoglu speak English, because they may have a touristy clientel come through, but if you still need one who speaks English I can find out through friends today.
Hello susan .. i really need your help at this matter since ill be in istanbul for 3 years .
in my home country one of hairstylists ruined my hair .. it became more frizzy and somehow burned .. probably he as not professional and used some low class materials .. now i really want to fix it .. im thinking of keratin and hair smoothing treatments .. and im new here and i dont know the good and trustful hair salons .. and i like to explain them and show then my hair .. could you please advise me and direct me to one of these hair salons .. im looking for professional and trustful hairstyles and i dont want to ruin my health and hair again .. and ill be glad if they speak english / arabic / french
Hi, i want to start my OWN salon kn Holland and really want to learn from a turkish salon. Do you have any suggestions?
Hi Yalda, I don’t have any information in regards to your question, but most hairstylists in Istanbul have an apprentice or an assistant. Maybe check the bigger name brand salons, they may offer classes. In the United States we have vidal Sassoon for example, which has a popular hair styling school. Good luck!
Hello, I am surprised with What you have been saying. I am in a Hair salón right now in Istanbul and the price for a color base and haircut is 75O turkish liras, can you believe it? The salon is located in Astoria, shopping Mall. I also asked for the MOS hairsalon location and the guy from here told me that it is even expensier!
Hi Cecilia, for color and haircut I’m not surprised it would be expensive, but if you want to pay less you can go to the ones in simple neighborhoods. Astoria mall is a luxury mall so it will be expensive. A blow dry or getting your hairstyled for the night out should NOT cost you anywhere near that. $20 usd TOPS.
Try this place called Makas, they have their prices posted on their site: http://makas.com.tr/#/menu/
80 YTL for a haircut and 140 YTL for coloring
Hello , is There any salon in Istanbul for a good blowout , not a keratine, and if you have an idea for the prices plz
Hi Chayma, the prices listed are for blowouts and not for a keratine treatment. Any salon in your area should be able to do a great job if you want to go beyond the salons I recommended 🙂
Hey! This is such a helpful post! I just wanted to ask if you knew of any salons in taksim or beyoglu that did brazillion wax and if they spoke in English?
I want a waxing man for the bottom. I live in amenono only i can on sunday? Do I get someone to do it in or near this area?
Hi Mnsor, I’m sorry but I do not know that information. I recommend calling a few salons you find on google that are in your neighborhood and ask them if they wax men.