Getting a haircut shouldn’t cost more than it needs to — and if you’re 65 or older, there’s a good chance the salon down the street already has a senior discount, even if nobody’s ever mentioned it to you. From national names like Great Clips to regional favorites like V’s Barbershop, here are six chains worth checking before your next appointment, plus how to actually make sure you get the discount instead of paying full price by accident.

1. Why Hair Salons Don’t Always Advertise Senior Discounts

Unlike a grocery store’s senior discount day, haircut discounts are trickier to pin down, mostly because of how these chains are structured.

• Most national chains are made up of independently owned franchises, so whether a discount is offered — and how much it’s worth — can vary from one location to the next, even within the same city
• Many locations only apply the discount if you ask for it or show ID at checkout — it’s rarely printed on the price list on the wall
• Your best move is to call ahead or check the chain’s app before booking, so there are no surprises when you pay

2. Great Clips

Age requirement: 65+. The discount amount varies by location, since each Great Clips is independently franchised — call your local salon to confirm exactly how much you’ll save. With more than 4,400 locations nationwide, it’s the easiest chain on this list to find near you.

3. Cost Cutters

Age requirement: typically 65+, though this can vary by location. Cost Cutters generally offers $2 off haircuts for seniors, and the chain has nearly 700 locations spread across 37 states.

4. Fantastic Sam’s

Age requirement: 65+. Fantastic Sam’s offers $5 off haircuts, typically Monday through Thursday. The chain has more than 700 locations across the U.S.

5. Hair Cuttery

Age requirement: 65+. Hair Cuttery offers 10% off products and services, Monday through Wednesday. You’ll typically need to show ID and enter the online code “10%SENIOR” when booking. The chain has nearly 500 locations in about 10 states, including Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. According to AARP, the discount is in-salon only, applies once per visit, and excludes gift card purchases.

6. Lemon Tree & V’s Barbershop (Regional Chains)

These two regional chains are smaller but worth knowing if you live in their coverage area:

• Lemon Tree: the age cutoff varies by location, and at least one salon sets it at 70+ rather than 65+. Day restrictions vary by location too. Lemon Tree has 49 locations across 8 states.
• V’s Barbershop: age requirement of 65+, with roughly $10 off. V’s has more than 60 locations across 19 states.

Senior Haircut Discount Comparison Table

Here’s a side-by-side look at all six chains, so you can quickly see which ones apply to you before you call ahead:

Chain	Age Requirement	Discount	Day Restrictions	Locations
Great Clips	65+	Varies by location	None specified	4,400+
Cost Cutters	65+ (varies)	$2 off	None specified	~700
Fantastic Sam’s	65+	$5 off	Mon–Thu	700+
Hair Cuttery	65+	10% off	Mon–Wed	Nearly 500
Lemon Tree	65+ or 70+ (varies)	Varies by location	None specified	49
V’s Barbershop	65+	~$10 off	None specified	60+

7. How to Make Sure You Actually Get the Discount

Because these discounts aren’t always posted, a little preparation goes a long way:

• Ask when booking, not just when you get to checkout — some locations apply the discount automatically only if it’s noted on the appointment
• Bring ID, such as a driver’s license or Medicare card, in case the location asks for age verification
• Check for a senior-specific day or time window — several of these discounts (like Fantastic Sam’s and Hair Cuttery) only apply on certain weekdays
• Combine with coupons at checkout. AARP notes some older adults save more by pairing a senior discount with coupons from local flyers, email lists, salon apps, or social media

Quick Decision Checklist

Not sure where to start? Use this simple flow:

• If you live near a big city or suburb → check Great Clips first, since it’s the most widely available
• If you want a guaranteed dollar amount off rather than a “varies by location” discount → try Fantastic Sam’s ($5) or V’s Barbershop (~$10)
• If you get a lot of services (color, styling, products) rather than just a basic cut → Hair Cuttery’s 10% off stretches further than a flat dollar discount
• If none of these chains are near you → call your local independent salon and simply ask; many offer unadvertised senior rates

8. Frequently Asked Questions

Do independent, non-chain salons offer senior discounts too?

Many do — it’s worth simply asking. There’s no national database that tracks independent salons, so a quick phone call or a look at the salon’s own website or social media is the best way to find out.

Is there an AARP-specific discount separate from the age-based one?

AARP’s guide lists these as age-based senior discounts and does not describe a separate member-only rate for them. If you’re an AARP member, it doesn’t hurt to ask the salon whether your card earns anything extra, but don’t count on it.

Key Takeaway

Senior haircut discounts typically run $2 to $10 off, or around 10% off, and usually kick in at age 65 (occasionally 70, depending on the location). Because these discounts often aren’t posted anywhere, and franchise locations can vary even within the same chain, the small step of asking when you book — and bringing ID — is what actually gets you the savings. It takes a few minutes before your next appointment and can make a real difference over a year of regular haircuts.

What the Discount Is Worth Over a Year

A few dollars off sounds small, so here is a hypothetical comparison with the assumptions stated. Assume you get a haircut about every five weeks, or roughly 10 haircuts a year, and that you qualify for the discount every time. The Hair Cuttery column uses two made-up price points, since its discount is a percentage.

Chain	Discount per visit	Assumed visits a year	Estimated yearly savings
Cost Cutters	$2 off	10	$20
Fantastic Sam’s	$5 off (Mon–Thu only)	10	$50
V’s Barbershop	About $10 off	10	About $100
Hair Cuttery, $30 haircut	10% = $3 (Mon–Wed only)	10	$30
Hair Cuttery, $90 cut plus color	10% = $9 (Mon–Wed only)	10	$90

The prices above are examples, not quotes from any salon. The point is that a flat discount wins on a basic cut, while a percentage discount can win when you add color or styling. Great Clips and Lemon Tree are left out because AARP says their discounts vary by location.

Which Situation Are You In?

• You only get a basic trim: a flat discount such as V’s Barbershop’s roughly $10 or Fantastic Sam’s $5 usually beats a percentage.
• You get color, perms, or styling: check Hair Cuttery first, because 10% applies to services and products, not just the cut.
• You can only go on weekends: Fantastic Sam’s (Monday through Thursday) and Hair Cuttery (Monday through Wednesday) will not help you. Ask your nearest Great Clips or independent salon instead.
• You are 65 to 69 and live near a Lemon Tree: call first, because at least one location sets its senior cutoff at 70.

A Short Script for Your Phone Call

Because the rules differ by franchise, a 60-second call saves you a surprise at checkout. Try asking:

• “Do you offer a senior discount, and what age does it start at?”
• “How much is it, and is it a flat amount or a percentage?”
• “Is it only on certain days or times?”
• “Do I need to show ID or give a code when I book?”

Common Mistakes

• Booking a Friday or Saturday slot at a chain whose discount only runs on weekdays.
• Forgetting the Hair Cuttery code (“10%SENIOR”) when booking online, or forgetting that the discount excludes gift card purchases.
• Assuming the price on the wall already includes the senior rate. At many locations you need to mention it yourself.
• Treating the numbers in any list, including this one, as permanent. AARP’s guide was last updated in April 2026, and franchise owners can change their offers, so confirm with the salon.