A couple of years ago I was introduced to the range of Aveda (it’s German for wanky and expensive but environmentally friendly and rather nice and luxurious) hair care products. Well, one in particular: a leave-in conditioner thing which leaves my hair looking just slightly less daggy than it did before. I dab a little in each morning.

The bottle I’ve been using is about to run out. It’s at that stage where I’ve precariously balanced it upside-down next to the bathroom sink, just to coax those last few millilitres out of it. Anticipating its drying-up any day now, on Monday I moseyed on down to the Aveda shop to get another bottle.

I stood there in the brilliant light that pervades all such establishments, looking around to find my familiar bottle. They’d changed the colour slightly, but there it was. I was sure I’d paid about $25 for the last bottle, but I couldn’t remember what size I’d got. I looked at the two sizes, 250ml for $24.95 or 500ml for $39.95.

Yes, it’s exhorbitant. It’s at least 80 times the cost of petrol. Not that dabbing petrol in my hair would do much for my hairstyle, unless I was in the mood to burn it off, Michael Jackson-style. But dammit, I’m hopeless at finding products I like, so when I find something, I stick to it. And it’s not like I have the time or inclination to seek out certified organic aloe, lavender, rosemary or any of the other myriad of ingredients and mix it up myself.

On the other hand, the bottle had last me about a year and a half, so 5 cents per day is a small price to pay to have my hair looking less daggy than necessary. Doesn’t sound so bad now. That said, the US price is well below the Australian price, which could lead one to believe we’re getting gouged on the deal.

After a few seconds comparing the two bottles, I eventually concluded I’d bought the bigger bottle. Grumbling to myself about how the price had shot up since last time, I bought it, and took it home. Inevitably I discovered that it had been the smaller bottle last time. That being the case, I doubt I’ll be gracing Aveda’s door again until well into the second half of the decade.