Great Hair Starts Here: Columbus Salons Worth Booking Now

When you’re two weeks from a big meeting or a wedding at Franklin Park Conservatory and your ends look rough, you don’t want a list of generic “top salons.” You want to know where to book in Columbus today, what it will likely cost, and which places actually match the hair and schedule you live with. I spent the past few months price‑checking menus, calling front desks, and sitting in chairs across town so you don’t have to.

What’s a fair price for a cut or color in Columbus right now?

Entry pricing for a professional cut in the city spans a wider range than many expect. At the Nurtur Salon + Spa Upper Arlington location (1581 W Lane Ave), a standard haircut currently starts at $45+ with a stylist, $55+ with a senior stylist, and $80+ with a director. Their posted hours run seven days a week, including 9 am–9 pm Monday through Friday and 8 am–7 pm Saturday, which makes late‑day appointments easier to snag without burning PTO.

On High Street in the Short North, Phia Salon publishes a transparent level system. If you’re flexible on stylist experience, an Apprentice short cut starts at $19 and a standard cut starts at $29, while senior levels scale up into the 80s and low 100s depending on time and hair density. They also offer an in‑person $31 consultation that’s applied to your future service, which I found handy for mapping a corrective color plan before committing.

For a straightforward baseline at a neighborhood Aveda salon, Square One Salon & Spa in German Village (102 E Whittier St) lists a Cut/Style from $38+. Their posted hours are 10 am–8 pm Tuesday–Thursday, 8 am–6 pm Friday, and 9 am–4 pm Saturday, with Monday and Sunday closed. One practical thing that surprised me: many of their services require a credit card on file at booking, which cut down on that old “we’ll squeeze you in if you’re running late” fuzziness and kept my chair time on track.

If you want an independent studio with clearly posted tiers, Akada in Grandview (1635 W 1st Ave) lists Level 1–2 haircuts at $38–$65+ and a Master Stylist at $68+. Hours there are Tuesday 11 am–8 pm, Wednesday and Friday 10 am–6 pm, Thursday 10 am–8 pm, and Saturday 9 am–4 pm. I booked a late‑afternoon cut on a Thursday and appreciated being able to park in their private lot behind the building.

Budget really tight? The Nurtur Aveda Institute student salon up on Bethel Road (889 Bethel Rd) posts a Haircut & Style from $19+, with weekday hours from 9:30 am–8 pm and 8:30 am–7 pm on Saturdays. You’re in supervised‑student territory, so times can run long, but the savings are real. Their color retouch membership is listed at $45 per month for one retouch, which is the most affordable standing program I’ve seen locally.

Where I actually book, and why

Nurtur Salon + Spa (Upper Arlington): The draw here is breadth and clarity. All color services include a blowout, which matters when you want to leave ready for dinner. They also spell out textured‑hair pricing instead of burying it in fine print. For example, a coily/high‑density cut with natural styling is posted at $65+/$75+/$100+ by level, and a coily/high‑density silk press appears as $75+/$85+/$110+. On a recent Sunday, I booked a 4 pm slot and walked out by 5:30 with zero rush despite it being their weekend window of 9 am–7 pm.

Phia Salon (Short North, 755 N High St): If you’ve ever been burned by a surprise bill, their process is calming. They provide a written service plan and quote before they start, and their online charts list starting prices for partial highlights from $143–$190 and full balayage from $207–$275 depending on stylist level. The apprentice and Level 1 pricing makes it easier to book that “maintenance not makeover” visit without guessing.

Square One Salon & Spa (German Village): This is the Aveda experience with Columbus practicality. A basic blowout is listed at $38+, but they also carve out textured services with timing that actually fits the work. Their Curly Texture Cut & Style is $110+ and Coily Texture Cut & Style is $111+, with coily blowouts at $81+. I like that the menu states timing expectations, and I’ve never had to hunt for street parking on Whittier after 6 pm on weekdays.

Akada (Grandview): Clean craft, good communication, and clear tiers. If you’re somewhere between a trim and a reshaping, booking a Level 2 on a Wednesday afternoon (they’re open 10 am–6 pm) has been the sweet spot for me. Their blowouts start at $40+ on Level 1–2 and $55+ with a master, so you can pair a quick finish to a cut without playing roulette on price.

Virtue Vegan Salon: Two neighborhoods, consistent vibe. In Clintonville (3282 N High St) they’re open early three days a week, 7 am–8 pm Tuesday–Thursday, which is gold if you need to be downtown by nine with fresh hair. The Brewery District shop (690 S High St) is open 10 am–8 pm Monday–Thursday and 10 am–6 pm Friday–Saturday, and the team page makes it simple to pick a stylist for curly cuts or vivid color. The Brewery District location has a small lot on the south side of the building, and they post a neighborhood parking map if you end up on street parking.

PENZONE Salon + Spa: For bigger availability and late nights, PENZONE’s multiple locations help. The Short North address at 967 N High St runs 8 am–8 pm Tuesday–Thursday with 11 am–8 pm on Mondays, and weekends from 8 am–6 pm Friday, 8 am–4 pm Saturday, and 11 am–5 pm Sunday. If you want a lower‑price entry point under their umbrella, the New Artist Concept in Dublin is open Thursday 10 am–7 pm, Friday 9 am–6 pm, and Saturday 8 am–4 pm, offering PENZONE services at a base price while stylists iron out their last few reps. I used that route for a simple long‑layer refresh and was glad I did; the consultation felt unhurried even in a training setting.

Bishops (Clintonville, 4223 N High St): Walk‑in friendly and blunt about costs. As of now, posted haircuts are $38 for short, $50 for long, and $23 for a buzz. Hours are 10 am–7 pm Monday–Friday, 9 am–6 pm Saturday, and 9 am–5 pm Sunday, which fills a gap on Sundays when many salons are closed. They also state a 7‑day fix window for adjustments if you’re not happy, which I’ve used once for a neckline cleanup with no hassle.

Need a blowout today? These three options are easiest

If you only need a wash, finish, and out‑the‑door hair, availability and timing matter as much as price. Here’s how the dedicated blow‑dry bar stacks up against two full‑service salons you can actually book this week.

My take after trying all three: The Blowout Bar wins on raw same‑day availability and consistent timing blocks, especially on Sundays. Square One is the better value if you want texture‑specific timing and you’re already in German Village. Nurtur’s Sunday hours are the safety net when you realize Saturday’s plans turned into Sunday brunch photos.

Who handles curls, coils, and protective styles well?

This is where posted menus can help you avoid the awkward “extra charges” conversation. Nurtur clearly separates curly and coily appointments with included conditioning and finishes, and their protective‑style menu lists on‑scalp braiding priced by the hour. On the South High side, Virtue Vegan Salon highlights curly cutting and styling at both locations, with Clintonville hours running 7 am–8 pm Tuesday–Thursday for true before‑work cuts. The Brewery District location also lists protective styles among services and has its own parking lot, which simplifies arrival if you’re carrying hair for braids or clip‑ins.

Square One dedicates a section of its menu to Wavy, Curly & Coily services with realistic timing and pricing. I booked their Curly Texture Cut for a friend with shoulder‑length spirals and we both appreciated that thermal styling was included when needed. If you are price‑sensitive and don’t mind slower pacing, the Aveda Institute lists a Protective Style from $26+ and a budget blowout from $15+, which can be a solid in‑between visit for maintenance.

Finally, Bishops posts inclusive pricing by time and length, not gender. Their page calls out that many stylists are trained on curls, and my booking was handled well with a note about hair density added at checkout. Policy wise, they list a 7‑day adjustment window for fixes, which is rare at this price point.

Is the student‑salon route at Aveda Institute worth it?

Short answer: yes, if you plan ahead and are realistic about timing. At 889 Bethel Rd, the Aveda Institute’s student salon sets a Haircut & Style from $19+ and publishes memberships like a $45/month color retouch. Hours are generous for a training program, with 9:30 am–8 pm Monday–Friday and 8:30 am–7 pm Saturday. What you trade for price is speed. My cut and basic gloss took just over two hours, largely because the instructor checked every step. If you bring photos and are clear about hair history, the sign‑off structure can actually be reassuring, especially for gray coverage or a one‑level darkening where the risk is low and savings are high.

One other low‑cost angle around town is training concepts within bigger brands. PENZONE’s New Artist Concept in Dublin posts limited hours (Thu 10 am–7 pm, Fri 9 am–6 pm, Sat 8 am–4 pm) with base‑price services. If you just need a single‑process color or long‑layers dust‑off, the structure mirrors a standard salon visit but at a lower tier.

How do you pick quickly without overthinking it?

Here’s the way I narrow it: If you need a Sunday appointment or late‑evening weekday slot, start with Nurtur or The Blowout Bar. If you want the lowest posted price, check Aveda Institute for cuts or Phia’s Apprentice tier for trims. If you need curly or coily services with time built in, book Square One’s texture menu or browse Virtue’s team pages by specialty and neighborhood. If you want a walk‑in with clear costs, Bishops is the most straightforward I’ve used. And if you want a big‑brand experience with the longest hours and multiple neighborhoods, pick the closest PENZONE and be done with it.

Key things to know before you book

• Late hours exist here. Nurtur runs to 9 pm on weekdays and Square One stays open to 8 pm Tuesday–Thursday. If you’re booking after work, filter for those first.
• Curly and coily pricing is clearer than it used to be. Nurtur and Square One list textured services with inclusive timing and finishes, which reduces add‑on surprises at checkout.
• Short North weekends fill fast. If you’re set on Phia or PENZONE Short North, grab an early‑week evening appointment or use PENZONE’s Sunday 11 am–5 pm window.
• Student‑salon math checks out. A $19+ cut or a $45 monthly color retouch at the Aveda Institute is a real savings if you can spare the time and want a supervised process.
• Know the policies. The Blowout Bar charges 50 percent for cancellations inside 12 hours and 100 percent for no‑shows; Square One usually requires a card on file. If your schedule is unpredictable, choose a spot with more flexible terms.

Reader Q&A

Where can I book a same‑day Sunday appointment?

Two reliable options: Nurtur in Upper Arlington, open 9 am–7 pm Sundays, and The Blowout Bar, which posts 9 am–3 pm Sunday hours at its Easton and Grandview locations. PENZONE also lists 11 am–5 pm on Sundays at Short North for hair services if you need more than a blowout.

Who clearly posts pricing for textured hair?

Nurtur and Square One both publish separate curly and coily services with inclusive timing and prices. Nurtur lists coily/high‑density cuts with natural styling and silk presses by level, and Square One’s menu shows texture‑specific cut and blowout pricing so you can budget before you arrive.

What’s the cheapest professional cut that isn’t a chain clip‑joint?

The Aveda Institute student salon on Bethel Road lists a Haircut & Style from $19+. If you prefer a traditional salon setting, Phia’s Apprentice tier starts at $19 for short cuts and $29 for standard cuts, and Square One posts a $38+ Cut/Style at its German Village shop.

I only need a blowout. Which spot balances price and speed?

For pure speed and seven‑day availability, The Blowout Bar is hard to beat with a $55 Signature Blowout and long daily hours. If you’re near German Village and want texture‑specific timing, Square One starts at $38+ for a standard blowout and has listed slots for curly and coily styles from $63–$81+. Nurtur is a good middle option with $40+ blowouts and Sunday evening hours.

Columbus has enough salons that you can choose based on logistics, not luck. Start by picking the neighborhood that fits your drive and the hours that match your calendar. Then filter by the one or two line‑items that matter to you most, like a posted textured‑hair price or a Sunday slot, and book the earliest time you can live with. The best hair day is usually the one you didn’t have to scramble for.

Published: September 9, 2026 · Reviewed by the Whats Up Columbus editorial team