C4.50 Haircuts and Hairstyling
How to get a haircut in the UK? How do international students get haircuts in the UK?
Every city in the UK has many barbershops and salons, which vary in type and price. Big cities have more hair salons but charge higher prices. Smaller cities have fewer salons, but the prices are relatively cheaper. In the UK, hair salons are generally called "barbershops", but there are salons run by people from different countries—such as Chinese-owned, Japanese-Korean-owned, and local British salons.
As shown in the image below (screenshot from the internet), the approximate prices for haircuts in the UK are as follows:
In fact, most standard hair salons—not the particularly high-end ones—charge between £5 and £100 for a simple haircut. Prices vary by salon; some high-end places can cost over £200. Generally speaking, women’s haircuts are slightly more expensive than men’s. I’d like to remind you: most hair salons in the UK don’t wash your hair before cutting—they cut it directly. Some do offer hair washing. Some foreign stylists even provide free eyebrow trimming or beard grooming while cutting your hair.
I have a friend whose hair grows very fast—she needs a haircut once or twice a month. I really envy people with thick hair that grows quickly. As for me, I can go a year without cutting my hair. Honestly, with my self-control, I could even go five years without a trim.
When I first accompanied her to a haircut in Birmingham, the salon charged around £15 per session. Later, she wasn’t satisfied with the result, so she tried salons that cost over £20, £30, and even £50. She found that a higher price doesn’t always mean a better haircut—sometimes cheaper ones are actually better, it all depends on the situation. She also tried those booth-style salons you often see on the street, which cost £8-12 per cut. Later, we discovered that the university had its own salon, charging £10 for a good haircut. After that, she regularly went to this salon run by a local and another Chinese-owned one. Interestingly, some Chinese-owned salons in the UK have foreign stylists, and some don’t even have any Chinese staff.
So how do you find a hair salon in the UK? As the saying goes, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." I’ll mainly share the methods—you can easily handle the rest with a little effort. A salon that A thinks has great skills might not suit B.
Google Maps
I remind you: you must learn to use Google well in the UK, especially Google Maps. Basically, any store you want to find in the UK will be listed on Google Maps, with contact information, addresses, and reviews from other users.
You can also search for hair salons this way. As shown in the image below, I randomly searched for hair salons in Birmingham on Google, and many results popped up—each with numerous reviews and ratings:
Yelp
It’s similar to Dazhong Dianping in China, featuring rankings—such as top recommended hair salons in each city. It also provides ratings, reviews, photos, addresses, and more.
As shown in the image below, this is a ranking of affordable hair salons in Birmingham, sourced from Yelp. I recommend downloading this app—I also mentioned it earlier in the UK app recommendation guide:
Recommendations from friends, teachers, etc.
Many Chinese people, housewives, or international students offer part-time haircut services. Prices range from £5 to £10, and most provide home visits—either they come to your place or you go to theirs. I once accompanied a friend to an international student’s home for a haircut, which cost £5. I have to say, the girl did a really good job. She said she learned hairdressing at a salon in China before coming abroad—she did it to give her boyfriend free haircuts while they studied in the UK as a couple. Of course, you can also buy a hair clipper in China and cut your own hair, or ask a friend or classmate to help with a simple trim.
My recommendations:
Always book an appointment in advance for a haircut in the UK. Few salons accept walk-ins, especially local British salons during peak times. That said, some do allow walk-ins—you can always ask first.
Many salons in the UK only offer haircut services; hair washing is an extra charge.
If you’re worried about not being able to explain the hairstyle you want to the stylist, it’s best to save a few reference photos on your phone to show them. Otherwise, you might be disappointed with the result.
Local British stylists have different aesthetics and skills. I suggest choosing a Chinese-owned salon or a Japanese-Korean salon—they are more likely to suit our preferences, especially Chinese-owned ones where communication is easier. Before going to a local salon, look up the English translations for the hairstyle you want. Some local salons will ask for a "clipper guard number" (e.g., 0, 1, 2)—the smaller the number, the shorter the cut. Be sure to ask the stylist to explain how short each number is and if they have examples to show, as standards vary by salon.
Chinese-owned salons are usually located in areas like Chinatown, hair salon districts, or city centers. You can check Google Maps or ask your teachers for recommendations before going.
I remind you: some salons offer 10%-20% discounts for students with a valid student ID. Be sure to ask about this before getting your haircut. I remember getting a small discount at a Chinese-owned salon during a trip to the US—I was surprised. It never hurts to ask; even if there’s no discount, you’ve lost nothing. If there is a discount, it’s a nice bonus.
Of course, you can also get free haircuts in the UK. Just open Google and search for "Free Haircut"—you’ll find options. These are usually for students or trainee stylists to gain experience, so keep that in mind.
As shown in the image below, here’s a screenshot of free haircut options in the UK:
Note: If you are not satisfied with the haircut, you can ask for a retrim. You may want to check with the salon in advance about their policy if you are unhappy with the result a couple of days later—some salons offer a free touch-up period.
Stylists may occasionally make mistakes. In such cases, most salons will either refund your haircut fee, provide a complementary correction based on the error, or offer a free haircut next time