I saw this tip in the most recent issue of All You magazine:
“I answer Craigslist ads looking for hair models to be used for salon interviews or for people who are building hours toward their certification. I no longer pay for hair cuts, straightening, hair color, or even highlights, and I always have nice results.” -All You magazine (April 27, 2012), page 117
I thought this was a very creative idea and wondered if any of you have ever tried something like this before? Do you have other tips for saving money on hair cuts, coloring, and/or upkeep? I’d love to hear!
We have a cosmetology school in our area where you can get super cheap hair cuts (like $5 I think). However, I have been spoiled by a friend who went to a Paul Mitchell school…her salon’s $30 hair cuts really are way better! So I splurge once or twice a year (or I should say I try to splurge once or twice a year – I don’t think she has ever let may pay yet).
Speaking of which, a local college also has a dental program and they do cleanings for $25. It takes a lot longer (up to 3 hours in my experience) because it is done by students and their supervisors, but it is another good money saver.
I have allowed my daughter to do this.
we had good results.
I have also gone to a school and paid discount prices there.
I also shop around there is a chain in my state that offers hair cuts under 40 USD and I always try to find one of them. because I refuse to go to hair cuttery but don’t want to pay more than 40 for my haircuts.
As a hairstylist turned stay at home mom, I Love this article!!! When I was a student I hated the slow days when we had to work on mannequin heads instead of clients. I want to encourage folks to go to schools of all sorts. Hair, massage, esthetics. You do have to go in with the knowledge that these are students. But honestly if the salon stylist isn’t doing continuing education they are stale and will still be giving you the same cut and advice 25 years from now. Regardless of the new technology out there.
Also please do not take advantage of hairstylists. You are paying for their knowledge and education. I love a previous comment that says she tips handsomely on the full amount before the coupon. Thank you. If you like a stylist? Stay with them. If they raise their prices ask them if you can grandfather in with the old price. If you are a consistent client chances are they will agree!
I have started going to the local beauty school for all of my hair and spa needs. They are great there. The prices vary based on what level someone is, but I have always had great results. Also if you develop a relationship with one of the stylist or instructors when someone needs hours you can get free services. I refer friends and keep getting free services for that as well. The only thing that I caution people about is that it can take longer at the beauty school because they have to wait on the instructors to check off the work at each step. I highly reccomend it to everyone though. If you get results you aren’t happy with the will redo your hair for free within seven days.
I’ve been having free hair cut for more than a year now through Super Cut. The instructor knows my style and what I want. She always make sure the student cut my hair correctly or she will fix in the end. I have not had a bad cut yet.
I did this all through college in a small town, with mostly great results.
At that salon, though, you had to be VERY adamant about what you would NOT accept…..like magenta highlights. I still remember the young woman who cried ’cause she hadn’t said “no” and her hair was way shorter than she wanted.
Also–and others may have said this—be prepared for it to take a LONG time…..I don’t have the time to spend two hours getting it done these days, and that was the average.
When I became a stay-at-home mom with two little ones and one (modest) source of income for our family, giving up salon cuts & color was difficult for me. One day the community message board at our apartment complex had a note requesting volunteers for an in-service training day at a salon. I jumped at the opportunity. As some have previously commented, you need to be open to a new style or new color. As it was a training day for the stylists, I was there for 6 hours, much of the time spent “on hold” while the trainer went through the program. I was pleased with the results and would gladly volunteer again.
I’m a hairstylist, and when I read that a couple thoughts came to mind. One way to get better results when you are not familiar with the stylist would be a couple things. I would ask how long they have been a stylist. Fresh out of school could be awesome talent and it might be someone needing to improve their skills.
The other thought was to possibly ask lots of questions about what the service would include. And if you arent quite sure it’s what you would like on your hair ask to review some pictures of what they are wanting to achieve.
Sounds like a neat idea overall! But I would personally ask lots of questions so that you can make the best informed decision of wether this is something that would be helpful to you, the client.
I’ve always heard that if you live in a town with a college that offers a program for becoming a dental hygienist or cosmetologist or nail tech that you can contact the school and offer to be one of their subjects that the students practice on, sometimes for free or for very minimal cost. I’ve never tried it though.
I’ve done similar thing with massage therapists in training. They need practice hours, too, and since massage is a “luxury” I can’t spend lots of money on it. I usually get the massage for free, then just tip them well before I leave. It’s a huge savings, and they are almost done their schooling, so everything they have learned is fresh in their memory and they can be very good.
I was just called by my colorist to be a hair model for keratin smoothing process. This process is usually $250-$350 in a salon. I’m excited. And, because of this process, special shampoo and condtitioner are required for maintenance, which I will get for free Funny thing is, I was actually a paid hair model in my late teens and early 20’s ( I am now 50 yo). I did some salon training events, but mostly hair show competitions. I always knew what was going to be done to my hair and had the option to decline.
I read the same All You article, and thought this might be a good idea. I would use some precautions though:
1. I’m willing to risk a bad haircut because my hair grows quickly and it’s sometimes possible to fix or workaround a bad cut.
2. I will NOT risk a bad chemical treatment, such as straightening or coloring. I would never be a hair model for coloring.
3. My hair is mostly straight, with a fine texture, but lots of hair strands. It’s the kind of hair that is difficult to mess up, but if my hair was thick and curly, I would stick to a stylist I trust, even if I had to spend more.
In summary, a bad haircut I see as a short-term temporary inconvenience, while a botched coloring could have long-term effects, as Sarah (the fourth commenter) can attest.
If you do this, be prepared for blunders.
So far, I have hair modeled once for work when we got in a new line of hair color. Oh boy…Glad I didn’t have any where to go for awhile…
My neighbor’s sister is working towards becoming a “senior hairsylist” at her salon. She needed a model to practice on and my neighbor texted me. The salon was very reputable and she did a great job. It was probably one of the best haircuts I’ve ever had and it was free. I don’t dye or highlight my hair, so I don’t have to worry about any of those horror stories. I also go to the Aveda school in my area. It takes a really long time (because they’re not fast at it yet and have to keep getting checked by an instructor), but it is $15 for a haircut/dry, chair massage, and mini facial. Highlighting and dying of hair costs a bit more, but it is a cheaper option.
Back when I was young and broke(r), I saw an ad in the classified section of the paper for hair models, and thought what the heck. My best friend and I went to the model call, and were chosen by the “platform artist”, or the stylist who was the star of this particular show. It was a huge show put on at the convention center by the state beauty supply, not a small salon thing.
Fantastic experience; got to dress up in beautiful costumes, and had our hair cut onstage by this internationally-known stylist, in front of hundreds of people. One of the best cuts I’ve ever had in my life, plus a tote bag full of product. I was totally sold on the deal.
I went on many after that, and I never had a bad experience, but I do have some advice for anyone considering hair modeling:
First, they are there to show off new techniques and products, not to give you a trim. I’m sure I always had such great results because I was willing to put my head in their hands and say “You’re the pro, do what you want.” All stylists love clients who trust their skills and aren’t worrying or constantly saying “Don’t cut it too short! Leave the length!” Trust me; they do not care. Give them free rein if you have the stomach for it. If you’re a bit of a daredevil like me, you’ll be in your element. If you’re
worried about your hair, don’t bother. Think of “What Not To Wear”; don’t you always wish they’d stop whining about their hair and just let Nick do his thing? Isn’t it ALWAYS better when they do?
Secondly, check out the company doing the show beforehand. They likely have a ton of stuff online for you to peruse before you decide if it’s worth risking. My favorites were always Matrix and Redken; both gave lots of product and had excellent staff and stylists. I went to a few model calls that I walked out of, feeling the stylists were too inexperienced. I am not interested in being a guinea pig for a newb. Some people are okay with having a student cut their hair for cheap if they can dictate the look; I would rather have a master give me the cut I SHOULD have.
Lastly, I admit I saw one unfortunate cut, on a young girl who let them cut off all her long hair. She was too young and too attached to it to really embrace her short look, so she hated it. I felt badly for her. She kept saying “My boyfriend’s gonna vreak up with me!” I sure hope he wasn’t that dumb.
In the end, it’s a great way to save money if you have an adventurous spirit and realize that at worst, it is just hair and it will grow back. I did it for years, and never paid a dime for my hair. I did have some companies pay ME, though!
the best haircut and color I ever received and a wonderfully fun time was being a hair model at a hair show in Biloxi, MS I was the main stage model for Redkin and loved it so much.
I have a friend who tried this once, and it only works if you are okay with the chances of ending up with a hair cut that might not be “you”. For instance you could end up with purple highlights, when you are more of a natural girl. Our family has had great results using the local hairdressing school, on Tuesday they run a $5 hair cut special so I can get all three of my kids hair cut plus my own for just $20. Yes we have had the odd cut that wasn’t quite right but 99% of the time we are all happy with our cuts. A supervisor has to check the students work so they usually correct any mistakes, although that usually means a shorter cut than you might have wanted (which is the 1% of the time that we leave unhappy)
My wedding party and I got our hair done at a beauty school the day of my wedding. It of course takes a bit longer than a regular salon, but was WAAAAAY less expensive, and everyone came out looking beautiful. Instructors are constantly looking over the stylists shoulders and would fix anything that needed to be fixing themselves. It was a great way for us to keep another expense down for our wedding.
Nowadays I cut my husbands hair with a $10 hair cutting kit bought at Walmart, and I go to Great Clips every so often when they have coupons out! As soon as my husband crosses a pre-determined threshold in his salary, my splurge will be going to a REAL salon every 4 months. Can’t wait for that day!!!
So save money on my family’s hair cuts, I learned how to cut hair myself. My husband came home from an inexpensive haircut place one day, and they *butchered* his very-basic business haircut.
The next day he went out and bought a video and haircut kit (clippers, scissors, and comb). This was back in the day when we had two professional incomes and no kids.
I watched the video and learned how simple basic haircuts can be. I have been doing our entire family’s hair (except myself) ever since. This includes my husband, teen son, pre-teen daughter, and younger daughter.
I even cut my pre-teens hair for Locks for Love!
There’s no telling how many thousands of dollars we have saved over the past 15 or so years.
Every two years, I have my hair cut for free because it’s donated to Locks of Love. I believe many salons will give free hair cuts to those who donate their hair to this organization. I believe the minimum length to donate is 10 inches.
I do this too.
It has to be natural… no color at all…
Actually, that’s not true, it just can’t be bleached.
My local beauty college also does facials for $20, brow waxing for $8 and manis and pedis for about the same. Then our local coupon booklet has coupons for another 1/2 off. I’ve received excellent results with the brow waxings, for $4!!! I’ve returned several times. The pedi was okay but I returned to professionals after one experience.
I actually responded to an ad when I was in college to get paid $200 to have someone cut my hair and photograph it for one of those magazines in salons. It was a SUPER bad haircut (I’m not sure how it was supposed to sell the style), but I always figured that for $200 it would grow back (and of course, it did) 😉
I’ve done a few hair shows with people I don’t know and I’ve had both good and bad, you just have to approach it with a sense of adventure.
An inexpensive way to go is hair school. My daughter is in her 5th semester at the community college and she loves practicing on friends and family. At the school I think a haircut is only around $3 and a color is $10+. She’s also learned waxing, eye lash extension and barbering so far. It’s a fun and inexpensive way to get your hair done.
Down the street from us we have a hair school. I believe for highlights they only charge $15 because the students are “practicing” on you. I have not done it yet, but have seen several people who have used the students. The hair looked good!
Youtube is a great alternative to beauty school. Before I cut someones hair (or mine) I watch a few hair cutting videos on Youtube, and they always helps improve my skills.
It has helped me come a long way from the haircut I gave myself in the fifth grade when I cut a bald spot in the back of my head, and my mom had to color it in with brown magic marker.
I think my teacher was just being nice when she said, “Oh Jody, I like your hair – it’s so . . . geometrical.”
Jody this just made me laugh! What a loving mother you had! She didn’t want anyone to make fun of you.
That’s so funny! Yes, I have used You tube for SOO many things lately. I remember thinking when it came out that it was such a bizarre concept. People posting crazy stunts, bad karaoke and wanna-be artists but it has really provided a great resource for me!
After I was laid off from my job and money was tight, I sought out alternatives to my regular salon cut. There are 3 different hair schools in my city and after doing my research, I chose one. I couldn’t find one that was free, but all them charged much less than a regular salon. I paid about $15 less than I normally would have been charged. I’ve been twice and was about 90% happy each time. Some negatives: appointments took a LOT longer than a regular salon, so plan on at least twice the time you would normally allow; depending on how often you get your hair done, you probably won’t get the same person each time (not necessarily a bad thing), and depending on the student stylist, you may get a really chatty stylist, who wants to hear your thoughts on what you want, or a more take-charge student stylist who already seems to be able to figure out what you want w/ little discussion. Positives: cost is generally lower than a regular salon, appointments are readily available, and you usually get more hands on time than a regular salon. Since my hair grows fast, I’m ok with a little bit of an uneven haircut (which my chosen salon offered to fix when I finally noticed it the next day) and with the extra time it took for the whole process.
I went to a salon that offered very cheap cuts because they were done by students who were about to graduate from this well known, name brand hair school. I didn’t want anything complicated done, just a trim, so I figured it couldn’t be that bad. Well, unfortunately it didn’t turn out well. Maybe it was that particular student, the salon, or the fact that most hairdressers don’t really know how to cut curly hair, but I won’t be trying it again. I don’t want to dissuade anyone from trying this approach to a more budget friendly haircut, but in my experience, a cheap cut usually ends up looking just that: cheap.
I agree to a point. My children have long thick, thick very curly hair. I am particular who cuts their hair because of the curls. I learned that it was better to spend some money on a haircut for them than to risk a bad haircut on a cheap cut. But for me, I have fine straight hair and I wear it in a blunt simple cut so harder to mess my cut up therefore I will use budget friendly ways to cut my hair. Luckily my nephew married a hair stylist who knows what to do with very curly hair and is family. She does not charge me much but I give her a BIG tip. My daughters are young teens and preteens so they want a good haircut and their “cousin” provides that for them. So moral of story: find a system that works for you.
Probably the curly hair. I just recently discovered the book “Curly Girl Handbook” and it is amazing!
I have friends with Curly hair who have mentioned that book several times. They LOVE it. I have pin straight hair, but if any of my future children have curly hair, that will be the 1st book I buy!
Where I live there is a well known salon that regularly requests hair models for hands on training for the stylists that come to take their 3 day color course. It is a very reputable salon (featured on the Today show a while back doing makeovers for some Military wives) – they manufacture and sell their products all over the world. I have been doing this for several years now and have been selected many times. In all the times that I have been selected I have never been disappointed with the cut or color – the stylists are very good and will not do anything that you are not comfortable with. The services are completely free and the salon always provides lunch, snacks and beverages since it’s basically an all day event. Even if you’re not chosen to be a hair model you always get a free gift for attending the info sessions in which they look at your hair type, % of gray, etc. These are not small samples either, they are full size salon products. Well worth the time to attend as I was selected 3 times last year and I didn’t have to pay for any cuts or coloring. In my area a cut and color runs around $150.
When I haven’t been selected to be a hair model I have gone to the local Beauty School for cuts that have always been good – the instructors are really good and check the student every step of the way so I’ve never been worried that I won’t get a good cut. I’ve also had my husband cut my hair and believe it or not he does a pretty good job – he also colors my hair when I don’t get selected to be a hair model. This alone has saved us a considerable amount. I also have been cutting my husband’s hair for several years – I just use the hair guides included in the clipper set that we bought for around $20 and it’s perfect every time. Cutting his hair just one time paid for them since he was paying $30 at the time and that was over 3 years ago.
I realize not everyone would be satisfied doing this but it works for us and has saved us a lot of money over what we used to spend at the popular chain salon that dominates our area.
I did this about a year ago the hairstylist fried my hair, next they tried to correct it and they made my hair from very light bl onde to black and it was black as night! I almost lost all my hair from this and am still waiting almost a year later for most of it to grow back. I’m not certain it will ever be the same. I lost a full head of healthy hair over this.
I usually wait until I get a coupon in the weekly flyer (you can sign up for these; they are mostly grocery store ads) to go to Super Cuts. Yes, I know, Super Cuts. 😉 I’ve had a couple of bad haircuts at Super Cuts. Here is the secret. Find a stylist you like at a nearby Super Cuts. This takes some trial-and-error, but the woman I go to now was my third try. She actually fixed the uneven cut done on my hair by her colleague. I wrote her name on the back of my calendar, and when I get a coupon (for a 5.99 or 7.99 haircut), I call up the store to find out when she will be there. Then I visit the salon at that time and request her.
I used to work for tips, so I always tip well on the non-discounted price. Also, in case you don’t get Super Clips coupons, you may like to know that Super Clips will give you a steep discount if you show them a competitor’s coupon.
I’ve done something like this. I told my stylist that if they ever needed a hair tester I would be happy to volunteer. The salon is fairly large and they are always learning new techniques. So, I have had my hair chemically straightened and highlighted. Both would have cost me over $100 each, but I did it for free. The nice thing about letting your stylist know is that she/he knows your hair and they are great.
Honestly, if you are afraid of trafficking or whatever, bring a friend or family member with you. Be safe and don’t go alone. Be wise and listen to your gut if you think that something is shady.
I wished I lived close to a city that had salons that offered this service.
We save money on this in a variety of ways.
My hubby does do his own hair and my 2 sons. He is good at it after all of these years.
I color my own hair with henna. It is simple, anyone can do this. I did not want to use the box mess and well it is organic and actually fun to do, but very permanent. Not all hennas are created alike! I use body art quality henna from mehandi.com. I have done this for years and my hair has never been so healthy and shiny and no more fumes and burning on my head from coloring. It also does cover gray very well.
I also let my hair grow. I am aiming for 2 cuts a year at this point, so it will be quite long by then. I would rather cut it more, but where I live for a good cut (not super cuts) it runs near $40 now. I have 2 girls (one is a teen) and hers is costly also, but my younger daughter is cheaper.
I just could not justify hair coloring and styling expense. It was running too much and for me it was too much upkeep. I cannot stand much roots, so it seemed to need done every 3 months. Well, that really added up. I also go very natural and do not use product. I hate the way it feels in my hair anyway, so that was easy and saved money from what I used to spend on those things.
Two things…1) Craigslist is the number one source for sex trafficking and prostitution. An ad like this from them is stepping into a pit of snakes. Run the other way. We don’t support Craigslist in anyway. They are well aware of their role and will not effectively address it or end it. 2)my sister in law was once a hair model for a show and what a disaster. If you walk on the wild side and don’t mind a complete 180 from what you have now, then a hair model might be for you.
back in college I volunteered to be a model in a hair show sponsored by a well known company. free cut and color- woo hoo! should’ve been skeptical when i had to SIGN A WAIVER! let’s just say this conservative brunette wasn’t thrilled (ok, i was mortified) to have permanent, fire engine red hair and sport some “cutting- edge european look.” makes for laughs now. just KNOW WHAT YOU’RE SIGNING UP FOR!
There is a website called salonapprentice.com that provides free or very inexpensive salon services for experienced stylists in training at high-end salons. The services are for salons in major US cities. I went for a couple of cuts in Chicago and am still undecided about my experiences. I ended up going to a “real” salon paying $60 for my last cut because I just wasn’t crazy about how my hair styled after the last cut with the apprentice. My husband said he was happy to pay for a nice cut if that would help the situation. So, I don’t know that it helps. My conclusion is that hair types are all so different and it seems like a journey to find someone that does your hair to suit you…free or not.
agree with the comment about sex trafficking on craigslist…very scary and its so not worth the risk. however, I became a fan of my salon on facebook and about 4 – 6 times a year they look for different clients to be models for them to try new techniques on. I’ve done it a few times and have loved getting highlights for FREE! So fun!
I’ve done it on several occasions and it turned out well especially since it was free. Just beware when you sign up that you will not always have a say in what you get done. Sometimes the students have to practice specific skills. If you have long hair and they are practicing short hair cuts they may ask to cut your hair or doing something you aren’t comfortable with. Just be very clear and specific about what you want before signing up, make sure they have the freedom to preform the service you are requesting AND that they have already covered those skills in class. Many times a legitimate person looking for someone to model will ask for a specific type of client ie. long hair, curly hair, someone looking for highlights, etc.
I was a hair model several (okay, almost 15 years!) ago when I was in college. It was a great deal then because it was FREE, they gave us bags of full-size FREE products (like shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, etc), I usually went with several of my friends (because it was nearly an entire day — we also brought class work to do when we were not on stage), I was in college and people expect younger kids to have the funkier ‘do’s, and it was my stylist who was directing the show. It was a “trendy” brand that sponsored our particular shows (as part of a conference held at a hotel), and so we knew what we were getting into. I did have some really punk hair for a while, but from age 18-22 I thoroughly enjoyed it — and it DID grow back!
Those with longer hair may want to look into Locks of Love for a free haircut. Then, you not only benefit by saving money, you also help someone else in the process! 😀 I used to donate every few years or so at my local Great Clips. Sadly, once my hair started showing grey, they “respectfully declined” 🙂 It was a great experience while it lasted though!
I didn’t see this mentioned yet… but several salons will give free cuts when donating hair to Locks for Love. I’ve gone to our local Aveda salon, and yes you have to donate a min. of 10 inches (but my hair grows really fast) and I get a fabulous $50 haircut for FREE 🙂
I go to a local Aveda teaching school. The students are highly supervised and I have never been disappointed. You can pay more for a student with more hours. I choose this option because a newbie just takes too long foil my hair. You can also get discounts for going during the week instead of a busy Saturday.
My hair tends to be difficult, so it’s worth the money I pay to go to a nice salon!
I cut my husband’s hair with $20 clippers and it comes out just as well as it would at the barber!
I did it once at a very high-end salon, the kind of place I would never normally pay to go to. The owner hovered the whole time, and ended up doing most of the job himself (I have difficult hair). It was great, but it did take about 3 hours.
I did this multiple times for my sister when she was going through cosmotology school. So, I would look into beauty colleges to see if they have anything available. Even if it’s not for free, a lot of times their prices are considerably less as the students learn. Her school was really good in that there was a lot of interaction between her and her instructors during the entire process, so they were always checking in to see how it was going.
I did this a few times when I lived in Portland. People, it isn’t like you’re answering an ad for Craigslist to go to someone’s house. It is a salon, in a public place! Seriously! Yes, there are creepy people out there, but there are a lot of not-creepy people out there, too. Just use your noodle.
I had great haircuts and colors, but I went to Aveda salons when I did it, and the price (free) was awesome.
Now I cut my hubby and son’s hair and get my hair cut every 6-9 months to save money.
You don’t have to hair model at beauty schools, You can find high end shops that need models for workshops. When suppliers want to teach them how to use product they want the shop to use.
I forgot to mention that I was a model for her final exam/show. It was great fun but the cut and color was a little out there for me. But, hey, its just hair and sometimes you need to live a little. 🙂
I went to a salon school for 3 years and was always happy with the services. Cuts were $10 and color was $15-$25. When one of the students graduated I decided to follow her after she set up at a local salon because she did such an awesome job. She charges me just $15 for cuts and discounts color too because I was a client at the school. Her regular prices are $35 and $60 and up. I have sent her 3 referrals and she always discounts my next visit even further! I try to send someone to her every month so I can get a cheap cut. 🙂 Win, win.
I was a hair model once years ago and love it got a great highlight perm and cut for free at a style shop I could have never have afforded otherwise.
I’d like to get my hair done for free 🙂
We have clippers and cut my dad’s hair at home to save $15 every few weeks!
I used to be a hair model and also get my hair done at a legitimate school for $5-$10. The only thing was the time commitment. Since it was a student cutting my hair, I had to easily set aside a minimum of 2 hours each time I went. Obviously, when I pay at the salon, I can be in and out in about 35 mins. Although I enjoyed the small price, my time was valuable too, and I eventually stopped going to the school.
I’ve also had my hair cut at a beauty school before with mixed results. Depending on the student I got (and it wouldn’t ever be the same since they graduate!!), it would be ok to great to not so good. Some were also faster than others…one time it took 2 hours for a simple wash, cut and style! It wasn’t really worth my time even though it was really cheap and I couldn’t ever count on the results. I figured that I can afford to splurge a little on my hair since I only get it cut about 2x/year. However, getting facials at the beauty school was great! It was cheap and the service was good.
I have also been cutting my husband’s hair for years. I usually go to the local beauty school and pay $10 for a cut, which is great! Since the instructor’s have to sign off on the cut before and after, you never leave with anything really bad. The worse that’s happened to me was part of my angles on one side was longer than the other, but I went in and showed them a few days later when I noticed, and they fixed it for free.
Now I’m going to google about being a hair model to see if I can get it done for free…
Supercuts “training studio” is the way to go. I have been getting free haircuts and color at the Supercuts training studio for almost 12 years here in the Boston area. Apparently Supercuts has these training studios all over the country to train their new stylists in the Supercuts method. They are always looking for new models. It is a great way to get kids’ cuts that generally are pretty simple. I have been happy 99% of the time with my haircuts and more often than not, get fabulous compliments from ladies who spend 100 times as much as I do for their hair! Just go to Supercuts’ website to find their 1-800 number to call and find if there is a studio in your area (they are held in a back room of a Supercuts location).
I agree about the Supercuts. They have one here in Houston and I have used them several times. They actually ask you to come back each month and now instead of a major cut once or twice a year I have a cut I like that is well maintained. the instructor knows me and she makes sure the stylist cuts it properly.
I gave up on beauty schools long ago. Way too many botched hair jobs by them and even the instructors. I have heard of hair modeling but have also been told to be prepared for crazy hair colors and styles. I’m not willing to try it.
I barter with a friend who is a professional hair and makeup artist. I create all her business marketing materials.
Haven’t had to pay for, hair cut, highlights, colors, straightening, or professional makeup application in years. It’s a win win for both of us!
I barter, too. We mow her lawn spring thru fall, and she cuts and colors my hair year round. It’s the only way I can afford to have hair I love!
My friend did this with horrible results. She wasted an entire saturday on it too! I save money on hair things by coloring my own hair and by cutting my husband’s hair and our two boys. I will admit, I do splurge and spend a bit more on my cuts. I was sick of saving 15 dollars and hating my hair. Good thing my family lets me save on them so I can splurge on me!
No problem using the same clippers, just use a clean blade each time.
Along the same lines as going to a beauty school….many times dental hygiene schools need “patients” to have their teeth cleaned and examined. Might be useful if you’re in need of this 🙂
My 2 boys got their wisdom teeth removed from a dental surgeon by being in a study for pain medication. Saved me a ton of money and they got a little extra spending money. One was acupuncture and the other was a new medicine.
I once went to a salon academy for a free haircut. The student took forever (I had a newborn at home at the time and hadn’t anticipated this) and I got a horrible haircut. It wasn’t worth my time or the tip I paid.
Yep, same thing happened to me — more than TWO HOURS for a haircut. Not worth my time to be there for that long. If you decide to go to a beauty academy (school), be sure to ask for a Senior when you arrive — someone who’s just about ready to graduate. They know more, of course.
I bought a clipper set 15 years ago and used it on the dog. Then I decided to try it on hubby and now the boys.
I save $50 a month by giving them their haircuts at home, not to mention saving 2-3 hours of them going to get it done.
I figured between the dog and the guys I’ve saved over $3600 in dog haircuts and $600 a year ( about $7,000 total for all the years) on the guys.
Are you saying you use the same clippers on the dog as your men?
Yes. You can do two things. Either buy separate blades and use one on the guys and one on the dog or buy disinfectant and spray on after you use it on the dog.
I use a”dog clipper” and a human one on the hubby. He likes his hair all shaved off every two weeks. I just alternate the clippers as they do the same thing. I don’t use mine on my Lhaso Apso dog though..he gets the hand cut special treatment from me LOL.
I get my hair done by my friends sister all the time, she just graduated from hair school. Before that she didn’t charge me anything except for the cost of the dyes, now i pay for the dye and I always give her a $50. so for less than $75 i get a great hair dye and cut
Normal for that around here is an easy $150-$200
I’ve gotten my hair cut and highlighted at a local beauty school for almost 4 years now. I get two colors put on, a full wash/cut/style for about $55 total…awesome price and I’ve not left with a bad cut or color thus far.
Haven’t tried hair modeling yet though. Guess I should. The school I go to for cuts is having a hair show this Sunday. Had I known about this sooner, I probably could have signed up.
I have friends who get their haircuts and coloring done at a local beauty college. The instructors are always supervising, and the students have to be pretty far along in their training before they’re unleashed (ha!) on the customers. It costs just a few dollars, compared to $15+ for simple cut at a local stylist. To my knowledge, none of my friends ever had a disastrous result. I haven’t cut my hair in over a year but I’ll probably go to the beauty college when I do decide to have it trimmed.
we did the same in new mexico . me and a friend always went to the hair dressing schools where the price was only the fraction of a usual salon. so try it out ! and if you dont have the courage to get a haircut from a student just request a professional.
I have for years had my hair highlighted, cut and styled, even gotten updos, at very high-end, fine salons all across Chicago as a hair model. Occasionally there is a product fee, but the service is free. I ask what the service would normally cost, then tip at least 25 percent. Have never been disappointed, because they have oversight by experienced trainers. Occasionally the service takes longer; the teacher takes time to view and comment or make corrections, but I just got the best cut of my life–ever–at Trio Salon just off Michigan Avenue. Go to SalonApprentice.com to find stylists seeking hair models. I’ve used that website for many years. This site only serves Chicago, NYC, LA, London, San Francisco and Sydney, AU.
I’ve never responded to the Craigslist ads, but some of them are legit (based on being at the beauty school or salon when an apprentice is moving up). I go to the beauty school pretty frequently and have gone for years. In 20 years I have only had 2 bad cuts.
They have people post on our website from the local school all the time. They’re VERY specific about what kind of hair they’re needing at that moment, i.e. coarse, brown, with bangs, etc. And they tell you upfront in the post that you’ll have no say in what cut you’ll be getting. I say go for it if you’re up for something totally different! I’m too chicken 😉
My MIL got a free perm once at the local beauty school because it was some sort of model day.
My grandmother was a couponer and in her later years, she went to a beauty school to get her hair cut and set. I think it was $5, but certainly a good deal!
When I was in college, my roommates and I went to the local beauty college and paid $3 for a hair trim (not a style) by a student while the teacher was supervising. I would only recommend if you need something simple done and make sure that your stylist student is being supervised. We did pay $3 but it was still a good deal.
I had a friend do this once, but there is one catch – you have no say over what they do to your hair. So, if you’re as difficult to please as I am, it’s not a good idea! She liked her little short cut that was dyed red beneath and black on top. I, however, would have FREAKED OUT and run to another salon to take care of it!
I did this before and I loved it!! 🙂 The girl was interviewing for a job so she was sure to do exactly what I wanted!
You can also look into local beauty schools. I had a friend go through the whole sha-bang of getting her hair dresser license and I was constantly down there getting free cuts.
That way you’re visiting a legit business and not walking into a bad craigslist situation.
I did this many years ago when I worked in NYC. There was a Redken school on Fifth Avenue near my office that was for owners of salons to come learn about new techniques and products. I was frequently a model for them to test new haircuts, dyes and products. It was FUN FUN FUN and best of all FREE!!! I did it every 3-4 months for 2-3 years until I stopped working in NYC and took a job in NJ closer to home.
Yeah, this is a real thing. I did it years ago… someone came up to me and told me she’d never seen anyone with such a bad bleach job, LOL, and asked if I want to let someone at her salon practice on me. The haircut and dye was not awful, but I have had an adventurous spirit when it comes to hair.
I had my hair done for a ‘hair show’ one time back in college. The cut was a little ‘wild’ for my likings, however, it was fun. I just do plain straight hair, so a fun cut was, well, fun. And hey, hair does grow back, so not a big deal. ( And there is always a pony tail til it does.)
However, as one comment above, be cautious. Only go to an actual salon or a VERY public place. My ‘hair show’ was done at a large hotel in a conference room with many other people around. Use your gut. If it doesn’t feel right, leave. But if it is a public place, give it a try!
A friend of mine did this, and ended up with an awful haircut. It’s a serious gamble, and honestly, I don’t think it’s worth it.
When my husband and I got married we bought a hair cutting set for $40. Even though I had never cut hair before, I watched some videos and as long as you are careful and your husband is forgiving, it is difficult to mess up. My hubby doesn’t require anything specific, so I get to play around a bit. Even at $10 a cut, which is cheap around here, it was paid for in 4 cuts and he typically gets 1-2 a month. So two years later I have saved $200 (if I am only counting the cost of one cut per month).
I should probably check out a video…my husband cuts his own hair weekly, but I have been banned from approaching him with a razor, since the “Great Bald Spot Debacle of 2009” 🙂
It has saved a TON of money, though.
This was funny, although, I am sure he did not see it that way… Did YOU have to sleep on the couch for a while? 😛
That is a great tip. Salons charge too much for a man’s haircute. My husband has been cutting his hair for 10 years now and it always looks great. I would be afraid to cut his hair, I think he would do a better job 🙂
My husband cuts his own hair too and it always looks nice. I have tried to cut mine but not so successful. 🙂
I agree with this one – my husband is pretty easy going though – he says the only difference between a good haircut and bad haircut is about two weeks! He figures if it’s awful it won’t take long to “grow out”! We have been married 12 years and my skills have improved considerably over that time if I do say so myself!
Please be careful about replying to ads on Craigslist for modeling of any kind. I attended a sex trafficking event last fall, and the speaker from Gracehaven House (an aftercare ministry) said modeling ads on Craigslist is one of the ways traffickers attempt to lure young women into the industry.
Yikes, I would be really leery about answering that type of ad on Craigslist, too. I’m sure some of them are legit but better to be very safe than sorry when there are so many creepy people out there!
I did this for a couple of years. I went to a swanky salon that had a great training program. I had some of the girls who were in the training program cut my hair in their discount salon. They had to recruit hair models for their classes. Since I already had a relationship with the stylist and knew she wouldn’t do anything crazy, I was glad to help her PLUS get free haircuts! I had to work around her class schedule, but it was a very positive experience. Plus no one ever left with a bad haircut. Great idea!
I have done this before. I got a great result because the salon owner went behind the student at each step of the cut and did “repairs”. I was unsure if a tip was required. I decided that the gift of time (sitting for 3 1/2 hours for a bob to be completed (style required by the salon)) was my “tip”. Overall it was a fascinating experience to hear about everything that goes into cutting hair as the teacher taught the student.
Tipping is 100% ALWAYS required. You sitting there isn’t the tip.
Tips are nice, but NEVER required