It’s never been more popular to cut your own hair to save money.
In the last few years, barber shops and salons closed around the world, forcing millions to wonder “should I cut my own hair?”
As one of those people, I started cutting my own hair, and will never go back to a barber shop.
How much do you save cutting your own hair?
Cutting your own hair will save you $485 over the course of a year, when compared to someone who gets a $30 haircut every 3 weeks.
Over time this can add up to significant savings.
For example, you would net $2,600 of savings after 5 years of cutting your own hair.. enough for a vehicle down payment.
If someone cuts their own hair throughout their life, they could save $23,400 on haircuts ($30 haircuts, 3 times per week, for 45 years)!
Clearly cutting your hair can be a creative way to save money fast.
For some people (including myself), you also save time by cutting your own hair. When I used to go to the barber shop, the entire trip would take about an hour and 30 minutes, if you consider driving time, waiting your turn, getting your haircut, and driving back.
On the other hand, when I cut my own hair it takes about 30-40 minutes total.
Is it good to cut hair at home?
In recent years, cutting hair at home has become more popular than it has in decades. According to Google Trends, cutting hair at home exploded in popularity during 2020, and has since remained consistently more popular after that.
Unlike barber shops, cutting hair at home allows you to:
- Get a haircut anytime – if you cut your own hair, you can schedule an appointment with yourself whenever you want. Oftentimes, the best hair stylists are difficult to schedule haircuts with because they are in high demand. Some people’s work schedules also make it difficult to schedule haircuts.
- Save money – cutting your own hair can save $300-$600 per year, depending where and how frequently you get haircuts. Instead of shelling out hundreds each year, you can put all this money towards something else instead.
- Potentially be more precise – many hair stylists give amazing haircuts, but unfortunately those stylists aren’t always easy to find. Sometimes we get a bad haircut, which can bother us for weeks. When I cut my own hair, I take my time and ensure it’s the style I want.
- Save time – you’ll save time by skipping all the driving and waiting at the barber. I typically save about 30 minutes cutting my own hair, which is a great bonus.
If you have a job that makes it difficult to schedule a haircut, there are plenty of jobs without deadlines as well.
What do you need to cut your hair at home?
To cut your hair at home, you’ll need the following items: a bathroom mirror, handheld mirror, clippers, clipper guards, scissors, and a comb.
Here’s everything I use to cut my hair at home.
I personally use the Wahl Clipper Set, and have been very pleased so far. Plus, the kit comes with the adjustable lever, multiple guards, scissors, and a comb.
If you want a fade or taper haircut, you’ll want to ensure the clippers come with an adjustable lever which gives you more precision.
Is cutting your own hair worth it?
In my opinion, cutting your own hair is worth it due to the convenience of getting haircuts anytime you want, and the ability to save hundreds per year.
A potential downside, is that initially you probably won’t cut your hair quite as good as professionals. But if you take your time and watch lots of YouTube tutorials beforehand, it’s very doable.
Tactic for Success:
I recommend watching YouTube tutorials for at least 5-7 days before cutting your own hair. It’ll get you more comfortable and confident with the process. I even watched some videos a couple times during the haircut process too, which helped.
The more you cut your hair, the better it’ll turn out, so don’t get discouraged if your first few attempts aren’t barber quality yet.
Not to mention, there are times in life when money is tight. Like when you’re in college, many students would prefer to save that money instead of paying a barber $30 each month.
Luckily, college students have lots ways to save money whether it’s creative ways to get college textbooks cheap or ways to earn money without getting a job.
Should I cut my own hair?
I’m happy with the decision to cut my own hair, and will not go back to a barber again. However, this decision might not be right for everyone, if you happen to have a very complex hairstyle, it may be best to work with a professional.
After years of struggling to find a consistent hairstylist, I decided to give this a try to avoid bouncing around to different barber shops, and don’t regret it at all.
My biggest piece of advice is to spend at least a week learning the process inside and out, and to be patient with yourself, because you’ll feel out of your element at first.
Wrapping Up
I decided to cut my own hair to save money and time this year, and couldn’t be happier with the decision. I’ll admit it was nerve racking at first, but I’m glad I went for it, and will always cut my hair at home in the future.
John-Paul Cody has been an avid online seller for years, across platforms including eBay, Mercari, Craigslist, and more. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from UNC Chapel Hill, and works in data analytics and marketing.
