How Much Could You Save By Cutting Your Own Hair? - Frugaling (2024)
I vividly remember the first and only time my dad gave me a haircut. I was in elementary school, and he got the ambitious idea to save on haircuts by doing them himself. We got a stool and went outside, where he promptly destroyed my social life with a botched bull cut/bowl cut that reminded me of Ursula’s tentacles from The Little Mermaid.
My dad was left in the dust, when I stormed off to seek shelter from follicular destruction. Safety was a sidewalk where I pouted unmercilessly. Dad got the message. From then on, we went to a proper haircut place (Notice I didn’t say salon or barber? Not really sure what to call them). It always had clips in the title: “Sam’s Clips,” “Great Clips,” “Sports Clips.” You get the picture.
The haircuts were always mediocre, but at least they didn’t function as a new wave contraception device. Each time cost about $15-17 after tip. To stay fresh and fly, I would go every two months or so. Conservatively, that came to be about $90 per year — but likely more than that.
It wasn’t until college that I got the brilliantly simple idea of cutting my own hair. After wondering what could possibly be so complex about buzzing off the sides and leaving the top a little longer, I decided to try it out. The first thing I noticed was how inexpensive clippers/buzzers run. You shouldn’t expect to pay more than $20-25 for a complete set, which offers different sized clips, scissors, and sometimes a detailing tool. They require little to no maintenance; albeit, they recommend regularly oiling and cleaning. In one to two haircuts they pay for themselves.
I purchased a Conair set, and began weed-whacking through a bushel of hair. I used a 3 clip around the entirety of my head, which made it impossible to screw up. By the end of it, I had already saved $15, time getting to and from a shop, and had an innate sense of pride in accomplishing it.
It’s been about 4 to 5 years since that fateful haircut. Now, I almost exclusively cut my own hair and/or receive assistance from friends and family. The savings are incredible. If you calculate the itat $90-100 a year (in haircut alone, which doesn’t account for time and transportation costs), I’ve likely kept more than$450 in my pocket since the switch. More money in savings, to invest, and pay off debt — what could be better?
The one major downside is that it’s never perfect. I’m limited in styles and sizes. Cleaning up the little, tiny, microscopic hairs within crevices and in between floor tiles is monotonous. I can’t say I enjoy getting to know the difficulties of cleaning hair off of grout. Alas, these are all but minor inconveniences to the half a grand I’ve saved over the years.
To commemorate my latest haircut, I decided to film it using Instagram’s new app, Hyperlapse. Hope you enjoy and let it inspire you to cut your own hair soon!
Now, I almost exclusively cut my own hair and/or receive assistance from friends and family. The savings are incredible. If you calculate the it at $90-100 a year (in haircut alone, which doesn't account for time and transportation costs), I've likely kept more than $450 in my pocket since the switch.
Then I thought about all of the money I was spending on haircuts and bought a few razor combs instead. and I'd calculate that in these four years, I've saved upwards of $1,600 on haircuts (that'd be a conservative four cuts per year at $100 per cut, which is what I used to pay for my haircuts).
You take back convenience and control. Cutting your own hair also allows you to experiment with other styles. Make sure to get a clipper with a variety of guide combs and a detail trimmer. The combs allow you to adjust the length of the cut and customize your look.
The recommended tipping standard for barbers is 15-20% of the total cost of the haircut. This means that if your cut costs $40, you should tip between $6-$8. Of course, tipping is always at your discretion. Feel free to tip more or less, depending on those considerations above.
If you're not ready to give up salon cuts but would really like to save money, try minimizing the amount of times you have to pay. Cutting your own hair every other time still amounts to a savings! Another option is to do all of your trims at home by yourself, but visit a salon for drastic changes.
Is 30 dollars expensive for a haircut? At $30, haircuts from chain salons and barbers are fairly standard. The specialized style options, variety of talents offered as well as exclusive products one would experience at a full-service salon may be absent.
While many stylists don't recommend cutting your hair, desperate times call for desperate measures. As long as you aren't getting too daring with your scissors, you can rid yourself of your dead ends or successfully give yourself a bang trim without it looking like you stuck your head in the garbage disposal.
"When you try to cut the hair with scissors, the blunt edge is going to push the hair to the side because it's not as sharp," says Garrett. This is how you wind up with bangs that look more shabby than chic, or uneven ends, says Garrett. I took his note to heart, and purchased a fresh pair of shears.
Whether triggered by a sense of play, a need for security, or a desire to break up the monotony of life at home, cutting our own hair is, at its core, a form of self-expression that can signal an emotional release.
Certified Master Extension Specialist Kendra Ward agrees. "I don't believe 10%, 20%, 25%, etc. is at all the standard," she says. And while she agrees that a $5-$10 dollar tip is acceptable for a haircut, the expectations may go up with the intensity of the service.
Remember the golden rule: "You should tip 20% on the entire service cost, not per individual," says Schweitzer. So if your haircut and blow-dry cost $40 total, and your color was $60, your total service cost comes to $100. That means you should tip $20 divided between the colorist and stylist.
While DIY haircuts can save money, professional barbers offer expertise, individualized guidance, and the ability to ensure the cut suits the person's face shape and preferences 13. Many men prefer the consistent quality and convenience of professional haircuts 3.
Regular trims and styles can help reduce scalp itchiness and irritation, as proper hygiene helps keep the scalp clean and healthy. A good haircut promotes better scalp circulation, helping stimulate healthier hair growth. This means we can have fuller, shinier locks that are less prone to breakage.
As of late May, 38 percent of men say they've had their hair cut at home, while just 18 percent of women say the same. Most (56%) women in this May 2020 poll say they haven't had their hair cut at home, and they probably won't.
The average cost of a haircut is $15 to $75, depending on the location, salon type, and the stylist's experience. Your hair's length and texture may also affect the haircut price. The average price for a women's haircut is $45 to $75, while men's haircut prices range from $25 to $50.
Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
