Getting a fresh cut before the first day of school is more than a tradition — for many Boston families, it’s a meaningful part of the back-to-school ritual. This year, the City of Boston’s Office of Cultural Affairs is making it easier with Back to School Haircuts & Styles, a citywide program offering free or reduced-cost haircuts and hairstyles for youth ahead of the new academic year.
Families who register by Sunday, August 31, 2026 can redeem their haircut or style at participating barbershops and salons from September 1 through September 11. Participating neighborhoods include Allston/Brighton, East Boston, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mission Hill, Roslindale, Roxbury, and West Roxbury. Registration is available through the program’s sign-up page.
The initiative taps into something deeper than school prep. “Hair is deeply connected to culture, identity, and self-expression across so many of Boston’s communities,” said Alexandra Valdez, Director of Cultural Affairs for the City of Boston. “We’re supporting families with one less back-to-school expense while partnering with the neighborhood barbers and stylists who are trusted, valued members of our communities.”
New year, new locks
The program deliberately centers local businesses — the kind of neighborhood spots that double as community anchors. Felix, owner of Felix Barbershop in Roslindale and a Boston Public Schools parent himself, put it directly: “Barbershops are more than businesses in our neighborhoods. They are places where families connect and community is built.”
The Office of Cultural Affairs, part of Boston’s Equity and Inclusion Cabinet, developed the initiative as part of its broader work connecting culturally responsive programming with community needs. For a full list of participating locations and hours, visit the registration page before the August 31 deadline.
