Guys, we’re having a communication issue. The problem is not with our family (though it’s a very real issue). Roy will be discussed in receivables on another day. Not even our partners. It’s not even with our partners. According to every barber that I have ever talked to, men are unable to express what they want when they sit in the chair. More accurately, most men don’t know how to communicate with the professionals about their hairstyles.
It’s good that barbers have been trained to understand our babbling. A good barber should be able decipher what you are saying. You might not even know what you want. When it comes to hair, the barber’s first priority is to make you happy. So, they will take your words with a grain until they understand what you want. You may cling to clipper setting (“I‘m one to three”) or technical terms that you do not fully understand (“I want to fade”). These won’t get you to the finish line.
What do you think? Veteran barber who founded Victory hair care products. He gave us some advice on how to best navigate this situation. Whether you’re stepping into a barber shop in New York for the first or last time, or you simply want to tell your barber what you need in clear terms, we have you covered.
1. Don’t Speak with Words
Do you know Zayn’s hairstyle? You’ll need to describe the hairstyle. Tough, right? When you go to the barber’s, bring your phone. Even if you don’t like the whole haircut, take a few photos before you go. Your barber will be able to combine all the elements you want, whether it’s the taper or the edges of a particular guy, the bangs or the taper on another guy, or even all three. All that time on Instagram has a purpose.
2. Know Your Hair
Not only in terms of color, but also in texture, thickness and moisture. Not only in color, but also in texture, moisture, and thickness. Knowing what type of hair you’ve got will help you decide what cut is best for you. This will save you headaches in the future. Your barber can tell you whether the haircut is right for you, and also give you a real talk if your thinking is crazy. You don’t know the type of hair that you have. Ask your barber.
3. Use the Right Terms
By that, we do not mean any terms. You probably won’t know what the word “texture” actually means. Conrad recommends talking about the way you want your haircut to look, rather than how it feels. He says that there are small details that tell him what direction to take. As an example,
If you want to move the hair on top of your head, use that word instead of “layers“, which is probably not what you want. Conrad tells you that “you have nothing to prove [to your barber]“. Quit trying.
4. Please Don’t Ask For A Fade (Unless You Want A Fade)
Stop asking for a fade. It’s not because you shouldn’t want it (it’s a timeless haircut that always looks great),
But what you think of as a fade is not what it is. The classic fade is a hairstyle that cuts your hair all the way to your skin along your hairline. This is probably not what you want. Ask for a taper if you want to achieve a gradient look, but without showing the skin.
5. Forget The Number System
If you follow the settings on your electric clipper, you might think that no matter where you go to barbershop, the haircut will be the same. It’s not possible to get the exact same haircut from different barbers. The clipper settings
(one, two, three, etc.) These are great references for the last haircut you had, but not for someone who you have never seen before. Different barbers use different clippers and have different eyes. They also interpret things differently. Hair is not a mathematical equation.
6. Know The Difference Between A Cut And A Style
Now, think about the type of hair that you desire. Think about the hair you want. Will you blow-dry every morning? Will you use more than one product? Will you use…any product? These are all important details for the barber. If you don’t want to work hard, you won’t like your haircut. A haircut is only one part of a style.
