Ways to clip hair care costs

1. Bring competitors' coupons to most Great Clips locations.

2. Check out beauty schools or barber colleges, which often charge $12 or less for a haircut, $30 for color.

3. Watch for Fantastic Sams coupons in Valpak or Vlassis. Cost Cutters and Supercuts have specials listed in the store window.

4. Ask about discounts during low-volume times such as weekday mornings or midafternoon.

5. Pay $375 for an unlimited number of cuts a year at the MensDept. in Minneapolis (612-339-2222; www.mensdept.com), a decent value for guys who want a trim every few weeks.

6. Look for coupons at a salon's website or Facebook page.

7. Ask about a frequent-buyer card or multiple-service discounts.

9. Do a partial foil instead of a full foil every other color.

10. Check discounters (Target, Costco, Walgreens) for lower prices on salon brands such as Matrix, Crew and Redken products.