A cheap haircut grows in Brooklyn. Photo via Macquarie University.

Ewww girl, you’re lookin’ shaaaaggg-gy. I know, I know. Haircuts cost like a million dollars unless you want to walk into a Supercuts and play hairdresser roulette. But here’s a chance for a cheap-ass haircut that does some good too. On Monday, Davines salons are offering donation-based haircuts ($15 minimum) at participating haircuteries. Your money goes to the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, which plants trees in impoverished communities. Pretty cool. Participating salons include Greenpoint’s The Parlour, Park Slope’s Slope Suds, Bay Ridge’s Cavale Tonusi, and many more (Appointments required). You can’t beat this deal. Not even at Supercuts. (I’ve tried.) If you can’t afford $15, maybe try this, or there’s always this. Find out more about where your money is going:

Cheap haircuts have come a long way since the Flowbee

Is it possible to get free hair services outside of a beauty school or a friend with a pair of kitchen scissors and a “vision?” Most definitely. Although some salons (cough*Bumble and Bumble*cough) make it seem like they are the only ones giving away hairstyles, many salons in the city need models. And we’re not talking beauty school students either: these are licensed, experienced stylists and apprentices (who have completed beauty school) who are looking to up their game in their profession by practicing new techniques or services on real people. How does one get all these free fabulous services? It’s really not that hard if you know where to look.

This doesn’t mean you have to subject yourself to a “concept” haircut with 17 colors in order to be a hair model: Part of the training process for apprentice stylists is to hone their listening skills and to suggest looks that complement clients’ features and lifestyle. So you could walk out with a perfectly manageable cut or those golden blonde highlights rather than looking like an extra for a Flock of Seagulls video. Also, this isn’t just limited to the ladies! Men’s haircuts and color can present their own unique challenges and are a harder niche to fill for training purposes.

ASK FRIENDS
If you have any friends who are hairstylists, start there. Ask if their salon needs hair models that have a look that you’re going for (It also helps to preface this with the fact that your wallet is as flat and scraggly as your strands at the moment.) There could be opportunities for not only cut or coloring but also blowouts, updos or even extensions if you’re really lucky.

BECOME A MODEL
If there are specific salons that you’re interested in trying out, check out their website or call their salon coordinators to ask about availability for free model services. Most salons have some sort of model services, it takes only a second to call and ask. Some salons have specific schedules, others will have you come in and apply or send a headshot so that you can be put on file for stylists to choose from. But the key is to be patient: sometimes you’ll get in immediately and other times it could take months for you to be chosen.

GO ONLINE
If time is of the essence for fresh hair for you, you can also check out sites such as salonApprentice.com or the ever popular Craigslist. If you’re not sold on a particular salon that you want to get into, it might be worth it to cast a wide net and see what you can get that works with your schedule. On a sample query on both sites, there were more than 100 listings for cut and color services on any given day of the week

SalonApprentice had both free and low-fee cost services listed, but just a few minutes of looking yielded examples like these: free blowouts at Carsten Aveda, Devachan, Arte and ARROJO; free cuts at Sam Brocato, Ted Gibson, Christiano Cora and Minardi; free color at ARROJO (a rare exception, there’s usually a fee). Every ad was prefaced with the headline that all the services were to be performed by a stylist who had completed beauty school and some (such as Arte) also mentioned how many years the stylist had been with the salon or, like the Aveda Institute, highlighted that they were experienced stylist trying new techniques. This lowered the anxiety over a potentially botched look down a few notches.

Before writing off Craigslist as potentially scam-riddled, it never hurts to shoot an email reply to ads and ask a few questions about the salon and exactly what services they’re looking to perform on you. Not every salon or stylist wants to publicly advertise themselves or the salon on sites like Craigslist for various reasons. When in doubt, your schedule can always suddenly “get busy”.

WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT?
Again, these aren’t beauty school students: they’re professionals in training. It’s essential to be on time and to come expecting your services to take a little bit longer than a regular appointment. The consultation part of your hair service may be longer than a regular appointment, so come prepared with ideas for your hair and a willingness to take suggestions from your stylist (within reason). Although your services are gratis, it’s usually expected that your stylist will be tipped. (This rule also applies to people who shampoo you as well.) With that in mind, you might just be able to score yourself a regular standing appointment with a salon you like!

So before you subject yourself to your friend’s Fiskars, do some searching and asking. Getting a fresh look for the spring is easier than you may think!

French stylist Jean Jean or... Warren Beatty?

It should probably come as no surprise that pop-up shops—by definition here for a brief moment in time—are going to squeeze a whole lot in while they’re around. Moves Pop Up Store, a Greenpoint fashion spot that opened Nov. 4, is making the most of this pre-Thanksgiving weekend, with a line-up of some very random free and cheap offerings. There’ll be a demo and cuts from a fancy French stylist, a free waffle (& Mimosa) brunch, music and a food & beer-laden party with short talks on random stuff.

On Friday, Nov. 19, everything starts with free all-ages show and hour-long open bar. The free drinks flow from 8 to 9 p.m., and the line-up follows directly, with Niece, CNTRL Top, dDiILliIAaNn and DJ Dead Ramones (Eli from DubKnowDub).

Saturday, it looks like any other day for a North Brooklyn holiday-season fashion pop-up: There’s a trunk show (by Tam Aura and Sara Dixons Nova), shopping and free drinks (of course), and music with Kenny’s Band Chocolate Starfish from 5 to 7 p.m.

Then on Sunday, Nov. 21, there’s the weekend’s main events. French coiffure Jean Jean will be at the store (“like a cuter Warren Beatty in shampoo”), hosting a “DIY atelier” with tips on cutting your own, and your friends’ hair; and offering cheap cuts himself (sliding scale from $5 to $20). He’ll be there from 2 to 5 p.m., when you also can enjoy a free waffle brunch and and hour of free Mimosas, from 2 to 3.

Finally, Sunday evening, the weekend closes with Presentation Party Night from 7 to 10 p.m. It’s a “Lecture and Beer series” with six people talking about… whatever for 10 minutes each. But what is guaranteed: free drinks and food for as long as they last.

Moves Pop Up Store, noon to 8 p.m.,Thursdays to Sundays until Dec. 19, 214 Franklin St. between Green and Huron Sts., Greenpoint

Smoldering not included

This gratis goodie for you shaggy, vain, broke (or all of the above) guys, on today’s Craigslist free board:

Looking for a model for mens cutting class tomorrow (Friday July 16th) at 11am. Class is taught by experienced stylist in a trendy Williamsburg salon. Please only respond if you are available for this time slot and can be on time.

And while you’re in the neighborhood, why not start on that tiki bar you’ve been planning?

Just some possibilities

Beauty school student Cristina R.—called “amazing” by one Brokelyn reader, “incredibly talented” by another—writes in about two more days of cheap haircuts and blowouts from her and her wonder-working fellow students at Carsten Aveda Institute:

“April 5th and 19th my school is hosting another fundraiser- all haircuts and blowouts will be $15 and 100% of proceeds will be donated to a foundation dedicated to providing clean water to underprivileged communities. The last fundraiser for Haiti relief was a great success due in no small part to the readers of Brokelyn who joined us!”

Appointments are available for both days between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Email cristinar.hair@gmail.com for a spot.

Carsten Aveda Institute, 22 E. 17th St., 2nd Floor, 212-675-4884, Manhattan (but Cristina’s a BK gal)

What do you do?
I’m currently in the last semester of undergraduate theater studies with Empire State College. I teach dance at P.S. 209 in Sheepshead Bay through the YWCA, and I intern with Community Word Project at P.S. 27 in Red Hook. My goals are to pursue an MFA in drama, and eventually a PhD in Shakespearean studies.

What are your duties as Miss Brooklyn?
My first few months were full of interviews with local media and appearances around Brooklyn. It’s your job to get the word out about this fantastic program, and the opportunities it provides young women. Secondly, you represent Brooklyn at the Miss New York pageant. The highlight of my year was working with the Block Institute in Gravesend, which serves children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Does Miss Brooklyn have to make any kind of pledges not to pose nude?
Yes—actually! The Miss America Organization, which runs the Miss Brooklyn pageant, is very conscious of its image, so certain things, like posing nude for photographs, are quite obviously off limits.

What’s the best part of being Miss Brooklyn?
Being at the Miss New York State pageant in Albany and having “YO BROOKLYN!” yelled at you the entire week by passersby.Every time the contestants went out in public with our crowns and sashes on, people would see “Brooklyn” on my sash and go nuts!

How did you do?
I believe there were 21 contestants at Miss New York this past year. I ended up as 4th runner up, which I was thrilled about!

A lot of our readers might not be “pageant types.” Any idea how a girl who works in an indie bookstore and cuts her own hair could win this thing in 2010? Let’s assume she has at least one tattoo.
The judges are looking for the young woman who will bring the most to the table as Miss Brooklyn, not the girl who can best play the part of a “pageant queen. I encourage ANYONE who meets the eligibility requirements and is willing to dedicate a year of her life to community service and representing Brooklyn to compete. Don’t buy a “pageant wardrobe”… wear what you feel beautiful in. And depending on where your tattoo(s) are, I’d recommend using some Dermablend to cover them, not because tattoos aren’t awesome, but from a distance (like the distance between the stage and the judges/ audience), tattoos often look more like really bizarre birthmarks, which might be distracting when you’re modeling a swimsuit…

Keelie with Kimberly Cantoni, Miss Staten Island 2009, in a fashion show at last year's Miss New York pageant.

We’re a budget-living blog. Any advice on where to buy a cheap swimsuit or pageant heels?
I’m a full-time student, and I work two jobs to be able to afford to live here and pay for college, so I’m a big eBay and second-hand shopper. For pageant-related stuff, www.pageantresale.com is an online consignment store that sells shoes, swimsuits, gowns… everything! I’ve gotten a majority of my appearance wardrobe from the Salvation Army in Sheepshead Bay. Wednesdays are “Family Clothing Day,” so all clothing and shoes are 50% off except for one specific tag color. I’ve found some surprisingly high-end stuff there. Also, you can solicit sponsors, and Brooklyn has been generous to me in that respect.

Who are your sponsors?
Ellen Stein (www.kettlebellen.blogspot.com) is my personal trainer, who has gone above and beyond the call of duty as my fitness sponsor—she comes to my house to train me, helps me book appearances, sometimes drives me to appearances and even secured my hair sponsor for me! Joe Taylor of J Taylor Salon on 3rd Ave in Bay Ridge does my hair—he’s PHENOMENAL! Bend and Bloom Yoga in Park Slope and Bikram Bay Ridge gave me free classes to help me cross-train before Miss New York. Pacific Tanning in Park Slope gave me free airbrush tanning. Bensonhurst Dental Care donated teeth whitening services. Karolina Almanzar did my makeup for my headshots, David Gardiner photographed me, and Bond St. Studio donated space for my headshot shoot. Additionally, Aqua Health Rehabilitation, Wafels and Dinges, Nature Pure Spa, Miss Jessie’s, Spartak Chocolate Company, North American Crystal, My Darling Diva, Covenant Ballet Theatre and the NY Steakhouse all donated services, goods, time, effort or financial support to me during my year as Miss Brooklyn.

Wow. Any budget beauty tips?
And I’ve been going to Bay Aqua Nails on Sheepshead Bay Rd. since I moved here in 2005—it’s nothing fancy, but it’s cheap (appx $25 for eyebrows, manicure and pedicure), and they get the job done. I’m really DIY when it comes to this sort of thing. I make my own exfoliant out of coffee grinds and almond oil or yogurt. And I’m a drugstore girl when it comes to cosmetics.

What’s your advice for the Democrats and Republicans on forging an agreement on healthcare?
I’d like to remind them that while they stall and re-write and argue with each other, they’re doing so as insured Americans. They’d do well to try and channel some of the urgency of the uninsured Americans who cannot wait much longer for affordable healthcare.

Does Miss Brooklyn get free drinks?
I actually don’t drink, so yes, my drinks are free, but only because I’m drinking water.

My school is holding some events and I (and my fellow stylists!) need models. We are taught by excellent instructors in a beautiful, extremely clean studio using professional product lines. We workshop with lead stylists from the top salons in the city. (You know, those ones where people pay $600 for a haircut?) Every step of every service is heavily supervised from start to finish. And it is really, really cheap. Here’s what we need:

1) We are hosting a haircutting fundraising event in Manhattan on Feb. 16. Haircuts are $15 (any style) with 100% of the proceeds going to Haiti relief.
2) We are also hosting a hairstyling competition on Feb. 23 and are looking for models for any style of bob haircut.  The haircut is FREE and a lot of us would love to incorporate some cool/funky/creative color (of which the price can be determined… it will be next to nothing.)  Rumor has it that this will be judged by stylists and owners of some of the top salons in NYC (previous judges were from Cutler Salon, Frédéric Fekkai Salon, Paul Labrecque Salon, Beth Minardi Salon, etc) and promises to be a great event and an excellent opportunity to get a new look for next-to-nothing.
3) I personally am always looking for people who want to make a drastic/funky color change.

If anyone’s interested in either of the above please feel free to contact me at CristinaR.hair@gmail.com. Thanks!

Emily and Farrah-Emily. Photos by Stefan Tonio.

Just a reminder that today is Farrah Hair Day at one of our favorite beauty spots, the Beehive Salon in Williamsburg, where you can get a Farrah Fawcett blowout for $50. That sounds like a lot, and yeah it kind of is, but not when the salon is giving half of it to Sanctuary for Families, a New York state group that helps victims of domestic abuse. You may be broke (and you may not be) but that’s no excuse to 1) neglect good causes and 2) not have Farrah Hair. If you get a blowout at the Beehive today, you might even get your picture on Brokelyn, because we’re going to be taking before and afters!

And if you can’t make it to the Beehive, Slope Suds in Park Slope has the same deal all month—blowouts for $50—but they’re giving half of their proceeds to the American Cancer Society, a charity Farrah supported. And if you don’t have fifty bucks? You can still rock a Farrah with our amazing DIY Farrah blowout.

Beehive Salon, 115 N. 7th St., 718-782-8376 (phone bookings only) www.beehivesalon.com.
Slope Suds,  at 462 7th Ave. (on the corner of 16th Street), 718-788-7837, slopesuds.com.