PMGQBARBERSHOP-006-edited.jpgPHILIP MONTGOMERY

This weekend, I'll be getting a haircut, and so will many of you. I've been going to the same guy—his name is Gogy—for the past seven years. Even though there are dozens of barber shops closer to my home, I still make my way to his chair and pay him what I agreed to pay him back in 2008. Indeed, most guys I know have been going to the same barber for a long time, which makes a haircut, on a pure economic level, a funny thing. We pay what we pay week in and week out. There's very little price inflation, no room for negotiation, and the concept of shopping around seems churlish. We all know about the $8 college special and, on the other end, John Edwards' infamous $400 coif, but what is the real range for typical, professional guys? And how do you know if you're paying too much?

According to Square, the mobile payment app popular among barbers, the average price of a haircut charged to a credit card is $28 nationwide. Guys in San Francisco appear to pay the highest prices—just under 50 bucks. Then again, Square-using barbers are a self-selecting group and their clientele may be more affluent—so here's GQ's own survey of guys around the country and what they pay:

The Guy: Tom No. 1, an urban planner who lives in New York City

Frequency of Cuts: Every two to three weeks

The Price: $25 plus tip

The Loyalty Factor: He's been seeing the same guy since 2006. "My barber Richard has tricked me into believing I have an oddly shaped skull requiring services of professional rather than just buzzing myself with clippers," he explains sheepishly.

The Guy: Tom No. 2, a Naval officer, who lives in Norfolk, Va.

Frequency of Cuts: Every 3 weeks

The Price: $30 including tip

The Loyalty Factor: He goes to the same salon as his wife and daughters, and has been for seven years.

The Guy: Matt No. 1, a consultant and business owner, who lives in Boston

Frequency of Cuts: Once a month

The Price: $25 including tip

The Loyalty Factor: He's been going to the same barber for the past five years. "It's the go-to place in town, plus they have Playboy," he says.

The Guy: Chase, an account manager at a PR firm, in San Francisco

Frequency of Cuts: Twice a month

The Price: $18-$20 depending on the tip

The Loyalty Factor: "I've been going to the same guy in the Castro at a shop called Male Image for the past year," he says. "The place has a sign that still apologizes for the time they raised the price of a cut from $15 to $18... back in 1997."

The Guy: Jim, who works in finance, and lives in Darien, Conn.

Frequency of Cuts: Every 3 weeks

The Price: $35 plus a $5 tip

The Loyalty Factor: He's only been going to this barber for a year since moving out of the city. "Suburbs are expensive," says Jim. "Before I moved here I lived in the city and got my hair cut for $16 at a shop in the 86th St. subway station."

The Guy: Tarik, who works for the federal government, and lives in Washington, D.C.

Frequency of Cuts: Weekly—every Thursday to be precise

The Price: $30 plus a $5 tip

The Loyalty Factor: "It's a salon, but I see a barber there, and have been going to him for the past eight years."

The Guy: Dave, an HR ec, who lives in Minneapolis

Frequency of Cuts: Every 3 to 4 weeks

The Price: $22 including tip

The Loyalty Factor: He's been going to this barber for the past four years. Before that, he went to the same guy he first started seeing when he was seven years old. "I don't like change," he says. (It should be noted that Dave has by far the most presidential head of hair of any man in this post. Most barbers would pay him for the pleasure.)

The Guy: Brian, who works in sales for a technology company, in Seattle

Frequency of Cuts: Every five weeks

The Price: $55

The Loyalty Factor: Brian had to switch from a salon to an independent stylist six months ago, after the first woman moved away. "I had no idea where to go when she left simply because there's a level of natural loyalty that builds when you visit the same person every few weeks," he says.

The Guy: John, who works in finance in New York City

Frequency of Cuts: Every 4 weeks

The Price: $70 plus a tip

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The Loyalty Factor: He has been going to the same barber since 2005, "except for a two-year break when I lived in Hong Kong," he says impressively.

The Guy: Marc, a lawyer, who lives in Boston

Frequency of Cuts: Roughly once a month

The Price: $42 with tip

The Loyalty Factor: "I've been going to Betty, an older woman, since 2004. While we are at it we should also talk about the holiday tip. I give her $85, roughly double the price of the haircut, every Christmas. Is that appropriate?" Answer: We think it's very generous of you!

The Guy: Andy, a technology product manager, who lives in Los Angeles

Frequency of Cuts: Every six weeks

The Price: $27 plus a $5 tip

The Loyalty Factor: He's been going to Floyd's, a barber shop, since moving to LA a few years ago, and stayed with them even after a price hike at the end of last year.

The Guy: Matt No. 2, works in private equity, in Austin

Frequency of Cuts: Once a month

The Price: $60

The Loyalty Factor: "I'm sort of an anomaly because I've got long hair now, so I only go for a clean up. But I do pamper myself by going to a full salon where I also get a head rub and facial, and wine is served." We salute you Chardonnay-Loving Long-Haired Private Equity Man!

As for your correspondent, I usually give Gogy between $30 and $35 per visit—although I'm not actually certain what he typically charges for a buzzcut. He works in a no-frills, walkup studio in New York's Chinatown, filled with light and, depending on the week, a bike and some of Gogy's artwork. I like it there. I like hearing Gogy talk about his latest art projects, movies he's seen, gallery shows, and of course his many feelings about the ladies. So if I'm being honest with myself, I'm paying more for the experience and not so much for No. 2 razor with scissors to even it all out on top. The ritual of getting a cut, as much as the end result, is something we're all paying for.

And for what it's worth, the average price of the guys included in my little canvassing here: Roughly $38 per cut.

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