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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…
and After pictures to show you that it really doesn’t look that bad when you do it yourself.
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?
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You can find more frugal tips at BeingFrugal and Works for Me Wednesday!
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
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.
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Great tip. I cut my girls’ hair, but I haven’t had the nerve to try my husbands. Maybe I should…
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love our local beauty college 1/4 of the price per thing done Love it getting a $20 haircut for $5
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.
Check out You Tube for GREAT little how-to videos for hair styling and cutting. I’ve used them for side swept bang cutting hints, “pouf” ponytail hints & more. Just run a search on what your looking for.
If you run a search for “buzz purse” you will find a girl who videos a lot of cute and fast hair styles right in her house.
BTW – Your 3 year old is adorable!
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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.
Summertime means home buzzes for my boys!
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What a cutie!
We have been jokingly referring to our home haircuts as “recession haircuts”.
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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.
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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!
“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!
Good idea. Haircuts are getting really expensive.
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!
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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’.