Beautiful Hair at Bargain Rates

It is no secret that a first-rate haircut can give you great-looking hair. San Francisco offers many topnotch hair salons where socialites and other celebrities are coifed. The stylists in these top-notch salons are the best in the business and they charge accordingly. Sure, you will be pampered and look great if you go to these places, but spending up to $175 for a trim every six weeks can certainly put a painful dent in your wallet!

On the other hand, who wants to spend all day Saturday waiting with the masses to have your hair cut by a harried and often barely trained stylist at one of those store-front, no-appointment-necessary chain shops that are popping up all over the place? Is saving a few dollars really worth the chance that you will end up with a haircut worthy of an X-Files episode?

Thankfully, some of the top salons hold an open house one night a week, when the senior staff trains experienced assistants in the finer points of cutting and coloring. These sessions are open to any man or woman who knows about them. The stylists who work on your hair are generally seasoned professionals who are new at the salon. And since the training is done by top stylists, these sessions provide you with the best beauty expertise at an affordable price.

That said, here is one salon that offers some of the city's best haircare bargains:

diPietro Todd Salon
Haircut: $10 (regularly $70-$175). Color: $15 to $25 (regularly $70 to $180).
177 Post Street, 2nd floor, 415-693-5549
Training nights each Monday.

Remember, just as you would ordinarily, bring pictures of what you want if you're making a major change and don't be afraid to speak up if you start to feel uncomfortable about the way your do is turning out. The head stylist leading the session will usually intervene to make sure you get the exact look you want, but can only do so if you voice your concerns.