How We Save on Haircuts (Frugal Friday)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
Want to save this post?
Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, I'll send you time- and money-saving tips every week!
This probably isn’t earth-shattering, money-saving advice, but I do believe it saves us at least $420/year, so here we go. I am the barber around here.
Yep. Really. I suppose I could say I’m a stylist, but that would be stretching things. A lot.
It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I ever set foot in a hair salon myself. My dad or my aunt always trimmed my hair as well as that of my siblings. My dad was self-taught, and it worked out okay.
Eventually.
In our years of being dinks, hubs and I both paid big bucks on haircuts. Once we had kids, we scaled back, going to a less-expensive walk-in salon. I grew my hair long so I wouldn’t need to cut it very often. And I learned to cut the kids’ hair myself.
Admittedly, there were quite a few bowl-cut years. We called it the “surfer cut.”
Even when we lived in Kansas City.
Cutting my kids’ hair has saved us a ton of money over the years. A ton.
My eldest son has particular tastes, so I’m fine taking him to Sports Clips. It’s not terribly expensive, and it gives him good practice in communicating his preferences to someone besides me. I’ll clean up around the ears and neck in between cuts, so that we can stretch the cuts out a little more.
I’ve taken the other boys on occasion as well — like when we had a fancy event to go to and I was running short on time and patience. However, once I realized that all they wanted were buzz cuts, I said, “Forget that. I can do that for free.”
So I do.
This may not work for every parent, child, or head of hair. I have one child who detests the buzz cut, but who also has very wiry, unruly, every-which-way kind of hair. He’s on probation this month to keep it groomed and tidy, otherwise it’s the buzz cut for him, too. I think he’ll do fine, though.
Like I said, this has been a great way for us to save on salon costs, and it’s usually more convenient than hauling people somewhere to get their hair cut. I can take them to the hair studio (aka the backyard) in my pajamas.
How do YOU save money?
This is Frugal Friday. In an effort to make these weekly financial discussions more interactive, I’m no longer posting a link-up. Feel free to leave a link in the comments. But better yet, chat with us on today’s topic.
We save money this way too. I cut my daughter’s hair, sometimes buzz my son’s & hubby always cuts his own. I have long, straight hair and get it cut once or twice a year. One way I’ve noticed we save money is by doing our own yard work. There are many lovelier and more coordinated yards in our neighborhood, but I know we save a ton doing it together as a family and we actually enjoy it now. This month we are also saving big bucks replacing our feces ourselves! We’ll have some help from my in-laws but the end product will be better and thousands cheaper.
My mother tried this with me, however, I am curly curly curly headed like her and after that one time (and presumably struggling with curly hair home cuts her whole life) I’ve been going to a salon ever since. I try and only get it cut ~3 times a year though, but it is one expense I can’t live without. Although finding a good person is key. My stylist just gave me free product because its my birthday ($20 free!) and runs $15 off/referral. So she’s amazing!
Growing up my dad used to cut my hair, too! Now, I cut my girls’ hair, and my husband cuts our son’s hair. For cutting our girls’ hair, I have a super easy way to layer it in less than 5 minutes using two piggy tails, which I discuss more in depth here.
My husband cuts his own hair does my son as well. In fact, they just did it last night! The Boy usually gets a buzz cut too. I cut The Girl’s bangs and trim her ends. I’m the only one in the fam who gets it cut outside the house, and I go to Super Cuts!
Please have the mole checked on this person’s back. It looks suspicious . Thank you. Elaine Ross
That’s not a mole. It’s a clump of hair stuck to his back. We’re very good about mole checks since I am very moley myself. Thanks for your concern, though.
Do you have a favorite how to Youtube video? I’m trying to learn to do this, but I’ve either ended up with the Spartacus look or the bowl cut… I have 3 boys, so I need to figure this out…
Ellen, when I decided to start doing my son’s hair I took him for one last cut at the salon and watched really carefully. Then I tried my hand at a trim a couple weeks early before it lost the shape the stylist cut. After a few months of trims every couple weeks I got enough practice and confidence to let it grow longer between trims and to eventually change things up every now and then.
I would love some tips (from websites) or links to You Tube videos, too, if anyone has them!
I have three boys as well and I’ve tried to pay close attention at the salon or from a friend who cuts hair but it’s difficult to take notes while wrangling the kids. I’m very visual and need step-by-step instructions. We are not fans of buzz cuts so I need help with shape and style. Also, how do you get the little ones to stay still?! I guess this is when an iPad would come in handy…!
I have three boys as well and this would save us a lot — right now I can’t get my cuts to look halfway decent so if it’s a special occasion (Easter, Christmas, wedding, etc.) I’ll go to the kids’ salon with a coupon.
One of the hair trimmers I bought over the years came with a DVD. I watched that. I bet you can find some at the library.
I still cut my husband’s hair in the backyard. The kids are old enough to pay for their own cuts now but when they were young I cut theirs too. Lot’s of grumbling but they never looked that bad. I on the other hand spend an obscene amount of money on my hair because I’m the Mommy and I deserve a treat. lol
I’ve been cutting my son’s hair for many years now. My sister was trained as a stylist, so she taught me how to do it. Now that it is summer, I’m also cutting my husband’s hair. He is a teacher and wants a certain look during the school year, but during the summer he bikes a lot and just wants it short. As for me, I treat myself to a great stylist with the savings from the boys haircuts at home. I have short hair that requires more maintenance, but I don’t color it. I’m fortunate to have an awesome stylist that frequently runs promotions.
The day before our second child was born Hubs had a communication failure with the stylist and wound up with a buzz cut. Much to my chagrin he insisted on continuing to pay someone to maintain it. Finally, after seeing that I do a better job on our 4 year old son and 2 year old daughter’s hair (neither as simple as a buzz) than the fancy kids salon did he let me do his hair. It came as a real shock when he found out I also cut my own hair.
I do the same. My hubby loves not waiting in line or driving, and I know what he likes. I just went to get my hair done, since no one can do MINE for me!
I have 3 boys, grown now, but I learned a long time ago that a great pair of hair clippers was a good investment! I cut their hair each time. I’ve even been able to do cuts that weren’t the buzz cut. Sometimes they turn out better than other times. 2 of my grown boys still live at home, ages 21 & 19. Just the other day I cut my 19yo before he had a job interview. The 21yo has gotten smart & started cutting his own! 🙂
Yep, don’t buy the cheap kind. I learned the hard way. I still buy the set from Walmart, but not the low end one. Makes a huge difference.