I read this in the most recent Esquire Magazine, although slightly exaggerated, I found it pretty amusing all the same!
You be the judge…
What to expect at the salon: After you’re greeted by the receptionist, you are directed to a coat check. Here you are given a robe, which at first will make you feel silly, and eventually will continue to make you feel silly. If you’re wearing a collared shirt, remove it — makes the stylist’s job easier. You’re sent to a hair-washing station where an assistant washes and conditions your hair with great care. You might be tempted to close your eyes, but you should not. A shoulder massage is offered, accepted. After your haircut, ask for a rinse. It is also perfectly appropriate to request a trim of the eyebrows, nose hair, or ear hair, if necessary, or a beard trim, if applicable. Within a week after the cut, feel free to come in for touch-ups. Expect to pay between thirty and a hundred dollars. And tip. Always tip. For the coat-check woman, one dollar; for the assistant, five bucks; for the stylist, 15 to 20 percent. Unless he’s the owner, in which case he will claim not to accept tips. Ignore him.
What to expect at the barbershop: You walk in. They cut your hair. Tip.
Just a female p.o.v. but I believe that it varies depending on time. If you are in a rush and just need a quick cut, the barbershop is the easy answer but if you have some spare time, a little indulgence won’t be too bad. Then again, I am a sucker for the massages.