For some of us, a quick trip to a chain salon is all we need to get our hair in decent shape. Others treat a haircut as a moment for a long, luxurious pampering session — with a price tag to match. If you’re shopping for a hair stylist in your city, you’ll soon see that prices can have wide ranges, usually dependent on factors like the type of salon, the expertise of the stylists, the type of hair you have, the cut you’re getting, and how much personal attention you’re expecting. The national average cost of a haircut is $56, with the average cost of women’s haircuts being $69 and men’s cuts averaging $43. Geography plays a big role in what you’ll pay. In Omaha, Neb., you’ll have to shell out $31 (the national low), while New York City can drain your wallet of a whopping $148 (the national high). Cheaper haircuts are usually found in smaller towns, at beauty schools, and at chain salons, while pricier ones are at high-end salons in big cities. Remember that the true test of a good haircut has nothing to do with price. If it’s good, the haircut still looks decent at week 6. If it only looks right when the salon does it, that’s not a good haircut.
