When I decided to become a barber in the early 1990s, I had no idea what I was getting into.
I knew I was artistic and enjoyed cutting men’s hair, but I had no idea if it would be a career I could enjoy.
As it turns out, being a barber or stylist is the best job in the world. I earn a great living getting paid to make people look and feel good. How cool is that?
Over the past thirty years, I’ve learned a few things behind the chair, and I wanted to share some of them with you. So, in no particular order, here are eight things I’ve learned as a men’s barber/stylist.
The Customer Isn’t Always Right
When training new barbers, they’re often shocked when I tell them the customer isn’t always right. Often, a guy will come in asking for a particular style and become agitated when it doesn’t turn out how he expects.
Not every hairstyle works for every face shape or hair type, so your expectations must be realistic. A good barber or stylist is trained to understand how to work with various hair types and create a style that suits your face well.
Sometimes, that means telling a client no when they ask for something that won’t work or attempting to tell the barber not to use a particular tool or technique.
Often, if someone gets a bad haircut, they will blame the tools or techniques used, when in reality, it was probably a lack of skill or communication with the barber. Trust your barber, and don’t try to tell them how they should go about cutting your hair.
A barber or stylist needs to listen to and understand a client’s needs and wants, but a great client will also know that a barber is trained to create styles that will suit a man perfectly. So, if your barber suggests something, trust them. You may get the best haircut of your life.
The Cheapest and Easiest Way to Change Your Look Is with a Haircut
Men tend to get stuck with a particular style for years. Take a look in the mirror. Are you wearing the same haircut you’ve had since college? It’s time for a change.
Guys often spend crazy sums of money on clothing, shoes, face creams, and gym memberships to look more handsome and stylish. But think about this: Other than your face, your haircut is the first thing people notice about you, so keeping your hair fresh and well-maintained makes sense.
Getting the right haircut can dramatically change your look and get you noticed for less than the cost of a good pair of jeans. So, if you’ve been working that same tired style for over a couple of years, talk to your barber or stylist about changing things up and listen to their suggestions.
The great thing is that a haircut is not permanent, so if you don’t feel the new style is for you, it will always grow back.
Make an Appointment and Don’t be Late
I work in an appointment-based shop, which I prefer over taking walk-ins. Working by appointment gives me adequate time to spend with each client and not feel rushed to get the next guy in the chair.
Most appointment-based barbers or stylists will charge a little more, but having an appointment ensures they have enough time to spend with you to create a style you are happy with is worth it.
When planning your appointment, it’s essential to make sure you schedule at a convenient date and time so you don’t risk being late. Most good barbers maintain a solid book of clients, so if one client is late, it can back up several others.
The last thing you want is for your barber to rush through your service to avoid pissing off several other guys after you.
Here’s another insider tip when scheduling your appointment: Don’t book too early or too late!
I’m not a morning person, so I start my schedule at 10 am after the coffee kicks in. I’m not alone in this—I know plenty of barbers who aren’t morning people.
Your barber or stylist may be tired at the end of the day. Cutting hair is challenging – it’s hard on your feet, back, and hands. Such is the case; the person cutting your hair may not be at their peak at the end of the day.
So, to ensure your barber/stylist is at their best, the sweet spot for an appointment is sometime between 10 am and 4 pm, so aim for a slot in that window if possible.
A Picture Does Say 1,000 Words
As an industry, we must better educate men on the correct terms and styles. The names we use for various haircuts can vary from barber to barber. To ensure you and the person chopping your mop are on the same page, bring a photo of the type of style you’re looking for to eliminate guesswork.
It’s also essential to be realistic! I once had a client bring me a photo of Robert Downey Jr. and inform me that was the style he wanted. The problem is that he looked more like George Costanza from Seinfeld than Tony Stark.
Select a model with a similar hair type and face shape when choosing a desired cut. Your barber will then work with what you have to get you closer to what you want.
Finding a Barber is Easy: Ask
It’s not uncommon to see a woman walk up to a perfect stranger and say, “Your hair is fabulous! Who did it?” Men can often feel a little creepy doing something like that. Don’t.
Honestly, the best way to find a good barber is to ask another guy where he gets his hair cut. There’s nothing strange about asking, and he’ll probably be flattered if you notice his great cut. The vast majority of clients come to a particular barber or stylist based on the referral of a friend or family member.
Better Tippers Often Receive Better Service
Barbers and stylists typically work on commission and tips, so gratuity is a significant part of our income. Most professionals won’t admit it, but I will let the cat out of the bag. We know who the cheapskates and high rollers are. Guess who we’ll bend over backwards for?
Think about sitting at a crowded bar. Slip your bartender a handsome tip on that first drink, and you know you won’t have to wait long for the next one. A professional barber would never give a lesser haircut to someone who doesn’t tip well, but they may be more likely to care for you in a pinch.
One of my clients always tips me incredibly well, so one evening when he was running behind, I stayed late for him and didn’t mind. That dude that stiffed me last time? Nope. He’s going to have to reschedule.
Show Up Natural
A barber or stylist must see what your hair does naturally to create a style that works well with your hair type, so showing up with clean hair without product is a good idea And for the love of all things holy, never show up with a hat smashed down on your head.
If you wear a shorter style, many barbers will prefer to cut your hair dry to see how it falls and blends as the cut progresses. If you show up without hat head or a ton of product, that becomes easier.
Of course, the person cutting your hair can wash it first, but that time will be better spent working on your haircut. I prefer to use clippers on dry hair and save the shampoo after the cut to wash away the loose clippings and leave you feeling refreshed.
A Good Haircut Looks Good Until the Next Haircut
When working with my clients, I create styles that suit their hair and face well but also grow out nicely between cuts. How well a cut grows out is the mark of a truly great haircut.
When a barber creates a style that complements your hair’s natural direction and texture, it will look balanced as it grows out without the need for a lot of product.
Styling products should enhance your look, but a great haircut will not depend on them, so if you have to fuss with your hair a lot, you may need a different style.
Regarding styling products, make sure your barber explains why they chose the product and shows you how to use it. If they blow-dry your hair, have them instruct you on the proper technique for that as well.
The biggest complaint men have about their hair is that they can’t recreate the style as if barbers or stylists have magic fingers. The reason they can’t recreate that style the next morning is because their barber didn’t show them how. So, don’t forget to ask questions!
A genuinely great style is one that you can recreate at home and still looks great a few weeks after you visit the shop.
Before the barber begins cutting, indicate your preference for how much time you want to spend styling in the morning. If you’re a wash-and-go kind of guy, then you won’t want to commit the time and product to creating a complex look.
How your haircut looks between visits to your barber or stylist depends on open communication and having the barber cut your hair in a way that compliments your hair type, face shape, and lifestyle.
It was challenging to narrow down some of the more important things I’ve learned as a barber/stylist for over thirty years in writing this article. I could create dozens of similar articles, and I look forward to sharing more insight on making the most of your visit to the barbershop or salon.
For style, grooming, and lifestyle tips, stay up to date by following us in instagram.
Stay handsome.
