Getting my hair properly cut seems increasingly difficult. I like my hair a little long all around, but very neat immediately above the ears and along the neck line. I also like my “sideburns” left their current length.
This request usually results in clippers being taken out and me with nearly a crew cut, either showing skin, or nearly showing skin.
I’m at a total loss on how to order this haircut properly. Basically, keep the hair above the ears, but long, perhaps a very quick taper, and do a quick taper to the neck, keeping the bulk above the neck long.
So how do I convey this? It seems simple, but somehow isn’t.
Are there any celebrities with hair the way you want it on yourself? Sometimes a picture is the best way to convey the cut you want. The way you’re describing it sounds straightforward to me, so I’m not sure why you’re not getting the desired result.
You could try “neaten just the edges” and also refuse the clipper, tell the stylist scissors only.
Where I go they explicitly ask about whether I want the ears covered and about sideburns. I say how much I want cut off, and they oblige. Once in a while I get someone over-enthusiastic, but pretty rare, especially because I tip well.
Odd, your directions seem fairly explicit and understandable. I basically ask for the same thing and rarely have problems getting my requests met (though every once in a while, whomever is cutting my hair tends to shorten my bangs a bit too much). My hair is very fine, and the traditional clipper-all-over with short guides most men get reveal too much scalp. My haircut today: “Up off the ears and collar, thin out the sides and back. I like a bit of length, and 1/4” off the bangs. Scissor cut. Thin out the sideburns with clippers but don’t bring them up."
If you prefer clipper cuts, learn the guide lengths you’d prefer for various parts of your head. The stylist should be willing to show you in the mirror how long/short various guides will leave the trimmed hair. When I got clipper cuts, I asked for #6 on top, #4 on back/sides (#6 was about 3/4", #4 1/2"), and scissors for bangs; otherwise, the stylist is likely to use the same length all over, and will usually go with shorter guides than you like. “Trim me up!” = #2 all over, quite often.
I dislike clipper cuts, and ask for a scissor cut. IMO, it’s more natural looking, plus clippers suck for leaving length while reducing bulk. Scissors allow for more manual control, the stylist can selectively thin out your hair while leaving a longer layer that will fall naturally.
From a blog I read. Pretty good advice…
Think back to your last haircut. How’d you feel about it when you walked out of the shop? Disappointed? While your disappointing haircut might have been due to poor barbering, it’s often the case that your poor communication with the barber was at least partly to blame. Barbers can’t read minds. If you don’t tell them exactly what you want, you’re going to get whatever haircut the barber feels comfortable giving. For example, I knew an old barber (and I’m talking old) who’d give every customer a crew cut if the customer didn’t explicitly say exactly how he wanted his hair cut.
If you want to avoid this fate, you have to learn how to talk to your barber. But telling a barber what you want can be intimidating for a man, especially with all the special lingo they throw around. Well, never fear. I called up registered master barber Steve Hankins from Red’s Classic Barbershop in Indianapolis, IN to get the scoop on how to confidently communicate with your barber. With his tips, we’ve created a comprehensive guide on what to say to your barber so you get exactly the haircut you want next time you plop down in that chair. Let’s get to it.
Tell the barber you want your hair to lay down when they’re done. Then they pretty much have to use scissors on the top and not the clipper. And if you don’t go to a place that uses a straight razor on the back of your neck, find one that does. A clean shaven neck feels amazing.
Note that clippers can be set for different lengths. I generally ask for #3 or #4 clippers on the side (which does not show any skin), and a bit more length on top.
I can sympathize with the OP. For years and years, the same lady cut my hair. I followed her to several shops in Bangkok just to keep her cutting my hair. One day she won an in-shop New Year’s lottery, and the money was enough to let her return to her hometown up North and open her very own shop. all very well and good for her, but suddenly I had to tell how I wanted my hair cut. Still haven’t found someone who can do it they she did.
Here’s how I do it, pretty much verbatim for pretty much the last 20 years. Always results in the same thing:
“Number three clippers up the back and side. Take off an amount everywhere else that blends well with that. Round in the back, clean up the sideburns [but leave them current length | shorten a bit ]. Rinse it out but no shampoo when done.”
About the only thing that ever goes wrong is having to remind them that I part my hair on the left.
If you’re finding they usually use clippers that result it in being to short, I’d ask which level they’re using and then specify something larger until you find the one that works. Or, have them start with something pretty long and then then don’t be shy abuot saying “nope, shorter.”
And when you get a haircut that is pretty close to what you want, take a picture and and you can show it to them in the future.
The place I go always uses scissors. One advantage is that you might be able to stop them from going crazy. (Clippers for back of neck and sideburns only.)
All the haircutters in my place are women - maybe they listen better? I don’t have a particular one, but all of them do a pretty good job.
Specify a length. 1/2-inch is almost a crew cut. My hair sticks straight out at that length but is long enough that you don’t see scalp through it. Add half-inch increments as desired for specified parts of your head.
Sounds something like a bowl cut, or mushroom cut.
Forget trying to describe it and bring a picture of it.
Mine is simple number 2 on the sides and back, and number 3 on top. But dingus even screwed that up last time, and gave me a number 2 all the way around.
