Great Clips

Updated September 14, 2025

Description

Great Clips has become something of a traveler’s best friend when you’re on the road and suddenly realize your hair looks like you’ve been sleeping in a tent for three weeks. And maybe you have been! This casual salon chain delivers exactly what busy travelers need – quick, affordable haircuts without all the fancy frills that honestly, most of us don’t have time for anyway.

The beauty of Great Clips lies in its straightforward approach to hair care. You walk in looking somewhat disheveled from your latest adventure, and you walk out looking presentable enough for that important business meeting or family gathering you’re heading to. It’s not trying to be the most luxurious salon experience you’ve ever had, but rather the most convenient one.

What really sets Great Clips apart for travelers is their consistent approach across locations. Whether you’re in downtown Chicago or a small town in Montana, you’ll generally know what to expect. The stylists are trained to handle a wide variety of hair types and styles, which is particularly helpful when you’re far from your usual barber or stylist who knows exactly how you like your fade.

The salon maintains a no-nonsense atmosphere that’s perfect for travelers who just want to get in, get a decent cut, and get back to their journey. But don’t mistake simple for sloppy – the stylists here are professionals who take pride in their work, even if the setting isn’t as upscale as some other options.

Key Features

• Online check-in system that lets you join the waitlist before arriving, which is absolutely genius for travelers working with tight schedules

• Walk-in appointments accepted, because let’s face it, travel plans change and you can’t always book ahead

• Wheelchair accessible entrance and parking, making it genuinely accessible for all travelers

• Professional styling products available for purchase, handy when TSA confiscated your favorite hair product

• Services for both adults and children, solving the whole family’s hair needs in one stop

• Multiple payment options including contactless payments, perfect for modern travelers who’ve gone mostly cashless

• On-site parking available, eliminating the stress of finding street parking in unfamiliar areas

• No appointment necessary, though they’re recommended during busy periods

• Consistent pricing structure that won’t shock you with surprise charges

• Quick service times that respect your travel itinerary

Best Time to Visit

Timing your Great Clips visit can make the difference between a quick 20-minute stop and an hour-long wait that throws off your entire day. From my experience traveling and needing emergency hair fixes, weekday mornings tend to be your best bet – particularly Tuesday through Thursday between 9 AM and 11 AM.

Avoid Saturday afternoons like the plague. That’s when every parent in town decides their kid needs a haircut before Sunday family dinner, and every guy realizes he looks scruffy for his weekend plans. I learned this the hard way in Denver once, walking into what looked like a small army of restless children and their equally restless parents.

Early evening weekdays, around 5 PM to 6 PM, can be surprisingly good too. Most people are commuting home, so there’s often a sweet spot before the after-work crowd hits. Sunday mornings work well if you’re not in a church-heavy community, but Sunday evenings can get busy with people prepping for the work week.

The online check-in feature is absolutely crucial during peak times. You can literally add your name to the waitlist from your hotel room, grab coffee, and show up right when your turn is approaching. It’s one of those technological advances that actually makes life easier rather than more complicated.

Holiday weekends require special strategy. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving? Forget about it. The day after Christmas? Surprisingly manageable, since most people are in food comas. Memorial Day weekend? Plan for longer waits as everyone wants to look good for summer kickoff events.

How to Get There

Great Clips locations are strategically positioned for maximum convenience, which means you’ll typically find them in shopping centers, strip malls, or standalone buildings near major roads. This isn’t accidental – they’ve mastered the art of being exactly where travelers need them to be.

Most locations are easily accessible by car, with clear signage visible from main thoroughfares. If you’re using GPS navigation, the locations are well-mapped and rarely cause those frustrating “your destination is somewhere around here” moments that plague some businesses.

For travelers relying on public transportation, many Great Clips locations sit near bus routes or within walking distance of transit stops. The shopping center locations are particularly good for this, since public transit often serves these commercial areas.

Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft have no trouble finding these locations, and the addresses are typically straightforward enough that you won’t have drivers calling you confused about where exactly they’re supposed to pick you up.

If you’re staying at a hotel, the front desk staff can usually provide directions to the nearest location. Great Clips has such widespread name recognition that hotel concierges rarely need to look up locations – they just know where the closest one is.

Walking from nearby hotels is often possible, especially in suburban areas where Great Clips tends to cluster near other traveler-friendly businesses like chain restaurants and gas stations. It’s actually kind of nice to stretch your legs after a long drive while accomplishing a necessary task.

Tips for Visiting

The online check-in system is your secret weapon, but here’s what they don’t tell you – you can check wait times at multiple locations and choose the one with the shortest line. I’ve saved myself hours over the years by driving an extra five minutes to a less busy location.

Come prepared with a clear idea of what you want, but also be realistic about your hair type and face shape. The stylists are skilled, but they’re not miracle workers who can make your fine hair look like a shampoo commercial in 15 minutes. Bringing a photo helps, but make sure it’s a realistic photo of someone with similar hair texture to yours.

If you’re traveling with kids, pack some entertainment. Even with online check-in, there might be some waiting involved, and a restless child makes the experience stressful for everyone. Most locations have magazines, but kids get bored with those pretty quickly.

Don’t schedule your Great Clips visit immediately before an important event. Give yourself at least a few hours buffer time in case the cut needs some settling time or minor adjustments. I once got a haircut two hours before a wedding and spent the entire ceremony convinced everyone was staring at my slightly uneven sideburns.

Cash tips are still appreciated, even though they accept all forms of payment. The stylists work hard and often deal with challenging customers, so a few extra dollars goes a long way toward good karma.

Ask about their styling products if you’re traveling for an extended period. Sometimes they have travel-sized versions that are perfect for keeping your new cut looking fresh throughout your trip. Plus, they know which products work best with the cut they just gave you.

Consider the weather at your destination when deciding on your cut. Getting a style that requires lots of product and maintenance right before heading to a humid climate isn’t the smartest move. The stylists can advise on cuts that work well in different weather conditions.

If you’re happy with your cut, try to remember your stylist’s name for next time. While Great Clips doesn’t typically take appointments with specific stylists, you can sometimes request someone if they’re working when you arrive.

Finally, manage your expectations appropriately. Great Clips excels at providing consistent, affordable, convenient haircuts. They’re not trying to give you a luxury spa experience, and that’s perfectly fine for most travelers who just need to look presentable and get back on the road.

Key Highlights

• Key Features
• Best Time to Visit
• How to Get There
• Tips for Visiting

Location

Places to Stay Near Great Clips

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