Vertical Smart Slide 1
DVD Coupons: Ever After, Date Night…
Posted 5 hours ago
DVD Coupons: Ever After, Date Night, Romeo an…

New DVD coupons are available to help you save on some romantic classics, like one of my favorites, Ever After. New Coupons Include: $3.00 off Ever After on Blu-ray™ $4.00…

HOT! $1.25 Alexia Foods Printable C…
Posted 6 hours ago
HOT! $1.25 Alexia Foods Printable Coupon & Ta…

Print this new $1.25 off Alexia Foods coupon because this one will go fast.  (If you can not find the coupon, try Zip 12345) You can stack this coupon with…

1SaleaDay Baby Sale | Digital Video…
Posted 6 hours ago
1SaleaDay Baby Sale | Digital Video Monitor J…

If you need any baby products – make sure you head over to the 1Saleaday Flash Sale because they have some really HOT deals today, including this Levana ClearVu Digital…

Rent Moneyball for Just $1.99
Posted 8 hours ago
Rent Moneyball for Just $1.99

This weekend, you can rent new release Moneyball starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill for just $1.99. This is an instant movie rental, so you don’t have to worry about…

Family Circle Only $.33 an Issue
Posted 9 hours ago
Family Circle Only $.33 an Issue

Today only, you can subscribe to Family Circle Magazine for only $3.99 per year (66% off).  With 12 issues, that works out to $.33 an issue. You can order up…

Saving Money on Haircuts

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

by Melissa on May 26, 2009

There’s no denying that hair care can increase a families budget, especially with several family members. The average cost for a “cheap” haircut is still around $25-$30 after tip and even kids’ cuts can add up (last time we went it was $18). If you cut your hair every 6-8 weeks as recommended by hair stylists, that can add up to $240 per person and that does not include any cost for hair color, etc.

Home Haircuts

One way that we have been able to cut down on haircut costs is to do it ourselves. Well, I should say, my husband does it. He’s actually been cutting his own hair since high school, so it was natural for him to try his hand at our son’s hair. And, I think he does a pretty good job!

This last weekend, our 3 year old needed a haircut, so I captured some Before…IMG_4997

and After pictures to show you that it really doesn’t look that bad when you do it yourself.IMG_5003 
Of course, this is not to say everyone has the eye for cutting hair, and it may be necessary to visit a salon. In those cases, I recommend saving by watching for sales/discounts, coupons, and hair cutting programs (buy so many, get 1 FREE).

A few other ways to save at the salon include:

~Color your own hair. This is best when you are looking to cover gray or want subtle change. There are a lot of great products out there, and many that have great sales/coupons each week at drugstores like CVS or Walgreens.

~Find a local Beauty School. Most beauty school’s require the stylists-in-training to be watched by an experienced teacher/stylist, so they won’t mess up your hair.

~Cut Your Bangs for FREE. Many stylists will let you come back for free touch-ups on your bangs (since they grow so fast), so make sure you ask when you go in the first time. Also, if you aren’t comfortable with cutting your own hair, you may be able to just cut your bangs. Watch your stylists the next time your in or ask for pointers.

How have you found ways to save on haircuts with your family?

If you have enjoyed this post, you may also like:

9 Tips to Save Eating Out
Making Homemade  Baby food
5 Tips to Save on Kid’s Clothes
Saving on Your Child’s Birthday

You can find more frugal tips at BeingFrugal and Works for Me Wednesday!

-Melissa

Don’t forget to Download the Saving Cents with Sense Toolbar. Have a smart phone – Get the iPhone App or Android App to keep all the deals at your fingertips!

  • http://www.frugal-living-skills.org/ Renee

    In our family we use the Flowbee. The haircutting machine that hooks up to your vacuume. When we first got one almost 19 years ago I thought it was crazy, now I think it’s great. My husband does his own hair plus our 3 boys. I can’t even imagine how much I’d have to spend on all those haircuts. This machine definitely pays for itself many times over.

    Renee’s last blog post..Frugal Tip – Summer Fun Bags

  • http://shopannies.blogspot.com/ angie

    love our local beauty college 1/4 of the price per thing done Love it getting a $20 haircut for $5

  • http://savingcentswithsense.net Melissa

    Wow, Renee, I haven’t heard of that! I’ll have to check it out since it sounds very interesting!

    Erin and Angie, great to hear of the ways you are saving on haircuts, too! It is amazing how much you can save.

  • http://savingcentswithsense.net Melissa

    Thanks, Julie! I didn’t even think of looking at You Tube, but what a great resource! I’ll definitely have to check that out! I’ve grown out my bangs, but when I had them, I was always cutting them myself. Oh, and thank you again- he’s going through a “I love the camera” phase. :)

  • http://learningthefrugallife.blogspot.com/ Sara

    Summertime means home buzzes for my boys!

    Sara’s last blog post..Eat From the Pantry Challenge Update~Week 4

  • http://premeditatedleftovers.blogspot.com/ Alea

    What a cutie!

    We have been jokingly referring to our home haircuts as “recession haircuts”.

    Alea’s last blog post..I’m Hooked On Foaming Soap

  • http://ukzoe.blogspot.com zoe

    I tried cutting their hair when my boys were little, BAD IDEA.

    But these days I get my hair done a lot cheaper than the salons by getting a home hairdresser to come to the house.
    Two of the ladies at our church both offer this service and I pay around £8, compared to over £30 at a budget salon. I have to wash my hair myself before they come, but still it’s an amazing saving.

    zoe’s last blog post..Frugal Fridays

  • http://www.theprudenthomemaker.com The Prudent Homemaker

    We bought a hairclipping set at Walmart. They have a couple different ones; I like the Wahl one the best.

    I also bought a seperate pair of haricutting scissors, and at a beuaty supply store, I bought a child-sized cape and an adult cape. I used to use towels for a few years, but the capes were really nice to have., and I’m glad I got them.

    I started out cutting my husband’s hair 2 months after we were married. I was afraid to mess up. He told me, “The difference between a good haircut and a bad haircut is two weeks.” He was right. It took a few times of cutting before I understood how to use the clippers, but once I did, it was fine.

    When our children came, we cut their hair. At first they sat on my husband’s lap so that he could help keep them still while I cut. As they got a little bigger they were fine with having their hair cut.

    I cut the girls’ hair and the boys’ hair.

    I held off on mine the longest. About 2 1/2 years ago, I had not had money for a cut in about 8 months. I didn’t liuke how long my hair was getting. In despearation, I asked my husband to cut it.

    He did a fine job! He didn’t stack it in back like the other hairdressers had done, but it worked fine, and after a while, I decided that I liked it a bit longer than I had been wearing it, and that I didn’t even miss having it stacked.

    Since then, my husband has cut my hair.

    The only expense I have occured since buying scissors, a hair cutting kit, and capes has been replacing 3 hair cut kits (One stopped working after a few years and I knocked the attatchments down to the ground and broke them on the other two). The kits are around $35 each (one of mine was $17, but I like the nicer one better). The capes were $10 each, and the scissors weren’t much. From now on I plan on keeping the attachments far from the edge of the counter so that I don’t knock them down with the cord :) . It’s been almost 9 years since I started cutting my husband’s hair, and I’m grateful that he had me learn how!

  • http://savingcentswithsense.net Melissa

    “Recession Haircuts”- love it!!

    Wow, Prudent Homemaker, I’m not brave enough to have my husband cut my hair, but you know, I bet you he would do a good job! He has cut his own hair for over a decade and is great with our boys. Thanks for sharing!

  • http://www.debtconsolidation.com Charles

    Good idea. Haircuts are getting really expensive.

  • http://www.prohomemaker.com Prohomemaker.com

    I bought a home clipper set several years ago for $10 and it has paid for itself many times over. For men — especially balding ones, like myself — it makes so much sense. I know it’s a No. 2 clip guide and a quick whiz and I am done. I may spring for a barber job once or twice a year for a special occasion, but this makes the most cents. Oh, and for those with a beard ($5 at the barber) it’s a no-brainer!
    .-= Prohomemaker.com´s last blog ..$100 eyeglass frame giveaway! =-.

  • Becky

    I got a free haircut after I saw an ad on craigslist. It was a senior stylist who was going on extra training at her salon’s training facility. I got a great haircut for free! It did take a bit longer, but I’m really happy with it and will definitely try craigslist next time. You can look under ‘services – beauty’, and search for ‘free’ or ‘model’.

Previous post:

Next post: