I go to a local Great Clips and they have online check-in via their app. That gets you a place in line but if you take too long they'll give up your spot. I think it's really useful, especially if the estimated wait time is 45 minutes or something. You can check-in, do something for about 40 minutes (travel to store, fap, etc), and show up and be taken in in just a couple minutes usually.
I think my haircut is $10... or $12. I dunno, one of those I think. I was using a credit card they have where you can put money on it and it discounts your haircuts. Need to get that mofo filled up again with money now that I think of it.