Is Great Clips Open on Thanksgiving?

Is Great Clips open on Thanksgiving? In short, no, most Great Clips locations are closed on Thanksgiving Day. While a few select salons in high-traffic areas or certain states may choose to remain open due to franchise ownership or local demand, the vast majority of Great Clips salons across the United States follow a standard holiday closure policy and do not operate on Thanksgiving. This aligns with their general practice of closing on major national holidays to allow team members time off with family. If you're asking 'is Great Clips open on Thanksgiving' for planning purposes in 2025, it’s safest to assume closure unless confirmed otherwise by your specific location.

Quick Overview: Is Great Clips Open on Thanksgiving?

The straightforward answer is that Great Clips is typically closed on Thanksgiving Day. As a nationwide hair salon chain with over 4,000 locations, Great Clips operates under a mix of corporate-owned and independently franchised models. While the company does not enforce a single mandatory closure policy for every store, the overwhelming majority of locations choose to close on Thanksgiving. This reflects both customer demand patterns and employee preferences during one of the busiest travel and family-oriented holidays of the year.

It's important to note that while there may be rare exceptions—such as salons located in 24-hour shopping centers or tourist-heavy urban zones—these are outliers rather than the norm. Therefore, customers should plan ahead and avoid assuming availability on Thanksgiving itself. The phrase 'is Great Clips open on Thanksgiving' is commonly searched each November, and the consistent trend in responses from individual salons confirms an industry-wide expectation of closure.

Great Clips’ Typical Holiday Operating Policy

To understand why Great Clips closes on Thanksgiving, it helps to look at its broader holiday schedule. The brand generally follows a predictable pattern when it comes to major U.S. holidays:

• New Year’s Day: Most locations open, often with reduced hours.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Open.
• Memorial Day: Many locations open, some with adjusted hours.
• Independence Day (July 4th): Typically open, though hours vary.
• Labor Day: Generally open, especially in malls and busy districts.
• Veterans Day: Usually open.
• Thanksgiving Day: Closed at nearly all locations.
• Christmas Day: Closed universally.
• Easter Sunday: Mixed; some open, many closed.

This pattern reveals a clear distinction: Great Clips remains operational on most federal holidays except those centered around family gatherings and extended travel periods—namely Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. These two days stand out as near-universal closures across the network.

The reason behind this lies in operational philosophy. Unlike grocery stores or pharmacies, which serve urgent needs, haircuts are considered non-essential services on holidays. Additionally, many Great Clips employees are part-time or hourly workers who value time off during major holidays. Respecting work-life balance supports staff retention and morale, making closure a strategic decision beyond just customer traffic trends.

Franchise Model and Local Autonomy

One key factor influencing whether any given Great Clips salon might deviate from the norm is the franchise ownership structure. Approximately 95% of Great Clips locations are independently owned and operated. This means that while the corporate office provides guidelines and recommendations, individual franchisees have the final say in setting their holiday hours.

For example, a Great Clips inside a mall in downtown Chicago may close on Thanksgiving because the mall itself is shut. Conversely, a standalone salon in a densely populated city like Las Vegas—or one serving airport travelers—might opt to stay open due to higher foot traffic and tourist demand. However, even in such cases, staffing limitations and supply chain logistics often discourage operation on Thanksgiving.

Why Thanksgiving Affects Business Operations Differently Than Other Holidays

Thanksgiving holds a unique place in the American cultural calendar. It is not only a federal holiday but also marks the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. Retailers may stay open (or even open early), but service-based businesses like hair salons experience significantly different dynamics.

Several factors contribute to Great Clips’ widespread closure on Thanksgiving:

1. Family-Centric Nature of the Holiday: Over 44 million Americans travel over 50 miles to celebrate Thanksgiving with loved ones. With both customers and employees prioritizing personal commitments, demand drops sharply.
2. Reduced Mall and Plaza Accessibility: Many Great Clips salons are situated within shopping malls or retail plazas. Since these complexes typically close on Thanksgiving, attached salons cannot operate regardless of owner preference.
3. Staff Availability: Hourly stylists and front-desk associates often request time off weeks in advance. Scheduling sufficient coverage becomes logistically difficult and costly.
4. No Urgent Need for Haircuts: Unlike food, medicine, or fuel, haircuts are discretionary. Customers rarely seek last-minute trims on Thanksgiving Day.
5. Pre-Holiday Surge Instead
6. Interestingly, the day before Thanksgiving sees one of the highest volumes of walk-ins and appointments at Great Clips locations. People aim to look neat for holiday dinners, leading to packed schedules on Thanksgiving Eve. This peak further discourages opening on the actual holiday, as teams need rest after intense workloads.

Operating Patterns Around Thanksgiving

While Thanksgiving Day itself is almost always a shutdown, understanding adjacent days can help with planning:

Date	Typical Great Clips Status	Notes
Wednesday before Thanksgiving	Open, Extended Hours	High appointment volume; recommended to book early
Thanksgiving Eve (Thursday morning)	Open until midday or early afternoon	Many locations close by 2 PM; last chance for pre-holiday cuts
Thanksgiving Day	Closed (98%+ of locations)	Rare exceptions possible in tourist zones
Black Friday	Open, often with special promotions	Some locations open earlier than usual
Saturday & Sunday after Thanksgiving	Regular weekend hours	Good alternative if missed pre-holiday window

Practical Tips for Planning Your Visit Around Thanksgiving

If you're wondering whether Great Clips is open on Thanksgiving for a last-minute grooming fix, here are actionable steps to ensure you’re prepared:

1. Book Early – Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute

The best way to guarantee a haircut before the holiday is to schedule your visit at least two to three days in advance. Wednesdays and Tuesday evenings leading up to Thanksgiving are ideal times. Use the Great Clips website or mobile app to find nearby locations and check real-time availability.

2. Confirm Closing Times on Thanksgiving Eve

Even if a salon is open on Thanksgiving morning, most will close early. Call your preferred location directly or check its Google Business listing to verify when the last appointment is accepted—often between 12 PM and 2 PM.

3. Have a Backup Plan

If you miss the pre-holiday window, consider visiting on Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving. These weekends are usually less hectic than the days immediately preceding the holiday, and many salons maintain regular weekend operating hours.

4. Use Digital Tools to Verify Hours

Never rely solely on general assumptions. To confirm whether Great Clips is open on Thanksgiving near you:

1. Visit greatclips.com.
2. Enter your ZIP code or enable location services.
3. Select a nearby salon.
4. Click “Store Details” to view holiday hours announcements.
5. Check the “Today’s Hours” section for any temporary changes.
6. Call the salon directly using the listed phone number for immediate confirmation.

Additionally, Google Maps listings often display special holiday notices, including temporary closures. Yelp and Facebook pages may also post updates about Thanksgiving operations.

5. Remember That Policies Can Change Annually

Just because a Great Clips was closed last year doesn’t guarantee the same outcome this year—and vice versa. Franchise owners reassess their holiday strategies annually based on staffing, community needs, and business performance. Always double-check current-year information, ideally no later than the Monday before Thanksgiving.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Great Clips open on Thanksgiving 2025?

No, most Great Clips locations will be closed on Thanksgiving Day 2025. While franchise owners make independent decisions, the overwhelming majority choose to close for the holiday.

Are any Great Clips salons open on Thanksgiving?

It’s possible, though highly unlikely. A small number of salons in airports, tourist destinations, or 24-hour retail centers might remain open, but these are exceptions. Always call ahead to confirm.

What are Great Clips' hours on Black Friday?

Most Great Clips locations are open on Black Friday, often with extended hours and promotional discounts. Check your local salon’s schedule online for exact times.

Can I book a haircut at Great Clips on Thanksgiving Eve?

Yes, but availability fills up quickly. Wednesday and Thursday morning appointments are in high demand. Booking through the Great Clips app or website in advance is strongly recommended.

Does Great Clips offer holiday gift cards?

Yes, Great Clips offers digital and physical gift cards year-round, including during the Thanksgiving season. These make popular gifts and can be redeemed at any location after the holiday.