I used to go to Family Haircutter type places , spending about $20 plus tip (in the late 1990s), but I didn’t like how they cut it. One day I came home, looked in the mirror and told my husband I looked like Woodstock (Snoopy’s pal). 
That was it! I began cutting my own hair-- I figured it couldn’t be worse than Woodstock!-- and actually liked the results better.
I have short hair with just enough natural waviness that I’ve never needed to have a perm. I have never colored it and am almost entirely gray now.
I also cut my husband’s hair, and used to cut my daughter’s long hair until very recently.