I moved to a really expensive city, or I’m just getting old (or both). The cheapest haircuts I’ve found are \~$25 which seems really high. Worse, if I try any of the non-chain places, I’m looking at $35 or more.
Given that I only need a basic sweep with the hedge-trimmer plus a few shear-chops on top and back, that seems excessive to me. I do see that there are barbers in town, but my grandpa took me to one as a kid and he ignored what I told him and stamped me with old-man hair. It was somewhat traumatizing.
So my questions: can barbers be trusted or are they all evil? Can they handle “#3 on the sides, trim the rest an inch or so?” And, most importantly, are they generally affordable?
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The majority of barbers I used(when I did) could only handle very basic men’s haircuts.
Most could probably handle those instructions. But the “trim a inch or so” isn’t going to be super consistent or the same every time.
One of the best things about going bald is not having to pay barbers anymore. I don’t miss them at all.
I dont go to them, salon for me. at least $40 before tip
Mostly over priced. I’ve paid $45 for a shit haircut before and I’ve also paid $15 for the best zero fade ever….
I don’t want beer, I don’t want a bunch of fancy shit. I want my hair cut.
I pay $42 for a haircut/beard trim combo.
I’ve never had any of these issues with barbers, but when I was a kid my dad told them what to do (he’d tell them what I want, but that’s besides the point). I’ve also never had an issue with any barbers in my area, so maybe you’ve just had crap luck? It’s a simple enough request, any place should be able to do it. And yes, those prices are very high.
My hair is kind of difficult (think like middle eastern/jewfro hair but thinning) and I have found that even just a #3 on the sides and a trim on top often does not go well if the barber isn’t really good. In particular because of the way my hair curls, some barbers just don’t really know how to make sure the cut is even, or don’t care to make sure. Also even with #3 on the sides, they need to be skilled at fading/blending it, unless you want that abrupt transition look.
I can’t say it’s always correlated with price though. I have sometimes found the $20-25 barbers that do a great job (I’m also in a HCOL area and it’s hard to find cheaper than $20), and I don’t always get better spending more. Try a few different guys in the same shop and if you like a guy make sure to ask his name and when he works. Also, when there’s a wait, watch whose chair is always available and watch who the customers are waiting for even though there’s another chair available.
I pay 15 usd for a haircut and some beard trimming.
They have to charge that much or its not a viable business. Best thing I ever did was buy a set of hair clippers and learn to do it myself. I have a few family members that can check the back of my head and do my neck with a beard trimmer. I haven’t paid for a hair cut in 15 years. I can also do it as often as I want. If you keep it short like me you really need a cut every 2 to 3 weeks.
When I was younger I kept longer wavy hair. But as that hair line recedes its just better all around for a low maintenance short cut.
In my area (NYC suburbs), I can pay $15 to go to the place that doesn’t take appointments and I’ll have to sit and wait for an hour to get into a chair on a Saturday morning, or I can pay $45 to go to the place that takes appointments, sees me on time, and offers me a beer if I have to wait.
The $45 shop was $30 before the pandemic and I was willing to pay it, but I started shaving my head during lockdowns and have kept it up since because I’m not willing to pay $45 or waste 1-2 hours waiting around for an open chair.
All that said, I’ve never had bad experiences with the haircuts themselves at any place I’ve tried other than the first and last time I went to a Supercuts (which was so bad that I had to have a friend who’s a hair stylist himself give me an emergency fix-up)
Most barbers around here are at $16 – $20, while Hair Cuttery is $26 (and beauty saloons are even higher). Can’t say my barbers have messed up my hair or didn’t listen but then my instructions are pretty simple – 2 1/2 on the sides & back, take the top down right before it starts spiking, cut the side burns to the top of the ear, I don’t want the front of my hair to be able to fall into my eyes and I part it at the side (don’t care if the back is tapered or blocked).
I’ve been going to my barber for several years. We’ve become friends. Its $10 a visit (I do a 3$ tip, so $13) and I go every other Friday. He cuts exactly as I ask while we catch up with what’s been going on with each other. He’s solo and only takes cash
Cost Cutters and Great Clips are under or around $20 last I knew. I always went to my local small town barber, who was more like $15.
Most of them will do what you ask them to. I’ve never encountered one like the one you did as a kid!
Barbers in California are now charging $45 a cut, I get my haircut in Tijuana now, full massage, hair cut and beard trim for $20, I tip them $10 and they’re insanely grateful
This is for high quality experienced barbers by the way, not the guy who gives military cuts for $10
Took awhile but finally found a great barber. Cuts what I want and sometimes gives suggestions.
I found my guy by asking a coworker who just got a good cut where he got it.
$18 a cut. He also has senior and kids discounts. Once you find a good barber splurge on a full shave. Hot towels, hot lather, straight razor shave, fine lotion aftershave. A great splurge.
From where I come from, I can get a cut for about $6-7.
But then again, the salaries here are lower than in the US and similar places, so…
I get my wife to cut my hair while I have a beer and chat with her and deal with none of this.
I would avoid barbers if you’re not planning on getting a fade.
I go to an old Chinese lady’s shop. $14 is the charge, I pay $20. The modern men’s shops charge $35. Fuck that.
It depends on the barber, black barbers are usually very reliable fore providing a good haircut but they’re more expensive and there’s can usually be shenanigans going in the barber shop
The same person has been cutting me up for 7 years. Friend put me on and he’s watched me grow up I’m 22 now. Cut me through all the high schools dances all the events. Kinda crazy he blesses me everytime with a clean taper slickback and I’d never betray him
Yep, cutting cut is getting expensive but it’s a black barbers so at least I always leave crisp and with a good laugh
They are horrible for the most part. I tell them how I want my hair and they do their own thing anyway. All I want is a simple,low maintenance haircut and they all insist on something “stylish” or “it looks better on you”. It’s shit like this that made me have long hair for most of my adult life.
$25 for a haircut that takes, what, 1/2 hour? That’s totally fair. If the barber is fully booked, he’s bringing in $100k/year gross. After expenses, he’d be lucky to clear $50k. For a profession that requires signficant study and usually state licensing, that’s reasonable.
I agree that high-end ($100+) barbers are overpriced.