Women - How much do you pay for a hair cut? (San Jose: hair salon, school)

[candycanechick]

Hi all!

I went out to the Oakridge Mall area and went into a hair salon and asked if they took walk-ins. The lady said they didn't but one of the stylist had and opening in 30min. The cost of that stylist cutting my hair would be $60 because of her level.

So, I'm confused! One stylist was $40 and the other was $60? I haven't gotten my hair cut in this area before. (I'm from Ohio, I've gone to the same stylist for years)

I'm wondering is there a difference (in the way my hair will look) if a $20 salon cuts my hair, or a $40 person, or a $60 person? Or is that I'm going to have tea and she will put fancy products in my hair?

[clongirl]

The difference in cost generally correlates with how much training/experience the hairdresser has. Someone just out of beauty school that's just beginning in the field may charge 20-30 (you may find them at places like Supercuts or Great Clips or similar).

I honestly couldn't tell you if a 20$ haircut would turn out great or horrible because talent in the field is highly dependent on the individual that's cutting your hair. I've had a few people tell me that they could rarely tell the difference between a 50$ haircut and a 100$ cut but they've always been able to tell a 20$ cut from a pricier one if that makes any sense.

[Togepi]

As clongirl said, it generally has to do with the stylist and their training and level of experience. My old hairdresser was in the middle of the pack price-wise in the tiered system they had in the salon and she was fabulous. I went somewhere else and got the junior stylist (or whatever they call it - the one just out of school apparently) and she did a bad job with my hair - and had an attitude to boot! (Keep in mind not all jr stylists are this incompetent of course, I just think the one I had was having a bad hair day ... bad pun I know, heh)

If you are looking for something basic, I think the lower level stylist would suffice. But for something more advanced, I think I would spend the extra $$$ to get someone that has the additional training and experience for piece of mind.

[candycanechick]

Originally Posted by Togepi

If you are looking for something basic, I think the lower level stylist would suffice. But for something more advanced, I think I would spend the extra $$$ to get someone that has the additional training and experience for piece of mind.

What is defined a basic and what is more advanced?

I have really thick fluffy hair, and the last three times it was cut, I felt like they didn't get the dead hair off. I don't want it dyed or highlighted or anything, but I'm tired of weird ends and no shape (or worse, triangle). I also feel weird paying $60-75 for someone who barley speaks english and I have no clue if she understands me or not.

[Athena2c]

When I lived in San Jose, I went to a salon in Willow Glen and paid $75 for a cut. I LOVED my stylist, and quite frankly wouldn't go to anyone else, and the price was competitive for the area. What you were quoted sounds like a pretty good price to me from my 17 years in San Jose.

I'm thinking you pay more for experience and sometimes location-the better areas will cost more (although this may be a chicken and egg thing, the better stylists are probably in the better area salons).

If you are interested, I went to Lindey at DiModa Salon-highly recommend her and wish I could have taken her to Houston with me
DiModa Salon | Hair | Art | Ambiance

[StandingRoomOnly]

Don't walk into the mall salons! Been there done that walking out with sketchy very mediocre cuts. Use yelp and look through reviews. You can usually get a very good cut for $50-60 from a well recommended stylist.

[eureka1]

$12 at Today's Hair, 3562 Broadway, Eureka. My last guy charged $25 but he moved to Redding and I'm just as happy with my new haircutter. No frills, no tea, just in and out quickly and I love it.

[candycanechick]

Originally Posted by StandingRoomOnly

Don't walk into the mall salons! Been there done that walking out with sketchy very mediocre cuts. Use yelp and look through reviews. You can usually get a very good cut for $50-60 from a well recommended stylist.

I tried yelp. I think I choose the wrong person tho she cut my long hair way to short for me.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by candycanechick

I tried yelp. I think I choose the wrong person tho she cut my long hair way to short for me.

But at least the split ends are gone.

A place for haircuts few know about in San Jose is the Cosmetology Department at San Jose City College.
Ridiculously cheap for quality work. Whoever is doing your hair is being supervised by professors and staff, so it's basically guaranteed.

These are some reviews of their nail and facial work, whose quality is matched with their haircuts:

San Jose City College Cosmetology Department - San Jose, CA

[steven1203]

I'm a guy and I pay $8 for a haircut at one of those Asian salons.

Walk-ins welcome.

No fuss, no muss.