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chicagoist,
I’m angry. I have always maintained that the fact that salons ramp up the price on women’s haircuts is utter bullshit. Hair is hair, why should I pay more than twice what guys are charged? Now the time has come to trim my locks and I can’t seem to find a place to get a cut without losing my shirt. I live in Lakeview, only compounding the problem. Is there anywhere I can go to lop off my hair stylishly (read: no Supercuts, et. al.) without breaking the bank?
Thanks,
geekgrrl
Dearest geekgrrl:
When it gets as oppressively hot as it was this week, Chicagoist recommends shaving it all off. It's cheap, you can do it yourself with electric clippers, and it will help beat the heat! We guess we're kidding -- we don't all look sexy without hair (but kudos to those who do!). However, we're not going to say that we weren't sporting a shaved head underneath our long hair back in the early 90s. When we put our hair up in a ponytail, not only did we look super cool (indeed), but we also got the cooling benefits of a shaved head.
Believe it or not, for awhile we had a good person over at a Supercuts. Not too surprisingly though, she didn't last there too long, and it was such a random occurrence we wouldn't recommend chancing it. Currently we go the pricey salon route because we finally found someone who understands our hatred for poofy hair, is fun to chat with, and doesn't try to sell us every product featured at the salon.
When it comes to cheap, stylish haircuts in the city, we've heard mostly good things about Big Hair (2012 W. Roscoe St., 773-348-0440) over in Roscoe Village. For $15-$20 you get a basic haircut, and for $50 you can get your hair colored. The big glaring caveat is that you can't make an appointment for anything other than a dye-job, and the wait on the weekend can be long -- so show up early. The place itself is decked out to be punk-chic, and there's a definite (dare we say it?!) hipster vibe to the place. The reviews of Big Hair seem mixed, but for $20 it seems worth a shot. They're open 10-6 Monday through Saturday, and 12-4 Sunday.
Another possibility is the Aveda Institute at 2828 N. Clark (800-216-1950). Since you'll be getting your hair cut by students at the school, the prices are quite affordable -- just don't forget that these are students who are in the midst of learning. Also since they are students, expect the cut to take longer than usual while you're sitting there being the guinea pig. Pricing varies, but haircuts are $14 during the week and $16 on the weekend, and coloring starts at $25.
Many salons also offer cheaper haircuts with stylists who are still in training -- call around to a salon near you to find out details and if it's offered. For example, Sine Que Non Salons in Andersonville, Lakeview, and Lincoln Park offer cuts by "Level I Stylists" for $41 (not really cheap, but it's definitely cheaper), and coloring that starts at $56. That salon also has cuts available for people willing to be models for their Monday afternoon classes. Letting a newbie cut your hair for class costs $10, or $25 for a color.
Have you had any good (or bad) experiences with inexpensive haircuts in the city? We know we missed many areas of the city in our examples, so do you have any recommendations on good neighborhood barbers or stylists for both men and women?
Image via crowstoburnaby
Want to flow it, show it, long as God can grow it? Need some advice? Email ask(at)chicagoist(dot)com.
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hair is not hair and men are usually treated like utter buffoons at salons. In fact, quit whining.
Kathleen's Salon up at 4705 N Damen Ave, right off the Brown Line Damen stop, is fantastic -- It is $25 for a cut and $35 for a basic dye job. No pretention, just your hair cut the way you like it in a nice neighborhood salon. Appointments taken. Support the indie owned salons of the city!
Don't dis the chains! I go to The Hair Cuttery on Wells and Eugenie. Vera is the best one I've found there, but they're all pretty good. I'm a girl who hates forking over big bucks to get my hair cut, and I was leery of the chains at first, too. But I've been happy with what they do, and even with a generous tip it's less than $20 (with no blow-dry - that's a wee bit extra.)
i looooove the big hair salon. it's always a great experience -- the place is staffed with way cool rockabilly/punk gals who know hair and are efficient and quick while cutting, but they also are pretty friendly. i love the whole not quite hipster but old school punk/cool vibe there. the no appointment policy can be annoying, especially when you walk in a half hour after they open and the seats are packed with people waiting for cuts and styles, but for the same price as a supercuts, et al., you get a decent haircut from an independent, locally owned joint, so it's worth the occasional inconvenience.
I know a lot of people like Big Hair, but I have to say, I had a pretty bad experience there. I had long-ish hair at the time, and I think the entire cut took less than five minutes. The stylist spritzed a little water and did some crazy Edward Scissorhands moves and sent me on my way. I think it just depends on the stylist, and you can't choose - it's the luck of the draw. I'd rather pay a little more to go to someone reliable. I'm a huge fan of Sine Qua Non.
Tony Schwartz next to the Paulina el charges $8 and if you just need a conservative guy haircut, he's great. He still uses a straight razor for the back of the neck and around the ears. Afterwards you can mourn the loss of J.T. Collins pub at that new place that just went in.
Father and Son in Edgewater is also good but twice as much. Afterwards you can buy drugs from some gangbanger on Thorndale.
And Salon Shine on Foster west of Clark is good. Jane and Aida are great. They charge $30. Afterwards you can get a shwarma in Taste of Lebanon.
I can't remember her name, but the black haired girl at Big Hair with all the tatoos is great. Afterwards you can get a beer at Village Tap.
For a six-pack of Old Style big boys any of you can come to my bathroom and I'll go to town with my clippers.
That includes, of course, you lovely Chicagoist lasses.
remember, Mullet Night friday at the cell.
This is one of the best benefits to living on the South Side -- all the salons charge $35 or less for haircuts. Plus, they often have Monday/Tuesday discount days, so I rarely pay more than $30 for a haircut.
thanks for the tips. even tho aveda's right down the street, i think i wanna check out big hair..
One thing to keep in mind about Aveda is that you will likely have to work around their schedule to get in, since they have pretty limited openings. I checked in three times before I was able to get an appointment that was even close to a time that I could be free.
I've had good experiences with SalE and Vlad at Milio's for $30 plus a decent tip. I don't know if that qualifies as cheap, but since my wife's preferred salon would have charged $60, it seems reasonable...
Seven Stars (I think that's the name) on the corner of Montrose and Sacramento charges $5 and they're great.
Big Hair is the best, but you do need to know some tricks. Depending on the stylist, you could have an awesome or meh experience. I have been going to Anna for about three years, and can't imagine letting anyone else near my tresses. I've let her take my long over-dyed dark brown hair to short and spiky blonde over the years... and that takes a lot of trust.
You can request a specific stylist by writing their name next to yours on the sign-in sheet. You'll probably encounter an additional wait until they finish up, but it's worth it for the price. The best time to go is usually between 1:30 - 4, Monday - Thursday.
Klassy Cut on Clark, just S. of Foster... $15 for guys, $20 for gals, I think. Owners Jack and Mary are great, and will do it right the first time. I've been getting haircuts just as good as the $40 salons for less than $20 for 5 years.....
I once went to the barber school on ashland and chicago or thereabouts and got my hair cut for $5... It was just ok, but, if you are a single guy, it would be THE place to go to pick up on hot young aspiring hairdressers.
Suck it up and go to the cheap chains.
No doubt, it ain't a "cheap do", but some of the "regular" stylists at Sine Qua Non are not too much more than the in-training ones. I can give an enthusiastic thumbs-up to Sam. I have a whole network of friends who tried Sam once and then ditched their regular stylist & salon for her.
Theres also the mario tricoci university that offers cuts for 17 and dyes for 30 plus other treatments for a lot cheaper
Klassy Kuts is reliable and cheap, but is decidedly only for those with low style expectations. They are nice there, tho, and take walk ins.
Big Hair??? NOoooooo! I got one acceptable cuts, then 4 bad ones, hair cuts that looked like your head got caught in a fan.
My friends were asking me "are you cutting your own hair?"
Finally, a friend pulled me aside and said "seriously, you need to get a real hair cut..."
Big Hair = very NOT recommended
I got a free haircut at art and science in wicker park from an "apprentice" I found on salonapprentice.com
SalonApprentice.com has postings from students at the top boutique salons for free/deep discounts... they are short on male clients and always looking for the daring clients looking for a new look.