It’s really easy to make sure your haircut is perfect every time.
All that’s required is a little bit of forethought and a few key facts to remember to tell your barber.
So the next time your barber asks, “What are we doing today?” this is exactly what you should say:
1. Tell your barber how long it has been since your most recent haircut
Barbers know how long it takes for hair to grow, so if you tell them how long it has been since your hair was last cut, they can imagine what your hair looked like way back when.
From there, you can either tell them you want it to look the same or describe how you want it to be different from last time.
2. Tell your barber about your lifestyle
To give you a cut you’ll love, your barber needs to know more about you.
Tell your barber where you work, what you do for fun, where you go on the weekends, how you wear your hair, whether you put product in it every day, and anything else you think might be helpful.
Essentially, you want your barber to give you a cut that will fit seamlessly into your lifestyle and reflect your personality, Holbrook told us.
3. Be specific about how you want your hair to look
This may seem simple, but most guys aren’t doing it right. Some aren’t even doing it all.
Barbers are experts in their craft, but they aren’t mind readers. You can’t just expect them to fill in the gaps. Don’t just say, “short on the sides, long on the top.” That’s not enough for them to go on.
Here’s some terminology to use to get the haircut you want:
- When specifying how long you want your hair to be,inches are the best figure(1 inch, 1 1/2 inches, etc.).
- It can also be helpful to know thespecific number of the clippersyou want your barber to use. If you don’t know what setting of clippers you prefer, ask your barber to start with a longer setting and progressively get shorter until you find a style you like.
- Men with longer hair especially need to be clear about how much hair they want cut off. Most will tell the barber just tokeep the hair off their collar. This gives a neat, professional look.
- Men with longer hair might also ask for alayered cut, which gives more movement and dimension to longer hairstyles.
- If you don’t want your sides to be all the same length, ask for atapered cut, which means your hair gets gradually longer toward the top of your head.
- Make sure to specify how sharp you want your hair’s transition from long to short to be. For no transition, ask for ashaved part(long on top, buzzed on the sides). For a more conservative style, ask for anatural or blended transition.
null- For more manageable hair, ask the barber toadd some textureto the top. Texturing will thin out the bulk of your hair and is great for anyone with thicker hair.
- You can either ask for atapered (natural) necklineor asquared (block)necklinein the back. A tapered neckline will follow your natural hairline, while a block hairline cuts straight across. Most men opt for the tapered neckline, which usually looks more natural.
- Tell your barber how long you want yourfringe (aka bangs)to be in the front, and if you sweep it to the side or style it in any way.
The goal is to be specific enough that your barber will know exactly what you’re imagining.
4. Bring a picture (but only of your hair)
Barbers are visual people and pictures really help barbers visualize what you’re looking for in a haircut and serve as a great guide.
There’s a catch though — the best photo you can bring in to show your barber is a picture of yourself after a haircut that you really liked. A picture of someone else’s hair doesn’t take into account your hair’s individual traits, like thickness, texture, and hairline.
FAQs
To give you a cut you'll love, your barber needs to know more about you. Tell your barber where you work, what you do for fun, where you go on the weekends, how you wear your hair, whether you put product in it every day, and anything else you think might be helpful.
What is the answer to the barber Shop riddle? ›
Barber number 2 had great hair because barber number 1 was good at cutting hair (and vice-versa). The correct answer for this riddle is to head back to the grimy and unpleasant barbershop because that barber knows how to cut hair well, whereas the pleasant barber does not.
What do I tell my barber to get a good haircut? ›
A brief description of the basic overall style you are looking for. Any specific details you can give about: The length of hair you want on top, side, back of head. The type of gradient you want to achieve e.g., Fade or Taper.
What to say during a haircut? ›
Examples of What to Ask For a Haircut
- For a short, classic style: “I would like a short back and sides with a little length on top, tapered at the back and sides with a #2 clipper guard. ...
- For a modern look: “I want an undercut with a fade on the sides. ...
- For medium-length hair: “I'd like a layered cut with scissors only.
Let your barber know whether you're going for a complete style change or just a simple trim. If you're after a new style, communicate the specific details of what you want – length, texture, layers, and style. If you're just looking to tidy up your current style, let them know what areas you want trimmed or shortened.
What is the barber paradox? ›
The barber is the "one who shaves all those, and those only, who do not shave themselves". The question is, does the barber shave himself? Any answer to this question results in a contradiction: The barber cannot shave himself, as he only shaves those who do not shave themselves.
What does hanging out at the barbershop long enough you are going to get a haircut mean? ›
Just as someone frequenting a barbershop is bound to get a haircut eventually, someone persistently engaged in the spaces where opportunities arise is likely to catch their break. It's a metaphor that underscores the idea that success is not merely a stroke of luck but a result of deliberate and continuous effort.
What is a number 1 barber? ›
If you ask your barber for a number one cut, you are asking them to cut your hair so it is an eighth of an inch long. If you ask for a number eight cut, the hair left on your head will be one inch. Here are all the haircut length numbers and their corresponding clipper guard size: Zero: 1/16 of an inch.
What is the number 4 haircut? ›
The number 4 haircut leaves hair half an inch long, making it a medium-short style that's versatile and popular. It allows for more styling options and is less severe than lower numbers. The number 4 haircut is great for those who want to keep their hair short but stylish.
Do barbers like when you show pictures? ›
Yes, it's absolutely okay and often encouraged to show your barber a picture of the hairstyle you have in mind.
this is exactly what you should say:
- Tell your barber how long it has been since your most recent haircut. ...
- Tell your barber about your lifestyle. ...
- Be specific about how you want your hair to look. ...
- Bring a picture (but only of your hair)
Examples of haircut in a Sentence
The girls got haircuts yesterday. He just had a haircut. Do you like my haircut?
How to talk to a barber? ›
How to communicate with your barber and get the cut you want
- Be prepared. ...
- Bring a picture. ...
- Avoid Jargon. ...
- Be Specific. ...
- Be honest. ...
- Trust your barber. ...
- Relax.
8 Characteristics of a Quality Barber
- They Possess and Utilize Their Extensive Hair Knowledge. ...
- They Respect the Profession. ...
- They Have Always Have Had a Fascination With Hair. ...
- They Are Chatty and Love Being Around People. ...
- They Are Entrepreneurial. ...
- They Are Creative. ...
- They Have a Wide Array of Top-Quality Tools.
Ask your barber for advice.
Your barber may offer invaluable advice regarding what hairstyle will best suit your head shape, your hair type, and your preferred level of maintenance. Consider choosing some top style contenders and then consulting with your barber to make a final decision.
What does a number 2 haircut look like? ›
The number 2 haircut length leaves your hair at a quarter of an inch, or 6mm. It strikes a balance between a short and neat appearance while retaining a touch of ruggedness.
How do you solve the barber paradox? ›
Answer: If the barber shaves himself then he is a man on the island who shaves himself hence he, the barber, does not shave himself. If the barber does not shave himself then he is a man on the island who does not shave himself hence he, the barber, shaves him(self).
What is the answer to you use a knife to cut up my head but you weep beside me when I am dead? ›
Answer: onion
#Food #Medium #Short #What am I?
In what way did the barber cheat the woodcutter? ›
(c) The barber cheated the woodcutter by shaving the donkey's tail and then claiming that the woodcutter had not fulfilled his part of the agreement, so he would not shave the woodcutter's beard for free.
Did the barber want a lot of food? ›
Question 5: Why did the Barber want a lot of food? Barber wanted a lot of food because he had invited four or five friends to come to his house for feast. He had invited those friends without making any preparations.
