A JB haircut costs less than lunch, and that’s before you factor in the perm

Singaporeans cross the Causeway for chilli crab and cheap petrol. Increasingly, they’re making the trip for their hair, too.

A haircut that costs S$40 or more in Singapore can start from around 35 MYR (about S$11) in Johor Bahru (JB). Korean digital perms can also cost less across the Causeway, although prices vary by salon, hair length and treatment. Some services start below S$60, while specialist digital perms can cost more.

The trick is knowing where to go. From budget hair salons in Larkin to Korean perm specialists at KSL City Mall and colour-focused salons at Mid Valley Southkey, JB has options for different budgets and styles. Use this guide to compare salons, starting prices, locations and booking details before you make the trip.

Best Hair Salons in JB at a Glance

Best for	Top pick	Starting price / note	Area
Cheapest haircut	100 Hair Salon	35 MYR (~S$11)	Larkin
Korean digital perm	Studio M KSL	348–448 MYR (~S$109–S$140)	KSL City Mall
Established full-service salon	REDS Hairdressing	Men’s cut from 60 MYR (~S$19)	KSL / City Square / Komtar
Private one-to-one styling	Kaku Hair Studio	Premium; book ahead	Bandar Jaya Putra
Getting there	Causeway or Second Link	Grab, bus, or RTS Link + Grab; allow extra time for immigration	Johor Bahru

JB Hair Salons: 11 Places to Consider

Salon	Area	Best for	Starting price
REDS Hairdressing	KSL / City Square / Komtar	Full-service; Muslimah rooms	Men’s cut 60 MYR (~S$19)
Studio M KSL	KSL City Mall	Korean digital perms	Digital perm 348–448 MYR (~S$109–S$140)
Luxe Studio	Komtar JBCC and other outlets	Colour and treatments	Colour 188 MYR (~S$59)
Style by Andy Chan	Mid Valley Southkey	Colour services	Men’s cut 68 MYR (~S$21)
Ms Gadis Salon	Larkin	Budget colour; Muslimah room	Colour 58 MYR (~S$18)
100 Hair Salon	Larkin	Budget haircuts	Cut 35 MYR (~S$11)
R.A.D. Hair Studio	Holiday Plaza	Budget cut and wash	40 MYR (~S$13)
Ceres Salon	Mount Austin	Affordable colour	Confirm with salon
Kaku Hair Studio	Bandar Jaya Putra	Private one-to-one styling	Quote at booking
U Salon Eco Botanic	Eco Botanic	Milbon-product styling	Confirm with salon
FUGÃ Organic Hair Spa	Taman Melodies	Scalp and hair spa	Treatment 288 MYR (~S$90)

Table of Contents

1. JB Hair Salons: 11 Places to Consider
2. How Much Does a Haircut Cost in JB? Prices vs Singapore
3. Best Hair Salons in JB by Area
4. Is Luxe Studio the Best Hair Salon in JB?
5. Cheapest Hair Salons in JB
6. Korean Perm, Cold Perm and Colour: What to Expect
7. Is There a Hair Salon in Mid Valley Southkey, JB?
8. Do You Tip at JB Hair Salons?
9. Before You Prepay for a Package
10. How to Book and What to Know Before You Go
11. A Half-Day JB Hair Trip, Planned Around Your Appointment
12. Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does a Haircut Cost in JB? Prices vs Singapore

A haircut in JB typically costs 35–160 MYR (~S$11–S$50), depending on the salon tier and whether a senior stylist cuts it. That’s noticeably below Singapore, where a haircut typically runs S$20 to S$100 or more, and salons rarely advertise a sub-S$15 option the way JB’s budget chains do.

Service	JB price range	Why prices vary
Haircut	35–160 MYR (~S$11–S$50)	Budget chain vs. senior or award-winning stylist
Single-tone hair colour	58–238 MYR (~S$18–S$75)	Basic dye vs. organic or ammonia-free formula
Korean or digital perm	148–448 MYR (~S$46–S$140)	Hair length and salon tier
Treatment or hair spa	50–380 MYR (~S$16–S$119)	Express wash vs. multi-step scalp therapy

Colouring is where the gap widens the most. Singapore’s typical starting price for a full-head, single-tone colour sits around S$120. JB’s equivalent starts closer to 100–160 MYR (~S$31–S$50) at most salons on this list.

Perms narrow the gap a little. A premium Korean digital perm at a specialist like Studio M can still run 348–448 MYR (~S$109–S$140), well above JB’s own budget tier. Still, it costs less than the same treatment at Singapore’s salon-of-the-moment prices.

Paying in JB

Many full-service salons accept cards, but payment methods vary by outlet. Tap your YouTrip card and you spend at the Mastercard wholesale rate with 0% foreign transaction fees, whatever the bill comes to.

Want to lock in the rate before you cross? Malaysian Ringgit is one of YouTrip’s 12 holdable wallet currencies, so you can top up and fix it ahead of time.

A few of the smaller budget salons, especially in Larkin, run cash-only or cash-preferred, so withdraw ringgit from a Malaysian ATM once you’re across rather than changing cash at the checkpoint, where exchange rates and fees may be less favourable. The first S$400 of overseas ATM withdrawals each calendar month is free with YouTrip, then 2% after, resetting on the 1st.

📖 Related Guide: Want the full breakdown of what your ringgit is actually worth right now? Our SGD to MYR Rate Guide covers the live rate and how to time your conversion.

Best Hair Salons in JB by Area

Here are salons worth considering, grouped by area so you can pair the appointment with whatever else is on your JB itinerary.

REDS Hairdressing (KSL / City Square / Komtar)

Image Credits: REDS Hair Salon

REDS has run in JB since 2004, one of the longest-standing names on this list. That shows in the review count: thousands of reviews across its branches, averaging close to 4.9 stars. The KSL City Mall branch sits at Level 1, with sister outlets in City Square and Komtar JBCC.

It’s the safe, full-service pick if you’d rather not gamble on somewhere new, with a private Muslimah section and female-only stylists on request.

Pricing isn’t fixed to a public chart. Expect a short consultation before the stylist quotes a final number, which is normal across most JB salons. It’s also part of why reviews occasionally flag a bill running above the number first mentioned.

Best for readers who want an established, widely-reviewed salon over a newer boutique, and don’t mind confirming the final price at consultation.

• 📍 L1-122, Level 1, KSL City Mall, 33 Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad, 80250 Johor Bahru (also at JB City Square and Komtar JBCC)
• 🕘 Daily, 10 AM–10 PM
• 💰 Men’s cut from 60 MYR (~S$19), colouring from 138 MYR (~S$43), Korean Wave Perm from 188 MYR (~S$59)
• 📞 07-338 3515, or WhatsApp +6011-8888 7643

Studio M KSL

Image Credits: Studio M KSL

Studio M has specialised in Korean-style perms and tone-on-tone colour since 2009. It’s a salon to consider if you’re looking for a Korean perm in JB; check recent reviews and ask about suitability for your hair type before booking. Stylists are Mucota-trained, and a digital perm typically takes around two hours in the chair.

It’s priced above the budget tier on this list, closer to a mid-range Singapore salon than a JB bargain. Still, it runs under what the equivalent service costs across the Causeway.

The salon has strong online ratings, though reviews can vary by stylist and service. A few reviewers note colour fading within about a week on chemically treated hair, worth asking the stylist which aftercare product to use before you leave. It’s the pick for a Korean wave or digital perm specifically, not a routine trim.

• 📍 G-08 & G-09, KSL City Mall, Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad, 80250 Johor Bahru
• 🕘 Daily, roughly 10–10:30 AM–9:30 PM (listings disagree on opening time by 30 min)
• 💰 Haircut from 80 MYR (~S$25), digital perm 348–448 MYR (~S$109–S$140) by hair length, colouring from 180 MYR (~S$56)
• 📞 07-289 4998

Luxe Studio (Komtar JBCC and 4 other outlets)

Image Credits: Luxe Hair Group

Luxe Studio runs five locations across Komtar JBCC, SKS City Mall, JB City Square, Mid Valley Southkey, and KSL City. Every outlet offers private rooms. The brand leans into organic and ammonia-free colour options alongside the standard range.

It shows up constantly in JB roundups. That’s not a “best in JB” award, it just means Luxe Studio is a large, consistently-reviewed chain with a branch near wherever you’re already headed. It’s also a good pick for colour or treatment options a smaller budget salon won’t offer.

• 📍 Lot SK7, Level 2, Komtar JBCC, Jalan Wong Ah Fook, 80000 Johor Bahru
• 🕘 Daily, 10 AM–10 PM
• 💰 Standard colouring from 188 MYR (~S$59), organic ammonia-free from 238 MYR (~S$75), perms from 300 MYR (~S$94)
• 📞 07-220 0888, or WhatsApp +6017 706 9995

Style by Andy Chan Hair Salon (Mid Valley Southkey)

Image Credits: STYLE By Andy Chan

Founder Andy Chan holds multiple L’Oréal Professional Colour Trophy titles, which is a rarer credential than most JB salons advertise. That background makes colour work the standout reason to book here, though cuts and scalp treatments are on the menu too. The salon sits on Level 2 of The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey, and pre-booking is recommended since walk-ins compete with a loyal regular clientele.

• 📍 Level 2, S046, The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey, Persiaran Southkey 1, Kota Southkey, 80150 Johor Bahru
• 🕘 Daily, 10 AM–10 PM
• 💰 Men’s cut from 68 MYR (~S$21), women’s cut from 98 MYR (~S$31), Korean perm from 250 MYR (~S$78)
• 📞 +6012 969 5613

📖 Related Guide: Staying over for more than a haircut? Our 21 Things to Do in Mount Austin JB guide has the rest of the neighbourhood covered.

Ms Gadis Salon (Larkin)

Image Credits: Ms Gadis Salon

Ms Gadis sits directly opposite Larkin Sentral Bus Interchange, the easiest salon on this list to reach if you’re travelling by bus or RTS Link rather than driving. It’s a small, no-frills operation with a private area for Muslim women and multilingual staff. It’s popular enough with Singapore regulars that a WhatsApp booking ahead is worth the message.

A few minutes away at 29-01 Jalan Geroda, 100 Hair Salon runs the same budget-Larkin playbook with its own loyal following. A haircut here starts from 35 MYR (~S$11), among the cheapest confirmed prices on this list.

Best for a quick, cheap colour or cut right off the bus, not a long sit-down appointment.

• 📍 43, Jalan Geroda 2/1, Larkin Jaya, 80350 Johor Bahru
• 🕘 Daily, 12 PM–8 PM
• 💰 Hair colouring from 58 MYR (~S$18), bleach from 50 MYR (~S$16), keratin treatment from 150 MYR (~S$47)
• 📞 WhatsApp +60 11-5581 4474

R.A.D. Hair Studio (Holiday Plaza)

Image Credits: R.A.D Hair Studio

Holiday Plaza runs a cluster of several competing salons rather than one standout. A TikTok “family recommendation” for this area usually means the whole cluster, not one salon. Locals tend to try a few before settling on a regular.

R.A.D. Hair Studio is one of the more consistently-priced options here. Zest Hair Salon and Kazoku Hair Salon, in the same mall, are worth a look if R.A.D. is fully booked.

Best for comparing two or three salons in one trip rather than committing to a single name sight unseen.

• 📍 Holiday Plaza, Jalan Dato Sulaiman, 80250 Johor Bahru
• 💰 Cut and wash from 40 MYR (~S$13); other service prices vary, confirm at consultation

Ceres Salon and Kaku Hair Studio (Mount Austin and Bandar Jaya Putra)

Image Credits: @rach.atelier and @butteryslippers on Lemon8

Ceres Salon sits in Taman Mount Austin itself, rated 4.5 stars and known for natural-to-pastel colour work at budget-friendly prices, without the drive out to KSL or the coast.

A short drive away in neighbouring Bandar Jaya Putra, Kaku Hair Studio runs the opposite model: appointment-only, one stylist per client for the full visit. The space is cosy and Instagram-friendly, with coffee on the house. It doesn’t take walk-ins. Message ahead on Instagram before turning up.

Best for Ceres if you want a straightforward, affordable colour appointment; Kaku if you’d rather pay a bit more for full 1-to-1 attention and don’t mind booking ahead.

• 📍 Ceres Salon: 65-01, Jalan Austin Heights 8/5, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru
• 🕘 Ceres: Mon–Sat, 11 AM–8 PM; Sun, 11 AM–6 PM
• 📍 Kaku Hair Studio: 3-01, Jalan Jaya Putra 7/6, Bandar Jaya Putra, 81100 Johor Bahru
• 🕘 Kaku: Tue–Fri, 11 AM–7:30 PM; weekends and public holidays, 11 AM–6 PM; closed Mon
• 💰 Priced above the budget tier on this list; Kaku doesn’t publish a fixed menu. Confirm the quote when you book

U Salon Eco Botanic

Image Credits: Latte Mama on Google Reviews

U Salon leans into a cream-toned, cosy-luxury look rather than a typical mall-salon fit-out, and styles with Milbon products. It’s further out in Iskandar Puteri, so it’s a better fit if you’re already staying in the Eco Botanic area than a special trip from the Causeway. Hours and pricing aren’t published. Call ahead to confirm both before you go.

Best for readers already based near Eco Botanic who want a quieter, less mall-like setting.

• 📍 56, Jalan Eko Botani 3/6, Taman Eko Botani, 79100 Iskandar Puteri, Johor
• 💰 Contact salon directly for current pricing

FUGÃ Organic Hair Spa (Taman Melodies)

Image Credits: Fuga Organic Hair Spa

FUGÃ is less a cut-and-colour salon and more a dedicated scalp and hair spa, built around Aveda’s vegan, organic product line. Treatments include a waterfall circulating massage, deep-repair masks, and targeted scalp therapies for dandruff or thinning hair, with an OSIM massage chair and herbal tea on the side.

SAMA Restaurant & Café sits an easy walk away on the same street. It’s useful if you want to turn the visit into a slower half-day rather than a quick in-and-out.

Best for a scalp or treatment-focused visit rather than a cut. Book ahead and confirm hours since it closes Tuesdays.

• 📍 103, Jalan Beringin, Taman Melodies, 80250 Johor Bahru
• 🕘 Roughly 10 AM–7 PM, closed Tuesdays. Confirm exact hours when booking
• 💰 Scalp Reset or Anti-Dandruff Detox from 288 MYR (~S$90), Hair Growth Therapy from 300 MYR (~S$94), 45-minute blowout from 68 MYR (~S$21)

📖 Related Guide: Craving Korean food to go with your Korean perm? Our JB Korean BBQ guide covers the grill-focused spots across the Causeway.

Is Luxe Studio the Best Hair Salon in JB?

No salon on this list holds an official “best in JB” award. Luxe Studio is a large, well-reviewed chain with five outlets and private rooms at every one. But the “best hair salon in JB” claim attached to it mostly traces back to its own customer testimonials page, not an independent award.

Three names on this list are worth comparing directly. REDS has the longest track record and the deepest review history. Studio M is the stronger pick for a Korean digital perm specifically. Luxe Studio’s edge is range: organic colour, balayage, and multi-step treatments a smaller budget salon won’t offer.

Which one’s “best” depends on whether you’re after a routine trim, a specific perm, or a colour technique the cheaper salons don’t do.

📖 Related Guide: Already deciding where else to eat and shop while you’re across the Causeway? Our JB Food Guide has the rest of the trip covered.

Cheapest Hair Salons in JB

If price is the only filter, these are the confirmed cheapest entries on this list by service.

Service	Lowest listed starting price	Salon
Haircut	35 MYR (~S$11)	100 Hair Salon, Larkin
Cut and wash	40 MYR (~S$13)	R.A.D. Hair Studio, Holiday Plaza
Hair colouring	58 MYR (~S$18)	Ms Gadis Salon, Larkin
Korean or cold perm	148–188 MYR (~S$46–S$59)	REDS Hairdressing

JB salons don’t usually publish a fixed price chart beyond these entry figures. The quote firms up once a stylist sees your hair length and condition, so treat these as the honest “starting from” number, not a guarantee.

📖 Related Guide: Making a full budget day of it? Our Best Breakfast in JB guide rounds up the cheap kopitiam options to match.

Korean Perm, Cold Perm and Colour: What to Expect

Image Credits: @_sherminjiemin on Lemon8

A Korean digital perm typically takes around two hours in the chair, longer for long hair. Prices run from 148 MYR to 448 MYR (~S$46 to S$140), depending on the salon and hair length. A cold perm (the looser, classic curl) usually sits at the lower end of that range and takes less time.

Ask for a scalp consultation before any perm or strong colour. Most salons on this list offer one, and it’s the point where a stylist flags whether your hair can handle a digital perm without excessive damage.

Follow your stylist’s aftercare instructions after a perm. They may recommend waiting 24–48 hours before washing and using a suitable shampoo based on your hair type and treatment.

Is There a Hair Salon in Mid Valley Southkey, JB?

Yes, several. The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey, hosts at least four confirmed salons: Style by Andy Chan (Level 2, S046), D’Luxe Studio Spa (Level 2, S-002), and ELLE Hair Studio. A fourth, 96 Hair Lounge, runs as an Aveda-affiliated salon in the same mall.

Andy Chan’s is the strongest pick on reputation, given the founder’s colour-competition background. All four are inside the same mall if one’s fully booked.

📖 Related Guide: Making a day of the mall itself? Our 15 Things to Do in The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey JB guide covers the rest of it.

Do You Tip at JB Hair Salons?

No. Tipping isn’t part of everyday service culture in Malaysia, and hair salons follow the same pattern as the rest of the country.

A service charge, where one applies, is usually already built into the bill rather than added as a separate tip. Leaving a little extra for a stylist who did a great job is appreciated, not expected. A tip is optional, so leave one only if you want to recognise particularly good service.

Before You Prepay for a Package

Prepaid treatment packages, a block of 10 scalp treatments paid upfront for a discount, are common at JB hair and beauty businesses. They’re worth a moment’s caution before you commit.

A Johor spa chain shut down in 2025 after collecting thousands of ringgit in prepaid packages from more than 50 customers who never got to use them. It’s not an isolated problem either. A similar pattern has made headlines on the Singapore side too.

None of the salons on this list have any reported issue. The sensible habit either way: pay per visit until you’ve been a few times. If a package deal looks unusually cheap per session, ask how long the business has operated at that address before handing over a lump sum.

The same caution applies to a single visit, not just packages. A cheap-sounding quote can creep upward once you’re in the chair: add-on treatments, a longer haircut than expected, product upsells. Confirm the final price and what’s included before the stylist starts, not after.

How to Book and What to Know Before You Go

Most JB salons run on WhatsApp booking rather than a formal reservation app. Message the number listed above a day or two ahead, especially for a weekend slot at a popular salon like Studio M or REDS. Walk-ins are generally fine at the bigger mall salons, less so at appointment-only boutiques like Kaku Hair Studio.

Language isn’t usually a barrier. Most mall salons have English- and Chinese-speaking stylists, and several (REDS, Ms Gadis, Luxe Studio) run a dedicated private area for Muslim women with female-only stylists on request.

That’s a privacy feature, not the same as halal-certified dye. If the product itself matters to you, M Concept Hair Salon and Shaa Nurilshaa Hair & Beauty Studio are two JB names that specifically advertise halal-certified colouring.

Bring a reference photo if you want a specific colour or cut. It closes the gap between “I want balayage” and what the stylist actually delivers.

📖 Related Guide: Not driving yourself across? Our Train to JB Guide breaks down the Shuttle Tebrau, ETS, and RTS Link options, and our Bus from Singapore to JB guide covers every route and fare.

A Half-Day JB Hair Trip, Planned Around Your Appointment

Pair the salon visit with the rest of the area instead of driving straight back after.

Booked at Ms Gadis or 100 Hair Salon in Larkin? Mood Cafe in nearby Taman Sri Tebrau is a newer brunch spot worth the short detour beforehand, open daily from 9:30 AM. Heading to KSL for Studio M or REDS instead, the mall itself covers lunch and shopping right where you’re already parked.

A FUGÃ scalp treatment pairs naturally with a slower lunch at SAMA Restaurant & Café afterwards, since a hair spa visit tends to run longer than a quick cut.

📖 Related Guide: Turning it into an overnight trip? Our 16 Best JB Hotels From S$40 a Night guide has a pick for every budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

One Good Cut Beats Ten Cheap Ones

Pick based on what you actually need: REDS or Luxe Studio for range and reliability. Studio M if a Korean perm is the whole point of the trip. Ms Gadis or 100 Hair Salon if budget is the only filter. Kaku Hair Studio if you’d rather pay a little more for someone’s full attention.

Pay with your YouTrip card if the salon accepts cards, or withdraw ringgit from a Malaysian ATM if it prefers cash. For more ideas after your appointment, check out our JB Food Guide and Best Seafood in JB guide.

Not a YouTrooper yet? Singapore’s go-to multi-currency wallet helps you save with great FX rates and zero fees. Skip the money changer and get a free YouTrip card + S$5 YouTrip credits with code YTBLOG5.

Explore our YouTrip Perks page for current offers and promotions. You can also join our Telegram (@YouTripSG) and Community Group (@YouTripSquad) for travel tips, event invites and more.

Happy glow-up!