Over the years I’ve tried showing pictures. Barbershops always have pictures on the wall, mostly of 1950’s hair styles. Even those, a lot of the barbers I’ve been to can’t execute succesfully. I’ve concluded that is what you get when you pay $12 for a haircut.
At my last barbershop, each barber seemed to be trying to give the haircut they had. One liked it long on top and very short on the sides and no amount of pictures or instructions could move him far from that style. Another seemed to like the bowl cut. Still another had to get a part in the hair somehow. It took me a while to figure it out and change shops. Cheap haircuts are cheap haircuts.
Do you go to a ‘men only’ barber? In which case, have you considered going to a unisex place where they might be a little less trigger happy with the clippers?
Also, be prepared to spend some good money. In haircuts, you get what you pay for. There’s a reason why women spend a lot on their hair.
Frankly, I will walk the barber through my haircut. Sometimes I change my mind in the middle of the haircut and want them to stop RIGHT THERE and then just clean up the rest. Those are the haircuts I’m most happy with. What it comes down to is that the barber wants to make you happy. A happy customer gives a better tip and will be a repeat customer.
Ask them to go slow and not to take too much off. Explain to them you’re picky. It shouldn’t be too much of a problem. If you really find it that difficult and laborious to explain, explain it once and take pictures and whip them out next time you need a haircut. Or find one guy you really like and keep going to that person so they know exactly how you like it.
The link provided by standingwave gives some good description of terminology to help you explain what you want.
I like cheap haircuts, but I go to salons. I think I might know one “barber” shop in the area. However, sometimes going to “whomever is available” for no-appointment haircuts gives hit and miss results.
One lady I found just could not do my hair correct. She kept giving me an outward flair at the top of the sides of my head. I kept trying to tell her to bring it in, cut off the corners, round it off, pointing explicitly at the area that was wrong, but she could never get it right. After realizing that a couple times, I don’t use her. I found a lady that does a good job. Of course, she then relocated to another store.
It sounds like you don’t want clippers at all. You can specify you want clippers on sides and back, then scissors on top. You do need to determine the proper clipper guide size for the length you want. Start fairly long, like a 5 or a 6, and then work to shorter.
Or tell them to skip the clippers and do a scissor cut. The clippers are their go-to choice because they are fast and simple. However, if you’re looking for some thickness/length to your hair, clippers may tend to take more off than you want.
I’m not sure you’re really wanting a “taper”. Rather, you may be wanting blocked hair in back (or perhaps rounded). You want a neat edge line. You want the hair “off the ears” but not clippered.
I’d suggest going in and tell them “start with the haircut I have, and cut ~1/2 in off” or whatever. If you need to change the look in certain areas, specify those areas and say “I want this a little shorter” or “blend this in here a little more”.
As for sideburns, they always ask me what I want. Do I want to shorten them, or just neaten them up? Neaten them up basically means clean the lines. Or you can specify where with regards to, say, your ears. In line with the bottom of the ears, or top of ears, or whatever. Or have them hold the trimmer in off position and show them where, then they can turn it on and cut at that line.
And getting a picture once you get a good cut is a good idea. I may try that next time.
If you do go for clippers on the sides, then blend to the top, with 1/2 inch off top, that generally works for me. I specify a number 4 guide, but have gone as short as 3. I think a 5 is probably closer to what you want. Hell, start at an 8 and work down.
Sounds similar to the way I wear my hair. I get by with saying “Off the ears, off the collar and thin it out to get rid of the waves”. Of course, I’m not as particular as some. When asked if I want to keep the sideburns I usually reply “Surprise me”.
Ok, attached is a pic I took of me just now showing the haircut I like. I just had it cut last Friday in Santiago, Chile. I asked a friend to go with me, since my Spanish is so poor. I ended up with the best haircut I have ever had!
Looks like a basic business mans type haircut. Tell them: clean around the ears and neckline, short sideburns and I’m guessing about 4 inches on top blended in with the rest.
The hair at the top of your head might be shorter than 4 inches, but it’s better to estimate too long than too short. If it’s too long for you, have them trim off a half inch until it’s the length you like.
That’s a scissor haircut mostly with clippers used for trimming the ears and neck.
I used to be a stylist and that’s the easiest haircut around. I always preferred when clients gave me detailed instructions so I was very clear on what they wanted. Also, bring a copy of that picture with you.
My method: When I move to a new area, I try a series of barbers until I find one who takes my instructions and turns them into the haircut I want. Then I stay with him/her as long as possible. I haven’t found anything else that works. For instance, in the shop I go to now, I refuse to sit in the owner’s chair and instead only let his assistant cut my hair. They have completely different interpretations of my instructions no matter how verbose I am, and I also think the owner couldn’t cut a taper if his life depended on it. But his assistant does it perfect every time.
In some places I’ve lived, it’s taken a handful of bad haircuts before I’ve found a good match.
I did this for about 20 years, then i just couldn’t be bothered to get a haircut for a while. It’s been like five months and i have no idea what to tell the barber now, i do like it longish but i’m looking more like a crazy hobo than a rockstar.
