Short answer
No, unless she is his wife or a mahram relative such as his mother or sister. A haircut means a non-mahram woman touching his head, face and neck for a long time, and the Hanafi school forbids touching a non-mahram of the opposite sex without a real need. Find a male barber, or cut it at home.
Touching a non-mahram woman, or being touched by her, is haram without a necessity such as medical treatment when no same-sex doctor is available. A haircut is not a necessity, since male barbers or a home cut are almost always possible.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Allah tells believing men to lower their gaze and guard their modesty. The Prophet ﷺ, when women came to pledge allegiance to him, said he did not shake hands with women. The scholars of the four schools agree that touching a non-mahram of the opposite sex without need is forbidden, and the Hanafi texts treat touching as more serious than looking.
A haircut is close physical contact. The stylist holds your head, touches your face and neck, and stands near you for a long time. That is the kind of contact the ruling covers, so having your hair cut by a woman who is not your mahram is not allowed, even in a busy salon.
- Go to a male barber, or ask a unisex salon for a male stylist.
- Your wife may cut your hair, and so may your mother, sister, aunt or another mahram.
- Clippers at home are an easy option for short styles.
- Real need, such as a hospital patient who cannot reach a male barber, is a different case.
The same rule applies the other way round: see can a Muslim woman go to a hair salon. For what styles are allowed, see which haircuts are haram.
The evidence
Quran, Surah An-Noor 24:30
قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا۟ مِنْ أَبْصَٰرِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا۟ فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾
Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.
Men are told to lower their gaze and guard their modesty.
Sunan an-Nasa'i 4181
Graded sahih... إني لا أصافح النساء ...
"I do not shake hands with women."
Said when women came to pledge allegiance; the Prophet ﷺ avoided touching non-mahram women.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, section on looking and touching. Touching a non-mahram woman is not permitted without necessity.
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar with Radd al-Muhtar, Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibaha, section on looking and touching. Touching is more serious than looking, and the exceptions for need.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.