Best of New York: Cheap Haircuts

When it’s easy to drop over $100 for a haircut in NYC – and that’s not including color, blowouts, or tip – where can you go for a cut that won’t break the bank? If you're looking for a new look this holiday season, you can impress your friends and family with a  fantastic haircut from one of our five favorite spots, and still have enough dough left over for presents!

Astor Place Hair

Down a flight of stairs in the middle of bustling Astor Place, this huge basement space is famed for turning out cheap, quick haircuts that look like they came from a fancy salon. Don’t be fooled by the no-frills setup and take a seat in one of the dozens of chairs and wait for the stylists to work their magic. A basic cut doesn’t include a wash or dry, but if you forgo them, you can be out with a gorgeous new ‘do in ten minutes.

Basic cut: $20

2 Astor Pl, Manhattan; 212-475-9854; astorplacehairnyc.com

Aveda Institute

You’ve probably seen Aveda’s botanical hair and beauty products at your nearest fancy salon, and their hairstylists are on the same high level. Haircuts in their New York outlets cost a pretty penny – but you can get a great deal by booking an appointment through their training institute. All the students here are closely monitored by their professional profs, so you’ll get a high-end cut at a low-budget cost.

Basic cut: $20

233 Spring St, Manhattan; 212-807-1492; avedainstituteny.com

The Beehive Salon Brooklyn

This Williamsburg spot is a favorite among both locals and Manhattanites who come over the bridge for a new look. Although cuts with the salon's top staffers can top out around $100, on Mondays and Wednesdays you can stop by for a consultation and cut with one of their junior stylists for less than half that price. The team has also opened a beauty parlor around the corner, so you can get a mani-pedi while you're at it and make your transformation complete. 

Basic cut: $40

115 N 7th St, Brooklyn; 718-782-8376; thebeehivesalon.com

Tomcats Barbershop

For a throwback to the vintage barbershops of yore, head to Tomcats in Greenpoint. At $20 for a basic cut, the price is what gets you in the door, but the vibe is what keeps people coming back. With a 1940s/early noir feel, the shop feels like it stepped out of an earlier era, with hospitality to match (if you have to wait, you'll probably be offered a beer while you do). Kick back and relax: you'll start to feel right at home here.

Basic cut: $20

135 India St, Brooklyn; 718-349-9666; tomcatsbarbershop.com

Maria's Hair Salon

Is Maria's the best deal in New York? It's definitely high on our list. This Polish outpost in Greenpoint rings in at only $15 a cut; with a wash and blowout, it's still just $35, far less than what you'd pay for the minimum treatment at most other salons. Best of all, reviewers praise the way stylists Maria and Kasia actually listen to your preferences: Ask them to take off three inches, with layers, and that's exactly what you get.

Basic cut: $15

119 Meserole Ave, Brooklyn; 718-389-3324