Chicagoist: Ask Chicagoist: Looking for a Cheap Do?

mvader

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 10:40:15 -0600

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.

guest

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:16:28 -0600

I got a free haircut at art and science in wicker park from an "apprentice" I found on salonapprentice.com

bad hair sucks

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:45:15 -0600

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

Kristal

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 00:40:46 -0600

Theres also the mario tricoci university that offers cuts for 17 and dyes for 30 plus other treatments for a lot cheaper

jk

Fri, 21 Jul 2006 13:03:46 -0600

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.

Beth

Fri, 21 Jul 2006 10:47:01 -0600

Suck it up and go to the cheap chains.

s

Fri, 21 Jul 2006 09:21:17 -0600

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.

g

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 19:18:26 -0600

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.....

Lauren

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 19:13:27 -0600

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.

Cheryl

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 17:24:43 -0600

Seven Stars (I think that's the name) on the corner of Montrose and Sacramento charges $5 and they're great.

karczek

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 17:05:44 -0600

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...

geekgrrl

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 16:58:04 -0600

thanks for the tips. even tho aveda's right down the street, i think i wanna check out big hair..

ChiKat

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 16:53:49 -0600

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.

NSH

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 16:49:22 -0600

remember, Mullet Night friday at the cell.

Joel

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 16:47:02 -0600

That includes, of course, you lovely Chicagoist lasses.

Joel

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 16:45:01 -0600

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.

m

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 16:38:41 -0600

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.

Joanna

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 16:25:18 -0600

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.

james

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 16:14:00 -0600

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.

Pat

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 16:10:28 -0600

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.)

womyn_of_the_world

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 16:07:29 -0600

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!

matty

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 16:07:17 -0600

hair is not hair and men are usually treated like utter buffoons at salons. In fact, quit whining.