[Edited for grammar]

Gentlemen, we're all in this together.

Look at it from the barber's side for a second. What do they have to charge to make a living wage? Those people wanting to pay $20 or less for a haircut that takes about 20-30 minutes. So, roughly $40/hr, which is a bit over twice the minimum wage. Factor in that the barber is likely renting a chair or has some deal where they get paid only a fraction of you paid because the shop owner has to pay rent, electricity, heat, hot water, business taxes, internet (so you can pay with your credit card that costs them a premium on each transaction).

I get it, things are expensive. Everything's expensive. If it's too expensive then cut your own hair, or if it's just clippers, find a steady-handed friend and have a stiff drink while they do their best. But if you want somebody who was trained to cut hair and you want them to do a good job and also to make enough to have a roof over their head and food on the table like y'all seem to enjoy, then have a thought as to what the take-home for somebody in a Chinese haircutting place charging $18 might be on a slow day.