Have you ever found those words coming out of your mouth as you struggle to explain what you want in your haircut? You aren’t alone.
If you feel at a loss for words during a haircut consultation, here are a few tips to help you know and explain the style you’re looking for:
Know How Long It’s Been Since Your Last Haircut
Giving your barber a timeline on how long it’s been since your last haircut will help them get a more accurate idea of what you’re looking for, even if you can’t remember what you received the last time. This may sound like guesswork, but trust us, it isn’t. On average, hair grows about half an inch a month. So knowing that it’s been two weeks, a month, two months, etc. will give your barber a solid starting point to work from.
Clippers or Shears?
Knowing the tools most often used on your hair is another way to help guide your barber to your desired haircut. Clipper cuts give you a shorter haircut, whereas shear or scissor cuts are generally longer. A skilled barber can use both tools in many ways to achieve your dream haircut, but usually, both are used in the same haircut. Having that information handy for your barber is always helpful. If you know clippers are normally used, learning your guard length (1, 2, 3, etc.) can be very helpful in getting you and your barber on the same page.
Pictures
Pictures are one of the most common approaches to explaining what a client is looking for in a cut. But one should be careful with pictures, they may do more harm than good. Often the haircuts you see in photos online look great on the person wearing them, but may not suit you as well. Everyone’s hair texture and head shape is different, so not every cut looks good on everyone. Having multiple photos showcasing the things you like will help your barber understand what you’re looking for and guide you toward the best version of that haircut for you. In addition to that, if you have a photo of yourself after a haircut you really liked, that’s even better! That shows your barber exactly what you desire and how your hair will look when finished.
Trust Your Barber
These are just a few tips, but the best way to achieve the haircut you were hoping for is to go to a skilled and experienced barber. A good barber will tell you when they think there is a better option than what you came in looking for. If you’re unsure what you’re looking for, they will take their time to figure out what you like and set a game plan for your haircut so that you both know what to expect. And you can always ask your barber how to explain the haircut you just got for future reference!
Nic Grooming’s entire team of skilled barbers has been trained in the art of consultation so you get the best haircut possible.
We hope to see you in one of our barbershops soon!