This might be better suited for MPSIMS, but I am looking for opinions and advice.
I have had the longest running series of horrible haircuts. I have tried going to different barbers. I have tried staying with one person. I always tip well. I have tried asking for opinons from the stylist. I’ve tried telling them exactly what I want. The only thing I haven’t done is to bring in a picture of what I want-- I can’t see how that would work since different haircuts look different on different people.
Anyway, how do I get a decent haircut? One that looks good on me!
Question if you need haircuts at all: I stopped getting them a half dozen years ago with no regrets. Just lop off the sideburns with a razor when you shave. It may suck for the first year or two (until it’s long enough for a decent ponytail), but after that you’re set.
I tried that when i was younger. When I went back to short hair a lot of people said I looked better. Since I’ve moved, I can’t find a good place to get my hair cut ( or maybe I’m just pickier.) I have been toying with growing out again, but that’s led to the last two evil looking chop jobs-- including the one I’m sporting now.
I’ve always gotten my haircuts at a little chain shop (Great Clips, I think) and I’ve always gotten good haircuts for my $5.99.
Any reasonably competent stylist can give you a haircut ‘like’ a picture but styled for your particular facial and skull structure.
Say, for instance, you want hair ‘similar’ to a picture of Brad Pitt you saw in a magazine. Take the picture in, and ask your stylist for a cut like the one in the picture. It’s a simple thing.
If you’re not happy with your hair after a cut, TELL YOUR STYLIST! If you say, “looks great” then they’re not going to try to fix it if you hate it.
Have you tried going to a salon (i.e. one staffed by a mix of men and women), rather than a barber (typically a man)? I found my old barber wasn’t doing a good job, so I tried several salons before settling on one I really like.
I’d recommend experimenting with a few expensive unisex salons, just to see the difference. It can be a little intimidating at first–but remember, they’re there to serve you! You don’t have to stick with getting an expensive haircut everytime, but at least you’ll get some idea of what’s out there.
I second Jervoise. Go to an expensive place, which has trained professionals doing their stuff. Some of these places (in India, at least) have a digital camera and a computer, where they photograph your head, and then superimpose various hairstyles and colours. It’s not a perfect system (very often hilarious, actually!), but it works rather well.
You choose which style you want, and they’ll cut/colour it for you that way… it’s not cheap, but you don’t have to keep going back - just photograph your new hairstyle, and carry it with you when you go to your regular barber.
Or, if you’re loaded, you can keep going back and experimenting
I’m in the National Guard so I have to keep up a military appearance once a month. I had a hard time finding a place that could do a regulation cut, but I finally “trained” a few women at Fantastic Sams ($9.95) in how to do it. I now know what number guard to tell them to use on the clippers and had them take a photo (front, side, and back) that I carry with me the next time I’m in if they need a guide. I haven’t had a bad haircut in a long time.
I’ve thought seriously about that. At one point I used a trimmer w/o a guard and even went to a barber shop and had them do the same. Unfortunately, I have those big goofy ears ( the car with both doors open look you’ve heard so much about.) I also have a couple of big moles on my head that wouldn’t work with a total shave job. I have been thinking about going the other direction and growing it out-- not shoulder length, but no trimmer-- but it’s just not working. The last time I went someplace expensive my hair looked the same and I was out $30.
Wednesday is the day for the final choice. I appreciate the feedback.
