Rising Haircut Prices Since COVID: Sticker Shock for Customers
If you’ve felt sticker shock the last time you sat in a barber chair, you’re not alone.
Since COVID-19, haircut prices across the U.S. have climbed fast — and loudly. What used to be a $15–$20 men’s haircut now regularly costs $30, $40, even $50 or more. Social media is filled with frustrated clients asking the same question:
“How did haircuts get this expensive, this fast?”
At the same time, barbers are pushing back just as hard, saying the increases weren’t optional — they were necessary.
The result? A growing divide between independent barbers and their clients, playing out daily on Reddit threads, YouTube rants, TikTok memes, and barbershop chairs across America.
From $15 to $45: The Sticker Shock Era
Before the pandemic, haircut prices barely moved for decades. Many men paid roughly the same amount from the late 1990s through 2020.
Then COVID hit — and everything changed.
Across Reddit and social media, clients describe nearly identical experiences:
- $20 haircuts jumping to $30, then $40, sometimes $50+
- No change in haircut style or length
- Prices rising again after shop remodels or “upgrades.”
One common sentiment sums it up perfectly:
“I noticed haircuts stayed the same price for 20 years… then shot up almost overnight.”
Even chain salons aren’t immune. Places like Great Clips now charge close to $20 before tip — pushing many customers toward independent barbers charging significantly more.
For many clients, the issue isn’t just inflation — it’s how fast the increase happened.
“These Prices Are Crazy”: The Consumer Backlash
1. Value vs. Cost
The most common complaint is simple:
“I’m paying double for the same haircut.”
Clients question whether a basic trim justifies premium pricing. Online, accusations of price-gouging are common, with phrases like “pure greed” and “hair mafia” popping up in viral threads.
To many customers, a $40–$50 charge feels disconnected from the service they’re receiving.
2. Forced “Luxury” Experiences
Another frustration is the shift toward upscale barbershop branding:
- Complimentary drinks
- DJs
- Ring lights
- Instagram aesthetics
While some clients enjoy it, others feel they’re paying for extras they never asked for.
“I don’t want a beer or a vibe. I just want a haircut.”
The perception that barbers are raising prices to fund aesthetics, rather than better cuts, fuels resentment.
3. Clients Are Adapting (or Opting Out)
Faced with higher prices, many clients are changing their behavior:
- Learning to cut their own hair
- Stretching time between appointments
- Switching to discount chains
- Reducing tips
- Skipping haircuts altogether
Home clipper sales have surged, and DIY haircut videos rack up millions of views — a quiet rebellion against rising prices.
The Barber’s Reality: “Our Costs Went Up Too”
From the barber’s side, the backlash feels unfair.
1. Inflation and Overhead
Barbers point to rising costs across the board:
- Booth rent
- Utilities
- Insurance
- Supplies
- Equipment
Many barbers don’t own shops — they rent chairs. In some cities, weekly booth rent alone can exceed $300. When landlords raise rent, barbers have two choices: raise prices or quit.
As one barber put it:
“That extra $10 doesn’t go in my pocket. It goes to rent and supplies.”
2. COVID Fallout Never Fully Ended
Lockdowns wiped out months of income. Reopening came with:
- Extra sanitation costs
- Fewer appointments per day
- More no-shows and cancellations
Some barbers introduced deposits or stricter policies — which only added to customer frustration.
3. Charging for Skill, Not Speed
Modern barbers argue the service itself has changed:
- More precision
- More training
- More time per client
They see themselves as skilled tradespeople, not budget labor — especially when fast-food wages rival what barbers used to earn.
“If a burger flipper makes $17 an hour, why should a trained barber charge $15 for a haircut?”
Social Media Turned This Into a Culture War
This debate didn’t stay in barbershops — it exploded online.
- Reddit threads devolve into barbers vs. clients shouting matches
- YouTube videos rack up hundreds of thousands of views ranting about “out-of-control” prices
- TikTok memes joke that “as soon as a barber gets a ring light, prices skyrocket.”
Some viral posts even warn that overpricing is backfiring — claiming empty chairs and declining loyalty as clients cut back or walk away.
Inside professional barber communities, there’s growing resentment toward what they call “price shaming”, while clients feel ignored and priced out.
Is the Divide Growing?
Yes — but it’s complicated.
This isn’t just about haircuts. It’s about:
- Inflation
- Fair wages
- Perceived value
- Trust
Clients feel blindsided.
Barbers feel disrespected.
Both sides believe they’re being reasonable.
Where This Is Headed
Eventually, the market will decide:
- If prices rise too far, clients will leave
- If costs keep climbing, barbers must charge more
Some middle ground is emerging:
- Tiered services
- Better communication
- Clearer expectations
But for now, haircut pricing has become a flashpoint — a symbol of post-pandemic economic tension playing out one fade at a time.
As one Reddit user put it:
“I pay more for haircuts now than I used to pay for my phone bill. Something’s gotta give.”
Where Haircut Now Fits Into This New Reality
The post-COVID haircut price backlash highlights something deeper than just inflation or barber pricing — it exposes a disconnect between clients and availability.
Many clients aren’t necessarily angry about paying more for a great haircut. They’re frustrated about paying premium prices without knowing what they’re getting, who’s available, or whether the service is worth it that day. Meanwhile, many independent barbers aren’t trying to overcharge — they’re trying to protect their time, income, and sanity in an unpredictable market.
This is where platforms like Haircut Now reflect a shift in how haircuts are being booked and valued.
Instead of guessing which barbers are available, calling multiple shops, or paying premium prices just to secure a chair, clients can request a haircut and hear directly from barbers who are ready to work now. Barbers, in turn, aren’t forced to rely on blanket price increases or empty appointment blocks — they can choose which requests to accept and when.
In a market where prices are under scrutiny and loyalty is fragile, clarity and choice matter more than ever.
For clients, that means:
- Seeing who’s actually available
- Knowing the price upfront
- Choosing the barber, not just the shop
For independent barbers, it means:
- Filling open time intentionally
- Avoiding unnecessary discounts or overbooking
- Letting availability drive income, not just higher base prices
As haircut pricing continues to evolve post-COVID, the real solution may not be cheaper cuts or higher rates — but better alignment between demand, availability, and expectations.
Because at the end of the day, most clients don’t hate barbers — and most barbers aren’t trying to rip anyone off. They’re both navigating a new economy where transparency and flexibility matter more than ever.
And that’s where the future of haircut booking is headed.
