Published on June 25th, 2020
Let’s be honest; even if you use WiseBarber’s best hair clippers to do a self-cut, it’s not easy to get professional-level results. And while some of us might be able to pull that off, a large majority of people often opt to pay their favorite barber a visit.
Now, imagine a situation where you have to travel or move to a new town; that means new schools, restaurants, neighborhoods, hangout places, gyms, clubs, and, for men, new barbershops.
When that happens, one of the many questions at the back of your mind will be; “where and how do I get my usual haircut without my usual barber?”
If you can relate to this or just want to be ready for it – because it will happen to you sooner or later – this post is for you. So, without further ado, here are 5 awesome tips on how to get the haircut you want from any barber.
Ask For Recommendations
The first and most important step towards getting a professional and disappointment-free haircut is by looking for an experienced barber.
Work experience simply means that he/she won’t have any trouble understanding and executing the haircut you describe. Getting recommendations from locals will make it easy for you to narrow down your list of prospective barbers near you.
Pro Tip:
If you are shy or anti-social, don’t fret because you can use online tools like Yelp and Google to find the best-rated barbershop in your location.
Go For A Recon Visit
Step two is to visit one or two of the shops you’ve shortlisted. Note, you aren’t going to get a haircut; you just want to see how the barber does his thing. During your recon visit, be sure to answer questions like:
- Is the barbershop clean and organized?
- Which tools and products does the barber use?
- How do their prices compare to the services they render?
- Will you be comfortable and relaxed getting a haircut from them?
And so on. Don’t be afraid to walk away if something doesn’t seem right; that way you reduce your chances of leaving the barbershop later with a disappointing haircut.
Speak Your Barber’s Language
And no, I’m not talking about their dialect or mother tongue; I’m talking about the language and terms used in barbershops.
The best and easiest way to explain what kind of hairstyle you want is by using terms and a language the barber understands. That includes:
- Haircut names e.g. Pomp, Buzzcut, Crew Cut, Mohawk, High Fade, Quiff, Hard Part, and Side Part just to mention a few.
- Barbering terms like fade, blend, taper, haircut line design, hair tattoos, texture, layers, ear-line, skin fade, and so much more.
- Barber tool names including clipper, trimmer, razor, edger, as well as hair styling products.
Basically, using the right terms will make it easier for your new barber to understand exactly what you want.
Use Fewer Words And Shorter Sentences
Preciseness is also imperative if you want to avoid confusion. Note that the more words you use to describe your preferred haircut, the easier it will be for the barber to get confused and lost in your words.
So, I strive to use simple and short sentences to communicate with them. And remember to incorporate a few barbering terms to help them visualize what you are looking for.
Use Example Pictures
Sometimes, we don’t know the right terms or haircut names to use. And that can result in us using a lot of sentences to describe them; consequently, causing confusion. If you ever find yourself in such a situation, look for a suitable, clear picture to show your barber.
In fact, using an image of you or someone else who’s had the haircut is probably the easiest way for you to get exactly what you want. And that’s it.
With these simple tips, you can walk into any barbershop and get your preferred haircut without any hassles or disappointments.
Plus, you’ll save your new barber the trouble of having to figure out what you want without sufficient, clear info to work with.
