I am acutely aware that it is only a matter of time before I lose my hair. My family genetics are against me and it’s practically inevitable. I figure while I’ve got it, I might as well make sure it looks halfway decent. The other problem is that I’m an intolerable cheapskate and do not like to spend too much money on things like my hair, even with its days numbered.
In college I found the wonderful balance that is known as the cosmetology school. At Douglas J, you get the opportunity to let enthusiastic young students near your head with scissors and razors. Doesn’t that sound like fun? Actually, it kind of is.
The beauty school students are under supervison from their instructors and I have yet to have a haircut go truly wrong. There will be minor inconsistencies between what you describe to the stylist and what you get, but that can be chalked up somewhat to their inexperience in translating laymen descriptions of how they want their hair to look to barber-speak. If you are truly picky about how your hair looks (like a girlfriend that I talked into going there once), you might want to skip the minor-leagues and go straight to the pros. However, for someone who is a little less particular about his or her melon, it’s a great value for $11. The service includes a scalp massage, shampoo, conditioner, haircut and a second shampooing after the cut. It takes about an hour start to finish, but I find it’s a great, cheap way to have a relaxing haircut.
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