You might look like Larry, Moe, or Curly if a stranger cuts your hair

[Quasqueton]

Wow...I've never seen it lit up for a hairdressing thread; but when that signal is lit...I respond.

And boy, did you ever respond. Are you a barber?

You might have wierd cowlicks/whorls/Multiple crowns or assorted other growth patterns all over your head which--despite the zero time you spend on it in the morning--might make this a very complicated cut.

One cowlick, in the front -- my hair, in the very front, wants to lie down to the right. I always give it a finger comb to the left when it’s damp so it doesn’t lay flat to my head. It stays “correct” all day long without me touching my hair again. And every new barber always wants to brush that part flat to my head (with the cowlick). I tell them, “I brush that against the lick so it doesn’t lay flat.” Although I would think they’d pay attention to how it is before they start cutting, I don’t hold that “mistake” against anyone who hasn’t cut my hair before. I just complain when things on the normal parts of my head are not even, or are ragged, or obviously different lengths.

No other weirdness, and I have asked my barbers about it. [My oldest son has a cowlick/swirl in the front (swirling back and then left), and two crowns at the back – makes his hair stand up in the middle like a Mohawk. Teenagers loved his hair when he was a baby – “How do you get his hair to stay like that?” *His* hair requires an experienced barber.]

To my mind, it sounds like since you started going to other Barbers/Stylists you have had some serious communication issues [with] them, and brother...that'll happen

Who would have thought that “Like it is now, just shorter,” would be confusing?

but given that you describe nearly every experience that didn't involve him resulting in a bad haircut for you,

Um, I only describe 2 experiences (of my own hair). I’ve had probably a dozen barbers since I started taking myself to the barber. I had a regular from ages ~16-21, then another from ~22-27, then another from ~28-35, then the most recent from ~36-38. That’s 4 [edit: I can't count.] regulars, right there. Add in how many I visited between finding the next regular, and any I may have seen “cheating”. And I’ve only had two truly bad haircuts.

"I want a low #4 blend on the sides, and about half the length taken off the top. Thin the top out a bit as well with your thinning shears"

I’ll keep this in mind. Thank you.

But, ah, looking at your pic in your sig, . . . what do you tell your barber? [By the way, I mean no offense with this question.]

Quasqueton

 

[Teflon Billy]

And boy, did you ever respond. Are you a barber?

I'm a many things...Barber, Stylist, Private Detective, Technical Writer and Teacher. It's a full life.

One cowlick, in the front -- my hair, in the very front, wants to lie down to the right. I always give it a finger comb to the left when it’s damp so it doesn’t lay flat to my head. It stays “correct” all day long without me touching my hair again. And every new barber always wants to brush that part flat to my head (with the cowlick). I tell them, “I brush that against the lick so it doesn’t lay flat.” Although I would think they’d pay attention to how it is before they start cutting, I don’t hold that “mistake” against anyone who hasn’t cut my hair before.

Yeah, most times to "pay attention to how it is before they start cutting" is a sucker's bet. People come to see us becasue they aren't happy with how it is at that moment.

I just complain when things on the normal parts of my head are not even, or are ragged, or obviously different lengths.

Yeah, that just sounds like a crappy Barber.

No other weirdness, and I have asked my barbers about it.

Good job...you're holding up your end.

Who would have thought that “Like it is now, just shorter,” would be confusing?

You'd be amazed the number of people consider the first consultation to be simply "Stage One" of their master haircut plan. After your done with "Like it is now but shorter" about 8 times out of 10 they'll decide " little shorter than that on the sides" or "the front a bit more spikey" or hundred other things that they were asked about at the beginning of the cut

And much as people seem to love that idea, we don't...I'll tell you what most anyone I've worked with will do: If you come up with a "Stage Two" of the haircut...you are getting ing short. No way we are going to have a Stage Three.

Um, I only describe 2 experiences (of my own hair). I’ve had probably a dozen barbers since I started taking myself to the barber. I had a regular from ages ~16-21, then another from ~22-27, then another from ~28-35, then the most recent from ~36-38. That’s 6 regulars, right there. Add in how many I visited between finding the next regular, and any I may have seen “cheating”. And I’ve only had two truly bad haircuts.

Then you are doing fine man I mean jeez...two bad haircuts in 22 years? I've had more than that

But, ah, looking at your pic in your sig, . . . what do you tell your barber? [By the way, I mean no offense with this question.

"Just the usual Amber"

 

[Quasqueton]

Since I’ve got your attention on the subject, what are your thoughts on the client sleeping in the chair while you cut?

In the last few years (since children, really), with anyone I’ve gone back to a second time, I “take a nap” while getting my haircut. You know, one of those just barely asleep kinds of things. If someone speaks to me, I hear and “wake up” and can respond just fine. Only once has my head moved (fell forward and I snapped wide awake). (The barber that time got quite a chuckle out of that, commenting, “I don’t know how you normally keep that from happening.”)

A combination of sitting in a decently comfortable chair, having a woman run her fingers through my hair, and the general lack of enough sleep, makes my hair appointment a pleasure for me to catch 15 minutes of snooze.

Usually, the barbers like to talk (or they talk thinking it a courtesy, or whatever) while they cut. Anyone who has had me in their chair more than twice knows I’m not one for chit-chat. So they usually just go about their business quietly and let me nap. I never nap on the first visit.

I tip well 20-25% when I can nap during a haircut; only the base 15% if I have to talk.

I’ve asked, and no one has expressed a problem with it, but they could be being polite to a customer.

Quasqueton

 

[Teflon Billy]

Since I’ve got your attention on the subject, what are your thoughts on the client sleeping in the chair while you cut?

Well--actual sleeping with your head slumped forward--it's something of a pain in the ass because it means you have to stand hunched in one direction or the other instead of beng able to keep your back straight.

But what you describe--keeping your head up straight and dozing without conversation--no problem at all.

I talk to my clients becasue they seem to like it. Left to my own devices I'm pretty much silent other than "what can I do for you?" and "how does that look?"

 

[Starman]

Wow...I've never seen it lit up for a hairdressing thread; but when that signal is lit...I respond.

And that, TB, is why you are the man.

 

[werk]

My childhood will always haunt me with regard to haircuts.

My mom was a beautician, that's what they called it then, now she'd be a stylist or something...hair designer? I was actually in the womb when she went through beauty school (although the chemicals didn't seem to affect me...*cough*) and grew up crawling around on the beauty shop floor, eww. So she cut my hair my entire life until I moved away. I'd still come home to get haircuts during college and afterwards, but once I moved too far away, I had to bite the bullet and pay someone to cut my hair. It makes me so nervous to have strangers cut my hair, literally sick to my stomach, it almost hurts everytime they snip. Thanks mom.

I went through a lot of hell and bad cuts, and even grew my hair long just to avoid the barber's chair. I'm pretty happy now with the lady that cuts it, and even though I just moved, will continue to drive across town to see her.

My advice, from my tribulations, is to stay away from supercuts, cost cutters, or any strip mall cheap haircut chain. Only go somewhere that you have to make an appointment. Compare a nice restraunt to a drive through...good places have more demand than supply, it's a good sign if you have to wait. I've had infinitely better luck going to an actual hair salon, and it's almost the same price.
Also, know what you want, or at least sound like you do. If you are like, I don't care, or I don't know, then they don't either, and the result reflects this apathy and lack of direction. When you call the salon, tell them you need someone who is good at cutting <describe your hair here>. For me it was, "thick strait short hair with a couple cow-licks so it's kinda hard to cut, but I need to look professional." "I need a haircut, can you help me out?" will get you the greenest rookie they have. Identify a stylist and then try to schedule.

 

[WmRAllen67]

I just ask for the number 4 clippers, then clean it up around the ears and collar, no sideburns...

Then I wear a hat to cover up my odd lumpy head...