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Community Corner

What's the Going Rate for a Child's Haircut?

Haircuts are a rite of passage for many kids, but just how much will that trip to the salon or barber cost you?

Written by Shira Boss

Although some kids consider a trip to the salon a treat, many youngsters are anxious and squirmy in the barber’s chair, making haircut time an adventure as well as an expenditure.

What are your options for a pro cut?

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Occasionally, cuts are offered for free as a special promotion, especially at back-to-school time. Last year, JC Penney gave free cuts to kids in August; this year they were $10.

At a spartan chain such as Great Clips, a child’s haircut will run about $10. If your kid is a handful and the stylist is patient, generous tipping is a must.

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If you’re looking to go lower than that — but don’t trust yourself to wield the scissors — look for a cosmetology school, where trainees usually cut for a discount or free (but don’t expect an expert hand).

On the higher end, a kid-specific salon in a big city, such as Cozy’s Cuts for Kids in New York, costs $30 or more. Expect a balloon or lollipop (or both) to be thrown in. Get Coiffed in Manhattan promises “serene children and stress-free cuts” by making house calls, starting at $60.

Washing, blow-drying, and extras such as weaving in a feather can add $2 to $10 for each service.

But what’s the standard practice here in town? Do you take your child to an adult salon and add an extra tip for the stylist’s efforts, or do you stick to the kids-only salons featuring Nick Jr.’s “Dora the Explorer” videos and lollipops? And how much are you willing to spend on the cut and on a tip?  

TELL US: What’s the going rate for a kid’s haircut?

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