# What is my barber doing to my hair? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 28, 2002, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-barber-doing-to-my-hair/145391 "2002-12-28T18:53:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-barber-doing-to-my-hair/145391/1 "2002-12-28T18:53:25Z")
Usually my barber will cut my hair with the usual scissors. But occasionally (including today), he’ll use a razor-looking device to cut it. I believe I heard the term ‘sculpting’ once. It feels like it’s pulling at your hair and can be a little painful. I was wondering what the device is, and why it is used. ---
**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-barber-doing-to-my-hair/145391/2 "2002-12-28T18:59:54Z")
Any by the way, when I said ‘razor’ I meant the old fashioned razors that look a little like pocket knifes but with one sharp end, that barbers used to use to shave men. Not electric razors or razors men now use to shave their own beards. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-barber-doing-to-my-hair/145391/3 "2002-12-28T19:11:34Z")
Did it not cut your hair completely? I think I’ve had that used on me, where it just cuts some of the hair and it doesn’t look like normal scissors… ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-barber-doing-to-my-hair/145391/4 "2002-12-28T19:22:19Z")
Gettin’ a [mullet](http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/6906/) are we? Wait a few secs for the babe. 🙂 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-barber-doing-to-my-hair/145391/5 "2002-12-28T19:45:53Z")
Nope, no mullet for me. And I’m not sure what you mean by “cutting it completely”, BrandonR. ---
**Author:** ![False\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee7513/32.png) [@False\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/False_God)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-barber-doing-to-my-hair/145391/6 "2002-12-28T19:58:15Z")
It’s a razor comb, and it’s used to trim the ends of hair to uneven lengths, giving it a layered appearance. Looks like a little comb, has about half-inch teeth, and a razor on the inside. And yes, they do pull–worse when they’re dull. ---
**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-barber-doing-to-my-hair/145391/7 "2002-12-28T20:38:54Z")
Thanks, **False\_God**. That’s definitely it! ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-barber-doing-to-my-hair/145391/8 "2002-12-28T22:13:55Z")
Yeah, layered look. Mullet. Hey, I just noticed, **Splanky** and **False\_God** are neighbors. Cool. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-barber-doing-to-my-hair/145391/9 "2002-12-28T23:44:10Z")
I’m actually doing the Noel Redding look, **mangeorge**. (Actually not). ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-barber-doing-to-my-hair/145391/10 "2002-12-29T00:44:35Z")
Heh. I call that a “mane knife” and use it to trim my horses mane. When you use it on a person, the technique is called “razoring.” ---
**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-barber-doing-to-my-hair/145391/11 "2002-12-29T01:10:11Z")
> [@](#): > > When you use it on a person, the technique is called “razoring.” How appropriate. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-barber-doing-to-my-hair/145391/12 "2002-12-29T04:46:53Z")
Horses have mullets?