Getting a haircut on a student budget in Manchester is easy if you know where to look. Rusholme and Fallowfield are full of barbers charging £8-12 for a cut. City centre prices run higher but there are decent options under £20. Here’s the honest guide.
Rusholme – The Cheapest Option
The Wilmslow Road strip through Rusholme is where you’ll find the cheapest barbers in Manchester for traditional short cuts, fades, skin fades, and basic trims. Most are small independent shops run by Pakistani or Middle Eastern barbers with decades of experience.
- Price range: £6-12 for a cut, £3-5 for a beard trim
- Speed: Walk in, 10-20 minute wait, in and out in 30 minutes
- Quality: Excellent for fades, traditional cuts, and beard work. Less strong on contemporary Western styles if that’s what you want.
- Examples: Multiple barbers along Wilmslow Road between Dickenson Road and Platt Lane. Try a few to find your favourite.
Fallowfield
Fallowfield has several barbers catering to the student market. Slightly more expensive than Rusholme but still cheaper than city centre.
- Price range: £10-15 for a cut
- Speed: Walk in, sometimes book online for peak times
- Quality: Generally good, more tailored to student/Western styles than Rusholme barbers
- Location: Along Wilmslow Road in Fallowfield itself, plus smaller streets off the main drag
Northern Quarter and City Centre
NQ barbers are more expensive but offer more contemporary styling, beard sculpting, and hipster-style cuts.
- Price range: £20-35 for a cut
- Notable spots: Ruffians, Barberology, Oliver Garrett
- Some offer student discounts – ask
Hairdressers for Longer Hair
Women’s cuts, longer styles, and colour work are more expensive than basic barbers. Options by price band:
Budget (£15-25 cut, £40-60 colour)
- Various salons in Fallowfield and Withington
- Training salons at Manchester hairdressing colleges – very cheap but cuts are done by students under supervision
- Toni and Guy Manchester offer student rates on training nights
Mid-range (£30-50 cut, £70-120 colour)
- Regis salons
- Francesco Group
- Independent salons in NQ
Higher end (£50+ cut, £100+ colour)
- City centre destination salons
- Most offer student pricing on specific days – ask
The Training Salon Option
Manchester hairdressing colleges run training salons where students practice on real clients under instructor supervision. Prices are dramatically lower than commercial salons – typically £5-15 for a cut, £20-40 for colour. Quality varies depending on the student, but instructors oversee every cut.
Check Manchester College and City of Manchester College training salons. Appointments required.
Self-Cut Options
A pair of clippers from Argos or Amazon costs £15-30. If you have a simple buzz cut or basic short style, this pays for itself within two haircuts. Lots of students cut each other’s hair in Fallowfield. Not recommended for complex styles or if precision matters to you.
Beard Trims
Rusholme barbers do excellent beard work for £3-5 as an add-on to a cut, or £5-8 standalone. Barbers on the Curry Mile include hot towel and straight razor finish in the price.
Student Discounts
Some larger salon chains offer student discounts:
- Toni and Guy – 20% off with student ID
- Supercuts – student day prices
- Saks – student offers vary by location
- Ask at any independent salon – many will offer 10-20% off to keep you as a recurring customer
Practical Tips
- Cash is king in Rusholme barbers – many small barbers prefer cash or don’t have card readers
- Ask for styles clearly – pictures on your phone help, especially at barbers where you don’t share the same style references
- Weekday mornings are quickest – Saturday afternoons are busiest everywhere
- Tip £1-2 if you’re happy – not expected at barbers, always appreciated at salons
- Keep a regular barber once you find one you like – consistency matters