In my all but futile attempt to save $12,000 I’ve had to give up some luxuries and scour the internet for deals. My latest mission: how to get a fabulous frock for just a few bucks? I know the traditional New York City discount haircuts, which include The Aveda Institute’s $20 dos cut by semi-seasoned students and Bumble & Bumble’s slightly edgier Monday night cuts, but decided there are some things a girl grows out of and cheapy haircuts is one of them. Plus, once I tried the whole $20 haircut and ended up sitting for three hours while the poor student slowly snipped away strand by strand.

I browsed a bit on Craigslist’s “free” tab and saw some dollarless offers, but each required sitting for a certain type of cut - bob, perm, with curly hair, with cowlick, without color, etc. I just wanted my long layerish cut shaped up minus the style restrictions. Free things don’t always come easy my friends, so if you aim to score something awesome without opening your pocketbook, some patience will be in order. And in Recessionville, USA, you better start looking a few weeks before you need the actual cut and act quickly if you see anything that might suit you. In the follow up emails you can evaluate the legitimacy, inquire into their experience and the salon and measure your instincts. But in the initial email just say your name, number and when you are available. They have a lot of responses and won’t reply if you ask a barrage of questions off the bat.

One Saturday morning, I saw an ad from a hairdresser asking for a long-haired model for promotional purposes. From my understanding, the salon was hurting for business and decided offering free cuts would increase marketing via word of mouth. It turns out the Oscar Bond Salon I visited around the turn of the millennium changed face to a Sam Brocato Salon where I was to meet the hairdresser.

I walked in and was greeted like any paying customer. They offered water, lemonade, coffee, tea and wine! (I had the wine, duh.) Then she lathered and massaged my noggin, questioned my hair’s aspirations during a very thorough consultation and began cutting. I was in and out in an hour, which was perfect since I went at lunch. It was wonderful and honstesly one of the better haircut and styling experiences I’ve had. It turns out, she has worked in that salon for six years.The following week, I had a friend who owns a nearby salon ask if I’d sit as a hair model for one of his employees just for a blow out. I was short on time that day, but reluctantly agreed. Well, when it comes to your locks, trust your gut. I ended up being there for two hours, one and a half of which was spent actually drying my fine mid-length hair. I for sure smelled it burning at one point. Needless to say, a free blow dry is probably something to pass on. If the person doesn’t even know how to blow dry hair, you don’t want to go to them.

However, if you see an ad for a hair model by a woman named Yasue Ida at Sam Brocato Salon, jump on that. She’ll rock your locks.

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