Before Meital's student haircut, blow dry, and style.
Longtime reader Meital shares before and after pictures of a great deal she landed last week – an $8 shampoo, haircut, blow dry and style! She got her hair cut at Empire Beauty School in Rhode Island. Beauty schools are a great way to save money. Meital reports:
The student that did my hair was Nila (her supervisor Louisa and her professor Mike watched/ helped to make sure she was doing everything right) .
Nila gave me a 10 minute head massage, shampooed, and DOUBLE conditioned my hair. She then cut my hair, blow dried it, and then styled it with the straightener a bit. Total: $8
Meital's gorgeous do.
I got there around 11:45am, and didn’t leave until about 2pm. I didn’t wait long to get the haircut, but it took a little while because they’re students and the teacher comes around every couple of minutes to check to see if everything’s fine.
Before they students come upstairs to the salon to cut customers’ hair, they have to do 18 weeks of training in the classroom on mannequins. I trusted them. I hope you go and try it out for yourself!
I’m due for a haircut so I may well check this school out. If you didn’t hear, I recently moved to Rhode Island.
Got a success story to share? Email me. We welcome failure stories too!
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
I’ve never gotten my hair cut at a beauty school, but I did take my daughter to get a manicure. We were lovingly taken care of. The beautician was attentive and really took her time. The end product was so-so. I would certainly do it again. (Maybe we would get a better product.) I personally would not want to get my hair cut at a beauty school, but I can easily get rid of a bad manicure if it is sub-par.
Meital’s cut looks great!
I think the key here it to pay attention. You’ve had your hair cut a bazillion times, you already can see when they’re making a huge mistake, before they make it. Stop them, and ask them to go get some help.
OR better yet, ask for a more advanced student when making your appointment.
I’ve had great cuts at the local beauty college here.
it’s hair, and it always grows back. they also have supervisors that will fix anything you don’t like. we’ve been going off and on for over 20 years
great for guys hair cuts for sure!
I’ve been to the Empire Beauty School in RI, and it really is a great value. I’ve also continued the tradition out here in LA at the Toni & Guy Salon in Santa Monica. With a student discount, a haircut costs me $10.($20 when I include the tip, but still!) Professional level haircut for $20? You cannot beat that.
As long as you’re prepared to be there for a bit (usually about 3 hours), then it is absolutely worth it.
i went to wbi (in ca ) before i will never go there again theteacher never comes by you see htem talking and drinking coffie away from the students they are rude and i waited 3 hours to be told they wont be doing my hair because i have a bump on my ear after ive was going there for years and they mostley speek spanish so if you dont know it yhou dont end up with what you wanted so i say stay away from some of these places your asking for trouble
i LOVE going this route and it’s the only way I go! I have 3 bi-racial daughters who all need relaxers and styles and I get a cut and occasionallys a color. w/out a color for me, we are ALL 3 of us done in 3 hrs for under $100!!! otherwise, it was an all-day event for sometimes only 2 girls and costs over $60 each – who has the money AND the time?! i LOVE it and will never go back! Plus, the students are WONDERFUL with my girls – they give them extra attention and are very gentle.
I’ve been going to Marinellos (in NoHo) for over 20 years. The instructors (who mix the colors for the students) in the past year or so don’t seem to be as good and in the past. Twice, I’ve gotten my hair colored and once it turned out a kind of purpleish red and another it turned out blonde and my card hair color (soft brown) has been listed the same for a few years now.