Welcome to my 52 Ways to Save $100 a Month series. We’re serious about saving money in 2016. Sometimes it’s the little things and sometimes it’s the big things. I’m here to walk you through some little things that can add up to BIG savings. 52 little things to be exact. Every week, join me back here for another small money saving tip or idea that might not seem like significant savings until you see the overall yearly savings. It might just blow your mind. So pop in each Tuesday and read a new tip that will help you on your way to save $100 a month!
This one takes a little commitment up front, but will save you big in the long run. We’re talking hair cutting today. When it comes to my hair, there’s not a lot of money involved. I let it grow long; I don’t dye it; I beg a friend or barter with someone to snip the ends when it needs it. Easy peasy.
But the HH and Monkey Boy are a whole different beast. They need haircuts every 2 weeks. That’s crazy talk. And crazy expensive. So learning to cut their hair will save me a lot. Now I’m not talking about opening a salon in your spare room {unless that’s your dream, of course}, but simply learning some basics that will leave your family looking presentable{ish}. I know many of my friends spend hundreds every few months.
Having their hair done by a professional is important to them, so they make room in their budget for it and treat it like a splurge. That’s fine, too. But for those of you who aren’t as concerned about leaving it to a professional {or if you have a spouse or kids who simply don’t care}, listen up. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Buy the Right Tools: There is a small upfront cost involved, but once you have a good kit, it will last you for years. Depending on the quality, you can get a set of clippers for $20 or a full kit, like this Wahl 30 Piece Barber Set, for a bit more. It gets great reviews and will cost you less than $40.
Study YouTube: There are thousands of YouTube videos to choose from, walking you through every single type of hair cut you can imagine. Whether you want learn the basics, do a detailed cut once you are more experienced, or get a little help with a problem area you’re having, there’s a video for that. You can learn to cut men’s hair, women’s hair, your own hair or even a toddler’s hair. It won’t cost you a dime to learn, just a few minutes of your time.
Watch the Professionals: The next time you take your spouse or your child to get a haircut, watch their stylist carefully. See what steps they take; record them in a notebook so you don’t forget them. Ask a lot of questions, if they are willing to answer. They can be a wealth of knowledge. Don’t be offended if they are unwilling. By helping you learn, they just might be taking money out o their own pocket. So if they aren’t overeager to teach you what they know, respect that.
Take a Class: Many communities offer classes. Some hair schools do as well. Again, there will be a small investment to pay for the cost of the class, but it will easily pay for itself after a few months of avoiding the salon. This is a great option if you are more of a hands-on learner and the videos just aren’t doing it.
Ask a Friend to Train You: I have a few friends who cut hair professionally. I suspect if I pay them a fair hourly wage, they’d be willing to teach me how to do what they do. Clearly, I won’t be at their level when we’re done, but I’ll at least have the knowledge to get started. Chances are, they’d be a little more patient and hands-on than a local class.
Be Patient: Speaking of patience, you’ll need some. Your victims, ahem, family will need some as well. There is a pretty steep learning curve. You aren’t going to give a great haircut your first time. If you are focusing on men’s haircuts, ask everyone you know who has a simple looking haircut if they would be willing to let you cut their hair. The beauty there is, with a men’s cut, it will grow back quickly if you happen to make a mistake! But practice makes perfect, so don’t give up if your first few cuts aren’t amazing. If you keep at it, you’ll soon be giving Paul Mitchel a run for his money.
Do you cut your family’s hair or do you leave it to a professional? What about your hair? How much do you budget for a haircut/color if you head to a salon?
How Much Can You Save: $1000+ The HH and Monkey Boy pay $20 after tip every 2 weeks for a haircut. That’s $80/month for both of them. Add that up over the course of a year an you see some pretty crazy savings.
More Ways to Save:
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Clean Out Your Closet {Week 1 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Break Up with Cable {Week 2 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Barter Better {Week 3 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Change Your Own Oil {Week 4 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Adjust Your Thermostat {Week 5 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Take Advantage of Your Perks {Week 6 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Pack Your Lunch {Week 7 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Make It Yourself {Week 8 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Preserve Your Bounty {Week 9 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Keep the Change {Week 10 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | The Art of Borrowing {Week 11 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Ditch the Gym {Week 12 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Clip a Coupon {Week 13 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Start Your Garden From Seed {Week 14 of 52}
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Rosaleen says
Soon after we married, hubby came home from the military barber. I took one look at him and said, “I can do better than that!” I have cut his and our children’s hair since, as well as sometimes my own. The kid are grown and gone but I still cut hubby’s hair. Once or twice a year I “splurge” on a haircut from a beauty school or hit a shop with a $7 to $10 coupon. I also color my own hair and have found I can use half of the box for each root touch-up. If one follows directions carefully and chooses a color close to his or her natural color, most people will not know the hair is colored. “Of course it is my own color, I PAID for it!” Professional hairdressers have not been able to tell that I do my own coloring VS a pro. It sure beats $60 or more every 6 weeks to have someone else do it!
Lisa Millar says
I am a shocker when it comes to hair – I just don’t care! I cut my own when its too endy, and practically live in a bandana! I have plenty of family hairdressers if I had an emergency (or feel the urge to dye my hair purple) – I did go to Margie when I accidentally got dreadlocks, to sort that out – But I can barter with eggs for that! 🙂
Its well washed, just not styled!
Husband shaves his head himself so no $$ spent there either!
Because we are not hairdresser/salon people, when I hear the cost of hairdressers, its a bit of a shock!! 🙂
Mum cut our hair as kids and I hated it – a fringe (bangs?) halfway up your forehead does NOT earn you cool points at school! Sigh! 😀
Heather says
I cut my husband’s hair. He doesn’t like short hair, so I can get away with few trims throughout the year. I budget for 5 haircuts a year at $25/each for my teenage girl. It is too complicated to cut for me. I have mine done professionally twice a year, cut and color, $85 plus tip and touch up my color between.
Tammy says
Before we were married, my husband told me I could cut his hair. Just think of the money we’d save!!! I was kind of doubtful because I’d never cut hair before, but as soon as we were married we went off to the store for a set of clippers. LOL I have been cutting his hair ever since (almost 16 years) and I think I do a pretty good job of it! In fact, there have been times over the years when we’ve been super busy and he’s been in need of a haircut and gone to the barber. Always–without fail–he comes home and I have to trim something up that they didn’t get right!
Because it is something that I’ve always done, it doesn’t “feel” like something that saves money!
Now, my hair is a different story. I have it shorter and thus need it cut more often. I’m considering growing it out but we will see. I have three sisters who have their cosmetology license but we live so far away from all three! So no freebie haircuts for me unless we are visiting!
Carla says
I get my hair cut at a beauty school. It costs $8. I have quit coloring my hair but I did it at home for about $5 a month. There was a time I spent $$$$$$$$$$$$$ at the beauty salon. But that was when I was younger and high maintenance. As I got older it didn’t seem as important.
Emily says
I have been a HHC (home hair cutter) for 13 years, starting with my husband and then with two boys. We have saved a lot of $$ over the years!
My boys love having “fancy” lines, in their hair, so I purchased a WHAL Professional Peanut just for that reason, and it works great on the first pass!
Recently, I decided to upgrade from a sheet and a clothes pin to a real hairdressers cape, and it was worth every penny! No more squirmy boys complaining about hair going down their back. I should have bought one a long time ago.
Chris says
My wife cuts my hair whenever I ask. She uses the #2 guard on Wahl clippers. The trim job around the ears and neck was bad the first couple of times, but I didn’t care. She gets her hair cut probably once every 6 months and pays $10 on the discount day at a local place. I’m trying to convince her to let me cut it, but she isn’t there quite yet. We have a toddler who doesn’t have enough hair to cut and may not for a while.
Marcia says
My husband doesn’t trust me! I have cut the boys hair at times, and still do about once per year. It’s good to alternate getting a real haircut and then a mommy hair cut.
I tried to cut my own hair once using the ponytail method. Thing is, I prefer a chin length bob, and so the ponytail cut doesn’t work for that. So, I get my hair cut professionally 2x a year. I get the bob, then it grows out into a ponytail, and when it’s so long I can’t stand it, I get the bob again.
Carrie says
I get my hair cut 2-3x a year at Great Clips so it is $8-$15 depending on if I catch one of their sales. I couldn’t find a professional salon that could cut my hair the way I wanted it but the girls at Great Clips can! I also hated paying $50 for a haircut that looked bad on me. My reasoning was I’d rather save money if the cut was going to be bad regardless. My manfriend has been cutting his own hair since I met him (10 years ago!) and doesn’t even use a guard. He is balding so it looks better to get as close to skin as possible and he cuts it once a week. He replaced his clippers last year after they fell to the floor and started making a terrible noise. Both times he bought the cheap Walh clippers.
Sue R. says
I agree with you–learn to cut hair and have good tools! I’ve done my husband’s and 3 sons hair always–and a daughter most of the time. Now they are grown and one 30-something son is hoping to go his whole life without paying for a hair cut 🙂 I always thought one of them should learn to cut my hair but no takers–I don’t go to fancy salons to have it done every few months.
Amanda says
Oh yes, this saves a ton of money! Thankfully, no one in my family is all that concerned about the perfect hair cut! The Wahl clippers are a lifesaver for the guys. I just let mine grow for a year or so and then have a few inches cut off – it never really gets in bad condition since I don’t use products or a blow dryer on it.
Brianna says
I am Cosmetologically challenged. I have tried many times to cut my hubby’s hair and my 3 kids hair. My hubby has to have a military cut and is so darn picky that if his hat makes it tuft up on one side I have to fix it, but then it is uneven. He goes to a Sport Clips every Sunday and spends $25+ because he splurges for a shampoo and other stuff and he tries to justify it based on my terrible skills. He spends $100/month there! I told him I would put on the yoga pants and referee shirt and cut his hair while he watches the game, I will even shampoo and massage. $1200 a year he wastes on that place. Now he takes my 6 year old son with him every few weeks for his haircut. I cut his hair with clippers 2 years ago, but he was so ticklish that it was a bit uneven. My picky husband took him in to ‘fix it’ and it cost $25 for them to buzz his hair! Seriously it was highway robbery, but he banned me from cutting his hair. My daughter is a lost cause because she is so scalp tender she only lets me brush her hair every few days. She is a hot mess with wild platinum hair. She cries and screams if anything goes in it and touches it. My other boy is 1.5 and I secretly trim his hair when my hubby isn’t around because I am not spending $25 on his hair every few weeks. My hubby thinks our toddler’s hair is just ‘slow growing’. Maybe I should take all of his haircut money and go take a class, I never thought of that! I might look into it.
Kellianne says
One word: Flowbee
I kid you not. Do you remember those? My husband was fed up with paying good money for bad haircuts. Ten years ago I ordered a Flowbee off EBay. Best purchase ever! I lost track of the money saved. Plus, he never gets a bad haircut anymore. He figured out exactly how to use it and which attachment works best for his hair. I trim the back and around the ears with his little beard trimmer thingy. So easy!
My hair is naturally curly, so it’s just wash and wear for me. I began going gray and coloring my dark hair in my 30s. When I hit 50, my roots needed touch-ups every 3 weeks!! Got fed up and had my hair professionally colored blonde (I tried going gray but hated it). Now I’m able to go 10 weeks before needing a touch-up. I buy the cheapest box color (ColorSilk @ under $5 per!) and do them myself. I do go to the hairdresser once a year for highlights and a good cut but that’s it! She’s always amazed at how good my hair looks.
Mavis Butterfield says
When Monkey Boy was little I fed him snack size Kit Kat bars while I {quickly} cut his hair because he squired so much.
Andrea says
My daughter is a teen and pays for her own. I cut my son’s hair with clippers. He’s not into style yet. As for my own hair, I candlestick (candle cut) about once a year. It is a rare occasion for me to go to a salon. After some health issues, I have to be very careful about things that go on my body. I have to buy organic, no chemical shampoo and rinse with vinegar. I have to use coconut oil for lotion and I can wear no make up. But sometimes every going into the salon will cause a rash from the fumes. So it is easier just to avoid the hassle as I am not concerned with my hair being styled.
Emily says
My husband has never had a professional hair cut in his life. His mom taught me how she cuts his hair and bought us a hair dressser’s cape when we got married. I used to hate doing it but I’m comfortable with it now. Before we moved I loved going to the high end beauty school for my cuts. They did a lovely job in a spa environment for $16. There’s nothing like that where we are now but I love my new hairdresser and her prices are reasonable. I work in a field where looking professional is important, so it’s worth it to me.
bobbi dougherty says
I do get my hair cut, but only every few months….or when I can remember…I don’t dye it so I don’t have that cost. I am embracing my grays! 🙂 Love your blog!
Peggy Gibbs says
When my boys were younger, I cut their hair with clippers. Since my husband and I married almost 36 years ago, I’ve cut his hair too. I even cut my own hair, as it is fine and easy to cut, but I do use scissors instead of clippers on my own hair. Think of all the $$$ we saved on haircuts! Even when I couldn’t cut my hubby’s hair after my rotator cuff surgery a couple of years ago, I offered to pay for a haircut for him, but he said he’d rather wait till I could cut it myself. There are so many ways to save money, aren’t there? I love your posts, this one and the Dig for Dinner ones.
wendy says
Ive been cutting my hubbys hair for about 12 years. When I’m done his, he always trims mine for me. My girls used to go to the beauty school to get theirs cut and colored. My daughter tried to talk me coloring mine grey. Told her why would I pay for grey when it was already going grey lol.
Heather says
I have been cutting my husband’s hair for about 15 years. (What started it for us was when the hairdresser said she heard he was getting a divorce! No, we are still married and he never wanted someone else to cut his hair after that.) My problem is the electric cutters sometimes makes my carpel tunnel act up so I that is when I wish he would go get it cut by someone else.
Me – I go to a hairdresser friend and get it cut and highlights put in. When it starts to go gray I will back off on getting it colored, but for now I like it.
Cristy says
My hubby is a number 4 guard on the clippers easy easy!! I got to Great Clips I have had the same gal for 6 + years she is now store manager, she works there because it may be less money but it’s not self employment, she has benifits etc. so she is as go as if not better than some more expensive hair dresses I’ve had. I tip her well so for a $14 hair cut I leave with a cut I’m happy with and at least $40 bucks I didn’t have to spend.
Julia says
I have cut my own hair for so many years I don’t remember the last time I went to a salon. I used to get it professionally cut and colored for way too much money but I hated spending the money and often times I didn’t like the cut. For a time I bartered my sewing skills with a friend who wa a licensed beautician. Eventually she taught me how to cut my own hair and I’ve been doing it ever since. I also color it myself. I have naturally curly hair so if it is a bit uneven no one can tell!! I used to cut my sons and husbands hair but now they go together to an inexpensive barbar and it’s a nice guy bonding time.
Connie says
When my HH wore his hair really short, we invested in the Wahl clippers and I cut his hair for several years – the savings paid for the clippers in no time. During that same period, I kept my hair short as well and about every 3-4 weeks I would visit with a dear friend who is a hairdresser. She and her husband struggled to make ends meet so, paying her to “maintain” my hair style was my way of helping. And since she gave amazing scalp massages, she blessed me with that kind of wonderful stress release – as well as a fabulous cut every time.
Now that my HH and I are retired, he and I both have allowed our hair to grow long as we adapt to a really “low maintenance” lifestyle (I recommend it highly!). He’s part Cherokee so his silver/gray mane is really thick and beautiful – although, on the down side, he refuses to even get it trimmed so the ends are a hot mess – silly, silly man. My hair is naturally curly so it’s easy to just wash & go – and I keep it pulled back in a ponytail most of the time. As for my hairdresser friend, she and her family are doing GREAT (thank you Lord!). I set aside a couple hundred dollars annually so she & I can get together for a good trim, highlights and a “gab fest” once or twice a year.
Saving money is definitely rad. Sowing good seed into a family in need is priceless! 🙂
Cheryl says
Seems I am the only smart lady here who has her oneness personal stylist. I had gotten far too many bad haircuts at the salon and shortly after I started dating my now husband, I told him that I needed my hair trimmed and my disdain of the salon. He offered to trim my hair, gave me the best haircut I could ever remember getting and he has had the job since. When my children got multiple bad haircuts at the barbers, I asked him to help me do theirs at home. We got the supplies, he helped me and they came out great. My oldest preferred my husband to do his haircut and the younger one followed suit. Ok, I still save nearly a grand by not paying for bad haircuts. I have gotten him to color my hair for me with henna and I get better results of great color, shine and soft hair, than with the toxic chemicals that not only destroy your hair, but are known carcinogens. My neighbor pays $130 every six weeks for a cut and color, and I would cringe if I had to blow that kind of cash and not get as good results as I get at home. Any other ladies have a personal stylist at home? Or haven’t gotten your guy to do yours yet?
Mavis Butterfield says
I usually have the HH, The Girl or a friend cut mine for free. Because really, how hard is it to cut a straight line? 🙂
Cheryl says
He does more than just cut a straight line. He sections my hair, pins it up, and then trims each layer, letting down the next to match the guide. He checks to make sure it is even on both sides. A more detailed process than just cut straight across the back. By doing so he gets the splits on the layers underneath reducing the breakage, so my hair stays fuller at the ends. I hate seeing split and straggly ends on anyone, so I am very meticulous about my ends looking well groomed. Looks much better when my hair is braided when the ends are kept neat.